You may arrive in Ushuaia at any time on Day 1. Many guests choose to arrive a
day or two before embarkation day to explore this quaint port city at the bottom
of South America., and the surrounding region. Based on the arrival information
you send in advance, we will arrange for a transfer from the airport to the
designated group hotel.
On the morning of Day 2, your luggage will be collected from the hotel lobby and
transferred to your cabin on the ship. Guests will meet at a designated location
near the pier, usually about 4 pm, and board the waiting buses for transfer to the
ship. After a late afternoon embarkation, we will sail along the historic Beagle
Channel, which transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of
South America. Excitement builds in anticipation of your next stop: the Antarctic.
Legendary for its high winds and rolling seas, you may get lucky and have
surprisingly calm seas through the Drake Passage. Spend your time in the lounge
or chatting with your fellow travelers. As you develop your sea legs during the
crossing, our Expedition Team will begin their series of presentations to help
prepare you for your upcoming Zodiac and land excursions. You officially enter
Antarctica when your ship crosses the Antarctic Convergence, a biological
boundary that fluctuates around 60° south.
The most common reaction upon reaching the 7th Continent is a sense of
reverence and awe. The experience is beyond words, since few places are as
untouched as Antarctica. You will begin to appreciate why this region has long
captivated the attention of explorers and travelers alike. Every time we visit
Antarctica, we witness something new or unexpected, which means that your
expedition will be unlike any other— creating a unique, personal experience.
Each day, you will take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore glaciated
bays, channels and landing sites. Your Expedition Team will take care of you at
each landing, whether you are hiking the Antarctic landscape, visiting a research
station or observing chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins, all of which can be
found here. Keep an eye out for Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals as well
as curious whales, such as humpbacks, minkes, or perhaps orcas while on a Zodiac
cruise. Each excursion will present a new array of creatures to fascinate you and
keep your camera busy. Amid the serene silence of Antarctica, noisy interludes
become indelible memories, such as penguins squabbling over prized pebbles, or
the boom and crack of a calving glacier. Every day will be different, having been
carefully crafted by your Expedition Team to inspire and educate you about this
wonderful part of the world.
With only the Drake Passage ahead, you’ll disembark on King George Island
before flying to Punta Arenas, Chile. Once you’re in Punta Arenas, we’ll transfer
you from the airport to your designated group hotel. You're then free to explore
Punta Arenas and enjoy a final dinner on your own.
After breakfast, you are free to continue on your own travels or make your way to
the Punta Arenas airport for your homeward flights.
