Across the Antarctic Circle

Arrive in Ushuaia, and after being greeted, transfer with fellow expeditioners to your pre-voyage hotel. If already in Ushuaia, make your way to the hotel, check-in from 3.00 pm. Visit the hospitality desk at Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort between 3.00 pm and 7.00 pm to collect luggage tags, and confirm participation in the Beagle Channel and Isla de Los Lobos Cruise. Expeditions arriving after 7.00 pm will find a welcome pack at check-in. Those arriving later should visit the hospitality desk between 8.00 am – 10.00 am tomorrow. Enjoy leisure time, and all meals are at your expense today.

Assigned accommodation: Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort or Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel.

This morning, have breakfast and check-out, ensuring your cabin luggage has clear tags with your name and cabin number. Take it to the hotel reception for storage and transfer to the port. Keep valuables with you.

You have the morning at leisure to explore Ushuaia.

For those joining the catamaran cruise, meet at the hotel lobby at 12.15 pm for a 12.30 pm transfer to the port. The cruise explores the Beagle Channel, passing the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and watching sea lions and imperial cormorants.

Alternatively, enjoy leisure time and meet at the hotel lobby at 3.00 pm or 3.30 pm at the pier parking lot for embarkation.

Once onboard, settle into your cabin before mandatory briefings. As the ship departs, gather on the deck for views over Ushuaia. The evening features a welcome dinner to celebrate the Antarctic adventure with fellow expeditioners, the expedition team, and crew.

Embarking on the Drake Passage, we acclimate to the sea's movements. The expedition team provides wildlife guidelines, biosecurity procedures, and initiates the lecture program on Antarctica's history, wildlife, and environment.

Wildlife encounters start with seabird watching, including albatrosses and giant petrels. On sea days, enjoy onboard facilities like the gym, sauna, jacuzzis, or relax in observation lounges.

Approaching the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula, anticipation grows for the first iceberg sighting. Crossing the Antarctic Convergence, we enter a realm of floating ice sculptures. If conditions permit, the first landing in Antarctica may occur by late afternoon.

Arriving in Antarctica is an indescribable experience, marked by the sight of the first iceberg and the inhale of the pure, crisp air. The Western Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands offer diverse exploration options, with approximately 18-24 hours of daylight.

The seasoned expedition team plans daily activities based on weather, ice conditions, and wildlife opportunities. Landings or Zodiac excursions occur twice daily, exploring ice cliffs, grounded icebergs, and wildlife habitats. Optional activities, like polar plunges, are available conditions permitting.

Ship cruising through dramatic straits and bays provides additional views, and the journey may cross the Antarctic Circle (66°33' South). Crossing below the Circle is celebrated with a deck toast, offering unique bragging rights. Expect landscape and wildlife changes, with abundant krill attracting whales, penguins feeding chicks, and a distinctive Christmas celebration with festive landings and a special feast in a scenic restaurant.

Conclude your Antarctic adventure with a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before heading back through the Drake Passage. Enjoy lectures, film presentations, and the Southern Ocean's magic, reflecting on the journey. Become an Antarctic ambassador, sharing your experiences and advocating for its conservation. Weather permitting, sail close to legendary Cape Horn on the return to South America.

Disembark in Ushuaia early in the morning, bidding farewell to your expedition team and fellow travelers. Passengers with flights before 12:30 pm will be transferred to Ushuaia Airport directly, while those continuing their journey can explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airport transfer. Flights after 12:30 pm allow for additional exploration. Note that flights departing before 12:00 pm on disembarkation day are not recommended to account for potential delays.