Classic Antarctica 27/28 (10 nights)

Embark on an expedition cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands. Discover a dramatic landscape surrounded by glaciers and icebergs, with the chance to see penguins, seals and whales at close range.


Antarctic Peninsula
© S. Arrebola

Duration: 11 days / 10 nights
Starts: Ushuaia, Argentina
Ends: Ushuaia, Argentina
Language: English speaking voyage

The itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather and ice conditions. Your Captain and Expedition Leader will make the necessary adjustments to ensure the best possible experience.


Included
Optional


Embark on an expedition cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands, featuring one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. Arriving in Ushuaia, a picturesque community nestled at the foot of the Andes, you can stroll along its charming main street or harbor before boarding. The journey begins along the Beagle Channel toward the famous Drake Passage, where you will cross the Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence), a biological barrier where cold polar water sinks beneath warmer waters, creating a great upwelling of nutrients that sustains amazing seabirds like albatrosses.

Upon reaching Antarctica, explore a pristine wilderness of snow, ice, and waterways, navigating beautiful passages such as the Gerlache Strait, Neumayer Channel, and Lemaire Channel between towering rocks and spectacular glaciers. Planning at least two landings per day via zodiac, you will visit vast penguin rookeries of Adélies, Chinstraps, and Gentoos, alongside Weddell, crabeater, leopard, and elephant seals, as well as Minke and humpback whales. Landing sites include the flooded caldera of Deception Island, King George and Livingston islands, Paradise Bay, and the historic 1903 Nordenskjöld expedition stone ruins on Paulet Island before heading northbound back to Ushuaia.

Highlights:
Crossing the famous Drake Passage while identifying an amazing variety of albatrosses and seabirds.
Navigating the spectacular pristine wilderness and narrow glacier-filled channels of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Making at least two daily shoreside landings and zodiac excursions to view thriving wildlife up close.
Sailing through the narrow passage into the astounding flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island.
Viewing the historic stone survival hut ruins built by the Nordenskjöld expedition in 1903 on Paulet Island.

Itinerary

© S. Arrebola
© S. Arrebola
© S. Arrebola

Day 1: Depart from Ushuaia
Subtítulo
The embarkation is in the afternoon. After you have settled into your cabins we sail along the Beagle Channel towards the Atlantic Ocean and the famous Drake Passage.

Days 2 - 3: Crossing the Drake Passage
Subtítulo
Named after the renowned explorer, Sir Francis Drake, who sailed these waters in 1578, the Drake Passage is one of the roughest seas in the world. At some point between the first night and the second day, we will cross the Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence), a biological barrier where cold polar water sinks beneath the warmer northern waters. This creates a great upwelling of nutrients, which sustains the biodiversity of this region. The Drake Passage also marks the northern limit of many Antarctic seabirds. As we sail across the passage, the expedition staff will be out with you on deck to help in the identification of an amazing variety of seabirds, including many albatrosses, which follow in our wake. A full program of lectures will be offered as well. The first sightings of icebergs and snow-capped mountains indicate that we have reached the South Shetland Islands, a group of twenty islands and islets first sighted in February 1819 by Capt. William Smith of the brig Williams.

Days 4 to 9: Exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands
Subtítulo
The South Shetland Islands are a haven for wildlife. Vast penguin rookeries, beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and Southern elephant seals make every day spent in this amazing island group unforgettable. Sailing through the narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island is truly amazing. King George Island, the largest of the South Shetland Islands, features colonies of nesting Adélie and Chinstrap Penguins, Kelp Gulls, Blue-eyed Cormorants, Antarctic Terns and Southern Giant Petrels and is home to scientific bases of many different countries. Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins as well as elephant seals await you at Livingston Island. The Antarctic Peninsula’s remarkable history will provide you with a type of excitement often only associated with the early explorers. You will have plenty of time to explore its amazing scenery, a pristine wilderness of snow, ice, mountains and waterways, and an incredible wide variety of wildlife. Apart from penguins and seabirds you are very likely to see Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals as well as Minke, humpback whales at close range, and even maybe orcas. We hope to navigate some of the most beautiful waterways (depending on the ice conditions): the Gerlache Strait, the Neumayer Channel, and the Lemaire Channel, the latter are narrow passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. We plan to make at least two landings per day and possible landing sites may include: Paradise Bay is perhaps the most aptly named place in the world and we attempt a landing on the continent proper. If ice conditions allows, after negotiating the iceberg-strewn waters of the Antarctic Sound, we hope to visit the bustling Adélie Penguin (over 100,000 pairs breed here) and Blue-eyed Cormorant colonies on Paulet Island. The Nordenskjöld expedition built a stone survival hut here in 1903. Today its ruins have been taken over by nesting penguins. Further exploration may take you to the Melchior Island group, Cuverville Island, Portal Point, Neko Harbour, Pléneau Island and if ice conditions permit, to Petermann Island for a visit to the southernmost colony of Gentoo Penguins.

Days 9 - 10: At Sea crossing the Drake Passage, northbound
Subtítulo
We leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage. Join our lecturers and naturalists on deck as we search for seabirds and whales and enjoy some final lectures. Take the chance to relax and reflect on the fascinating adventures of the past days on the way back to Ushuaia.

Day 11: Arrival in Ushuaia
Subtítulo
We arrive at the port of Ushuaia in the early morning and disembark after breakfast.

