Ultimate Antarctic Circle Crossing (Ocean Albatros)

Welcome to Ushuaia – the gateway to Antarctica. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be transferred to your comfortable hotel for tonight. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at your hotel this evening, where you’ll meet the other travellers joining you on your trip. If you arrive with time to spare, maybe head out to explore the southernmost city in the world. In downtown Ushuaia, you’ll find plenty of souvenir shops to browse, or you could seek out an Argentinian snack or two – empanadas, anyone?

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Spend the morning either relaxing at the hotel or exploring more of Ushuaia – a visit to the Maritime Museum or the leather markets is highly recommended. This afternoon, you’ll board your ship – the Ocean Albatros. Settle into your cabin, then meet the Expedition Team and have a safety and orientation briefing. Tonight, join the captain and your group for a welcome dinner on board and toast as you set sail to Antarctica!

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Cross the infamous Drake Passage – the body of water separating the tip of South America from the South Shetland Islands on the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. As you sail, learn about the history, geology and ecology of the unique ecosystem you’ll soon encounter. The Expedition Team will share their expertise during educational talks, and you can take part in the Citizen Science program, where you’ll help collect data to be used for vital research into how Antarctica is being impacted by climate change. Have your binoculars ready for plenty of seabird-watching – albatross, petrels and prions are all likely sights as you traverse this passage. Feel the temperature drop as you cross the Antarctic Convergence, officially making your way into Antarctic waters.

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Hop in a Zodiac and set out for a day of exploring. The South Shetland Islands were formed by volcanic activity, resulting in a distinct landscape on each of this archipelago’s twelve islands. You might find yourself walking along the black sands of Deception Island, where you can see the ruins of a Norwegian whaling station and abandoned scientific research stations from the 1960s, or maybe you’ll sail through the calmer waters of glacier-fringed Yankee Harbour, where a huge colony of around 4000 breeding pairs of gentoo penguins reside. You might explore by kayak, too! Your expert Expedition Team will maximise today’s opportunities for exploration depending on wind, sea and ice conditions, so be ready to embrace the spontaneity of true polar adventure!

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Traverse the Bransfield Strait and catch your first glimpse of the Antarctic Peninsula. Spend three days going on expeditions twice daily and encounter the incredible wildlife of this region. You might spot penguins, fur seals and whales – in Wilhelmina Bay, keep an eye out for humpback whales in particular. Explore historic expedition huts at Damoy Point and be sure to keep your binoculars handy for rare seabird sightings including the black-browed albatross, wandering albatross and southern giant petrel. Then, you’ll enter the Lemaire Channel. Take in the scenery of towering peaks up to 1000 m tall bordering this 11-km-long, iceberg-filled passage. Weather permitting, you’ll cross the Antarctic Circle at 66°33’S – an achievement held by few adventurers. Celebrate this momentous crossing before continuing your exploration to historic British Antarctic Survey bases.

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Head north once more to the peninsula. Spend three days soaking in the feeling of being in the vast, unspoiled wilderness of Antarctica. Venture out on Zodiac cruises, taking excursions to scenic bays, famed landing sites, active scientific bases and channels filled with icebergs. There will be plenty of opportunities for wildlife encounters – see multiple species of penguin, seals and whales. Keep your camera handy and have a go at some wildlife photography!

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Sail north across the Drake Passage once again. Celebrate the expedition of a lifetime with a slideshow of photos from the trip, a photography contest with your fellow travellers and a farewell meal together. Raise a glass to a trip well-travelled!

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This morning, it’s time to disembark the ship as your Antarctic expedition comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay in Ushuaia, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.