Christmas Season in Antarctica

The Christmas season is a time for joy, reflection, and magical moments, and nowhere on earth delivers all of those – and all at once – as does a journey through the wildlife-rich Weddell Sea and into the spectacular snow-covered Antarctic Peninsula. Join us as we share the holidays peacefully co-existing with Mother Nature herself. You’ll be celebrating among massive tabular icebergs, glorious and radiant glaciers, colonies of Adélie, Chinstrap, and other penguin species, and an array of seals, all the while staying on the lookout for a likely sighting of Orca on the hunt. Christmas time in Antarctica. It’s a holiday experience unlike any other.

Holiday voyage built around the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula, delivering Christmas among glaciers, tabular ice, and prolific penguin and seal colonies.
Broad activity range including camping, kayaking, snowshoeing, Citizen Science, and Zodiac excursions for a fully immersive Antarctic season.
Balanced itinerary combining wildlife encounters, volcanic South Shetland landscapes, and cultural stops at scientific bases for a complete festive expedition.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive and explore in Ushuaia

After a friendly welcome at the airport and a transfer to the luxurious Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, take some time to unwind or explore the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. (In the unlikely event that you can't be accommodated at the Arakur, you'll unwind at another of Ushuaia's top luxury hotels.)Our optional evening briefing is your opportunity to ask questions and meet some of your fellow explorers.

Day 2: All Aboard!

Spend your morning relaxing at the hotel, visiting a museum, or exploring the shops in Ushuaia, before our mid-afternoon escort to the ship. Our Expedition Team and ship staff will welcome you on board and get you settled in, followed by a safety and orientation briefing and our Captain’s welcome dinner. We’re on our way to Antarctica!

Days 3–4: Drake Passage

Join our Polar Experts as they share their vast knowledge of Antarctica, from its enchanting wildlife to its bold history. Participate in our pioneering Citizen Science program or sit back and take in this fabled journey while catching glimpses of rarely seen wildlife. Keep your binoculars handy to identify the many seabirds that escort our ship as we cross the Antarctic Convergence into Antarctica’s waters and noticeably cooler temperatures.

Days 5–7: Merry Christmas, Antarctica!

Time to put our explorer’s spirit to full use. Antarctica offers astounding landscapes and wildlife encounters at every turn, as the last truly unspoiled place on earth, populated only by its original wild inhabitants. Prepare yourself to encounter numerous species of penguins, seals, and whales, who will be there to share the holidays with us along the rugged coastlines and in the sea. We’ll also take full advantage of every opportunity to visit some of the several active scientific bases and historic landing sites on the peninsula. This voyage promises to be a holiday memory you’ll cherish forever. Our team always has something fun planned for Christmas Day.

Day 8: South Shetland Islands

Over time, the volcanic activity of the South Shetland Islands has created a geology unlike any other. Here, you can expect a spectacular display of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife including Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins; and it’s not uncommon to share the water’s edge with Elephant and Fur seals. Whales are often spotted as well. So, we’ll settle into our Zodiacs and spend most of our day exploring. And kayakers, it’s time to get your first taste of gliding just inches off the pristine Antarctic water. Whether on land or sea, in Zodiac or kayak, be prepared for a fully immersive introduction to this incomparable part of the world.

Days 9–10: Drake Passage

We leave this magical place and make our way north, once again heading across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage. We have one last hurrah as we celebrate the conclusion of our expedition with a special slideshow and a final meal together.

Day 11: Ushuaia Disembarkation

With huge smiles on weary, content faces, we disembark in the morning, letting you catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in Ushuaia for more sights and adventure.

Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Ocean Victory

Vessel Type: Luxury X-Bow®-Infinity Class Vessel
Passenger Capacity: 174 passengers in 93 cabins
Built: 2021
Ocean Victory carries the same next-generation expedition design as its sister ship, purpose-built for the demands of Antarctica and the Arctic. The patented X-Bow structure delivers a steadier, more comfortable ride through heavy seas and deeper ice, while the heated mudroom and multiple exterior access points streamline zodiac operations. Large stateroom windows, broad observation areas and hydraulic platforms keep the Polar environment in constant view, and amenities such as Jacuzzis, spa, gym, lounge spaces and round-the-clock bistro service support a high standard of comfort without dulling the focus on exploration.
Efficiency and environmental performance are central to the vessel’s build. Diesel–electric propulsion reduces fuel consumption and lowers emissions by roughly 50 percent compared with traditional expedition ships. Most cabins include private balconies, communal spaces are deliberately generous, and all core expedition infrastructure—photography support, science areas, medical capability and dedicated passenger services—is integrated into daily operations. The result is a modern, stable and environmentally responsible platform for seamless travel across both Polar regions.