Voyage Overview
Fly over the Drake Passage and venture south of the Circle on a premium X-bow ship.
Venturing below the Antarctic Circle is about more than just earning bragging rights. It is the chance to enter a different world more rarely seen, it feels more isolated and colder than further north, with great swathes of pack-ice and dreamlike icebergs. Thread through pack ice and narrow channels where scenes of ice-clad mountains, feeding whales and lively penguin colonies become lasting memories.
Trip Details
Duration: 12 Days
Ship: Sylvia Earle, Premium Ship, 130 Guests
Start: Punta Arenas, Chile
End: Ushuaia, Argentina
Highlights:
- 7 planned days in Antarctica
- Flying over the Drake Passage one-way and sailing across the other.
- Celebrate the crossing of the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66°33′ South (approximately)
- Zodiac cruise in secluded bays and quiet coves filled with brash ice and photograph enormous glaciers and spectacularly shaped icebergs in various shades of blue.
- Keep a close watch for the tail fluke of whales as they take a deep dive, see porpoising penguins ice seals such as Weddell and crabeater seals hauled out on ice floes.
- Visiting various penguin colonies and chances for vista hikes on shore.
Trip Itinerary Overview:
Day 1: Arrive Punta Arenas, Chile
Day 2: Flight to King George Island & Embarkation
Days 3-9: Antarctic Peninsula & Antarctic Circle
Days 10-11: Drake Passage Crossing
Day 12: Disembark Ushuaia, Argentina
Tour Dates
- October 2027 to March 2028
| Dates | Availability | |
|---|---|---|
Jan 2 – Jan 13, 2028 (12 days) | Available | view pricing chart |
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Punta Arenas, Chile
Arrive in Punta Arenas, where you will be met by a representative and transferred to our hotel. We ask that you arrive no later than 2:00pm on this day. In addition to ensuring your arrival in time for our important pre-flight briefings, if weather conditions deem it necessary, we may depart for King George Island on Day 1 as opposed to Day 2. Please visit the hospitality desk in the lobby between 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm to collect your luggage cabin tags. Our team will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any questions and provide you with information about where to dine or purchase last minute items. Punta Arenas is home to many popular restaurants, and bars, offering a mix of local and international fare (meals at your own expense today). This evening, meet your fellow expeditioners at a voyage briefing where we will reconfirm your transfer times for tomorrow, explain the procedures for your flight to King George Island and outline important IAATO regulations for visitors to Antarctica. Assigned accommodation: Cabo de Hornos or similar.
Day 2: Flight Punta Arenas to King George Island, Embarkation
This morning we will be transferred to Punta Arenas airport for our charter flight to King George Island, Antarctica (weather permitting). The flight will take approximately one hour and forty-five minutes. On arrival into King George Island our expedition team is on hand to greet you and to prepare you for your Zodiac transfer to the vessel. You will have time to settle into your cabin before our important safety briefings. Note: King George Island is located at the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for safe take-off and landing. A contingency plan will be applied to your itinerary should your flights not proceed today. Your safety is our utmost priority. We apologize in advance for any delays caused due to this unpredictable situation. Please refer to our terms and conditions for a more detailed explanation.
Days 3-9: Antarctic Peninsula & Antarctic Circle
It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever. Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.
Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will want to layer up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favorite spots along the peninsula.
While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters – conditions permitting!
In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.
On this voyage, conditions permitting, we plan to cross the Antarctic Circle, an imaginary line located at the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66°33′ South (approximately). Crossing below The Circle is certainly a special highlight for many people, and the moment will be celebrated with a toast out on the deck (weather permitting). You have earned some boasting privileges, joining a small group of lucky adventurers who have ventured to this part of the world. As we approach and cross the Antarctic Circle, you will notice subtle changes in the landscape, and also in the distribution of wildlife. The waters at this time of year are rich with krill and we hope to see plenty of whales – particularly humpbacks and minkes and enjoy the spectacle of penguins feeding their ravenous chicks.
Days 10-11: Drake Passage Crossing
Enjoy a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before we enter the Drake Passage for our return journey to South America. With lectures and film presentations to complete our Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and discussion about what we have seen and experienced. We hope you become ambassadors for Antarctica telling your family, friends and colleagues about your journey to this magical place, advocating for its conservation and preservation so that they might one day visit the region to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here. As we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.
Day 12: Disembark Ushuaia
During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature. Upon disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region, transportation to the hotel will be arranged exclusively for guests who have booked their accommodations as part of the voyage or for those staying in downtown areas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior to 12:30 pm will be directly transferred to Ushuaia Airport, those with flights after 12:30 pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airport transfer, and the transfer procedures and details will be communicated onboard before disembarkation. Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.
