Crossing the Antarctic Circle (Ocean Victory)

Experience the awe-inspiring wonder of an expedition to the White Continent on this 13-day voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula and Antarctic Circle. See penguins, whales, seals, albatross, giant petrels and more during daily Zodiac excursions and from the deck of your ship, all with an Expedition Team and like-minded adventurers by your side. Cross the famed Drake Passage, visit the South Shetland Islands and achieve the rare feat of crossing the Antarctic Circle at 66°33’S. Contribute to research into polar ecosystems by participating in the hands-on Citizen Science program, plus learn about the history, geography and ecology of the unique ecosystems you’ll encounter during onboard activities. This is the voyage of a lifetime!

• Region: Antarctica
• Duration: 13 days
• Style: Comfort
• Physical rating: 2
• Accommodation: Comfortable hotel (1 night), Expedition cruise ship (18 nights)
• Transport: Expedition cruise ship, zodiac
• Start: Ushuaia
• Finish: Ushuaia
• Meals: 12 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 11 dinners
• Theme: Polar, Wildlife

Route map

Highlights

• Venture into the Antarctic Peninsula and explore the bays, inlets and islands that make up this unspoiled wilderness. Set sail for the less-travelled Antarctic Circle, journeying where few have gone before.
• Enjoy daily Zodiac excursions and onshore landings including potential visits to scientific research bases and historical sites. Witness the majestic cliffs of the Gerlache Strait and see the penguin rookeries on Cuverville Island.
• Participate in Citizen Science projects, contributing to vital research into Antarctic ecosystems and how they’re being impacted by climate change.
• Enjoy a range of onboard activities including educational talks on Antarctic history, geology and ecology from the expert Expedition Team who will accompany you throughout your polar adventure.
• Look out for incredible wildlife – see whales breaching, albatross soaring overhead, gentoo and chinstrap penguins and fur and Weddell seals lying atop ice floes.

Itinerary snapshot

• Day 1 - Ushuaia, Argentina
  Welcome to Ushuaia – the gateway to Antarctica! When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be transferred to your comfortable hotel for the night. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at your hotel this evening where you’ll meet your fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe head out and explore the southernmost city in the world – in downtown Ushuaia, you'll find plenty of restaurants where you can feast on Argentinian cuisine and maybe pick up a souvenir or two before you board your ship tomorrow.
• Day 2 - Embarkation in Ushuaia
  This morning, if you’d like to see more of Ushuaia, maybe visit the local leather markets or check out the Maritime Museum. Or simply relax at the hotel until this afternoon, when you’ll be transferred to the port to board your ship. When you’ve boarded, you’ll meet your Expedition Team and settle into your cabin. Have a safety and orientation meeting, then sit down with your fellow travellers and the captain for a welcome dinner and toast to the start of your polar adventure!
• Day 3 - At Sea, Drake Passage
  You’ll spend these next two days at sea, crossing the Drake Passage – the infamous body of water separating the tip of South America and the South Shetland Islands on the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Over these two days, your Expedition Team will share their expert knowledge with you, preparing you for your Antarctic journey that lies just ahead! Take part in the Citizen Science program, where you can contribute to the recording and understanding of polar ecosystems and how they’re 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. Keep an eye out for breaching whales, too! Feel the temperature drop as you cross the Antarctic Convergence, officially making your way into Antarctic waters.
• Day 4 - Drake Passage
• Day 5 - Antarctic Peninsula and Antarctic Circle
  Venture along the Antarctic Peninsula, into the Gerlache Strait region. Over these five days, you’ll set out on expeditions twice daily – take a Zodiac cruise into the calmer waters of Paradise Bay, see penguins nesting on Cuverville Island, explore historic expedition huts at Damoy Point and be on the lookout for humpback whales in Wilhelmina Bay. Top it all off with the incredible scenery of the Lemaire Channel, where towering peaks (up to 1000 m high) border this 11-km-long passage filled with icebergs. Weather permitting, you’ll cross the Antarctic Circle at 66°33’S – a rare achievement that will put you in the company of few adventurers!
• Day 6 - Antarctic Peninsula to Antarctic Circle
• Day 7 - Antarctic Peninsula to Antarctic Circle
• Day 8 - Antarctic Peninsula to Antarctic Circle
• Day 9 - Antarctic Peninsula to Antarctic Circle
• Day 10 - South Shetland Islands
  Today, you'll explore this archipelago that forms the northernmost tip of Antarctica – the South Shetland Islands. Witness the ice-capped peaks of Livingstone, Greenwich and King George Islands – the dramatic backdrop for today’s expeditions. Discover the rich diversity of wildlife that flourishes here despite the harsh elements – see gentoo and chinstrap penguins waddling about along the islands’ shores. Weather permitting, visit the atmospheric Deception Island. Formed by the crater of an active volcano, this island is dotted with the ruins of a Norwegian whaling station and abandoned scientific research stations from the 1960s. You might also visit Yankee Harbour, where a huge colony of around 4000 breeding pairs of gentoo penguins reside. Learn about this glacier-fringed harbour’s history as a former key anchorage for sealers. Keep your eye out for seals lazing on ice floes here as well!
• Day 11 - At Sea, Drake Passage
  Head north and traverse the iconic 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. Toast to a trip well-travelled!
• Day 12 - Drake Passage
• Day 13 - Disembarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina
  This morning, it’s time to disembark the ship as your unforgettable 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.
  Special information: If you’re flying out today, please book your flight to depart Ushuaia after midday, in case of any delays caused by unfavourable weather conditions.