Highlights

Escape into another realm as you board our luxury boutique ice-class ship on this once-in-a-lifetime trip from South America to New Zealand. Our epic semi- circumnavigation cruise of Antarctica fulfils the ultimate bucket list, sailing on glassy seas, passing by monumental icebergs, unheralded landscapes and phenomenal wildlife. We explore icy waters to reach the world’s southernmost islands where only a handful of adventurers, explorers and scientists have been before. And as we cross the polar circle, you get to join an elite group of people who have been to some of the least-visited places on the planet.

Create unforgettable memories by reaching earth’s southernmost regions
Follow in the footsteps of the world’s most legendary explorers who reached the South Pole within weeks of each other
Marvel at the colours as they change from glassy white to turquoise green in this vast frozen wilderness

Map/Itinerary

Day 1Arrival in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Arrive in Buenos Aires at your convenience. This exciting city, known for its architecture and rich culture, marks the starting point of your journey.

One night of accommodation is included at a designated hotel.

Please note: The transfer from the airport to the hotel is only included if you arrive on Day 1 of the itinerary and land at Ezeiza International Airport (EZE).

Day 2Fly to Ushuaia and Embark

After an early breakfast at the hotel, your group will transfer to the airport and board the private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. After a late afternoon embarkation, you will sail along the historic Beagle Channel, which transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America.

Day 3-4At Sea

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Day 5South Shetland Islands

While the South Shetlands’ proximity to Antarctica makes the ice-bound sea impassable during winter (April to October), these are the first islands to see snow melt in spring (November) and the slightly warmer temperature means that the fauna is also different from what you see in Antarctica proper. Ferns, grasses, lichens and native flora that grow here have more in common with Patagonia than they do with Antarctica.

Day 6-7Antarctic Peninsula

Among captivating glaciers, majestic icebergs and snowy islands, the Antarctic Peninsula is where most visitors to the White Continent live their Antarctica dream. It’s the most accessible part, with scientific bases and incredible scenery, like the photogenic Lemaire Channel. Shore excursions might include Mikkelsen Harbour, where among gentoo penguins, snowy sheathbills and skuas, Antarctic Weddell seals haul out.

Day 8-9At Sea

Day 10Peter Island, Belinghausen Sea

The magnitude of translucent bergs silently floating on crystal-clear seas is often broken up by the tail of a fluking whale and leopard seals resting on an ice floe. Rarely visited by ships, the ice-covered volcanic Peter I island in Bellingshausen Sea is claimed by Norway and is home to elephant seals, cape pigeons and southern fulmars. Two of the largest islands in the Antarctic – Alexander and Thurston Islands – lie past Peter I Island.

Day 11-13At Sea

Day 14Shepard Island

In one of the most remote areas of Antarctica, volcanic Shepard Island is an 11-mile stretch of wilderness near Grant Island off Marie Byrd Land’s unclaimed coast. It is ice-capped except along its northern, seaward side, where it is almost entirely embedded in the Getz Ice Shelf. The exposed northern shores provide sanctuary for chinstrap penguins and skuas in this remote polar refuge.

Day 15At Sea

Spend your day at sea enjoying your boutique 5-star ship. Treat yourself to a spa day, attend an expert-led onboard lecture or enjoy the ocean views from the deck or the comfort of our Observation Lounge.

Day 16Bay of Whales

The Bay of Whales was Antarctica’s key natural harbor, an ice-bound inlet by the Ross Ice Shelf near Roosevelt Island and Cape Colbeck. As the southernmost navigable waters, it was the closest ship approach to the South Pole. The original bay vanished in 1987 when iceberg B-9 calved, but new embayments may form. It supported whaling and was Amundsen’s base for his 1911 South Pole triumph, 60 miles ahead of Scott.

Day 17Crossing the International Date Line

Experience time travel first-hand as you cross the international date line. This imaginary line in the Pacific Ocean joins the South Pole to the North Pole and roughly follows 180 degrees longitude with a deviation east to the 150-degree meridian to include the Kiribati and Line Islands. Sailors celebrate the passing with the Ceremony of the Domain of the Golden Dragon. On our transpacific journey, you will lose a day as you cross the line.

Day 18-26Ross Sea, Antarctica

One of the last untouched salt-water wilderness regions, the Ross Sea region is home to an abundance of wildlife – southern right whales, orca, emperor penguins, parakeets and elephant seals, to name a few. Antarctica’s largest Adelie penguin colony is located on the shores of the Ross Sea. This faraway place also exudes polar history – many of the expedition huts of past explorers are still perfectly preserved.

Day 27-29At Sea

Day 30-32Cruising Sub-Antarctic Islands

Navigating the Sub-Antarctic Islands means visiting remote UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Auckland, Campbell, Snares, Bounty and Antipodes Islands. The Southern Ocean shapes rugged volcanic landscapes, steep cliffs, fjords and glacier-carved valleys. Vast colonies of penguins, albatrosses, petrels, seals and sea lions bring vibrant life to these windswept islands, filled with the calls of millions of nesting seabirds.

Day 33-35Dunedin

Your luxury expedition cruise sadly comes to an end in Dunedin, on the South Island, the principal city of the Otago region. Set in a pretty bay that serves as a port and surrounded by bush-covered hills, the town has quirky historic appeal. One of the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere, Dunedin is known as the Edinburgh of New Zealand, and it’s proud of its Celtic connections. Small and eminently walkable, see elaborate civic buildings, New Zealand’s only castles, funky alleyways filled with street art, and picturesque parks. The Toitu Otago Early Settlers Museum and Otago Museum come highly recommended, as well as a visit to the Dunedin Chinese Garden.

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