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Itinerary | Vessels | Special Notes
All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. The Expedition Leader and the Captain on board will determine the final itinerary for each voyage. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.
Beginning and ending in Ushuaia, Argentina, your cruise to Antarctica will experience the wildlife and scenic highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. The Captain and Expedition Leader continually assess daily weather conditions and wildlife opportunities, taking advantage of the extended daylight to maximize time ashore. You will become one of the fortunate few to have set foot on the continent of Antarctica.
For an extra cost, certain departures offer adventure options of kayaking, mountaineering and scuba diving, which are available on a first-come, first served basis. Camping is also available on some departures at no extra cost and for all passengers aboard willing to sleep on ice. Contact us for more information on which departures are available for these adventures.
Day 1 - Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through this scenic waterway of the Beagle Channel for the rest of the evening.
Days 2-3 - The Drake Passage & South Shetland Islands
Your cruise to Antarctica must cross the famous Drake Passage, named after the 16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake. The ship is accompanied much of the way by albatrosses - including the magnificent wandering albatross - along with an impressive variety of other seabirds. During the sea-days the experienced naturalist and lecture staff will educate us in topics such as geology, marine biology, ecology, orthnitology and history of the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean.
Land is usually sighted for the first time late afternoon on Day 3 at the South Shetland Islands, which lie to the north of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Days 4-8 - South Shetland Islands & Antarctic Peninsula
While sailing across the South Shetlands we may visit vast penguin rookeries, and observe wallowing southern elephant seals. You may also visit one of the many research bases in the archipelago or look for Antarctica's only two flowering plant, which thrive here during the short southern summer. The Antarctic Peninsula, the most readily accessible part of the White Continent, has some of the best wildlife and scenery. You have plenty of time to experience the special magic of this awe-inspiring wilderness of snow, ice, waterways, and mountains. Expect to see rookeries of gentoo, chinstrap and adélie penguins. Blue-eyed shags, kelp gulls, cape petrels, snowy sheathbills and Antarctic terns are also abundant. You may also encounter weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, as well as orcas, humpback, and minke whales.
Depending on a flexible and opportunistic schedule, regularly updated by the Expedition Leader and the Captain, our exploration of the Antarctic continent often may take us to the aptly named Paradise Bay, or to nearby Neko Harbor. Glaciers fill the calm waters with an amazing vista of icebergs as you set foot on the Antarctic continent itself. If pack ice and icebergs allow, you navigate some of the most beautiful waterways in the world.
Days 9-10 - The Drake Passage
You bid farewell to Antarctica as you sail north across the Drake Passage. The adventure is far from over yet, as there are more opportunities to watch birds and whales cavorting in the open ocean. Final presentations by our expedition staff enhance the voyage en route to Ushuaia.
Day 11 - Ushuaia, Argentina
Disembark after breakfast and transfer by bus to the Antarctic Unit office located at the entrance to the pier.
Vessels
This Classic Antarctica Cruise Itinerary operates on variety of different vessels. Click vessel links below for individual vessel descriptions. Vessels accommodate between 46 - 110 passengers and have ice-strengthened hulls designed specifically for polar travel.
Akademik Ioffe
Akademik Shokalskiy
Akademik Vavilov
Antarctic Dream
Clipper Adventurer
M/V Minerva (ex Explorer II)
Ocean Nova
M/V Orlova
Polar Star
Professor Multanovskiy
M/V Ushuaia
Notes on Itinerary: Read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program varies according to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife we encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition. Visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Single Travelers: Solo travelers willing to share can reserve a triple or twin-shared cabin, where you will be matched with a person of the same gender. If the other cabin berth goes unsold, you will not be penalized. For those who desire single occupancy, cabins are available for single occupancy.
Not Included: Airfares to the embarkation point and from the disembarkation point; adventure options of kayaking or diving; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; hotel accommodations; supplement for single hotel accommodations; meals while in Ushuaia; Trip Cancellation Insurance with emergency medical evacuation insurance (required); and all items of a personal nature while aboard the vessel, such as laundry, bar and beverage charges and telecommunication charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for those who have served you aboard (guidelines will be provided).
Fuel Supplement: Note: Should the price of marine fuel increase dramatically, we may have to institute a fuel surcharge.
Trip Insurance: Passengers traveling to these remote destinations are required to be covered by a travel insurance policy that includes emergency evacuation coverage.
Qualifications: This trip will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health, has full mobility, and leads an active life. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding. Although we spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join any off-vessel excursions, passengers must be able to navigate the steep, 30-stair, gang-way, un-assisted both down and up. Daily excursions from the boat will be made in Zodiacs. Trip members will take excursions to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours roundtrip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Some landings are dry but many are "wet", requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist. You are traveling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition, or need daily medical treatment.