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Day 1: Set sail from Ushuaia
Your cruise sets sail from Ushuaia, in southern Argentina. We can arrange accommodation in Ushuaia, if your flight schedule necessitates it.
Sail through the scenic Beagle Channel, enjoying a leisurely first evening on board the cruise ship.
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Day 2: At Sea
Today is spent at sea, following the prevailing Westerlies en route to the Falklands. Expect to see several species of Albatross, Storm Petrels, Shearwaters and Diving Petrels, which accompany the ship with the prevailing winds.
Today’s highlights: Albatrosses accompanying the vessel, Storm and Diving Petrels, Shearwaters.
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Day 3: Falkland Islands
Reaching the Falkland Islands, we spend an entire day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago.
A hike along the Shore of Carcass Island will give us a chance to see Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins in their natural habitat, as well as close encounters with water fowl and Night Herons and Passerines. In addition, on Saunders we will be able to observe four species of breeding penguins (Gentoo, King, Magellanic and Rockhopper), Black-browed Albatrosses and King Cormorants.
Today’s highlights: Carcass Island, Magellanic Penguins, Saunders Island, Rockhopper Penguins.
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Day 4: Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
In Stanley, the Victorian-era capital of the Falklands, you’ll have the chance to learn more about Falkland culture, exploring both its British and South American characteristics.
In Stanley and the surrounding area you can see the remains of a number of stranded clipper ships, many over a century old.
Take the time to explore Port Stanley at your own pace. We recommend a visit to the church and museum, where you’ll learn more of the history of the island and its British settlement.
Today’s highlights: Falkland Island Culture, History of the Falkland war.
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Day 5-6: At Sea
Today we depart the Falkland Islands for South Georgia, crossing the Antarctic Convergence.
As we enter the Antarctic waters, we can expect the temperature to drop by as much as 10 degrees in the span of only a few hours. Near the Convergence, you can usually see a multitude of southern seabirds close to the ship, among them several species of Albatross, Shearwaters, Petrels, Prions and Skuas.
Day 5 - 6 highlights: Storm and Diving Petrels, Shearwaters.
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Day 7-10: South Georgia
In the afternoon of day 7 we arrive at our first landing site in South Georgia. If the conditions are right, we can visit the bay of Elsehul, with its very active fur seal breeding beach, and then set course to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Godthul, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour, Cooper Bay and Drygalski Fjord, so as to give you a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of landscapes.
As varied as the landscapes is the wildlife, with reindeer, Elephant seals, Fur seals, and King and Macaroni Penguins, are all present in this region.
One of the highlights will be a visit to Prion Island, where you can witness the breeding efforts of the huge Wandering Albatross and enjoy watching their displays (the island is closed to visitors during breeding season from 20 Nov – 07 Jan). At Fortuna Bay, follow in the footsteps of the great British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike over to Stømness Bay.
At Grytviken, you can explore an abandoned whaling village, where King Penguins walk the streets and Seals have taken over the buildings! While in Grytviken, you might also like to visit the Whaling History Museum and Shackleton's grave.
We depart from South Georgia in the afternoon of day 10.
Day 7-10 highlights: Fur Seals, King Penguin colony on Gold Harbour, Dramatic Drygalski Fjord Grytviken.
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Day 11: At Sea
Today is at sea, as we continue to sail south towards the South Orkney Islands.
En route to the South Orkneys we are likely to encounter sea-ice, and it is at the ice-edge where you have the best chance of seeing high-Antarctic species like the McCormick Skua and Snow Petrel.
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Day 12: South Orkney Islands
Visit the Orcadas Station, an Argentinean base located in the South Orkney Islands.
The friendly base personnel will show us their facilities as well as the wonderful views of the surrounding glaciers.
Today’s highlights: Orcadas Station
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Day 13: At Sea
At sea en-route to the Antarctic Peninsula.
Dramatic icebergs and a good chance to spot fin whales ensure there’s never a dull moment on this last sea voyage south.
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Day 14-17: Antarctic Peninsula
We will sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound. Huge tabular icebergs will announce our arrival at the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Here we plan to visit Brown Bluff, where we may set foot on the Continent. In good sailing conditions we may decide to extend our time in the Weddell Sea.
The topography of the surrounding area is mountainous, with nunataks rising through the ice. Charlotte Bay is often filled with icebergs. Expect to see seals on floes in Charlotte Bay, and occasionally kelp gulls, skuas, shags, or penguins. In Wilhelmina Bay, we’ll admire the rugged, ice-coated mountains of the Arctowski Peninsula. At Deception Island our ship braves into the entrance of the crater through the spectacular Neptune’s Bellow into the ring of Deception Island.
Deception is a sub-ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown & South Polar Skuas, and Antarctic Terns. Wilson’s Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. We leave from here and sail through the Shetland Islands (Half Moon) to the open sea, en-route to Ushuaia.
Day 14 - 17 highlights: Ice-clogged Weddell Sea, Adélie Penguins on Paulet Island, Deception Island, Cuverville Island, the stunning Neko Harbour.
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Day 18-19: At Sea
On our way north we again cross the Drake Passage – accompanied no doubt by flocks of seabirds – as we sail towards Ushuaia.
Admire the stunning views, and the oceanic wildlife, as the cruise winds its way to its end.
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Day 20: Disembark in Ushuaia
We arrive in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, this morning.
A bus transfer will be arranged from the pier to the airport on the day of disembarkation.
Falklands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula
Please see price guide for upcoming departures. For rates, cabin availability, and information on currently available special offers, please contact us.
Falklands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula
2022/23 Departures Available | This comprehensive 3-week Antarctic cruise itinerary will give you the chance to explore the fjords, glaciers and snow-capped mountains of South Georgia, hike the rugged terrain of the Falkland Islands, and discover the spectacular scenery and Polar wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Outline Itinerary
Price guide
See dates chart below for available departures. For more details, including prices for triple cabins and information on currently available special offers, please contact us.
Pricing
20 days from £9450pp
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Patrick and I have done many safaris and Gondwana was a perfect complement to previous experiences.
