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This voyage aboard the vessel Plancius will bring you face-to-face with the majestic landscapes, abundant wildlife and maritime history of the Sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Cruising to the Falkland Islands, we'll visit Port Stanley - the capital of the Falklands, and discover Black-Browed Albatross sharing their colony with sturdy Rockhopper Penguins along the western side of the archipelago. We then cross the Antarctic Convergence and cruise to South Georgia, a region boasting a huge diversity of mammals, whales and birds, and a series of harbours that once sheltered large fleets of whaling ships. In South Georgia we plan to visit Stromness Bay, the King Penguin colonies on Salisbury Plain, Grytviken (Whaling History Museum) as well as Shackleton's grave. Combine this with the natural wonders of the South Orkney Islands and the spectacular Antarctic Peninsula and you have the makings of a truly memorable polar voyage. Exploring the western flanks of the Antarctic Peninsula provides a further highlight to our trip with regular shore excursions to stretch your legs while enjoying the wildlife and visiting scientific stations.
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Day 1
Embark Ushuaia
You will be warmly greeted by the crew and expedition staff as you embark Plancius in Ushuaia in the afternoon. As we set course towards the Falkland Islands, we will settle into shipboard life and enjoy our first meal on board.
Meals: D
Day 2
At Sea
On our way to the Falkland Islands, the ship is followed by several species of albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels.
Meals: B,L,D
Day 3-4
Falkland Islands
In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) we plan to spend the whole day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago. A hike along the Shore of Carcass Island will give us views of Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins, as well as close encounters with water fowl and Night herons and passerines. In addition, on Saunders we will be able to observe four species of breeding penguins (Gentoo, King, Magellanic and Rockhopper), Black-browed Albatrosses and King Cormorants.
Day 5-6
On our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop by as much as 10 degrees C in the time span of only a few hours. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship; several species of Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Petrels, Prions and Skuas.
Day 7-10
South Georgia
(Arrival early morning on day 8). We visit the areas where the German explorers, von Neumayer, Drygalski, Filchner, Kohl-Larsen, have worked and put their marks ( e.g. Grytviken, Royal Bay/Moltke Harbour, Drygalski Fjord and more). The sites that we visit give us a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of landscapes and wildlife, like King and Macaroni Penguins, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Fur Seals, and Elephant Seals. There will be opportunities for walkers in the group to hike on South Georgia. All hiking excursions are subject to weather and landing site availability. The voyage in South Georgia ends at Drygalski Fjord, which is a great scenic place for zodiac cruising.
Day 11
At sea
Where the ship is again followed by a multitude of seabirds. At some point we might encounter sea-ice, and it is at the ice-edge where we might have a chance to see some high-Antarctic species like the McCormick skua and Snow petrel.
Day 12
South Shetland Islands
We may land at Half Moon Island at the South Shetland Islands, where we can observe Elephant, Weddell and Fur Seals as well as Chinstrap Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, Wilson’s Storm Petrels, Kelp Gulls, Snowy Sheathbills, Antarctic Terns and Antarctic Brown Skuas. At Deception Island, we will sail into the crater through the spectacular narrow entrance Neptune’s Bellow into the ring of the caldera to reach Whalers Bay. Deception itself is a sub-ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson’s Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay.
Day 13
At sea towards the Antarctic Peninsula.
Day 14-16
Antarctic Peninsula
On our way south, we sail to Danco Island and Cuverville Island in the Errera Channel, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. We also hope for a continental landing at Neko Harbour in Andvord Bay. We are aiming to sail further south to Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, while having chances of seeing large Whales. We will have opportunities for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. We may land at the Argentinian station Almirante Brown, which is most of the time not manned. Sailing South through the Lemaire Channel we will visit Petermann Island (named after the German geographer August Petermann), our most southery point of this voyage. We are heading back North with direction Neumayer Channel ( named after German scientist Georg von Neumayer). We aim for the historic British station Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. We also hope for a landing on the neighbouring island Jougla Point which is inhabited by Gentoo Penguins and Imperial Shags. Sailing north again through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait. We pass by the Melchior Islands with a final glimpse at the beautiful landscape with icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales. We leave from here to the open sea with direction Ushuaia.
Day 17-18
On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.
Day 19
Disembark in Ushuaia
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.
Meals: B
What's included
What's not included
Our voyages are designed for curious travellers — not just passengers. While our itineraries offer a range of activities, from gentle Zodiac cruises to more challenging hikes and paddles, it’s important to understand the nature of this experience before you join us. These expeditions are suitable for most travellers with an adventurous spirit, good health, and the ability to move confidently around a vessel — especially in variable weather and sea conditions. Some shore landings and excursions may involve uneven terrain, wet landings, or light scrambling. Boarding Zodiacs and navigating the ship may require balance and agility, though our experienced team is always on hand to assist. Each trip may include a variety of optional activities, most of which require no prior experience. You might find yourself kayaking past icebergs, snowshoeing across pristine landscapes, or even camping on the ice for a night under the stars. Of course, all activities are optional — you’re always welcome to stay aboard and enjoy the ship at your own pace. Not sure if this trip is right for you?
Get in touch with our team — we’re here to help you choose the experience that best suits your interests, comfort, and curiosity.
M/v "Plancius" was built in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and was named "Hr. Ms. Tydeman". The ship sailed for the Dutch Navy until June 2004. The vessel was completely rebuilt in 2009 and complies with the latest SOLAS-regulations (Safety Of Life At Sea).
Superior
This cabin has 2 windows, 1 double bed and a sofa bed. A private shower & toilet, a desk & chair, Flatscreen TV plus a telephone and internet connection point. Refrigerator and coffee/tea making facilities. A hair dryer and ample storage space. Capacity 2 people.
Cabin size between 21 m² and 23 m²
Twin Deluxe
This cabin has 2 windows and 2 lower berths. A private shower & toilet, a desk & chair, Flatscreen TV plus a telephone and internet connection point. A hair dryer and ample storage space. These cabins are corner cabins and are slightly more spacious than the normal twin porthole/window cabins. Capacity 2 people.
Cabin size 13,5 m²
Twin Window
This cabin has 1 window and 2 lower berths. A private shower & toilet, a desk & chair, Flatscreen TV plus a telephone and internet connection point. A hair dryer and ample storage space. Capacity 2 people.
Cabin size between 12,5 m² and 13,5 m²
Twin Porthole
This cabin has 1 porthole and 2 lower berths. A private shower & toilet, a desk & chair, Flatscreen TV plus a telephone and internet connection point. A hair dryer and ample storage space. Capacity 2 people.
Cabin size 12 m²
Quadruple Porthole
This cabin has 1 porthole, 2 upper & 2 lower berths (bunks). A private shower & toilet, a desk & chair, Flatscreen TV plus a telephone and internet connection point. A hair dryer and ample storage space. This cabin is suitable for families traveling with children, or passengers who do not require a twin or more luxurious cabin. Capacity 4 people.
Per Person, Twin Share
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Explore places the big ships can’t with the widest selection of genuine small-ship, activity-first cruising. On Water Expeditions offers exceptional value, quality services, no hidden costs, and plenty of inclusions.
Don't watch the action sail past your window, dive into it! Designed for active travellers, these itineraries give you more time to adventure off the boat.
Activity is built into every journey. From paddling to hiking, enjoy a basecamp-style experience that injects fun, meaningful connections and thrilling adventure into it.
Each voyage is thoughtfully selected for low-impact exploration, supporting genuine conservation and sustainability while respecting local communities and environments.
21 Days