In the spirit of expedition travel, we encourage you to adopt a flexible and adventurous attitude when joining our voyages. This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other conditions beyond our control.
Trips & Rates
Please note, rates are Per Person in USD
Availability & prices are subject to change at anytime
Jan 2 – Jan 13, 2028 (12 days)
| Start: | Punta Arenas, Chile |
| End: | Ushuaia, Argentina |
| Cabin Category | Aurora Stateroom Triple | Aurora Stateroom Superior | Balcony Stateroom C | Balcony Stateroom B | Balcony Stateroom A | Balcony Stateroom Superior | Junior Suite | Captain’s Suite | Solo Balcony Stateroom C | Solo Balcony Stateroom B | Solo Balcony Stateroom A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per Person Price in USD | $22,595 | $24,595 | $25,195 | $26,495 | $28,495 | $31,195 | $37,095 | $42,395 | $25,195 | $26,495 | $28,495 |
| Discount | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | |||
| Discounted Per Person Price | $19,206 | $20,906 | $21,416 | $22,521 | $24,221 | $26,516 | $31,531 | $36,036 | $25,195 | $26,495 | $28,495 |
| Availability | Open | Limited | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Full | Limited | Limited | Open |
Single Travelers:
- If willing to share a cabin, we can match you with another or other passengers of the same gender to avoid a single supplement.
- Single occupancy price is 1.5x the per person share price
- Starting the Arctic 2026 season there will be 6 dedicated Solo Balcony Stateroom A cabins, 2 Solo Balcony Stateroom B and 2 Solo Balcony Stateroom C cabins available with no single supplements. Pricing based on full brochure fare. See pricing grid for details.
Adventure Options:
- Kayaking Program – requires previous kayaking experience and an intermediate paddling level
- 2026 pricing
- $795/person on Jewels of the Arctic (13 day trip), Wild Scotland, Arctic Golden Autumn & Northern Lights Explorer
- $895/person on Svalbard Odyssey, Jewels of the Arctic (15 Days)
- $1,095/person on Svalbard in Depth
Single Travelers:
- If willing to share a cabin, we can match you with another or other passenger of the same gender to avoid a single supplement.
- Single occupancy price is 1.5x the per person share price.
- Starting the 2026-27 season there will be 6 dedicated Solo Balcony Stateroom A cabins, 2 Solo Balcony Stateroom B and 2 Solo Balcony Stateroom C cabins available with no single supplements. Pricing based on full brochure fare. See pricing grid for details.
Antarctic Adventure Options:
- Kayaking Program: $1,330/person on 12-15 day Antarctica voyages, $1,745/person on 20+ day Antarctica & South Georgia voyages and $1,030/person on 9 day Express trip. Requires previous kayaking experience and an intermediate paddling level.
- Paddling: $640/person
- Camping: $165/person
- Snorkeling: $675/person on 12-14 day Antarctica voyages, $835/person on 20+ day Antarctica & South Georgia voyages and $515/person on 9 day Express trip.
- Alpine Trekking: $1260/person
- Snowshoeing: $370/person on 12-15 day Antarctica voyages and $440/person on 20+ day Antarctica & South Georgia voyages
- Ski/Snowboard Touring: $1395/person – experience required
- Shackleton Crossing on Skis: $2,220/person – experience required
Voyage Ship
Sylvia Earle
This new purpose-built small expedition vessel honors the highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Dr. Sylvia Earle. As the first woman to become chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and named by Time Magazine as its first “Hero for the Planet” in 1998 – this ship pays tribute to Dr. Sylvia Earle’s long-standing conservation efforts for marine protected areas and ocean wildlife.
Sylvia Earle Cabins & Deck Plan
Captain’s Suite
DECK 4
The singular Captain’s Suite on Sylvia Earle is the most spacious accommodation onboard and has a prime low midship location. Complete with large lounge area, balcony, walk-in wardrobe and en-suite. The Captain’s Suite features additional amenities including 1 free pair of binoculars per suite, free stocked mini bar (replenished as needed) and 1 free bottle of champagne. Size listed is cabin and balcony size combined.
437 sq. ft. (40.6m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Junior Suite
DECK 7
The four Junior Suites take in some impressive scenery from their vantage points high on the ship. When you aren’t enjoying a landing, you can relax in the suites’ separate lounge area, or just watch the world float by from the private balcony. The Junior Suite features additional amenities including 1 free pair of binoculars per suite, free stocked mini bar (stocked once only) and 1 free bottle of champagne. Size listed is cabin and balcony size combined.
