Life Returns – Springtime Expedition to Antarctica

Home to a proud and diverse community of ‘porteños’, or ‘people of the port’, Buenos Aires is a sensuous fusion of faded European splendor and Latin American panache.

There are plenty of places to explore, including many ‘parrillas’ serving authentic Argentine steak. This is the renowned birthplace of the tango, so maybe you’d like to practice your dance moves.

Your Expedition Ship will await you for embarkation.

Over the next few days at sea, you’ll learn more about the wonders we’ll encounter on our trip.

Members of the Expedition Team will start their lecture series on topics such as oceanography, geology, ornithology, and history. Pop into the Science Center for hands-on presentations as well.

Grab a pair of binoculars and look for rare wandering albatrosses and petrels. Make the most of your onboard facilities and enjoy the hot tubs, panoramic sauna, and gym.

The Falkland archipelago is filled with seamless horizons and white sand beaches teeming with birdlife. Only the occasional farm dots the landscape amid grassy hills and wildflowers. Enjoy a community walk around Stanley, taking in the Jubilee Villas gardens, Christ Church Cathedral, and the Historic Dockyard Museum.

Our landings, hikes, and excursions are – as always – subject to weather conditions. We hope to visit albatross and penguin colonies, where seals can often be found as well, getting as close as possible without disturbing them.

After the Falkland Islands, we will spend two days cruising toward beautiful South Georgia. Look forward to seeing an archipelago filled with diverse wildlife.

The Expedition Team will prepare you for what lies ahead. They will tell you everything they know about South Georgia, including information about the area’s wildlife, polar history, geology, glaciology, and stories of Norwegian whalers.

You’ll also learn how to make your visit as safe and as low impact as possible. You can join our Citizen Science programs to help collect data for global research projects.

South Georgia’s abundant wildlife has earned it the nickname ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’. Its unique position, free from sea ice, makes the island an ideal breeding site for large colonies of penguins, other seabirds, and seals. In fact, it is listed as an Important Bird Area, home to albatrosses, petrels, shags, skuas, and terns.

During three days in the area, we’ll land as often as we can to explore the wilderness and observe the wildlife. We’ll also try to reach Grytviken, the final resting place of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Nature always calls the shots on our expedition route. Our experiences will vary depending on that day’s conditions as we adapt to find the best possible experience.

After visiting the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, take time to relax and reflect on your journey so far as we head toward Antarctica.

Antarctica is a continent dedicated to peace, science, and wildlife. As we approach, the Expedition Team will talk about the IAATO environmental guidelines and sustainability rules that we follow when visiting. We leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but pictures.

Nothing prepares you for your first sight of Antarctica’s immense, frozen beauty. Icebergs, sculpted by nature, float in the straits. Gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie penguins watch from the shores. Countless seabirds wheel overhead. Nature is in charge.

During the next five days, you’ll explore several possible landing sites on and around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. It doesn’t matter where we go or what we do, every day will be thrilling and unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

We might sail into a flooded volcanic caldera or land in icy bays where remnants of whaling paraphernalia lie abandoned. You may also have the chance to kayak among icebergs and seals or snowshoe to a stunning viewpoint.

Bird enthusiasts should look skyward for Antarctic seabirds such as skuas, petrels, and terns. Through onboard lectures and onshore talks, you’ll learn more about this precious habitat and discover how we can all protect it for the future.

Five unforgettable days in Antarctica are over. It’s time for us to embark upon our final adventure together: the Drake Passage. Known for its often strong winds and strong currents, the passage can also be silent and still. Luck will dictate whether you will experience the so-called ‘Drake Shake’ or the ‘Drake Lake’.

But don’t worry—even if we experience rough seas, your ship is perfectly equipped for this leg of the adventure exploring the Southern Ocean. During the crossing, the Expedition Team will recap our experiences, keeping your head in the Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica a little while longer.

Your Antarctica and Patagonia expedition cruise comes to an end in Punta Arenas. From here, you’ll catch a flight to Santiago de Chile and then your connecting flight home, taking with you a wealth of fantastic memories.