Antarctic Peninsula: A Rare Exploration of the Weddell Sea

You may arrive in Ushuaia at any time on Day 1. Many guests choose to arrive a day or two before embarkation day to explore this quaint port city at the bottom of South America, and the surrounding region. Based on the arrival information you send in advance, we will arrange for a transfer from the airport to your hotel.

Embarkation will occur in the late afternoon, after which your vessel will sail down the historic Beagle Channel, transecting the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Expect an air of anticipation as you depart—the next time you see land, you’ll be at the world’s most southern continent.

You have many options of activities during the 800-km (500 mile) Drake crossing. As you gain your sea legs, our Expedition Team will begin their series of presentations to help prepare you for your upcoming Zodiac and land excursions. You officially enter Antarctica when your ship crosses the Antarctic Convergence, a boundary that f luctuates around 60° south. This is also a great opportunity to meet your fellow travelers—many of whom will become friends by the voyage end.

One word best describes the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Sound: immense. That applies equally to the ice formations, penguin colonies, and vast stretches of sea. In Antarctic Sound and the Weddell Sea, we will encounter massive tabular icebergs. These bergs don’t calve from tidewater glaciers but from ice shelves— and many will dwarf Ocean Explorer. Some in the Weddell Sea reach the size of a football field or larger. Their smooth, tabletop-flat surfaces reflect the ocean beneath: flat seas yield flat ice. Ice shelves stretch from land into the sea. In the northwest corner of the Weddell Sea, penguin colonies can number in the tens of thousands. For travelers seeking Adélie penguins, Antarctic Sound and the Weddell Sea offer prime viewing of this iconic species—the most southerly breeding penguin, and possibly bird, on Earth (though snow petrels, prevalent here, are also a contender for that crown). Gentoo penguins are found here too, and you’ll have chances to spot chinstraps. The legendary Snow Hill Emperor colony lies in this region; while we won’t reach it, we may encounter individual members on the ice. The Weddell Sea is less visited than the Gerlache Strait, not for lack of beauty, but due to its ever-shifting ice. On this voyage, we’ve added an extra day in this area—time enough for a true adventure into this endless wilderness, and to ensure we can fully embrace the dance with the ice. In the Weddell Sea, penguins are our priority—but ice will guide our course. Alongside towering tabular icebergs, we’ll likely encounter vast stretches of sea ice, more than on the Peninsula’s west side. Your Expedition Team and bridge officers will track charts and forecasts, seeking openings to navigate toward the region’s highlights, and intentionally visiting the ice edge to maximize our time in this remarkable environment.…

The journey back across the 800-km (500 mile) Drake Passage provides final opportunities to enjoy the crisp Antarctic air, spend time on the outer deck watching for seabirds and whales, or attending one of our team’s expert-led polar presentations.

Your ship is scheduled to arrive in Ushuaia between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. Once the ship has docked, you will bid farewell to your Expedition Team and shipmates before completing your disembarkation. You are then free to take advantage of the included transfer to the airport or, depending on the time of your flight, explore the town on your own and take a taxi to the airport later.

Itineraries are subject to change.