Classic Antarctic Peninsula

In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through this scenic waterway, followed by seabirds.

During these two days we sail across the Drake Passage and encounter a variety of seabirds - these can include wandering, grey-headed, black-browed and the beautiful light-mantled sooty albatross, southern fulmars, Wilson's storm, blue, Cape and Antarctic petrels. We also look out for whales and, as we near the South Shetland Islands, we spot our first icebergs.

We sail directly to Antarctica, passing the Melchior islands and the Schollaert Channel between Brabant and Anvers Island. On the small steep Cuverville Island, nestled between the mountains of the Peninsula and Danco Island, there is a large colony of gentoo penguins and breeding pairs of brown skuas. If we land on Danco Island we can watch chinstrap penguins and possibly Weddell and crabeater seals. In Neko Harbour we will have the opportunity to set foot on the actual Antarctic continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glaciers and enjoy the landscape during Zodiac cruises. When sailing to Paradise Bay, with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we will have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. In this area we have good chances to see humpback and minke whales. After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, we plan to visit the British research station and post office Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. Close to Port Lockroy we may also make a landing on Jougla Point to see gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags.

 We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pleneau and Petermann Island where we can find Adelie penguins and blue-eyed shags and maybe also humpback, minke and fin whales. A visit to one of the scientific stations in Antarctica will give you an insight about the life of modern Antarcticans working on the White Continent. Further south we may visit the Ukrainian Vernadsky Station, where we will receive a warm welcome from the station crew. Sailing north through Neumayer Channel we arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape with icebergs. Here, we look out for leopard and crabeater seals and whales.

On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.

Arrive and disembark