Polar Circle Explorer

Embark the MV Ushuaia in the afternoon and meet your expedition and lecture staff. After you've settled into your cabin, join your fellow travellers for a welcome cocktail as we set sail along the iconic Beagle Channel, passing through the scenic Mackinlay Pass.

Meals:  D

Named after the renowned explorer, Sir Francis Drake, who sailed these waters in 1578, the Drake Passage also marks the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar water sinks beneath the warmer northern waters. This creates a great upwelling of nutrients, which sustains the biodiversity of this region. The Drake Passage also marks the northern limit of many Antarctic seabirds. As we sail across the passage, our lecturers will be out with you on deck to help in the identification of an amazing variety of seabirds, including many albatrosses, which follow in our wake. The MV Ushuaia's open bridge policy allows you to join our officers on the bridge and learn about navigation, watch for whales, and enjoy the view. A full program of lectures will be offered as well. The first sightings of icebergs and snow-capped mountains indicate that we have reached the South Shetland Islands, a group of twenty islands and islets first sighted in February 1819 by Capt. William Smith of the brig Williams. With favorable conditions in the Drake Passage, our lecturers and naturalists will accompany you ashore as you experience your first encounter with the penguins and seals on Day 3.

Meals:  B,L,D

The western Antarctic Peninsula is a place of extraordinary natural beauty, where towering glaciers, snow-covered mountains and countless icebergs create one of the world's most spectacular polar landscapes. Beyond its stunning scenery, the region is steeped in the legacy of the early Antarctic explorers, adding a rich historical dimension to your voyage. You'll have ample opportunity to explore this pristine wilderness on Zodiac excursions and shore landings, with excellent chances to encounter Adélie, Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins, along with Weddell, crabeater, fur and leopard seals. Minke whales and orcas are frequently sighted, while the summer season also offers the possibility of seeing larger whales, including humpback, fin and sei whales. During the voyage, we aim to navigate some of Antarctica's most iconic waterways, including the Gerlache Strait, Errera Channel, Neumayer Channel and the spectacular Lemaire Channel. Possible landing sites include Paradise Bay, renowned for its dramatic glaciers and mountain scenery; Cuverville Island, home to one of the Antarctic Peninsula's largest Gentoo penguin colonies; and Port Lockroy, a historic British research station and post office. As we continue south beyond the Lemaire Channel in search of the Antarctic Circle, weather and ice conditions permitting, we may visit Vernadsky Research Base, Detaille Island, the Yalour Islands and other remote locations that showcase the region's remarkable wildlife and polar history. On our return north, we plan to explore the South Shetland Islands, a volcanic archipelago renowned for its abundant wildlife. Vast penguin colonies and seals hauled out along the shoreline make every landing memorable. Conditions permitting, we may also sail into the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island and visit Half Moon Island, home to a thriving colony of Chinstrap penguins set against a dramatic Antarctic backdrop.

Meals:  B,L,D

We leave the Antarctic Peninsula behind and begin our voyage north across the Drake Passage towards Ushuaia. As we retrace the route of the early explorers, there will be plenty of time to relax on deck, reflect on the extraordinary experiences of the past days and continue searching for seabirds and whales that accompany the ship on its journey. Join our expedition team for a final series of engaging lectures and naturalist presentations, bringing your Antarctic adventure to a memorable conclusion before arriving back in Ushuaia.

Meals:  B,L,D

During the early morning we cruise up the Beagle Channel before quietly slipping into the port of Ushuaia. We arrive in the early morning and, after breakfast, disembark the MV Ushuaia, bringing our Antarctic expedition to a close. It is a busy time, with people saying farewell to our crew and to those who have shared the intensity of exploring this magnificent white wilderness. We head off in our different directions, hopefully with a newfound sense of the power of nature and memories of an extraordinary journey to the world's last great wilderness.

Meals:  B