Exploring Antarctica’s Spring

Voyage Overview

Antarctica Awakens After a Long Winter Slumber

With a strong focus on exploring the Peninsula in all its incomparable glory, this voyage offers an immersive Antarctica adventure at a time of year when the continent is a pristine, just-waking-up hub of activity. As winter gives way to spring, prepare yourself for a trip into a pristine and lively environment populated by penguins courting mates, building nests, and tending to their eggs; where the passing of newly adrift icebergs dazzles the eye; and where fiery sunsets are the stuff of photographers’ dreams. All at a time of year when your chance of spotting another ship in the water is at its lowest, and the continent feels all your own.

Trip Details

Duration: 11 Days

Ship: Ocean Albatros, Premium Ship, 192 Guests

Start: Ushuaia, Argentina

End: Ushuaia, Argentina

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive into Ushuaia, Argentina
After a friendly welcome at the airport and a transfer to the luxurious Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, take some time to unwind or explore the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. (In the unlikely event that you can’t be accommodated at the Arakur, you’ll unwind at another of Ushuaia’s top luxury hotels.) An optional evening briefing is your opportunity to ask questions and meet some of your fellow explorers.

Day 2:Embarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina
Spend your morning relaxing at the hotel, visiting a museum, or exploring the shops in Ushuaia, before our mid-afternoon escort to the ship. The Expedition Team and ship staff will welcome you on board and get you settled in, followed by a safety and orientation briefing and the Captain’s welcome dinner. We’re on our way to Antarctica!

Days 3-4: Drake Passage
Join our Polar Experts as they share their vast knowledge of Antarctica, from its enchanting wildlife to its bold history. Participate in our pioneering Citizen Science program or sit back and take in this fabled journey while catching glimpses of rarely seen wildlife. Keep your binoculars handy to identify the many seabirds that escort our ship as we cross the Antarctic Convergence into Antarctica’s waters and noticeably cooler temperatures.

Day 5: South Shetland Islands
Over time, the volcanic activity of the South Shetland Islands has created a geology unlike any other. Here, you can expect a rugged display of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife returning to their busy daily activity after the long winter break. Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins will be a common sight, and it’s not uncommon to share the water’s edge with Elephant and Fur seals. Whales are often spotted as well. So, we’ll settle into our Zodiacs and spend most of our day exploring, perhaps stopping for a walk along the black sands of Deception Island. Whether on land or sea, in a Zodiac or kayak, be prepared for a fully immersive introduction to this incomparable part of the world.

Days 6-8: Antarctica in the Spring
Welcome to Antarctica in all its springtime glory. Untouched. Pristine. Getting busy. For the next three days, prepare to be amazed as we observe numerous species of penguins coming ashore and getting acquainted, building nests, and tending their eggs. Marvel at the winter sea ice that mantles these frigid seas, feast your eyes on glorious icebergs beginning the springtime march, and, as always, be on the lookout for seals and whales in the water. At day’s end, take in the miraculous sunsets that are a special treat this time of year. Visits to active scientific bases and historic landing sites may also be on the agenda

Days 9-10: Drake Passage
We leave this magical place and make our way north, once again crossing the legendary Drake Passage. We have one last hurrah as we celebrate the conclusion of our expedition with a special slideshow and a final meal together.

Day 11: Disembarkation in Ushuaia 
With huge smiles on weary, content faces, we disembark in the morning, letting you catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in Ushuaia for more sights and adventure.

Please note the itinerary and route map are only tentative outlines of what you may experience. No specific itinerary, routing or landing sites can be guaranteed in advance. Where the ship actually sails will depend on a lot of factors including, but not limited to, the weather & ice conditions and the captain & expedition leader. Every trip is different, which adds to the excitement of expedition cruising in the polar regions.