Day 1 (Dec 17): Arrival in Ushuaia, Argentina (hotel night)

Welcome to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city and starting point of our Antarctic expedition! Upon your arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by our staff and transferred to a quality hotel, which has been arranged by us and is included in the price of the itinerary. For the rest of the day, you are free to explore this vibrant port city and adventure hub.

For an introduction to local history and wildlife, the interesting Museo del Fin del Mundo is worth a visit. If you have time to spare, a variety of nature activities can be arranged to suit all interests and fitness levels, from hiking in nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park to wildlife viewing in the Beagle Channel. For dinner, Ushuaia offers a wide range of restaurants featuring Patagonian lamb and delectable Fuegian seafood.

Day 2 (Dec 18): Welcome Aboard!

After breakfast at your hotel, the morning is yours to enjoy Ushuaia. Explore the delightful waterfront and savor views of the snowcapped Martial Range, the southernmost peaks of the Andes. Take advantage of shopping for souvenirs or some last-minute necessities such as cold-weather gear. Just remember, you will soon receive your very own parka to keep and waterproof boots to borrow on board the ship. For lunch, the many cafés, parrillas and gelato shops on Avenida San Martín will be sure to satisfy any appetite.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the pier where we will warmly welcome you aboard the deluxe expedition vessel M/V Sea Spirit. Get settled in your spacious suite and explore the ship that will be your comfortable home during the extraordinary adventure to come. After getting underway, a full schedule of events kicks off with informative briefings and introductions from your expedition staff. After the first of many delicious dinners on board, step out onto the open decks to admire the scenery and gorgeous evening light as we pass through the Beagle Channel.

Day 3-4 (Dec 19-20): Across the Drake Passage

After passing the islands of Tierra del Fuego, we turn south to begin our crossing of the Drake Passage. We watch for humpback and fin whales along the way. The majestic wandering albatross and other graceful subantarctic seabirds are common in these waters and can readily be viewed from panoramic open decks and balconies. We also cross the Antarctic Convergence, the biological boundary of the Southern Ocean. The ship’s stabilizing fins provide comfort in the event of rough seas. Briefings, bio-security procedures and presentations by our lecture staff prepare you for our arrival in Antarctica. We hope to arrive in the South Shetland Islands on the evening of our second day at sea.

Day 5-9 (Dec 21-25): South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula

Within the next few days, we explore the highlights of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. This region contains some of the world’s most impressive scenery and the best wildlife viewing in Antarctica. Sheltered bays and channels sparkle with ice and reflect towering mountain peaks coated in permanent snow and immense glaciers. Icebergs of every size and description complete an image of incomparable beauty. Waters rich with krill are home to huge numbers of marine mammals and seabirds. The whole area is alive with penguins foraging at sea and forming large rookeries at special places on land. Here we also find Antarctic research bases of various nationalities, some with gift shops and post offices.

The South Shetland Islands are the northernmost islands in Antarctica and will likely be our first area of exploration. This wildly beautiful island chain contains many landing sites with historical significance and abundant wildlife. We will also explore the supremely picturesque Gerlache Strait area of the Antarctic Peninsula, a pristine wilderness of spectacular white landscapes, colossal icebergs, obliging marine mammals and bustling penguin colonies. We hope to show you the famous Lemaire Channel, also known as “Kodak Gap” because of the photogenic way the narrow channel reflects the image of sheer snowy mountains.

Throughout the islands and on the mainland, we find nesting colonies of gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins, sometimes side by side. At this time, penguin chicks have started to appear in the nests. Also at this time, a high concentration of sea ice provides opportunities for seals and penguins to congregate on ice floes, a situation that attracts killer whales. Minke whales have started to arrive and leopard seals can be spotted patrolling the coast near penguin colonies. Photographers will appreciate the pristine appearance of undisturbed snow across the landscape in this early summer month.

In this rugged yet accessible environment, superb wildlife viewing is best complemented by active adventure. Our knowledgeable guides will offer hiking and hill climbing for an even greater perspective of this raw polar wilderness. For sea kayakers, the wildlife-rich waters of Antarctica offer many chances to paddle with seals and penguins in some of the world’s most scenic waterways. To make the most of your time on the White Continent, you can also spend a night camping ashore, surrounded by untamed Antarctic nature.

This is expedition cruising at its most authentic. Our precise route and exploration opportunities will be shaped by weather and ice. Our experienced captain and expedition leader will continually adjust plans to take maximum advantage of the conditions in this challenging polar environment. With nearly 20 hours of daylight per day, we seize every opportunity to experience excellent wildlife viewing and amazing scenery on shore excursions and Zodiac cruises.

