Expedition Antarctica: The Great Penguin Adventure

This great Antarctic expedition starts in Ushuaia, beautifully surrounded by snow-covered mountains, where you stay one night at a centrally located hotel. This little town is also referred to as the “End of the World”.

In the morning, you will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia on your own. In the afternoon, you board the ship and sail out through the Beagle Channel – this great Antarctic cruise has begun! If you’re lucky, you might even see penguins – keep an eye out for swimming Magellanic penguins in the Beagle Channel!

You spend a day at sea, accompanied by seabirds such as petrels, fulmars and albatrosses that gracefully follow the ship. Whales and dolphins may also be seen in the surrounding waters, and the polar experts begin their exciting lecture program.

The plan is to explore the western islands of the archipelago, which are isolated and windswept but home to many seabirds including the black-browed albatross. Weather permitting, you go ashore and explore Saunders Island, a penguin hotspot that is one of the few places on Earth where four penguin species nest side by side. Here you can find gentoo, rockhopper, king and Magellanic penguin rookeries as well as nesting black-browed albatross. You can stand on the white sand beach watching the penguins come and go while the striated caracaras patrol overhead.

You visit Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands. Here, you wander through charming streets lined with small houses and learn how this quiet harbour was once a major port in the 19th century for ships attempting to round the waters of Cape Horn.

You sail southeast, bound for South Georgia. The anticipation grows, especially as you cross the Antarctic Convergence and notice a dramatic drop in temperature. Shipboard presentations will continue, featuring the fascinating history and abundant wildlife of South Georgia. Wildlife will guide you to the island – keep a lookout in the ocean for whales, seals, and penguins.

Majestic mountains, mighty glaciers, and beaches full of king penguins greet us on the island of South Georgia. For wildlife enthusiasts, South Georgia is a true haven. Hundreds of thousands of penguins gather at places like St. Andrew’s Bay and Salisbury Plain. Huge elephant seals lounge on beaches, and at this time of year, you may witness dramatic fights for dominance among the males. The island is also home to several other penguin species, including macaroni, gentoo, and chinstrap penguins, along with the playful and feisty fur seals.

South Georgia played a significant role in Shackleton’s legendary expedition. After his ship Endurance sank, he and his crew crossed the treacherous ocean in an open lifeboat to reach the island. We hope to visit Shackleton’s grave at Grytviken, once an active whaling station, now home to a charming museum.

You now set sail towards the world’s most remote continent – Antarctica, faithfully accompanied by many seabirds. The on board polar experts continue to fill your mind with heroic stories of the early daredevils who explored Antarctica. Keep your eyes open for the first iceberg, which could appear on the horizon at any time!

You will spend some time cruising among the South Shetland Islands, just off the Antarctic Peninsula. Dazzling wildlife sightings await you on your excursions to some of the islands, including King George, Half Moon, Barrientos, or Livingston.

Continuing south along the Antarctic Peninsula, you navigate through vast expanses of pack ice covering large parts of the bays, watching as the experienced officers skilfully steer the ice-strengthened ship. You cruise through labyrinths of icebergs, some of which may be occupied by curious penguins. In good ice conditions, we hope to set foot on the Antarctic continent at Hope Bay or Paradise Harbour. The scenery here – from the colossal icebergs to the seemingly endless Antarctic ice sheet – is truly breathtaking.

As you leave this magical place and head across the Drake Passage, you can spend time reflecting on the incredible experiences of the past days. As you approach the South American continent, it is possible to see whales, dolphins, and seals. You celebrate the conclusion of this Antarctic expedition with a farewell dinner on board.

In the early morning, you disembark in Ushuaia and have time to explore this quaint little town at our own pace.