ANTARCTICA, THE FALKLANDS AND SOUTH GEORGIA
__________________
ANTARCTICA, THE FALKLANDS AND SOUTH GEORGIA
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Arrive into Buenos Aires and enjoy a pre-cruise hotel night |
| Day 2 | Buenos Aires to Ushuaia | Board a charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, embark the ship and set sail |
| Day 3 | At Sea | Enjoy the ships facilities whilst taking in incredible views, partake in talks or chat with one of our knowledgeable on-board experts |
| Day 4 | West Point Island and Saunders Island | Birdlife is the draw card today, Commerson's dolphins play in its waters, fur seals, rock hopper and Magellanic penguins |
| Day 5 | Port Stanley | Tiny capital of the Falkland Islands |
| Days 6 and 7 | At Sea | Enjoy the many facilities available whilst taking in incredible views, informative talks or chat with one of our knowledgeable on-board experts |
| Days 8 - 10 | South Georgia | “Galapagos of the Poles”, king penguins, macaroni penguins, harrumphing elephant seals, visit Grytviken |
| Day 11 | At Sea | Enjoy the many facilities, taking in incredible views or just relax with a book |
| Days 12 - 16 | Antarctic Peninsula | Gentoo, Adélie, blue-eyed shags and skuas, elephant seals and whales, Lemaire Channel and shore excursions |
| Days 17 and 18 | At Sea | Relax and enjoy this time onboard |
| Day 19 | Ushuaia to Buenos Aires | Disembark and fly back to Buenos Aires |
SHIPS OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
Swan Hellenic Vega
Making her maiden voyage in July 2022, the SH Vega is a 5 star elegant Scandi-design boutique ship offering you an intimate setting from which you will be fully immersed in all the sights and scenery of your voyage. Carrying a maximum of 158 guest in 76 cabins.
The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth as possible. For the comfort of guests, suites have a separate living room and bedroom. All staterooms are equipped with spacious wardrobes and bathrooms.
Swan Hellenic Minerva
Making her maiden voyage in July 2021, the SH Minerva was built in Finland’s Helsinki Shipyard, and offers a truly unforgettable cruising experience. Unobstructed views throughout the ship, welcoming spaces to relax, and world-class restaurants, staterooms and amenities make travelling on this modern cruise ship a complete pleasure. Carrying a maximum of 158 guest in 76 cabins.
The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth as possible. For the comfort of guests, suites have a separate living room and bedroom. All staterooms are equipped with spacious wardrobes and bathrooms.
Day 1 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arrive into Argentina’s capital of Buenos Aires, known for its vibrant culture, European-influenced architecture, delicious cuisine, and lively nightlife. Enjoy one night of pre-cruise accommodation here.
Day 2 Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
Board the group charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.
Nestled in the foothills of the snow-capped Martial Range, Ushuaia’s colourful streets and mismatched buildings cascade from the imposing mountains before coming to an abrupt halt at the shores of the Beagle Channel. As one of the world’s southernmost cities, Ushuaia carries its ‘end of the world’ reputation well. The moody weather and dramatic surroundings certainly help. Board your boutique ship before departing for your journey through one of the most captivating wilderness regions of the world.
Day 3 At Sea
Spend your day at sea enjoying your boutique 5-star ship. Treat yourself to a spa day, attend an expert-led onboard lecture or enjoy the ocean views from the deck or the comfort of our Observation Lounge.
Day 4 West Point Island and Saunders Island
Birdlife is the big draw on this lush sheep-farming island, where thousands of rams and ewes roam. Settled by British explorers in 1765, the island’s unique scenery includes golden sand beaches filled with the cacophony of rockhopper, gentoo and Magellanic penguin colonies, and the pillar-shaped nests of black-browed albatross. Nine of the Falklands’ 14 endemic plants, including silvery buttercup and hairy daisy, grow here and are a real treat.
Black-browed albatross grace the skies over this remote Falkland Island, while Commerson’s dolphins play in its waters. With a sparse population of people and sheep, the island is also a sanctuary for fur seals, rockhopper penguins, Magellanic penguins and imperial cormorants, nesting amid its cliffs and the impressive Cliff Mountain. Hiking through the moss-covered terrain unveils beautiful wildflowers like pink-petalled Felton’s.
Day 5 Port Stanley
Anyone familiar with Britain’s trademark red post boxes might spot a resemblance in this British outpost. Port Stanley, on East Falkland, is the tiny capital of the Falkland Islands and is small enough to get around on foot. The Historic Dockyard Museum is devoted to maritime history and exploration. Magellanic penguins gather on the beach at nearby Gypsy Cove, and sea lions and dolphins frolic in the harbour.
Days 6 and 7 At Sea
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Days 8 – 10 South Georgia
Often called the “Galapagos of the Poles”, South Georgia has a number of landing sites where you get up close to half a million king penguins or three million breeding pairs of macaroni penguins, making up the largest population in the world. If you are lucky you will also see harrumphing elephant seals – from a distance! We also visit Grytviken, the historic whaling station where legendary British explorer Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) is buried.
Day 11 At Sea
Spend your day at sea enjoying your boutique 5-star ship. Treat yourself to a spa day, attend an expert-led onboard lecture or enjoy the ocean views from the deck or the comfort of our Observation Lounge.
Days 12 – 16 Antarctic Peninsula
Among captivating glaciers, majestic icebergs and snowy islands, the Antarctic Peninsula is where most visitors to the White Continent will live out their Antarctica dream. The Antarctic Peninsula, the most accessible area of the continent, hosts several scientific bases and some of the most interesting wildlife scenery, such as the extremely photogenic Lemaire Channel. Shore excursions might include Petermann Island, where among Adelie penguins, blue-eyed shags and skuas, huge, lumbering elephant seals haul out.
Days 17 and 18 At Sea
Spend your day at sea enjoying your boutique 5-star ship. Treat yourself to a spa day, attend an expert-led onboard lecture or enjoy the ocean views from the deck or the comfort of our Observation Lounge.
Day 19 Ushuaia to Buenos Aires
Farewell your fellow passengers and expedition staff before disembarking in Ushuaia. Board the group charter flight back to Buenos Aires where you can continue your onwards journey.