417 – 420 sq. ft. (38.8 – 39.1m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Balcony Stateroom Superior
DECK 4
DECK 6
With a bit more room to stretch the legs, the Balcony Stateroom Superior cabins are perfect for polar adventurers who travel with plenty of gear. Staterooms feature floor to ceiling windows, en-suite bathrooms and a comfortable desk area. Some of these rooms are equipped with wheelchair accessible bathrooms. Size listed is cabin and balcony size combined.
284 – 336 sq. ft. (26.4 – 31.2m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Balcony Stateroom Category A
DECK 4
DECK 6
The 23 Balcony Stateroom A cabins are a premium cabin and the most abundant on board. These cabins are located in preferred positions which provide easy access between decks via the internal stairs or elevator. Size listed is cabin and balcony size combined. Starting the Arctic 2026 season there will be 6 dedicated Solo Balcony Stateroom A cabins (#407, 409, 410, 412, 607 & 610) available with no single supplements. Pricing based on full brochure fare. See pricing grid for details.
226 – 301 sq. ft. (21 – 28m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Balcony Stateroom Category B
DECK 4
DECK 6
The 17 Balcony Stateroom B Cabins are located at the fore and aft of Deck 4 & 6. Many are fitted with interconnecting features making them great for families or groups. Size listed is cabin and balcony size combined. Starting the Arctic 2026 season there will be 2 dedicated Solo Balcony Stateroom B cabins (#606 & 603) available with no single supplements. Pricing based on full brochure fare. See pricing grid for details.
202 – 235 sq. ft. (18.8 – 21.8m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Balcony Stateroom Category C
DECK 4
DECK 6
The 11 Balcony Stateroom C cabins are the most economical balcony stateroom, fitted with all the necessities and comfortable for up to 2 people. These cabins are either in the most forward or aft location or in a mid-ship location with a smaller cabin size. Size listed is cabin and balcony size combined. Starting the Arctic 2026 season there will be 2 dedicated Solo Balcony Stateroom C cabins (#611 & 614) available with no single supplements. Pricing based on full brochure fare. See pricing grid for details.
181 – 233 sq. ft. (16.8 – 21.6m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Aurora Stateroom Superior
DECK 7
With a bit more room to stretch the legs, the Aurora Stateroom Superior are perfect for polar adventurers who travel with plenty of gear. The Staterooms feature French balconies, floor to ceiling windows, en-suite bathrooms and a comfortable desk area.
185 – 195 sq. ft. (17.2 – 18.1m2)
1-2
1 king or 2 twins
Aurora Stateroom Triple Share
DECK 3
There are two Aurora Stateroom Triple cabins featuring portholes, all with private en-suites. Located low on the ship, they’re close to the mudroom and loading platforms.
215 sq. ft. (20m2)
1-3
3 twins or 1 king + 1 twin
Inclusions/Exclusions
Inclusions:
- All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
- One night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast in Punta Arenas on Day 1.
- Charter flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island.
- Onboard accommodation during voyage, including daily cabin service.
- All meals, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks & juices during voyage.
- Beer and house wine with dinner.
- Captain’s Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages.
- All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises.
- Educational lectures and guiding services provided by Expedition Team.
- Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consultation).
- One 3-in-1 waterproof, polar expedition jacket.
- Complimentary use of Muck Boots during the voyage.
- Comprehensive pre-departure information.
- Port surcharges, permits and landing fees.
- Wi-Fi – Please note we travel to remote regions and therefore the connection can be unreliable.
Exclusions:
- International or domestic flights – unless specified in the itinerary.
- Transfers – unless specified in the itinerary.
- Airport arrival or departure taxes.
- Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and charges.
- Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges.
- Hotel accommodation and meals – unless specified in the itinerary.
- Optional excursions and optional activity surcharges.
- All items of a personal nature, including but not limited to alcoholic beverages (outside of dinner service), gratuities, laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses or phone charges.
Note: A $15 USD per person per day gratuity for the crew is automatically added to your onboard account. It is at your discretion if you would like to remove the tip (or adjust the amount) when you settle your bill. It is not necessary to tip the expedition team members. This gratuity amount is included for suites as part of their ‘Suite Benefits’.
Solo Travelers
Are you traveling alone? Solo travelers have the following options.
- Book into a share cabin into a share cabin with another (or other) guests of the same gender
- Book a Solo Balcony Stateroom C, B or A
- Book a twin cabin at solo occupancy at 1.5x the per person share price
