Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Cruise

Day 1 - Buenos Aires

Arrive: Sun 15 December 2024

Founded in 1536, Buenos Aires was administered by a Spanish viceroy for nearly three centuries before winning its independence in 1816. A sleepy port town for most of that time, it wasn't until the turn of the 20th century that the city finally emerged as an important shipping center. Today, Argentina's democratically elected government has made it South America's safest (and most expensive) country. This cosmopolitan city is characterized by broad boulevards with huge shade trees, beautiful residential districts, plazas containing monuments and fountains, interspersed with 20th-century high-rise buildings. It is a truly great walking city.

Day 2 - Buenos Aires

Depart: Mon 16 December 2024

Founded in 1536, Buenos Aires was administered by a Spanish viceroy for nearly three centuries before winning its independence in 1816. A sleepy port town for most of that time, it wasn't until the turn of the 20th century that the city finally emerged as an important shipping center. Today, Argentina's democratically elected government has made it South America's safest (and most expensive) country. This cosmopolitan city is characterized by broad boulevards with huge shade trees, beautiful residential districts, plazas containing monuments and fountains, interspersed with 20th-century high-rise buildings. It is a truly great walking city.

Day 2 - Bue Jorge Newbery Airfield

Day 2 - Ushuaia, Argentina

Arrive: Mon 16 December 2024 / Depart: Mon 16 December 2024 at 19:00

The southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia is the capital of Argentine Tierra del Fuego and an important naval base boasting a strategic as well as a picturesque location on the shores of Ushuaia Bay and the Beagle Channel. This rustic coastal town is set among waterfalls, glaciers, snow-clad mountains and beech forests, and the nutrient-rich local waters abound with marine life. Though the houses here are painted warm, pastel colors, the weather is chilly year-round and winter sports such as downhill and cross-country skiing and skating are popular. Ushuaia's principal industries are raising sheep, logging, fishing and trapping. It became a boomtown with 30,000 residents in the late 1980's when the government sought to increase Argentina's presence near Antarctica by giving tax breaks to citizens who settled here.

Day 3 - At Sea

Day 4 - New Island, Chile

Arrive: Wed 18 December 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 18 December 2024 at 12:00

Wind-swept New Island, one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands, lies on the western fringe of the Falklands Archipelago. Its gentle, low-lying eastern shores are indented with white, sandy bays and coves beaming with turquoise water. Gradually rising, these slopes are transformed into rugged sea-battered cliffs on the island’s western side. A place of colorful landscapes, New Island supports some of the largest concentrations and diversity of wildlife in the Falklands, with over forty species of nesting birds. Four species of penguins, including 13,000 gentoo and 26,000 Southern rockhopper penguins call the island home. Embracing winds and seas below, 60,000 black-browed albatross soar along the cliffs. New Island’s history is as rich and plentiful as its natural wonders. The island has known human presence since the late 1700s, especially with many whaling ships finding refuge in its coves and bays from tempestuous weather.

Day 4 - West Point, Falkland Islands

Arrive: Wed 18 December 2024 / Depart: Wed 18 December 2024 at 18:00

Albatrosses have long captured the imagination of sailors, roaming the vast oceans, embracing storms and winds far from the safety of land and so at ease in the roughest sea conditions. In summer, a large colony of black-browed albatrosses come to breed on West Point Island. Along with rockhopper penguins, they reside between the rocky ledges and among the tussock grass. Other species can also be seen throughout the island: fur seals and sea lions visit its shores and dolphins frequent its harbor. Cliff Mountain, its highest point, rises to 1,250’ (381 meters) above the highest sea cliffs in the Falklands. The Napier family, descendants of the original farmers, still own and operate West Point Island as a traditional sheep farm. Living in a modest family house sheltered by weathered Monterey cypress trees, they welcome visitors in for a cup of tea. Experience West Point’s spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife and its human population of just two, Lily and Roddy Napier.

Day 5 - Carcass Island

Arrive: Thu 19 December 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 19 December 2024 at 12:00

Day 5 - Saunders Island, Falkland Islands

Arrive: Thu 19 December 2024 at 14:00 / Depart: Thu 19 December 2024 at 16:00

Wild and remote Saunders Island, is the site of the first British settlement in the Falklands, Port Egmont in 1765. The small population remains true to its origins, nowadays with the descendants of the early farmers, still living on the island and sheep farming largely in the traditional style. Five species of penguin can be found here: king, macaroni, gentoo, rockhopper and the occasional magellanic. Five hundred steamer ducks, white-bridled finches and 22,000 black-browed albatross breed on the island. Dolphins often visit its harbor, while Southern right whales can be spotted in the distance. West Point Island’s highest point, Cliff Mountain, rises to 1,250’ (381 meters), and has the highest sea cliffs in the Falklands. Experience West Point’s spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife and its human population of two, Lily and Roddy Napier. Descendants of the original farmers, the Napier family still own and run West Point Island as a traditional sheep farm. Living in the modest family house sheltered by weathered Monterey cypress trees, they welcome visitors in for a cup of tea.

Day 6 - Falkland Islands

Arrive: Fri 20 December 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 20 December 2024 at 17:00

An archipelago of over 700 islands spread over 4,700 square miles lies about 300 miles east of the coast of Argentina. Its political affiliation is with the United Kingdom, and it is named the Falkland Islands, although this is disputed by Argentina, which calls the island group Islas Malvinas. The islands were the focus of a short, violent military confrontation between the two nations in 1982 which resulted in many lives lost. Most visitors come to the islands attracted by the severe beauty of the landscape and the unusual wildlife to be seen there, especially colonies of penguins. Port Stanley, the capital, is a plucky outpost supporting the hardy islanders who farm and fish and, lately, newcomers set on exploiting the recently discovered oil reserves offshore.

Day 7 - At Sea

Day 8 - At Sea

Day 9 - South Georgia Islands, Antarctica

Arrive: Mon 23 December 2024

South Georgia is an island in the southern Atlantic Ocean that is part of the British Overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The main settlement is Grytviken.

Day 10 - South Georgia Islands, Antarctica

South Georgia is an island in the southern Atlantic Ocean that is part of the British Overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The main settlement is Grytviken.

Day 11 - South Georgia Islands, Antarctica

Depart: Wed 25 December 2024

South Georgia is an island in the southern Atlantic Ocean that is part of the British Overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The main settlement is Grytviken.

Day 12 - At Sea

Day 13 - At Sea

Day 14 - Antarctic Experience

Day 15 - Antarctic Experience

Day 16 - Antarctic Experience

Day 17 - Antarctic Experience

Day 18 - Antarctic Experience

Day 19 - Antarctic Experience

Day 20 - At Sea

Day 21 - At Sea

Day 22 - Ushuaia, Argentina

Arrive: Sun 05 January 2025 at 06:30 / Depart: Sun 05 January 2025

The southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia is the capital of Argentine Tierra del Fuego and an important naval base boasting a strategic as well as a picturesque location on the shores of Ushuaia Bay and the Beagle Channel. This rustic coastal town is set among waterfalls, glaciers, snow-clad mountains and beech forests, and the nutrient-rich local waters abound with marine life. Though the houses here are painted warm, pastel colors, the weather is chilly year-round and winter sports such as downhill and cross-country skiing and skating are popular. Ushuaia's principal industries are raising sheep, logging, fishing and trapping. It became a boomtown with 30,000 residents in the late 1980's when the government sought to increase Argentina's presence near Antarctica by giving tax breaks to citizens who settled here.