Expedition Antarctica: Festive days at the end of the earth


Antarctic Peninsula
©HLC

Duration: 20 days
Starts: Ushuaia, Argentina
Ends: Ushuaia, Argentina
Language: German/English speaking voyage


Included
Optional


The highlights of this cruise

• A glittering Christmas cruise: when penguins breed and fur seals care for their offspring, exploring the animals in their icy habitats promises memorable moments.
• On a flexible course through the white wonderland
• Watch penguins, whales, seals and seabirds
• Spectacular passages – along majestic glaciers and mighty icebergs
• Active experiences: numerous Zodiac rides, landings and hikes
• Captivating presentations, precaps and recaps by experts

Itinerary

©HLC
©HLC
©HLC

Day 1: Charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia/Argentina
Sat, 20.12.2025
Ushuaia/Argentina, departure 18.00 hrs

Day 2: Relaxation at sea
Sun, 21.12.2025

Day 3-4: Falkland Islands
Mon, 22.12.2025 - Tue, 23.12.2025
Experience this bird paradise the Falkland Islands, which is home to around 60 species, at close range during your Zodiac landings. Observe rockhopper and Magellanic penguins, who share their habitat with kelp geese, striated caracaras, king cormorants as well as black-browed and wandering albatrosses.

Day 5-6: Relaxation at sea
Wed, 24.12.2025 - Thu, 25.12.2025

Day 7-9: South Georgia
Fri, 26.12.2025 - Sun, 28.12.2025
In South Gorgia live Hundreds of thousands of king penguins side by side with elephant seals and fur seals on the coasts and cliffs – overwhelming natural spectacles that you can observe from a respectful distance after landing on one of the black shores. In addition, trace the footsteps of the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, who found his final resting place here in 1922.

Day 10: Relaxation at sea
Mon, 29.12.2025

Day 11-17: South Orkney Islands , South Shetland Islands , Weddell Sea , Antarctic Peninsula
Tue, 30.12.2025 - Tue, 06.01.2026
The South Orkney Islands are a lonely, glaciated world of icy wilderness located in the Scotia Sea. They are home to chinstrap and Adelie penguins, which can be spotted here. With luck, you’ll also see icebergs drifting off the rugged coast. Find out how the polar explorers live at the Argentinian Orcadas Station (depending on weather and authorisation). Experience the South Shetland Islands between ice and awe intensively – on deck as well as by Zodiac. The Weddell Sea is home to stunning ice formations – whether as sparkling blue-and-white sculptures, gigantic tabular icebergs or creaking sheets of dense pack ice. Off the Antarctic Peninsula, your ship sails into the centre of the flooded caldera of Deception Island. Majestic glaciers and gigantic icebergs shimmer in Paradise Bay. The Lemaire Channel is also impressive, flanked by mighty mountains up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft) high. Icebergs ahead: at the bow and on the open deck areas, you can enjoy the best views of the white wonderland. You may even spot the flukes of blue whales, sperm whales and humpback whales as well as orcas.

Day 18-19: Sailing through the Drake Passage
Wed, 07.01.2026 - Thu, 08.01.2026

Day 20: Ushuaia/Argentina, arrival 6.00 hrs
Fri, 09.01.2026
Charter flight to Buenos Aires

The itinerary depends on official approval, weather and ice conditions. The described natural experiences, animal sightings and landings are possibilities on these expeditions and are not guaranteed.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Arrival and departure | optionally bookable
• Arrival package:

Thu, 18.12.2025
Scheduled flight from Germany to Buenos Aires

Fri, 19.12.2025
City tour
Overnight stay with breakfast

• Departure package
Fri, 09.01.2026
Buenos Aires
Overnight stay with breakfast

Sat, 10.01.2026
Scheduled flight from Buenos Aires to Germany

Sun, 11.01.2026
Arrival in Germany

Extend your trip: Accompanied pre- and post-cruise programmes
Our popular before and after programs include a wide range of excursions and are usually accompanied by experienced Hapag-Lloyd Cruises tour guides. Recommended for travelers who like to share their experiences with a group of like-minded people. Experience selected highlights of your holiday destination and enjoy the amenities of a group trip - we take care of transfers, excursions and overnight stays.

Mon, 15.12.2025 - Sat, 20.12.2025
PRE-CRUISE PROGRAMME A: IGUACU

Wed, 17.12.2025 - Sat, 20.12.2025
PRE-CRUISE PROGRAMME B: USHUAIA – DISCOVERIES AT THE END OF THE EARTH

Wed, 17.12.2025 - Sat, 20.12.2025
PRE-CRUISE PROGRAMME C: BUENOS AIRES – TIME FOR EXPLORATION

Fri, 09.01.2026 - Mon, 12.01.2026
POST-CRUISE PROGRAMME A: BUENOS AIRES – TIME FOR EXPLORATION

Itinerary

Day 1: Charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia/Argentina
Sat, 20.12.2025
Ushuaia/Argentina, departure 18.00 hrs

Day 2: Relaxation at sea
Sun, 21.12.2025

Day 3-4: Falkland Islands
Mon, 22.12.2025 - Tue, 23.12.2025
Experience this bird paradise the Falkland Islands, which is home to around 60 species, at close range during your Zodiac landings. Observe rockhopper and Magellanic penguins, who share their habitat with kelp geese, striated caracaras, king cormorants as well as black-browed and wandering albatrosses.

Day 5-6: Relaxation at sea
Wed, 24.12.2025 - Thu, 25.12.2025

Day 7-9: South Georgia
Fri, 26.12.2025 - Sun, 28.12.2025
In South Gorgia live Hundreds of thousands of king penguins side by side with elephant seals and fur seals on the coasts and cliffs – overwhelming natural spectacles that you can observe from a respectful distance after landing on one of the black shores. In addition, trace the footsteps of the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, who found his final resting place here in 1922.

