Expedition Antarctica - the Great Penguin Adventure

Your Antarctic expedition commences in Ushuaia, beautifully surrounded by snow-covered mountains. Spend the night at a centrally located hotel in this town, often referred to as the “End of the World.”

Spend the morning exploring Ushuaia independently. In the afternoon, board the Ocean Nova and navigate the Beagle Channel to commence the Antarctic expedition. Keep a close watch on the water; with luck, Magellanic penguins might be spotted swimming in the channel.

Spend a day at sea, accompanied by seabirds such as petrels, fulmars and albatrosses that gracefully following your ship. Whales and dolphins may also be seen in the surrounding waters, and the polar experts begin their exciting lecture program.

The plan is to explore the western islands of the archipelago, which are isolated and windswept but home to many seabirds including the black-browed albatross. Weather permitting, go ashore and explore Saunders Island, a penguin hotspot that is one of the few places on Earth where four penguin species nest side by side. Here, you can find gentoo, rockhopper, king and Magellanic penguin rookeries as well as nesting black-browed albatross. You can stand on the white sand beach watching the penguins come and go while the striated caracaras patrol overhead.

Visit Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands. Here, you wander through charming streets lined with small houses and learn how this quiet harbor was once a major port in the 19th century for ships attempting to round the waters of Cape Horn. 

You sail southeast, bound for South Georgia. The anticipation grows, especially as you cross the Antarctic Convergence and notice a dramatic drop in temperature. Shipboard presentations will continue, featuring the fascinating history and abundant wildlife of South Georgia. Wildlife will guide you to the island – keep a lookout in the ocean for whales, seals, and penguins.

Majestic mountains, mighty glaciers, and beaches full of king penguins greets you on the island of South Georgia. You arrive at the beginning of summer, when there are few ships in the vicinity, and the peaks of the dramatic mountain ranges are still snow-covered.

For wildlife enthusiasts, South Georgia is a true haven. Hundreds of thousands of penguins gather at places like St. Andrew’s Bay and Salisbury Plain. Huge elephant seals lounge on beaches, and at this time of year, you may witness dramatic fights for dominance among the males. The island is also home to several other penguin species, including macaroni, gentoo, and chinstrap penguins, along with the playful and feisty fur seals.

South Georgia played a significant role in Shackleton’s legendary expedition. After his ship Endurance sank, he and his crew crossed the treacherous ocean in an open lifeboat to reach the island. You hope to visit Shackleton’s grave at Grytviken, once an active whaling station, now home to a charming museum.

Set sail towards the world’s most remote continent – Antarctica, faithfully accompanied by many seabirds. Your polar experts continue to fill your minds with heroic stories of the early daredevils who explored Antarctica. Keep your eyes open for the first iceberg, which could appear on the horizon at any time!

This is a true Antarctic expedition cruise, and your exact route over the following days is subject to weather and ice conditions. Below are examples of places you may visit.

You hope to go ashore at Elephant Island, where you can learn more about the famous Antarctic adventures of Sir Ernest Shackleton. In 1916, Shackleton and his crew sought refuge on this island after their ship was crushed by pack ice in the Weddell Sea. Following the loss of their ship, they reached Elephant Island after a harrowing ordeal on drifting ice floes. They established a camp at a location they named Point Wild, after Shackleton’s commander, Frank Wild. Today, this area is home to nesting chinstrap penguins.

Spend some time cruising among the South Shetland Islands, just off the Antarctic Peninsula. Dazzling wildlife sightings awaits on your excursions to some of the islands, including King George, Half Moon, Barrientos, or Livingston. Adélie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins thrive here, along with several species of seals. Hopefully, you can also have the chance to visit the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island. Along the coastline of the South Shetlands, keep your eyes open for humpback whales foraging for krill.

Continuing south along the Antarctic Peninsula, you navigate through vast expanses of pack ice covering large parts of the bays, watching as your experienced officers skillfully steer your ice-strengthened ship. You cruise through labyrinths of icebergs, some of which may be occupied by curious penguins. In good ice conditions, you hope to set foot on the Antarctic continent at Hope Bay or Paradise Harbor. The scenery here – from the colossal icebergs to the seemingly endless Antarctic ice sheet – is truly breathtaking.

As you leave this magical place and head across the Drake Passage, spend time reflecting on the incredible experiences of the past days. As you approach the South American continent, it is possible to see whales, dolphins, and seals. Celebrate the conclusion of your Antarctic expedition with a farewell dinner on board.

In the early morning, disembark in Ushuaia and have time to explore this quaint little town at your own pace.

Please note: Your exact route during this Antarctica cruise will depend on ice and weather conditions. The planned itinerary will be adjusted throughout the voyage to take advantage of favorable conditions. Flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!