FALKLANDS, SOUTH GEORGIA & ANTARCTICA 

SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY

SEA SPIRIT

The Sea Spirit was built in Italy in 1991. She’s a very comfortable ice-strengthened, small (114 guests), all-suite expedition ship. The vessel was updated in late 2010 and had additional refurbishment in April 2017. All suites have private facilities and exterior views. Some of the suites feature private balconies for enjoying fantastic landscapes of Antarctica.

She has a fleet of ten rubber inflatable zodiac boats for landings, an experienced crew, and a set of retractable fin stabilizers for smooth sailing. This ship features an open bridge, 2 rear outdoor viewing areas, an outdoor viewing area at the front of the vessel, a bar, lounge, presentation room and dining area all lined with windows. There is also a gym on-board as well as a library and media centre.

Day 1 Ushuaia, Argentina

Overview:

The small city of Ushuaia is the perfect starting point for our expedition cruise to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland/Malvinas Islands. Located near the southern tip of South America, it boasts beautiful views of the Andres Mountains and the Beagle Channel. Stroll the lively main street of cafes, shops and outfitters, perhaps picking up a last-minute item for your voyage, or enjoying a typical Argentine grill entrée at one of the many casual restaurants. If you arrive early, you will want to visit beautiful Tierra del Fuego National Park.

If you arrive early there is plenty to see and do in this fascinating city. Take a look at some of the hiking excursions available in Ushuaia here. Contact us to book additional accommodation and activities in Ushuaia to your itinerary.

Day 2 Embarkation in Ushuaia

In the afternoon take the group transfer to the pier and board the luxury expedition ship M/V Sea Spirit. Explore the ship and get comfortable in your home away from home for the extraordinary adventure to come. Savor the anticipation of your Antarctic dreams coming true as the ship slips its moorings and sails toward a true wilderness where wildlife abounds. The scenery as you sail through the Beagle Channel on your first evening is wonderful and there is already the possibility of marine mammal encounters.

Day 3-4 At Sea

Through presentations and informal conversations, the team of experts on Antarctic wildlife, history and geology will enlighten you about what you’ll most likely see in the days ahead. Keep a sharp eye out as you cross the Antarctic Convergence, where ocean dynamics create a unique zone of marine life and activity. In the early evening of the fourth day, weather and sea conditions permitting, it is planned to have your first landing in the South Shetland Islands.

Days 5-8 South Shetlands & Antarctic Peninsula

The wilderness of Antarctica is subject to unpredictable weather and ever-changing ice conditions which will dictate the route and exploration possibilities. We encourage guests to be flexible and understanding that the Captain and Expedition Leader will do their best to show you all the faces of Antarctica whilst keeping you safe.

Spend your days cruising along narrow Antarctic waterways in Zodiacs admiring huge icebergs of different shapes, sizes and colours. Visit scientific stations representing several different countries and learn about Antarctic scientific research straight from the source. Set foot on the Antarctic Continent and spend some time hiking. Hopefully you will see all five penguin species, six seal species and perhaps encounter some curious whales along the way.

Days 9-10 Scotia Sea

More informative presentations are in store today, as you head northeast toward South Georgia. Sea birds are able to be seen from the ship and if you are lucky you may spot some whales.

Days 11-15 South Georgia

South Georgia is a peak emerging from the Scotia Arc, an underwater mountain chain that extends the Andes to the Antarctic Peninsula. Spend four days exploring the alpine landscapes and viewing subantarctic wildlife. Visit to the historic settlement of Grytviken with its whaling era remnants is one of the highlights of South Georgia.

This long and narrow, whale bone shaped island is a home and abundance of wildlife including:

Four seal species – southern elephant seal, Antarctic fur seal, Weddell seal, and leopard seal

Several whale species – the southern right whales, humpbacks, fin whales, sperm whales, orcas, and southern bottlenose whales)

More than 100 million seabirds – grey headed albatross, blue eyed shags, giant petrels, white chinned petrels and Antarctic prions

Penguins – Macaroni penguins, Gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins and the most attractive residents of the South Georgia are King Penguins with their orange-yellow crowns. There are approx. 400,000 breeding pairs of King Penguins on South Georgia.

Days 16-17 At Sea

From South Georgia the ship will head west toward the Falkland Islands. Attend presentations and workshops by the expert staff, and enjoy a range of onboard recreation facilities.

Days 18-19 Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands offer an unforgettable vista of moors and rugged coastlines carved by the South Atlantic, where the wildlife and plant life form a link between Patagonia and Antarctica. On the beaches, elephant seals are a spectacular sight when battling among themselves to establish territories or just simply relaxing. Sea lions and fur seals are also common sights. As many as a million penguins nest in the Falklands every summer, representing five of the world’s seventeen species – King, Gentoo, Rockhopper, Magellanic and Macaroni. What’s more, for the Gentoo, the Falklands are home to the largest population on Earth. Look for black-browed albatrosses nesting on grassy hillsides overlooking the sea.

The capital of the Falklands Port Stanley is the southernmost British outpost in the world. With many reminders of its British heritage such as red phone booths and English pubs, the town boasts other unusual sights like a whalebone arch and shipwrecks along the coast.

Days 20-21 At Sea

Reality begins to set in during this final sea passage separating the magic world you’ve just explored from the rest of the world you’ll soon be rejoining. Refresh your memories through a photo exchange with newfound friends, and bid farewell to seabirds and whales that you can identify more easily now.

Day 23 Montevideo

Morning disembarkation in Montevideo. Farewell your expedition team and fellow travellers. Right after the disembarkation you will be transferred to the Montevideo airport or the city centre.