Group Cruise: Embarkation
Enjoy the morning at leisure, savoring an unhurried breakfast and then relaxing at the hotel or exploring the surroundings on your own. You will embark on your ship in the late afternoon, allowing you time to see some of the local sights if you wish. Once onboard your ship, it’s time to meet your fellow passengers and become acquainted with the vessel and the expedition team. You will set sail on the Beagle Channel, towards the southernmost tip of South America. Having settled in, attend your first safety briefing and orientation before sitting down to the welcome dinner.
Group Cruise: Sailing the Drake
As you sail through the Drake Passage, named after the famous 16th-century British explorer Sir Francis Drake, the spectacular seascape will keep you mesmerized. Onboard, you can attend engaging lectures and presentations from passionate polar naturalists on Antarctica’s fascinating history, flora, and fauna, all of which will prepare you for your experience upon your arrival. Guided by experts, you may even spot magnificent seabirds, such as albatrosses and petrels, as well as different species of whales on their way south to Antarctica. In between these informative sessions and watching for wildlife, savor gourmet meals with fellow travelers as well as delicious liquor and cocktails at the bar.
Group Cruise: South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula
Cruise between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, taking in the immensity and natural beauty of the White Continent. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will leave you speechless and awe-struck! Each day, you will set out by Zodiac boat with passionate experts to explore the local bays, channels, and landing sites. Your expedition team will take care of you at each landing, whether you are hiking the Antarctic landscape, visiting a research station, or visiting the colonies of chinstrap, Adélie, and gentoo penguins, all of which are found in this region. Keep an eye out for Weddell, fur, crabeater, and leopard seals, as well as curious whales, such as humpbacks, fins, or perhaps orcas, while on your Zodiac excursions. The serene silence is sometimes interrupted by the noise of squabbling penguins, and the boom and crack of a calving glacier – this is your perfect opportunity to take in all the sounds and sights that Antarctica has to offer.
Group Cruise: Antarctic Peninsula
As your ship crosses the Antarctic Convergence, you can notice a considerable change in the environment. An 800-mile-long peninsula and icescapes stretch ahead of you, extending northward from the Antarctic continent towards South America. This stark White Continent often inspires a sense of awe and wonder in travelers. Your ship will sail through ice-filled bays, majestic channels, fjords, and inlets, offering your wonderful views of the untouched landscape in the endless Antarctic daylight. For your first memorable shore excursion, board a Zodiac boat and sail through scenic bays rich in wildlife. The peninsula experiences the mildest climates on the continent and a summer melting season, which creates a rich breeding ground for marine mammals and birds. Watch out for common Antarctic species such as the chinstrap, adélie and gentoo penguin, Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals, whales, albatrosses, and other seabirds. A lesser-known but widespread species of the region is the krill, a small crustacean that is a major food source for several species of whales as well as seals, penguins, squid, and fish. Weather permitting, you will also have the opportunity to visit several sites such as Paradise Bay, Danco Island, Neko Harbor and Port Lockroy, as well as sites of historic and scientific significance.
Group Cruise: Return Crossing the Drake
After waving goodbye to Antarctica, spend your time aboard the ship at leisure as you make your way north, back to South America. Enhance your understanding of the Antarctic region with Q&A sessions, share photos with your new friends aboard the ship, count the variety and quantity of the wildlife you have seen, and enjoy the final lectures and presentations as you reflect on your own firsthand experiences. This final leg of the journey takes you through the Beagle Channel between Tierra del Fuego and Navarino Island.
Group Cruise: Disembarkation
Arriving in Ushuaia, your journey ends at the pier upon disembarking from the ship. You can choose to spend the rest of your morning soaking in the sights and sounds of Ushuaia at your own pace, thus continue your adventure, or catch your flight home. You will be transferred to the airport directly if you plan to catch the first flight homeward, or taken to your hotel in town should you have plans to leave at a later time or date.
