Antarctic Circle Expedition (18D)

With its fusion of faded European splendor and Latin American panache, an overnight stay in Buenos Aires is the ideal way to start your Antarctic adventure.

Take in the beautiful architecture. Visit the beautiful opera house of Teatro Colón, the pretty-in-pink Casa Rosada, and the National Museum of Fine Arts, displaying works by Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso.

Explore the colorful street museum in La Boca with its buzzy markets and restaurants. Or take in a tango show before savoring delicious Argentinian beef in one of the city’s steakhouses.

Your adventure begins with an early morning flight to Ushuaia, where we’ll meet your hybrid-powered expedition ship, specially designed for exploring polar waters. This bustling port is the capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego Province. Set against the magnificent backdrop of the Martial Glacier, Ushuaia vies for the title of the world’s southernmost city.

After a briefing from your Expedition Team, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin and explore the comforts and amenities on board.

As we cruise from Ushuia to Antarctica through the Drake Passage, the Expedition Team will equip you with all you need to make the most of your polar expedition.

Visit the onboard Science Center and find out what lies ahead. Listen to experts talk passionately about Antarctica’s history, the science beneath the ice, and the impact of climate change and plastic pollution. You’ll learn how to make your visit as safe as possible, and about the Citizen Science projects you can join. Relax and meet your fellow adventurers. Take a refreshing swim, enjoy a spa treatment and look out for icebergs, whales and albatrosses.v

Nothing quite prepares you for it. Surrounded by looming glaciers, and icebergs the size of floating cathedrals, Antarctica will fill you with wonder. Perhaps the most surprising part of Antarctica is the silence. It’s a stillness that’s broken every so often by the locals—the wildlife.

Huge colonies of penguins huddle on the ice floes, avoiding the cunning leopard seals that hunt them. Majestic, migrating whales glide among amazing icebergs, hunting the shoals of krill they feed on. Bird enthusiasts should look skywards to spot some of 45 species of Antarctic seabirds that live here, such as skuas, jaegers, petrels and terns.

Here, nature is king and we are mere observers. Our experienced captain will continually monitor conditions to create the best possible itinerary for your adventure. You’ll spend an exciting 11 days busily exploring several of many possible landing sites. Rest assured, each day will offer something different and thrilling.

We’ll aim for Marguerite Bay and explore islands along the way, and you’ll join the Expedition Team on landings and ice cruises whenever opportunities present themselves. You may even get a chance to go kayaking among the icebergs on an optional activity.

Back on board, join Citizen Science projects and onboard lectures, where you’ll learn more about polar exploration, this precious habitat, and how we can all protect it.

After 11 days of exhilarating exploration, your expedition cruise, taking in the wonders and wildlife of Antarctica, nears its end. As we make the return trip to Ushuaia, enjoy this time at sea.

Join the Expedition Team in the Science Center to delve into areas of interest in more depth and contribute your observations to Citizen Science projects. Enlist the help of our onboard photographer with the editing of your photos.

Relax with a treatment in the spa and wellness area or take in the fresh sea air from the on-deck hot tubs. Spend time in the Explorer Lounge & Bar with the new friends you’ve made on your trip, sharing experiences over a relaxing drink.

Your expedition cruise ends in Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina’s southernmost province. From here, you’ll take a flight back to Buenos Aires, but it needn’t be the end of your adventure.