Antarctica Complete

This morning, enjoy breakfast and check out. Please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Take your cabin luggage to hotel reception, prior to, or at check-out. Your luggage will be stored and transferred directly to the port for clearance, to be placed in your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day.

Those wishing to join the Lake Escondido tour, please meet in the hotel lobby at 8:45am. This tour offers an unforgettable panoramic drive through big valleys of glacial origin, evergreen and deciduous forests, waterfalls and rivers, in the vastness of the Andes Mountain Range. Leave Ushuaia city to the northeast of Tierra del Fuego, driving through peat bog valleys to reach Garibaldi Pass, only accessible by a winding road that will take you to a panoramic point. From here, have amazing panoramic views of Lake Escondido and, if weather conditions allow, of Fagnano Lake. Start your descent towards the northeast to reach Fagnano Lake’s shore where you will visit a local ranch. After appreciating the landscape, you will have the chance to enjoy the typical Fuegian Lamb barbecue. Enjoy some free time there before returning to Ushuaia for ship embarkation.

Alternatively, enjoy your day at leisure and meet at your hotel lobby or from the meeting point at the parking lot near the pier (details will be given by your ground staff at the hotel), to be transferred to the pier for embarkation.

Once on board, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin before important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from port, gather on the deck to commence your adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego.

This evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition team and crew at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure to Antarctica.

Settle into your stateroom and make yourself comfortable! The onboard gym, wellbeing center and well-equipped library are yours to discover, and your expedition team will offer a series of presentations on Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment to help enrich your experience. You will also be invited to collect your muck boots and attend important briefings on biosecurity, wildlife-watching guidelines and Zodiac safety, in preparation for your first landing in Antarctica.

On Day 4, the excitement is palpable as you near the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, with everyone converging on the observation decks to spot their first iceberg. Now that you’re south of the Antarctic Convergence the ocean takes on a whole new character, as you’re surrounded by porpoising penguins and dramatic icebergs. The memory of your first iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Time and weather permitting, possibly attempt your first Antarctic landing in the late afternoon.

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Take a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth. The western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ready to be explored, and there are many options. Being so far south, experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight, enabling the days to be as busy as desired. The experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design the voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

Hope to make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day, as planned. Dress warmly before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also provide transport between the ship and landing sites that are host to penguin rookeries and historic huts. While ashore, aim to stretch the legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below.

Possibly enjoy ship cruises through some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendor. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea, and take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.

On this voyage, under favorable conditions, plan to cross the Antarctic Circle, an imaginary line located at the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66°33′ South. This is certainly a special highlight for everyone, and the moment will be celebrated with a toast on the deck. Join a small group of lucky adventurers who’ve made it to this part of the world. As the ship approaches and crosses the circle, one can notice subtle changes in the landscape, icescape and in the distribution of wildlife. The waters at this time of year are rich with krill so there may be plenty of whales—particularly humpbacks and minkes. Enjoy the spectacle of penguins feeding their ravenous chicks.

Attend informative lectures to learn about Antarctica as you sail across the Scotia Sea towards the white continent. You may want to relax in the sauna or stay active in the gym; the choice is yours on how you want to enjoy days at sea.

Sea and weather conditions will determine your arrival time into South Georgia today.

As you near the rugged island of South Georgia, spare a thought for Captain James Cook, who arrived here in 1775 and believed it to be the northern tip of a great southern continent! In fact, it is a small island only 110 miles (176 km) long, but with a 9,842-foot (3,000 m) snow-capped mountain range, some of the world’s largest congregations of wildlife and a truly fascinating human history, South Georgia is an island of incredible riches.

On approach, jagged mountain peaks rise steeply, while seabirds are often spotted soaring around the ship. We will sail down the coast, taking in the spectacular glaciated scenery. This enchanting coastline is yours to explore!

If time and weather conditions permit, en route you could pass close to Shag Rocks, a fascinating group of jagged rocky islets protruding from the sea, in the proximity of South Georgia.

