Antarctica : Classic Antarctica Cruises

Day 1 Ushuaia, Argentina
This expedition is perfect for first-time polar travellers and those with limited time. Overnight at a hotel in Ushuaia.

Day 2 Embarkation Day
After embarkation in the late afternoon, you will sail down the Beagle Channel. Keep watch on deck for seabirds, penguins and rainbows.

Days 3-4 Crossing the Drake Passage
Prepare for rough water, but do not be disappointed if your crossing is smooth sailing. The Drake is always changing and provides excellent opportunities for spotting seabirds, including many species of albatross and petrels.

Days 5-9 South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula
Explore the highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula - many factors play a role in shaping the expedition’s progress, including sea, ice and weather conditions – but the plan is to leave the ship to explore in a range of activity levels at least twice a day.

Perhaps you’ll feel salt spray on your face as the Zodiac weaves in and around grounded icebergs in Pleneau Bay. You could scramble to the top of a craggy hill for an unforgettable view of an icy chasm near Port Lockroy. You could sit quietly on a pebbled beach and wait for a curious penguin chick to approach or plunge into the frigid Antarctic waters.

Over the course of the austral spring and summer, the sun lingers longer and longer, melting snow and ice. Wildlife abounds: chicks hatch and fledge, and pods of whales breach in a deep bay where a calving iceberg has churned up krill, the local delicacy.

The natural cycle of life ensures that every expedition is different. And that every expedition is full of surprises! In Antarctica, silence is so complete that interruptions become indelible memories: noisy penguins squabbling over prized pebbles, the boom and crack of a calving glacier near Petermann Island. As you sail from island to shore to bay during four days around the Peninsula, the Expedition Team provides opportunities for contemplation, to test your endurance and engage your curiosity.

Days 10-11 Drake Passage
Activities during the return voyage depend on the conditions of the Drake. A smooth crossing is a busy crossing, with lectures and films to enjoy.

Day 12 Ushuaia
You will be transferred to the airport from the ship when you disembark in Ushuaia.

NOTE on the 10 and 11-day itineraries, spend less time exploring the Antarctic Peninsula.  Some options do NOT include the pre-voyage night accommodation in Ushuaia - see prices page or ask our team for full details.  

NB All voyage itineraries are intended as a guideline only - embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy of expedition travel. Actual routes and landings will be dependent on weather, sea and ice conditions. A degree of flexibility is essential in the polar regions!