Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula

Your voyage begins where the world drops off: Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, located on the far southern tip of South America.  Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego – nicknamed “The End of the World” – and sail the scenic, mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the rest of the evening.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (D)

Note: We advise all passengers to plan to arrive in Ushuaia one night before the cruise departure.

Several species of albatross follow the vessel into the westerlies, as well as storm petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrels.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

The Falkland (Malvinas) Islands offer an abundance of wildlife, easily approachable – with caution.  These islands are largely unknown gems, primarily remembered for the war between the UK and Argentina in 1982.  Not only do various species of bird live here, but chances are great you’ll see both Peale’s dolphins and Commerson’s dolphins in the surrounding waters.  During this part of the voyage, you may visit the following sites:

Carcass Island – Despite its name, this island is pleasantly rodent-free and hence bounteous with birdlife.  Anything from breeding Magellanic and gentoo penguins to numerous waders and passerine birds (including Cobb’s wren and the tussock-bird) live here.

Saunders Island – Here you can see the black-browed albatross and its sometimes-clumsy landings, along with breeding imperial shags and rockhopper penguins.  King penguins, Magellanic penguins, and gentoo penguins are also found here.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

The capital of the Falklands, Port Stanley has some South American traits mixed in with a little Victorian charm: colorful houses, well-tended gardens, and English-style pubs.  You can see several century-old clipper ships in the surrounding area, silent witnesses to the hardships of 19th century sailors.  The small but interesting museum is also worth a visit, covering the early days of the settlement up to the Falkland War.  Approximately 2,100 people live in the capital, where you’re free to wander at will – though admission fees to local attractions are not included.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

En route to South Georgia, you cross the Antarctic Convergence. The temperature cools considerably within only a few hours, and nutritious water rises to the surface of the sea due to colliding water columns.  This phenomenon attracts a multitude of seabirds near the ship: several species of albatrosses as well as shearwaters, petrels, prions, and skuas.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

You arrive at the first South Georgia activity site on day seven.  Weather conditions here can be challenging and largely dictate the program.  Over the next several days, you have a chance to visit the following sites:

Prion Island – This location is closed during the early part of the wandering albatross breeding season (November 20 – January 7).  From January on, the breeding adults have found their partners and are sitting on eggs or nursing their chicks.  Enjoy witnessing the gentle nature of these animals, which possess the largest wingspan of any birds in the world.

Fortuna Bay – Near beaches inhabited by penguins and seals, you have the chance to follow the final section of Shackleton’s route to the abandoned whaling village of Stromness.  This route cuts across the mountain pass beyond Shackleton’s Waterfall.  The terrain here is partly swampy, so be prepared to cross some small streams along the way.

Salisbury Plain, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour – These locations not only house the three largest king penguin colonies in South Georgia, they’re also three of the largest breeding beaches for southern elephant seals in the world.  Only this time of year do they peak in their breeding cycle.  Watch the four-ton bulls keep a constant vigil (and occasionally fight) over the territories where dozens of females have just given birth or are about to deliver.  You can also see a substantial number of Antarctic fur seals here during the breeding season (December – January).

Grytviken – You have the opportunity to check out this abandoned whaling station, where king penguins now walk the streets and elephant seals lie around like they own the place – because they just about do.  You might also see the South Georgia Museum as well as Shackleton’s grave.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

There may be sea ice on this route, and at the edge of the ice some south polar skuas and snow petrels could join the other seabirds trailing the vessel south.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Depending on the weather and ice, you might visit Base Orcadas, an Argentine scientific station on Laurie Island in the South Orkney archipelago.  The personnel here will happily show you their facility, where you can enjoy expansive views of the surrounding glaciers.  If a visit here isn’t possible, you might land in Signy Island’s Shingle Cove instead.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Huge icebergs and a good chance of fin whales ensure there’s never a dull moment on this last sea voyage south.  Also, your best chance to spot Antarctic petrels is here. Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

If ice permits, you sail into the Weddell Sea.  Here colossal tabular icebergs herald your arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula.  Paulet Island, with its large population of Adélie penguins, is a possible stop.  You might also visit Brown Bluff, located in the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound, where you may get the chance to set foot on the Continent.  If conditions aren’t favorable to enter the Weddell Sea from the east, you set course for Elephant Island and head into the Bransfield Strait – between South Shetland Island and the Antarctic Peninsula.  Here you attempt access to the Antarctic Sound from the northwest.  This extended voyage provides you the chance to sail even farther down the ice-sculpted western Antarctic Peninsula.

After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you get a chance to visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island.  You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags.  After this, other visits might be possible.  In Neko Harbour or Paradise Bay, you may be able to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in an epic, otherworldly landscape of alpine peaks and mammoth glaciers calving at sea level.  Humpback whales and minke whales are also known to be spotted in this area.  Cuverville Island is a potential stop in the early hours of your last landing day.  Here you can pick around the rocks, enjoying the morning in good company: The largest gentoo penguin rookery of the Antarctic Peninsula lives here.  Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south.  But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.  You will be transferred to the airport in Ushuaia for your return flight to your final destination.  (B)