The experienced expedition team will plan the voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, sea state and wildlife opportunities. Anticipate making landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. Zodiac cruises scour craggy coves the rocky coastline in search of nesting penguins, seal haul-outs and bird cliffs. Watch for South Georgia’s kelp forests as well–these remarkable underwater ecosystems are quite mesmerizing as their fronds sway back and forth on the water’s surface.

Zodiacs will also transport you from ship to shore, where you can visit some of the largest king penguin colonies on earth, take a guided walk among fur seals and elephant seals (making sure you listen to your guides and keep your distance!) and wander along pebbled streams and grassy glacial outwash plains. We also hope to visit the remnants of South Georgia’s thriving whaling stations and pay our respects to Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose incredible voyage of survival is synonymous with this island. If you have chosen an optional activity, you’ll have the option to do that whenever conditions allow.

Additionally, the ship may cruise through fjords with towering cliffs of ancient stone, or into deeply indented bays towards dramatic glacier fronts. This is a great time to find a comfy spot in the observation lounge or the bridge to enjoy uninterrupted views of South Georgia’s majestic coast.

Between the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, be enthralled by the ceaseless flight of the many seabirds that follow and circle the ship. Your onboard lecture program will continue with presentations from your team of experts. You can also enjoy the many facilities on the ship, borrow a book from the well–stocked library or perhaps stay active in the fitness center.

Sea and weather conditions will determine your arrival time into Falklands~Malvinas today.

The Falklands~Malvinas comprises two large islands (East and West Falkland), with over 700 islands scattered off the coast. All but seven of these are uninhabited, with windswept coastlines, white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water. These beautifully barren islands are true wildlife havens, sheltering an impressive diversity of birdlife, including the largest black-browed albatross colony on earth. The cold, nutrient-rich waters surrounding the islands make this a prime location for spotting marine life.

The Falkland Islands comprises two large islands (East and West Falkland), with over 700 islands scattered off the coast. All but seven of these are uninhabited, with windswept coastlines, white sand beaches and crystal clear water. These beautifully barren islands are true wildlife havens, sheltering an impressive diversity of birdlife, including the largest black-browed albatross colony on earth. The cold, nutrient-rich waters surrounding the islands make this a prime location for spotting marine life.

There are many beautiful areas to explore across the Falklands, each offering a unique perspective on this magnificent archipelago. The experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design the voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing winds, weather and wildlife opportunities.

Anticipate making landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day, weather permitting. Despite being north of the Antarctic Convergence, it can be quite chilly here, so layer up before joining Zodiac cruises into rocky coves or along sea cliffs, keeping watch for seals, sea lions, dolphins and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport guests from the ship to land to visit possible albatross colonies, penguin rookeries and perhaps even enjoy a traditional English tea and scones gathering at a local cottage.

Conditions permitting, also aim to land in historic Stanley, the capital of the Falklands. This charming town has a distinctly British character, with terraced townhouses, pioneer cottages and even an iconic red telephone box! Colorful buildings house cozy cafes, English pubs, souvenir shops, a post office and the fascinating Historic Dockyard Museum, with displays on the maritime history of the Falkland Islands, natural history and links to Antarctica.

While sailing towards Ushuaia, you may choose to spend your precious time editing photos, enjoying the onboard facilities, or attending final lectures. Celebrate the end of an unforgettable voyage with newfound friends at a special captain’s farewell dinner.

With lectures and film presentations to complete your Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and discussion about what you have seen and experienced. Hopefully you’ll become an ambassador for the Antarctic region, telling your family, friends and colleagues about your journey to this magical place, advocating for its conservation and preservation so that they might one day visit the region to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here.

During the early morning, cruise up the Beagle Channel before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where disembarkation occurs around 8:00am. Say farewell to the expedition team and fellow passengers as everyone continues onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.

Upon disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region, transportation to the hotel will be arranged exclusively for guests who have booked their accommodations through the ship operator or for those staying in downtown areas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior to 12:30pm will be directly transferred to Ushuaia Airport, those with flights after 12:30pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airport transfer, and the transfer procedures and details will be communicated on board before disembarkation.