DAY 1 - ARRIVAL USHUAIA, EMBARKATION

Arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina - the world’s southernmost city. Explore this vibrant Patagonian city, or stretch your legs in the surrounding forests. Alternatively, consider a day trip off the beaten path into the raw nature of Tierra del Fuego. The island of Tierra del Fuego is a hiker's paradise with rugged snow-capped mountains, glaciers, flower-filled meadows and rich boggy wetlands. In the afternoon, we board our vessel, waiting to welcome us in port.

After our mandatory safety drill, our expedition begins as we navigate through the calm waters of the famous Beagle Channel (named for Charles Darwin's ship). This steep-sided strait divides southern Tierra del Fuego between Chile and Argentina, and has been the jumping-off point for thousands of expeditions into the unknown. Watch out for whales and dolphins as we sail off the edge of the map into the tempestuous Drake Passage.

DAY 2-3 - AT SEA - CROSSING THE DRAKE PASSAGE SOUTHBOUND

Sailing onward, we cross the famed Drake Passage - the body of water separating Patagonia and the Antarctic Peninsula. The Drake Passage is known for rollicking conditions and strong westerly winds, nicknamed the Roaring Fifties. While this passage may be challenging, you can rest comfortably aboard our expedition vessels, which are purpose-built with stabilizers, powerful engines and manned by a highly-qualified crew. The most spirited sailors consider Drake Passage a lifetime achievement - and you will complete the crossing twice!

Our days in the Drake Passage will be put to good use preparing for our arrival in Antarctica - your Expedition Leader will brief you comprehensively on how to stay safe and minimise your impact on this precious wilderness, as well as briefing you thoroughly on our plans for our time spent exploring, including hints and tips for wildlife watching. Our dedicated Expedition Team will assist you to biosecure your clothing and equipment (a vital process to protect Antarctica's delicate ecology), as well as sharing tailored lectures on Antarctic exploration history, wildlife, geology, glaciology and more!

We will cross into the Antarctic Convergence on the third day of our voyage - watch the mercury plummet as we sail southwards into Antarctic waters, an abrupt cooling that marks the intersection of Antarctic waters with the warmer waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. As the sea cools, wildlife multiplies; these are some of the most biologically productive water on Earth, so expect to see petrels, albatrosses and potentially penguins, seals and whales in abundance. Weather permitting, we may be able to make landfall in the South Shetland Islands (a small but spectacular archipelago to the north of the Antarctic Peninsula) on the afternoon of our second day in the Drake Passage, marking the start of our exploration on the Last Continent.

DAY 4-9 - THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA

With no set itinerary in Antarctica, this voyage offers adventurous travellers the chance to experience Antarctica as it was meant to be - flowing with the wind, sea and ice, and taking the best opportunities Mother Nature provides. This voyage departs in the first half of the brief Antarctic summer, when sea ice is at its maximum - this offers us ample opportunities to explore in the icy wilderness of the last continent. Our exact route will be subject to careful planning by the Expedition Leader and Captain - however we will aim to visit a range of sites which showcase the best of this staggeringly beautiful region.

Marvel at the massive icebergs and vast glaciers on a complimentary kayak excursion in Paradise Bay. Be moved by penguins tenderly caring for their precious eggs, and fiercely defending their nests on Cuverville Island. Watch cataracts of ice tumble into clear blue ocean on a snowshoe hike over the active glaciers of Neko Harbour. Experience the Antarctica of old at historic huts such as Damoy Point, lovingly restored and open to all. Awake to the icy wind and the bray of penguins during one of this voyage's several camping options. Feel the spray of water from the blow of a humpback whale on a Zodiac safari in Wilhelmina Bay. Wonder at awe-inspiring scenery on a ship cruise through the Lemaire Channel. Watch city-sized tabular icebergs drift silently past the ship in the Antarctic Sound. Wherever we go on the Antarctic Peninsula, endemic wildlife, tantalising history and breathtaking natural beauty abound.

This time of year, expect to see penguins carefully constructing their pebble nests and fiercely defending their precious eggs from hungry skuas and Giant Petrels. The start of the Antarctic summer also sees the return of groups of humpback whales - these ocean wanderers come to Antarctica to feed on the abundant krill this time of year. With luck, we may even see the young of these gentle giants.

There is no set itinerary on this trip, which allows our staff onboard to maximize the experience for all onboard. Whilst our suggestions above are just possible routes and landings, we can be sure that this will be the ultimate adrenaline-fuelled experience on the White Continent.

DAY 10-11 - AT SEA - CROSSING THE DRAKE PASSAGE NORTHBOUND

We eventually depart Antarctica, and spend two days at sea on our way northwards back across the infamous Drake Passage towards the more welcoming shores of the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia, Argentina. During our time at sea, a variety of activities will be arranged on board to provide our guests with the chance to reflect on their voyage. Relax with an expertly crafted cocktail in the Nordic Bar in the company of new friends, soak up the knowledge and passion of our Expedition Team during lectures in the Shackleton Lounge, or simply enjoy the flight of the albatross which accompany us northwards.

During your last evening onboard, join the Captain and Officers for the Farewell Cocktail Party, followed by a presentation of photos and video by our onboard photographer - the ideal opportunity to re-live your Antarctic adventure. Skål!

