The Great White Continent Expedition Cruise

After breakfast we check out and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Ushuaia. On arrival we transfer to a hotel for an overnight stay and meet our fellow travellers.

This morning is free to explore Ushuaia at your own pace. In the afternoon, we embark the Ocean Nova and cruise out through the Beagle Channel. If we are lucky, we might see Magellanic penguins as we sail.

We spend a day at sea, accompanied by seabirds such as petrels, fulmars and albatrosses that gracefully follow our ship. Whales and dolphins may also be seen in the surrounding waters, and the polar experts will begin their exciting lecture programme.

The plan for today is to explore the western islands of the archipelago, which are isolated and windswept but home to many seabirds including the black-browed albatross. Weather permitting, we will go ashore and explore Saunders Island, a penguin hotspot that is one of the few places on earth where four penguin species nest side by side. Here we can find gentoo, rockhopper, king and Magellanic penguin rookeries as well as nesting black-browed albatross. You can stand on the white sand beach watching the penguins come and go while the striated caracaras patrol overhead.

Today we visit Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands. Here, we wander through charming streets lined with small houses and learn how this quiet harbour was once a major port in the 19th century for ships attempting to round the waters of Cape Horn.

We sail southeast, bound for South Georgia. The anticipation grows, especially as we cross the Antarctic Convergence and notice a dramatic drop in temperature. Shipboard presentations will continue, featuring the fascinating history and abundant wildlife of South Georgia. Wildlife will guide us to the island – keep a lookout in the ocean for whales, seals, and penguins.

Majestic mountains, mighty glaciers, and beaches full of king penguins greet us on the island of South Georgia. We arrive in spring, when there are few ships in the vicinity, and the peaks of the dramatic mountain ranges are still snow-covered. For wildlife enthusiasts, South Georgia is a true haven. Hundreds of thousands of penguins gather at places like St Andrew’s Bay and Salisbury Plain. Huge elephant seals lounge on beaches, and at this time of year, we may witness dramatic fights for dominance among the males. The island is also home to several other penguin species, including macaroni, gentoo, and chinstrap penguins, along with the playful and feisty fur seals. South Georgia played a significant role in Shackleton’s legendary expedition. After his ship Endurance sank, he and his crew crossed the treacherous ocean in an open lifeboat to reach the island. We hope to visit Shackleton’s grave at Grytviken, once an active whaling station, now home to a charming museum.

We now set sail towards the world’s most remote continent – Antarctica, faithfully accompanied by many seabirds. The onboard polar experts will continue to fill our minds with heroic stories of the early daredevils who explored Antarctica. We also keep our eyes open for the first iceberg, which could appear on the horizon at any time.

This is a true Antarctic expedition cruise, and our exact route over the following days is subject to weather and ice conditions. We hope to go ashore at Elephant Island, where we will learn more about the famous Antarctic adventures of Sir Ernest Shackleton. In 1916, Shackleton and his crew sought refuge on this island after their ship was crushed by pack ice in the Weddell Sea. Following the loss of their ship, they reached Elephant Island after a harrowing ordeal on drifting ice floes. They established a camp at a location they named Point Wild, after Shackleton’s commander, Frank Wild. Today, this area is home to nesting chinstrap penguins. We will spend some time cruising among the South Shetland Islands, just off the Antarctic Peninsula. Dazzling wildlife sightings await us on our excursions to some of the islands, including King George, Half Moon, Barrientos, or Livingston. Adelie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins thrive here, along with several species of seals. Hopefully, we will also have the chance to visit the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island. Along the coastline of the South Shetlands, we keep our eyes open for humpback whales foraging for krill. Continuing south along the Antarctic Peninsula, we navigate through vast expanses of pack ice covering large parts of the bays, watching as our experienced officers skilfully steer our ice-strengthened ship. We cruise through labyrinths of icebergs, some of which may be occupied by curious penguins. In good ice conditions, we hope to set foot on the Antarctic continent at Hope Bay or Paradise Harbour. The scenery here, from the colossal icebergs to the seemingly endless Antarctic ice sheet is truly breathtaking.

As we leave this magical place and head across the Drake Passage, you can spend time reflecting on the incredible experiences of the past days. On our approach to the South American continent, it is possible to see whales, dolphins, and seals. Celebrate the conclusion of your Antarctic expedition with a farewell dinner on board.

Disembark this morning.

Itineraries are subject to change.