Crossing the Antarctic Circle (Ocean Victory) - 13 Days

Welcome to Ushuaia – the gateway to Antarctica! When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be transferred to your comfortable hotel for the night. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at your hotel this evening where you’ll meet your fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe head out and explore the southernmost city in the world – in downtown Ushuaia, you'll find plenty of restaurants where you can feast on Argentinian cuisine and maybe pick up a souvenir or two before you board your ship tomorrow.

This morning, if you’d like to see more of Ushuaia, maybe visit the local leather markets or check out the Maritime Museum. Or simply relax at the hotel until this afternoon, when you’ll be transferred to the port to board your ship. When you’ve boarded, you’ll meet your Expedition Team and settle into your cabin. Have a safety and orientation meeting, then sit down with your fellow travellers and the captain for a welcome dinner and toast to the start of your polar adventure!

You’ll spend these next two days at sea, crossing the Drake Passage – the infamous body of water separating the tip of South America and the South Shetland Islands on the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Over these two days, your Expedition Team will share their expert knowledge with you, preparing you for your Antarctic journey that lies just ahead! Take part in the Citizen Science program, where you can contribute to the recording and understanding of polar ecosystems and how they’re being impacted by climate change. Have your binoculars ready for plenty of seabird-watching – albatross, petrels and prions are all likely sights as you traverse this passage. Keep an eye out for breaching whales, too! Feel the temperature drop as you cross the Antarctic Convergence, officially making your way into Antarctic waters.

A day in Drake Passage.

Venture along the Antarctic Peninsula, into the Gerlache Strait region. Over these five days, you’ll set out on expeditions twice daily – take a Zodiac cruise into the calmer waters of Paradise Bay, see penguins nesting on Cuverville Island, explore historic expedition huts at Damoy Point and be on the lookout for humpback whales in Wilhelmina Bay. Top it all off with the incredible scenery of the Lemaire Channel, where towering peaks (up to 1000 m high) border this 11-km-long passage filled with icebergs. Weather permitting, you’ll cross the Antarctic Circle at 66°33’S – a rare achievement that will put you in the company of few adventurers!

A day starting in Antarctic Peninsula and ending in Antarctic Circle.

A day starting in Antarctic Peninsula and ending in Antarctic Circle.

A day starting in Antarctic Peninsula and ending in Antarctic Circle.

A day starting in Antarctic Peninsula and ending in Antarctic Circle.

Today, you'll explore this archipelago that forms the northernmost tip of Antarctica – the South Shetland Islands. Witness the ice-capped peaks of Livingstone, Greenwich and King George Islands – the dramatic backdrop for today’s expeditions. Discover the rich diversity of wildlife that flourishes here despite the harsh elements – see gentoo and chinstrap penguins waddling about along the islands’ shores. Weather permitting, visit the atmospheric Deception Island. Formed by the crater of an active volcano, this island is dotted with the ruins of a Norwegian whaling station and abandoned scientific research stations from the 1960s. You might also visit Yankee Harbour, where a huge colony of around 4000 breeding pairs of gentoo penguins reside. Learn about this glacier-fringed harbour’s history as a former key anchorage for sealers. Keep your eye out for seals lazing on ice floes here as well!

Head north and traverse the iconic Drake Passage once again. Celebrate the expedition of a lifetime with a slideshow of photos from the trip, a photography contest with your fellow travellers and a farewell meal together. Toast to a trip well-travelled!

A day in Drake Passage.

This morning, it’s time to disembark the ship as your unforgettable Antarctic expedition comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay in Ushuaia, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.