DAY 12 - ARRIVAL IN USHUAIA AND DISEMBARKATION

On the morning of the final day of our voyage, we will arrive back at the pier of Ushuaia, Argentina. Trees, grass and a busy city may seem strange to you after the white wilderness of Antarctica! After a hearty breakfast, it is time to bid a fond farewell to the Crew and Albatros Expedition Team, and descend the gangway back to dry land with memories of the voyage of a lifetime.

Shore excursions:

Landings are a great opportunity to stretch your legs and set foot on Antarctica to visit the dense penguin colonies, vast snowfields, and dramatic landscapes of the last continent. Our experienced Expedition and Deck Teams will assist guests to board and disembark the Zodiacs, the only means by which we can access these remote and rugged shores. Our friendly team will always be on shore to help you spot and identify the different species of penguins and other wildlife, guide hikes and other excursions, interpret what you are seeing, as well as keep our guests safe on shore from any potential hazards. Different landing sites exhibit a variety of Antarctic experiences - these could include penguin or other wildlife colonies, historical sites, active research stations, or simply locations of exceptional natural beauty. Our knowledgeable Expedition Leader will always try to ensure landing sites are selected with variety of experiences in mind to exhibit the best of the White Continent.

Zodiac cruises:

Some sites do not offer landing opportunities, but are locations where exploring on the water offers the best opportunities for sightseeing and photography. These Zodiac cruise sites are often known for their collection of larger icebergs, wildlife densities and even historical landmarks such as shipwrecks, where our fleet of Zodiacs offer the best vantage point. Zodiac cruises are great for observing icebergs, glaciers, whales and other marine wildlife. Your skilled driver will navigate around the area looking for wildlife and beautiful land- and seascapes. By the end of the voyage, Zodiac cruises tend to become a firm favourite among our guests because of the vast diversity of scenery and marine life it is possible to experience.

Ship Cruises:

In the event we encounter bad weather or are in a particularly spectacular location, often our purpose-built expedition vessels are the best viewing platform. The Captain and Expedition Leader will search for locations best accessed with the vessel, seeking out the best wildlife and scenery. We encourage everyone to bundle up and either head onto the outer decks with the Expedition Team or relax in superlative comfort in our specially-designed lounges to experience the majesty of Antarctica from the best vantage point. The unique sloping X-Bow design of our vessels offers unimpeded views from almost all vantage points, as well as hydraulic viewing platforms on Deck 5 for intimate al fresco viewing close to the water. During ship cruises, our Expedition Team specialists will be on hand to answer questions, point out widlife and other sights, and offer hints and tips on photography.

After crossing the Drake Passage, you'll be exploring Antarctica. The goal for the days around the South Shetland islands and Antarctic peninsula is to offer activities which will allow everyone to explore off the ship as much as possible (weather permitting). Weather dependent, we will try to offer two activities per day, usually either a landing or a Zodiac cruise.

Typically, there will be a morning activity after breakfast and an afternoon activity after lunch. We always try our hardest to meet this expectation, but because weather in Antarctica can be extremely unpredictable, we ask everyone to be mindful of our remote location and thank everyone in advance for their flexibility. Activities we offer include landings, Zodiac cruises and ship cruises. Regulations in Antarctica limit the number of people ashore at any time, so we will usually aim to offer a Zodiac cruise while our first group of guests are ashore, and reverse this for the second group ashore to maximise exploration time. No matter the day’s planned activities, the onboard Expedition Team and Expedition Leader will work as hard as possible in conjunction with the Captain and Crew to maximize exploration opportunities.

A “typical” expedition day may look like this (subject to weather and sea conditions and sailing schedule):

06.45: Wake-up call

07.00-08.00: Breakfast

08.30-11.30: Morning activity - landing and/or Zodiac cruise

12.30-13.30: Lunch during vessel repositioning

14.30-17.30: Afternoon Activity - landing and/or Zodiac cruise

18.30-19.30: Evening Recap and Briefing with the Expedition Team

19.30: Dinner

21.00: Evening entertainment or presentations with the Expedition Team

INCLUSIONS

• 12-day/11-night cruise with accommodation in a shared double stateroom featuring ensuite facilities

• Embarkation shuttle transfer to the vessel from Ushuaia city centre

• Shuttle transfer after disembarkation from the ship to Ushuaia city centre or airport

• All Zodiac landings and excursions, as per itinerary, guided by our Expedition Team

• Expedition parka

• Rubber boots loan scheme

• Briefings and lectures by our Expedition Leader and Team

• One complimentary kayak excursion per guest

• English-speaking Expedition Team

• Full board on the ship - breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks

• Complimentary house wine, beer and soda at dinner (selected labels and brands, served at our a-la-carte dinners)

• Free tea and coffee available 24 hours

• Taxes and landing fees

• Special photo workshops

• Welcome and Farewell Cocktail Parties

• Digital visual journal link distributed after the voyage, including voyage log, gallery, species list and more!

EXCLUSIONS

• Extra excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary

• Single room supplement and stateroom upgrades

• Meals not on board the ship

• Beverages (other than coffee and tea)

• Tips for the crew (we recommend USD 16 per person per day)

• Personal expenses (e.g. Albatros Polar Spa services, Albatros Ocean Boutique purchases)

• Anything not mentioned under 'Inclusions'

A deposit of 25% is required to hold your spot within 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.