Day 10: Relaxation at sea
Mon, 29.12.2025

Day 11-17: South Orkney Islands , South Shetland Islands , Weddell Sea , Antarctic Peninsula
Tue, 30.12.2025 - Tue, 06.01.2026
The South Orkney Islands are a lonely, glaciated world of icy wilderness located in the Scotia Sea. They are home to chinstrap and Adelie penguins, which can be spotted here. With luck, you’ll also see icebergs drifting off the rugged coast. Find out how the polar explorers live at the Argentinian Orcadas Station (depending on weather and authorisation). Experience the South Shetland Islands between ice and awe intensively – on deck as well as by Zodiac. The Weddell Sea is home to stunning ice formations – whether as sparkling blue-and-white sculptures, gigantic tabular icebergs or creaking sheets of dense pack ice. Off the Antarctic Peninsula, your ship sails into the centre of the flooded caldera of Deception Island. Majestic glaciers and gigantic icebergs shimmer in Paradise Bay. The Lemaire Channel is also impressive, flanked by mighty mountains up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft) high. Icebergs ahead: at the bow and on the open deck areas, you can enjoy the best views of the white wonderland. You may even spot the flukes of blue whales, sperm whales and humpback whales as well as orcas.

Day 18-19: Sailing through the Drake Passage
Wed, 07.01.2026 - Thu, 08.01.2026

Day 20: Ushuaia/Argentina, arrival 6.00 hrs
Fri, 09.01.2026
Charter flight to Buenos Aires

The itinerary depends on official approval, weather and ice conditions. The described natural experiences, animal sightings and landings are possibilities on these expeditions and are not guaranteed.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Arrival and departure | optionally bookable
• Arrival package:

Thu, 18.12.2025
Scheduled flight from Germany to Buenos Aires

Fri, 19.12.2025
City tour
Overnight stay with breakfast

• Departure package
Fri, 09.01.2026
Buenos Aires
Overnight stay with breakfast

Sat, 10.01.2026
Scheduled flight from Buenos Aires to Germany

Sun, 11.01.2026
Arrival in Germany

Extend your trip: Accompanied pre- and post-cruise programmes
Our popular before and after programs include a wide range of excursions and are usually accompanied by experienced Hapag-Lloyd Cruises tour guides. Recommended for travelers who like to share their experiences with a group of like-minded people. Experience selected highlights of your holiday destination and enjoy the amenities of a group trip - we take care of transfers, excursions and overnight stays.

Mon, 15.12.2025 - Sat, 20.12.2025
PRE-CRUISE PROGRAMME A: IGUACU

Wed, 17.12.2025 - Sat, 20.12.2025
PRE-CRUISE PROGRAMME B: USHUAIA – DISCOVERIES AT THE END OF THE EARTH

Wed, 17.12.2025 - Sat, 20.12.2025
PRE-CRUISE PROGRAMME C: BUENOS AIRES – TIME FOR EXPLORATION

Fri, 09.01.2026 - Mon, 12.01.2026
POST-CRUISE PROGRAMME A: BUENOS AIRES – TIME FOR EXPLORATION


©HLC
©HLC
©HLC


INCLUSIONS

Expedition and knowledge
All landings and rides in the ship’s own Zodiacs (Use of the Zodiacs depends on the destination and on official permits)
Experienced experts from various disciplines accompany every cruise, give presentations and multimedia lectures, provide well-informed answers to questions about the cruising area and take part in the Zodiac landings/rides and hikes from/to ship
Use of the interactive Ocean Academy with individual knowledge formats
Comprehensive information before the cruise – for example about the Arctic, Antarctic, the South Seas and the Amazon, as well as expedition maps

Cabin
In every cabin: champagne to welcome you, mini bar restocked daily with non-alcoholic beverages (additional selection in Grand Suites and Junior Suites), coffee machine (tea on request), 24-hour cabin service
Equipment for loan: one pair of binoculars and two sets of Nordic Walking poles in the cabin itself, furthermore warm parkas, rubber boots, snorkelling equipment
Flat-screen TV with information and entertainment programme, personal email account and Internet access via Wi-Fi (free of charge for one hour per guest and day, satellite-dependent especially in polar areas)
Information about harbours and destinations (where available) in the cabin

Restaurants
International gourmet cuisine – full board: breakfast (early-bird and late riser breakfast), bouillon, afternoon coffee/tea time, lunch and dinner (three restaurants to choose from in the evening with flexible opening hours)

For all cases
German ship and expedition management as well as a mostly German-speaking service crew
Harbour and airport fees
Cancellation fee insurance (20% excess) in the PLATINUM and GOLD fares

Spa and fitness
Extensive sports programme: fitness area with ocean view, course programme, additional sports activities on shore depending on the destination (Personal training for an additional charge)
OCEAN SPA with Finnish sauna with an ocean view, steam sauna, indoor and outdoor relaxation area (spa treatments and hairdresser at a surcharge)

EXCLUSIONS

Anything not specified in the inclusions


Dates & Rates


Ship: HANSEATIC Nature/Inspiration/Spirit | Date: 20 Dec 2025 - 09 Jan 2026 (3954)
Outside C1
$31,086
Outside SC 1-2
$41,118
Panoramic C2
$29,128
Panoramic SC 1-2
$41,118
French Balcony C3
$30,448
French Balcony C5
$31,251
Balcony C4
$32,582
Balcony C6
$33,110
Balcony C7
$34,716
Balcony C8
$35,761
Junior Suite C9
$66,286
Grand Suite C10
$90,332

* 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.

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