Our Antarctic adventures will be even more memorable as Christmas Day falls during our days of exploration! We will celebrate it with special meals and festivities that honor the diverse traditions of our multinational passengers. Santa Claus will make an appearance, and you'll have the opportunity to take your photo with him in the snow. We encourage you to dress in festive attire for an evening filled with holiday music, singing, and dancing. This will be a Christmas in Antarctica you'll always remember!

Day 10-11 (Dec 26-27): Back across the Drake Passage

It is now time to head back across the Drake Passage toward South America, but the adventure is not quite over. Seabirds are our constant companions and there is always the possibility of whale encounters in these wild waters. This is also the time for festivities such as the Captain’s Farewell Cocktail and the end-of-voyage slideshow. Finally, as we enter the calm Beagle Channel, we enjoy a night of smooth sailing toward Ushuaia.

Day 12 (Dec 28): Disembarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina

After yet another delicious breakfast on board, we bid you a fond farewell in Ushuaia. We provide a group transfer to the airport or to the city center if you wish to spend more time here. As you look back on your wonderful experience in Antarctica, you may already be looking forward to your next polar adventure!

Shore excursions:

Landings will be the primary of objective of our trip along with Zodiac cruises during our time in Antarctica. Landings will include visiting dense penguin colonies, research stations, trekking opportunities and maybe even the southern most post office in the world! While landings will be the main focus of activity days, weather will ultimate determine how many times we will be able to set food onshore. While on shore, our guide team will be there to answer any questions you have, point out interesting wildlife, geological features and historical landmarks, as well as keep us safe from any potential hazards in the ice.

Zodiac cruises:

Zodiac cruises are great for observing whales, icebergs, glaciers and penguins who may be out feeding at sea. Your driver will navigate around the area looking for wildlife and beautiful landscapes. By the end of the trip, Zodiac cruises tend to become the crowd favorite because of the vast diversity you get to experience on the cruises. Zodiac cruises are also a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your expedition guides. We all have our expertise, and as you rotate through drivers during the trip, you'll be able to get some one-on-one time with different drivers who love sharing their knowledge with you.

Ship Cruises:

In the event we encounter bad weather and are unable to disembark the ship, we will do what we call 'expedition day ship's cruise". This is when we try to reposition the ship to a more protected location, while observing the wildlife and landscape around us. During this reposition, we encourage everyone to bundle up, head outside and enjoy this scenery. During this time, one of the expedition team specialists will likely offer a presentation related to Antarctica Wildlife, History, conservation or more! If the ship finds a suitable area to conduct off-ship operations, we will try as hard as we can to follow-through with operations for the day.

A typical expedition day may look like this:

06:45: Wake-up call
07:00-08:00: Breakfast
08:30-11:30: Morning activity - Landing and Zodiac Cruise
12:30-13:30: Lunch (Ship relocates)
14:30-17:30: Afternoon Activity - Landing and Zodiac Cruise
18:30-19:30: Evening Recap with Expedition team
19:30: Dinner
21:00: Evening entertainment or presentations with Expedition team.

* All activities are subject to weather, scheduling and timing.

INCLUSIONS

• 1 pre-voyage night at the Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa Hotel, where you can relax in a warm jacuzzi with stunning views.

• Welcome to Ushuaia! We’ll meet you at the airport and provide a group transfer to the hotel on the day before embarkation.

• Seamless group transfer to the ship for embarkation on Day 2.

• Cozy accommodation aboard the elegant Sea Spirit, your home away from home.

• All IAATO fees, governmental taxes, and port fees are included for a worry-free experience.

• Delicious gourmet meals crafted by our chef throughout your voyage.

• 24-hour tea and coffee station, complete with cookies for a quick energy boost.

• Scheduled landings and excursions (weather permitting) to explore breathtaking landscapes.

• Expert leadership from our experienced Expedition Leader and top-notch Expedition Team.

• A stylish branded Poseidon Expeditions parka to take home as a cherished memento.

• Comfortable rubber boots for shore landings during your cruise.

• Welcome and Farewell cocktails to celebrate your journey with fellow travelers.

• Group transfer to the airport or central location right after disembarkation.

• Comprehensive pre-departure materials to prepare you for your adventure.

• A Digital Voyage Log with photos and a memorable video from our expedition photographer.

• Wi-Fi on board to stay connected during your journey.

EXCLUSIONS

• Airfare to the port of embarkation.

• Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, except those provided during special events and celebrations.

• Personal expenses such as laundry and telephone calls;

• Mandatory Emergency Evacuation Insurance with a minimum coverage of US$ 200,000 per person.

• Gratuities for staff.

• Optional activities such as kayaking and camping, which have limited availability and must be booked separately for an additional charge.

A deposit of 25% is required to hold your spot withing 14 days of being invoiced and final payment is due 90 days before departure. Payment can be made via bank transfer or debit and credit card. Cards accepted are Visa or Mastercard.