South Georgia & Antarctic Odyssey | 21 Days | Sylvia Earle Cruise

You will be met by an official upon arrival and taken to the pre-voyage accommodation with other expeditioners. Check-in begins at 3pm if you are already in Ushuaia. Between 3:00 and 7:00 PM, visit the Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort hospitality desk to pick up luggage tags and confirm your participation in Beagle Channel and Isla de Los Lobos Cruise. You will receive information about the expedition and get answers to your questions. Arriving after 7:00pm will receive a welcome package at the check-in desk. The next morning, please visit the Hospitality Desk between 8:00am and 10:00am. All meals are at your expense. The rest of the day can be spent at leisure. Accommodation assigned: Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort, or Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel.

After checking out in the morning, make sure your luggage is properly tagged and drop it off at the reception before 11:00am. Your luggage will be transported directly to the port and put in your cabin. Always keep valuables on you. You can explore Ushuaia in the morning.
Meet at your hotel at 12:15pm for the 12:30pm transfer to the harbor. Visit the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and sea lion colony, or explore Beagle Channel. Meet at the lobby of the hotel at 3pm or 3:30pm (details will be provided) to take a shuttle boat out.

As soon as you arrive, check into your room before the mandatory briefings. Gather on deck to enjoy the spectacular views of Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego and the departure of the ship. Enjoy a welcoming dinner in the evening with your fellow adventurers and friendly crew and expedition team to start off this exciting Antarctica journey.

We acclimatize to the motions of the ocean as we begin the Drake Passage. As you prepare for your first landing, the expedition team will provide wildlife guidelines and biosecurity protocols. The lectures begin, focusing on Antarctica's wildlife and history.

Seabirds such as albatrosses, giant petrels and majestic albatrosses follow the ship. Enjoy the onboard amenities like the jacuzzis and saunas or enjoy the observation lounges.

As passengers gather around observation decks on the fourth day to see the first iceberg, excitement builds. The ocean below the Antarctic Convergence is transformed by surreal floating sculptures of ice. It is possible that the memory of first seeing an iceberg will linger. If weather and time permit, the first Antarctic landing may take place by late afternoon.

Arriving in Antarctica can be difficult to describe. The sight of your first iceberg, and the crisp, fresh air you breathe are unforgettable. The South Shetland Islands and western Antarctic Peninsula offer many exploration opportunities. Experienced expedition teams, who are well versed in this area, plan the journey day-by-day, taking into account weather conditions, ice and wildlife.

Zodiac or landing excursions are usually twice daily. For Zodiac excursions, dress warmly and keep an eye out on the ice cliffs or icebergs. You may also see seals and penguins porpoising. Zodiacs will take you to the land where you can explore penguin rookeries and historic huts.

Ashore, you can stretch your legs by walking on pebbly sand or climbing snow-covered ridgelines, with mountains towering above and oceans dotted with ice. When conditions allow, optional activities can be enjoyed. Polar plungers are able to immerse in the ice-speckled oceans below.

The ship can also navigate between narrow islands, or stop in picturesque bays for whale watching. You can enjoy the observatory or go to the bridge at your Captain's discretion for uninterrupted views. Enjoy the quiet, humming sound of the glaciers as they erode into the ocean.

We travel the Scotia Sea to South Georgia and retrace Shackleton’s dangerous route on the James Caird, which he took in 1916. Shackleton, five men, and their crew were left on Elephant Island. They set out to South Georgia 1,290 kilometers away for assistance. Shackleton expected the journey to last two weeks and planned to recruit whalers to help him return to Elephant Island to save his remaining crew.

While anticipation builds for South Georgia, you can mingle in the bar with other expeditioners, watch wildlife with a naturalist or learn about Shackleton's story from the historian.

There were almost always gales. Our boat was so small and the waves were so high that our sail would flap idly between two waves. We would then climb up the slope to catch the fury of a gale, where the white wool of breaking water swam around us.

- Ernest Shackleton

As you approach South Georgia, remember Captain James Cook’s belief in 1775 that this was the northernmost tip of a continent. Instead, discover a rich, small island, with a mountain range 3,000m high and abundant wildlife. Explore the jagged mountains and seabirds as you cruise along the coastline. Zodiac tours offer up close encounters of penguins and seals as well as kelp forest. On land excursions, you can visit colonies of king penguins, discover glacial plains and remnants from whaling stations, as well as explore ice fields. South Georgia is best seen from a ship cruise through the fjords or bays.

Enjoy the onboard entertainment while sailing to FalklandsMalvinas. Expedition team members offer informative lectures about wildlife, natural history and other topics. Enjoy the facilities of the ship or spend time watching seabirds, marine life and other wildlife from the stern.

The weather and sea conditions will determine whether you arrive in The Falklands Malvinas. These wildlife-rich islands consist of two large islands and over 700 smaller islands. They are home to diverse birdlife, including the largest blackbrowed Albatross colony in the world. These waters are rich in nutrients and offer great opportunities for marine life.

With your expedition team's expertise, explore the diverse Falklands Malvinas areas, choosing options according to weather, wind, and wildlife. Dress warmly for Zodiac excursions into the coves to watch for dolphins and penguins. You may see albatross colonies or penguin nesting colonies. Visit historic Stanley for a charming British capital, with terraced houses and pioneer cottages. It also has the iconic red phone boxes. There are cafes, pubs and shops in the town, as well as a post-office and a museum that showcases maritime history and links to Antarctica.

You can spend the time you have left editing your photos or enjoying onboard amenities, while we continue our journey to Ushuaia. Enjoy a farewell celebration with your newfound friends to celebrate the end of a memorable voyage.

There is plenty of time left to experience the Southern Ocean, its inhabitants and all the wonders that it has to offer. We have time to reflect and discuss what we've seen and done. You can become ambassadors of the Antarctica region by telling family members, colleagues and friends about the journey you took to this amazing place. Advocate for its preservation and conservation so they may one day be able to visit and experience the same things you did.

In the early morning, cruise up the Beagle Channel and dock in Ushuaia around 8:00 am. Bid farewell to the expedition team and fellow passengers. Disembarkation details vary based on flight times. Passengers departing before 12:30 pm will be transferred to Ushuaia Airport; others can explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airport transfer. It's advised not to book flights departing Ushuaia before 12:00 pm due to potential delays.