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King Penguin in South Georgia

Shackleton's Discovery

Example 19 Day Cruise aboard SH Vega
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Live out your goal of visiting Antarctica during this remarkable 19-day voyage on board our luxury ice-class expedition ship. The renowned two-day Drake Passage sea crossing marks the beginning of your journey to this frigid wilderness. Travel to South Georgia while following in the footsteps of renowned explorer Ernest Shackleton. Here, you can scramble onto beaches that are crowded with penguins. Get ready for amazing photo chances as you sail around the Antarctic Peninsula and pass majestic icebergs. This immersive cruise is the ultimate Antarctica journey that will make for the trip of a lifetime.
 
Examining the towering glaciers of AntarcticaIceberg extraordinary form at sunset in backlight rays of the sun in Antarctica. The beauty of AntarcticaA whale plays near the surface at dusk.Seal and colony of king penguins,adults and chicks near lake , Antarctic mountain landscape, misty day, South GeorgiaKing Penguin colony in water at South GeorgiaTwo adult king penguins stand between large elephant seals lying on a black sand beachWide view of large colony of adult and juvenile king penguins on the beach at St. Andrew's Bay, South Georgia Island,King Penguin in South Georgia
Highlights
  • Experience beaches with thousands of rockhopper, gentoo and king penguins
  • Discover the island where explorer Ernest Shackleton spent his last days
  • Explore the wildlife scenery of the Lemaire Channel
  • Observe southern right whales as you sail towards the Falkland Islands
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Buenos Aires

Arrive in Buenos Aires, relax and spend the overnight here preparing for your adventure.
 

Day 2: Buenos Aires | Embark

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner
Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital is "The Paris of South America". But this metropolis is as much about its neighborhoods (barrios) and cafe culture. Each district has its own character - no more than colorful and lively La Boca, where tango dancers perform in the streets. Ships dock into the regenerated waterfront barrio Puerto Madero. Be sure also to visit the handsome district of Recoleta, famous for the cemetery where Eva “Evita” Peron is buried.

Day 3-5: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our onboard lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Day 6: West Point Island | Saunders Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Black-browed albatross soar above this rugged weather-beaten island in the west of the Falklands, while Commerson’s dolphins swim below. With a sparse population of people and sheep, this inhabited island is also home to fur seals, burrowing rockhopper penguins, Magellanic penguins and imperial cormorants who roost in the jagged cliffs and the striking Cliff Mountain towering above the dramatic coastal scenery. As you hike across the moss, keep an eye open for pink-petalled Felton’s flowers. Birdlife is the big draw on this lush sheep-farming island, where thousands of rams and ewes roam. Settled by British explorers in 1765, the island’s unique scenery includes the beaches at The Neck filled with the cacophony of rockhopper, Gentoo and king penguin colonies, and you might spot the pillar-shaped nests of black-browed albatross. Nine of the Falklands’ 14 endemic plants, including silvery buttercup and hairy daisy, grow here and are a real treat.
 

Day 7: Port Stanley

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Anyone familiar with Britain’s trademark red post boxes might spot a resemblance in this British outpost. Port Stanley, on East Falkland, is the tiny capital of the Falkland Islands and is small enough to get around on foot. You can visit The Historic Dockyard Museum devoted to maritime history and exploration or pop into the post office. Magellanic penguins gather in hordes at nearby Gypsy Cove, and sea lions and dolphins frolic in the harbor.

Day 8-9: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our onboard lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Day 10-11: South Georgia

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Often called the “Galapagos of the Poles”, South Georgia has a number of landing sites where you get up close to half a million king penguins or three million breeding pairs of macaroni penguins, making up the largest population in the world. If you are lucky you will also see harrumphing elephant seals - from a distance! We also visit Grytviken, the historic whaling station where legendary British explorer Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) is buried.

Day 12: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

 

Day 13: South Shetland Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
While the South Shetlands’ proximity to Antarctica makes the ice-bound sea impassable during winter (April to November), these are the first islands to see snow melt in spring (March) and the slightly warmer temperature means that the fauna is also different from what you see in Antarctica proper. As we go ashore by Zodiac, notice ferns, grasses, lichens and native flora that have more in common with Patagonia than they do with Antarctica.

 

Day 14-15: Antarctica Peninsula

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Among captivating glaciers, majestic icebergs and snowy islands, the Antarctic Peninsula is where most visitors to the White Continent will live out their Antarctica dream. The Antarctic Peninsula, the most accessible area of the continent, hosts several scientific bases and some of the most interesting wildlife scenery, such as the extremely photogenic Lemaire Channel. Shore excursions might include Petermann Island, where among Adelie penguins, blue-eyed shags and skuas, huge, lumbering elephant seals haul out.

 

Day 16: South Shetland Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
While the South Shetlands’ proximity to Antarctica makes the ice-bound sea impassable during winter (April to November), these are the first islands to see snow melt in spring (March) and the slightly warmer temperature means that the fauna is also different from what you see in Antarctica proper. As we go ashore by Zodiac, notice ferns, grasses, lichens and native flora that have more in common with Patagonia than they do with Antarctica.

 

Day 17-18: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
 

Day 19: Ushuaia | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Ushuaia is the gateway to the White Continent. The city is often described as “the End of the World” at the southernmost tip of South America in Argentinian Patagonia. The city’s mountain backdrop rises above the harbor and entrance to the Beagle Channel. The town itself is walkable and has a few small museums, pubs, restaurants, and cafes - an excellent place to try Patagonian lamb cooked over open fire pits.

 

Ship/Hotel

SH Vega

SH Vega
SH Vega Club Lounge
SH Vega Club Lounge

Buenos Aires - Hotels

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$17,950
SH Vega Suite OceanViewOceanview
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Oceanview D4
19 m2, Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
SH Vega Suite OceanViewOceanview
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Oceanview M4
19 m2, Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Balcony
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Balcony D5
28 m2, Located at the forward and aft of the ship, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or double bed bedrooms with a living room area, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6m2 balcony
Balcony
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Balcony M5
28 m2, Located at the center of the ship, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or double bed bedrooms with a living room area, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6m2 balcony
Balcony
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Balcony D6
28 m2, Located on deck six, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or double bed bedroom with living room area, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6m2 balcony
SH Vega SuitePremium suitePremium Suite
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Suite
44 m2, Our Suites features a super king bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom, and a 12 sq.m. private balcony.
SH Vega Suite PremiumSH Vega Suite PremiumPremium suitePremium Suite
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Premium Suite
49 m2, Our grandest suites feature a super king bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom, a spacious walk-in wardrobe, and a 12 sq.m private balcony.
Included
  • 18 Breakfasts, 16 Lunches, 17 Dinners
  • 18 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Room Service 
  • Wifi
  • Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
  • Lecture programs by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
  • Onboard gratuities & port taxes
  • Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions.
  • Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
  • One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Buenos Aires Hotel tax (up to $2 per person/night) - paid at checkout
  • Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
  • We recommend every traveler to take out a travel cancellation insurance, travel interruption insurance and a travel health insurance policy with an assumption of the return transport costs of repatriation

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The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney

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