Antarctica Cruise

Arrive this morning and transfer to your hotel, where immediate check-in has been arranged with time to relax before a half-day city tour. Meet your fellow adventurer’s this evening for a welcome cocktail reception.

This morning following breakfast, transfer back to the Buenos Aires Airport (Jorge Newbery Airport) for your charter flight to Ushuaia. Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Upon arrival, enjoy sightseeing and a traditional Patagonian barbecue lunch. Later, arrive at your ship and settle in for your first night on board. Le Boreal is a comfortable, stylish ship, both spacious and passenger-friendly. Wander the decks, relax in the lounge and mingle with fellow travelers in anticipation of your voyage.

The southward journey toward Antarctica is an exciting one. Fast-flowing southern ocean currents squeezing between land masses give the Drake Passage, the small strip of sea between the tip of South America and Antarctica, some of the world's roughest waters. An important trade route in the 19th and early 20th centuries, its stormy waters and icy conditions often made the journey around Cape Horn a difficult one. Le Boreal's stabilizers help handle it much easier. The krill-rich waters are a particular favorite with marine mammals and seabirds. Join Le Boreal's naturalists on the deck to look for various species of whales and abundant seabirds.

As the Antarctic Peninsula and its offshore islands appear on the horizon, a sense of excitement and expectation begins to build. Shore excursions are carefully planned by the captain and expedition leader to take full advantage of each day's possibilities. On most days, two landings are scheduled. Head out in swift and versatile Zodiacs, guided by expert drivers and accompanied by lecturers, to a number of penguin-filled islands in the South Shetlands, which may include Half Moon, Penguin and Deception. Other possible island visits just off the continental coastline may include Cuverville, Paulet or Goudier.

Weather permitting, sail through stunning Paradise Bay and the Lemaire Channel referred to as "Kodak Alley,". Possibilities for exploration include a scientific research station and the remains of a turn-of-the-century whaling and sealing station.

The ship's return through the Drake Passage is an interlude for recap and reflection, with time to compare notes with your lecturers on the wildlife, history and geology of the White Continent. While cruising through this historic passage, named in honor of Sir Francis Drake's voyage in the 16th century, you may be able to spot whales and seabirds such as albatross.

Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport to board your flight home via Buenos Aires.