Antarctic Peninsula: Crossing the Circle

You may arrive in Ushuaia at any time on Day 1. This southernmost city in South America is known for its beautiful mountainous surroundings, so you are encouraged to consider arriving a day or two before your expedition. A transfer is arranged from the airport to your hotel, both of which are included in the cost of your trip. An optional pre-departure briefing is held in the lobby of your hotel at 6 p.m.

Your luggage is collected from the lobby of your hotel in the morning and transferred to the ship. Embarkation is usually around 4 p.m. Guests meet at a designated location near the pier, and board the buses for transfer to the ship. Information about embarkation is posted in your Ushuaia hotel and discussed during your optional predeparture briefing on Day 1.

Your days at sea are filled with presentations led by your Expedition Team on photography, wildlife, glaciology, and history. You can also spend time on deck looking for wildlife, or chatting with your shipmates over a drink at the bar.

The most common reaction upon reaching the 7th Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is beyond words, since few places are as untouched as Antarctica. You begin to appreciate why this region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travelers alike. Every time you visit Antarctica, you witness something new or unexpected, which means your expedition is unlike any other—creating a unique, personal experience. Each day, you take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore glaciated bays, channels and landing sites. Your Expedition Team takes care of you at each landing, whether you are hiking the Antarctic landscape, visiting a research station or observing chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins, all of which can be found here. Keep an eye out for Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals as well as curious whales, such as humpbacks, minkes, or perhaps orcas while on a Zodiac cruise. Each excursion presents a new array of creatures to fascinate you and keep your camera busy. Amid the serene silence of Antarctica, noisy interludes become indelible memories, such as penguins squabbling over prized pebbles, or the boom and crack of a calving glacier. Every day is different, having been carefully crafted by your Expedition Team to inspire and educate you about this wonderful part of the world.

Crossing the Antarctic Circle is both a memorable experience and an impressive achievement, as few travelers reach so far south. If conditions allow, if you cross this famed latitude of 66°33´ S, you’ll toast the first explorers who ventured here, and you can raise a glass and take pride in knowing you’ve made it to a part of the world visited by very few people. This is raw Antarctica, home of the midnight sun, Weddell seals, and your best chances of encountering sea ice—the very foundations of the Antarctic marine ecosystem.

By now, your knowledge of Adélie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins is matched by your ability to differentiate between a leopard, crabeater, and Weddell seal. Terms like “bergy bits” and “pancake ice” become part of your vocabulary, yet there are still many tales to be told. As you head north, Zodiac excursions fill your days, and your Expedition Team continues looking out for species of seabirds, seals, and whales that may have eluded you on your journey south.

As you recross the Drake, Antarctica fades away, leaving you with a collection of memories to last a lifetime. Excited conversations with your newfound friends make the crossing fly by, regardless of weather and sea conditions. Your Expedition Team rounds up its series of presentations as well, with a slideshow of the adventures you’ve shared and the wildlife you’ve witnessed over the course of your voyage. Be sure to take some time to reflect on everything you’ve experienced so far.

Your ship is scheduled to arrive in Ushuaia between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. Once the ship has docked, you bid farewell to your Expedition Team and shipmates before completing your disembarkation. You are then free to continue your onward journey.