Antarctica - Discovery & Learning - 11 Days
Aboard Plancius – 108 passengers
This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins.
Tour Dates
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Jan 6 - Jan 16, 2025 (11 days)
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Feb 3 - Feb 13, 2025 (11 days)
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Jan 9 - Jan 19, 2026 (11 days)
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Feb 6 - Feb 16, 2026 (11 days)
Itinerary
Day 1: Embarkation from Ushuaia, Argentina
Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.
Day 2-3: Drake Passage
Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.
Days 4 – 7: Antarctica
Gray stone peaks sketched with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and dramatically different wildlife below and above. You first pass the snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, sailing between Brabant and Anvers Islands.
Places you might visit include:
Danco Island– Activities here may focus on the gentoo penguins nesting on the island, in addition to the Weddell and crabeater seals that can be found nearby.
Neko Harbour– An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.
Paradise Bay– You may be able to take a Zodiac cruise in these sprawling, ice-flecked waters, where there’s a good chance you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales.
Port Lockroy– After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may get a chance to visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags.
There are great opportunities also for kayaking in this area, and when conditions are right, you can even snowshoe around the shore and to the old ski-way at nearby Damoy Point.
Day 8: South Shetland Islands
The volcanic islands of the South Shetlands are windswept and often cloaked in mist, but they do offer subtle pleasures: There’s a wide variety of flora (mosses, lichens, flowering grasses) and no small amount of fauna (gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins, southern giant petrels).
In Deception Island, the ship plunges through Neptune’s Bellows and into the flooded caldera. Here you find an abandoned whaling station, and thousands of cape petrels – along with kelp gulls, brown and south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns. A good hike is a possibility in this fascinating and desolate volcanic landscape.
As an alternative, you may be able to engage in activities near Half Moon Island. Here chinstrap penguins and Weddell seals often haul out onto the beach near Cámara Base, an Argentine scientific research station. Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.
Day 9-10: Drake Passage
Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.
Day 11: Disembarkation in Ushuaia
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
PLEASE NOTE: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per IAATO regulations. Official sailing plans and landing slots are scheduled with IAATO prior to the start of the season, but the expedition leader determines the final plan. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. The average cruising speed for our vessel is 10.5 knots.
Route Map
Trips and Rates
Please note, rates are Per Person in USD
Antarctica – Discovery & Learning
Jan 9 - Jan 19, 2026 (11 days)Antarctica – Discovery & Learning
Jan 6 - Jan 16, 2025 (11 days)Kayaking, Snowshoeing/Hiking, Photography
Single Travelers:
- Can book into a share cabin in Quad – Twin Deluxe
- Can book a twin cabin at solo occupancy at 1.7x the per person share price
Single Travelers:
- Can book into a share cabin in Quad – Twin Deluxe
- Can book a twin cabin at solo occupancy at 1.7x the per person share price
Adventure Options:
- Kayaking (full program, multiple paddles): $560/person – requires experience
- Camping: $225/person for 2024-25 season & $250/person for 2025-26 season
- On Basecamp departures all activities are free
Availability & prices are subject to change at anytime. Please contact us for the real time availability & prices.
Cabin Descriptions
Superior
The Superior cabins are the most spacious and the only cabin category with a double bed. They are located on deck 4, 5 & 6, with most being on deck 5 & 6 (there is just 1 superior on deck 4). Features: 2 windows, 1 double bed, 1 sofa bed, Private shower & toilet, Desk & chair, Flatscreen TV, Telephone & WiFi (supplemented), Refrigerator, Coffee & tea maker, Hair dryer, Safe deposit box and Ample storage space.
226 – 248 square feet / 21 – 23 square meters.
Twin Deluxe
There are just 2 Twin Deluxe cabins located towards the aft of deck 4. They are corner cabins and are slightly more spacious than the Twin Porthole/Window cabins. Features: 2 windows, 2 lower berths, Private shower & toilet, Desk & chair, Flatscreen TV, Telephone & WiFi (supplemented), Hair dryer, Ample storage space and Safe deposit box.
145 square feet / 13.5 square meters
Twin Window
The most abundant cabin category on the ship, all located on deck 4. Features: 1 window, 2 lower berths, Private shower & toilet, Desk & chair, Flatscreen TV, Telephone & WiFi (supplemented), Hair dryer, Safe deposit box and Ample storage space.
135 – 145 square feet / 12.5 – 13.5 square meters
Twin Porthole
The nine Twin Porthole cabins are located on deck 3. Features: 1 porthole, 2 lower berths, Private shower & toilet, Desk & chair, Flatscreen TV, Telephone & WiFi (supplemented), Hair dryer, Safe deposit box and Ample storage space.
129 square feet / 12 square meters
Triple Porthole
Just 1 Triple cabin located on deck 2. This cabin is suitable for families traveling with children, or passengers who do not require a twin or more luxurious cabin. Features: 1 porthole, 1 upper berth & 2 lower berths, Private shower & toilet, Desk & chair, Flatscreen TV, Telephone & WiFi (supplemented), Hair dryer, Safe deposit box and Ample storage space.
Quad Porthole
There are 4 Quad cabins on deck 2. This cabin is suitable for families traveling with children, or passengers who do not require a twin or more luxurious cabin. Features: 1 porthole, 2 upper berths & 2 lower berths, Private shower & toilet, Desk & chair, Flatscreen TV, Telephone & WiFi (supplemented), Hair dryer, Safe deposit box and Ample storage space.
129 square feet / 12 square meters
Deck Plan
Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions:
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in Ushuaia.
- Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
- During our “Basecamp” departures, all offered activities (including camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop) as well as our standard included shore excursions and zodiac cruises) are free of charge.
Exclusions:
- Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre- and post- land arrangements.
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Government arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals ashore.
- Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).
- Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).