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart from Ushuaia
Subtítulo
The embarkation is in the afternoon. After you have settled into your cabins we sail along the Beagle Channel towards the Atlantic Ocean and the famous Drake Passage.

Days 2 - 3: Crossing the Drake Passage
Subtítulo
Named after the renowned explorer, Sir Francis Drake, who sailed these waters in 1578, the Drake Passage is one of the roughest seas in the world. At some point between the first night and the second day, we will cross the Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence), a biological barrier where cold polar water sinks beneath the warmer northern waters. This creates a great upwelling of nutrients, which sustains the biodiversity of this region. The Drake Passage also marks the northern limit of many Antarctic seabirds. As we sail across the passage, the expedition staff will be out with you on deck to help in the identification of an amazing variety of seabirds, including many albatrosses, which follow in our wake. A full program of lectures will be offered as well. The first sightings of icebergs and snow-capped mountains indicate that we have reached the South Shetland Islands, a group of twenty islands and islets first sighted in February 1819 by Capt. William Smith of the brig Williams.

Days 4 to 9: Exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands
Subtítulo
The South Shetland Islands are a haven for wildlife. Vast penguin rookeries, beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and Southern elephant seals make every day spent in this amazing island group unforgettable. Sailing through the narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island is truly amazing. King George Island, the largest of the South Shetland Islands, features colonies of nesting Adélie and Chinstrap Penguins, Kelp Gulls, Blue-eyed Cormorants, Antarctic Terns and Southern Giant Petrels and is home to scientific bases of many different countries. Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins as well as elephant seals await you at Livingston Island. The Antarctic Peninsula’s remarkable history will provide you with a type of excitement often only associated with the early explorers. You will have plenty of time to explore its amazing scenery, a pristine wilderness of snow, ice, mountains and waterways, and an incredible wide variety of wildlife. Apart from penguins and seabirds you are very likely to see Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals as well as Minke, humpback whales at close range, and even maybe orcas. We hope to navigate some of the most beautiful waterways (depending on the ice conditions): the Gerlache Strait, the Neumayer Channel, and the Lemaire Channel, the latter are narrow passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. We plan to make at least two landings per day and possible landing sites may include: Paradise Bay is perhaps the most aptly named place in the world and we attempt a landing on the continent proper. If ice conditions allows, after negotiating the iceberg-strewn waters of the Antarctic Sound, we hope to visit the bustling Adélie Penguin (over 100,000 pairs breed here) and Blue-eyed Cormorant colonies on Paulet Island. The Nordenskjöld expedition built a stone survival hut here in 1903. Today its ruins have been taken over by nesting penguins. Further exploration may take you to the Melchior Island group, Cuverville Island, Portal Point, Neko Harbour, Pléneau Island and if ice conditions permit, to Petermann Island for a visit to the southernmost colony of Gentoo Penguins.

Days 9 - 10: At Sea crossing the Drake Passage, northbound
Subtítulo
We leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage. Join our lecturers and naturalists on deck as we search for seabirds and whales and enjoy some final lectures. Take the chance to relax and reflect on the fascinating adventures of the past days on the way back to Ushuaia.

Day 11: Arrival in Ushuaia
Subtítulo
We arrive at the port of Ushuaia in the early morning and disembark after breakfast.


© S. Arrebola
© S. Arrebola
© S. Arrebola


INCLUSIONS

Cruise and accommodation on board according to the itinerary.
All meals during the voyage.
All zodiac and shore excursions, as well as activities during the voyage.
Lecture program by renowned naturalists and experienced members of the expedition staff.
Port taxes and fees while the program is underway.
Pre-departure information material.
Detailed navigation log.
Complimentary expedition parka and boots.
Starlink WI-FI included.

EXCLUSIONS

No airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; no pre- and/or post-cruise services of any kind; transfers to and from the ship; visa or passport expenses; government arrival and departure fees; meals on land; baggage, personal, and cancellation insurance (highly recommended); excess baggage expenses and all expenses of a personal nature, such as bar and telecommunications, as well as tips at the end of the trip (recommendations will be provided).


Dates & Rates


Ship: Ushuaia | Date: 21 Nov 2027 - 01 Dec 2027 (5366)
Standard Plus Triple
$8,190
Standard Twin
$8,890
Standard Plus Twin
$10,290
Premier Twin
$11,790
Premier Single
$13,990
Superior Twin
$12,890
Suite
$13,790
Ship: Ushuaia | Date: 24 Jan 2028 - 03 Feb 2028 (5367)
Standard Plus Triple
$9,990
Standard Twin
$10,690
Standard Plus Twin
$12,190
Premier Twin
$13,590
Premier Single
$15,790
Superior Twin
$14,790
Suite
$15,590

* The prices are per person in US Dollars, unless expressly specified in a different currency. In that case, payment will be in US dollars at the exchange rate of the day.
** Rates are correct at the time of publication. All prices will be re-confirmed by email at the time of booking.
NOTE: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.

Gallery



Other options you will like


 



THE POLAR TRAVEL COMPANY LLC
USA


Tel: +1 (786) 321-5654
WhatsApp: +1 (786) 705-2241
Email: travel@thepolartravelcompany.com

International Travel Awards - 2023 Winner
Trip Advisor Traveler's Choice Awards 2025

© 2020 The Polar Travel Company | All rights reserved | Terms & Conditions
THE POLAR TRAVEL COMPANY LLC is registered with the State of Florida as a Seller of Travel. Registration No. ST42392.

Write us via WhatsApp