Cruising Antarctica Crossing the Circle: Ushuaia to Ushuaia

On arrival into Ushuaia, you are met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Embarkation will occur in the late afternoon, after which your vessel will sail down the historic Beagle Channel. This historic channel transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Expect an air of excitement as you depart - the next time you see land you'll be in the world's most southern continent!

Prepare yourself for potentially rough water, but hope for a smooth sailing as the Drake is unpredictable and always changing. You will have plenty of time to stare out at the sea, get to know your fellow shipmates and chat with your Expedition Team.

Time over these two days will be spent preparing for the exciting days ahead, with numerous educational and informative lectures from your Expedition Team. You will learn about everything from safety procedures to the history of whaling in Antarctica.

With the Drake Passage left in your wake, make a final approach to Antarctica. Get your cameras ready, as the continent's coastline will make its first appearance, signaling the start of your adventure in the realm of the Antarctica. You will see plenty of icebergs floating by as curious whales spout and breach before your eyes.

As exciting as it can be from onboard the ship, your true exploration occurs when you disembark and set foot on the great continent. There are several potential landing sites that can be visited, including Neko Harbor, Petermann Island and Pleneau Island. While weather dictates which specific landing sites can be visited, each one presents a new collection of wildlife and natural attractions.

Your day will be busy spotting wildlife and being mesmerized by the beauty of Antarctica. Watching penguins waddling on the beach and listening to the crackling and crumbling sounds of icebergs and glaciers will become your daily entertainment, while kayaking with whales and camping in Antarctica are a couple of optional activities available on selected voyages.

Crossing the Antarctic Circle is an impressive achievement, as most expeditions to the Peninsula do not reach this far south. You and your shipmates will celebrate in style with a well earned glass of champagne!

Make a toast to the first explorers who ventured this far south, you can take pride in knowing you have made it to a part of the world still visited by very few people.

By now, your knowledge of Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins will be matched by your ability to differentiate between a leopard, or Weddell seal.

As you head back towards the Drake, Zodiac excursions will continue to fill your days, while the Expedition Team will help fill in any blanks that remain in your newly acquired knowledge of the Antarctic.

Re-crossing the Drake, Antarctica fades away and you will be left with a collection of memories to last a lifetime. Excited conversations with your newfound friends will make the time passing the Drake Passage fly by, independent of weather and sea conditions.

Your Expedition Team will round up their series of lectures as well, perhaps with a slideshow of some of the great landing sites and wildlife you have visited over the course of your voyage.

Today you will say goodbye to your Expedition Team and your fellow travelers. You will disembark in the morning after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your return charter flight to Buenos Aires.