All-inclusive Antarctic Circle Expedition
Cruise Overview
This expedition is pure Antarctica, exploring its peninsula during the late summer season, the best time for whale-watching and to see penguins growing new plumage
Know before you go
Practical information you need to know
Related cruises
Itinerary
We'll help you plan where to go, when to visit and how long to stay
Arrival Day
Day 1
Arrival Day
After your flight from Australia or New Zealand, arrive in Buenos Aires and be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Tango, tastes and theatre
Day 2
Tango, tastes and theatre
Spend a day at leisure in the bustling capital of Argentina. This is where passionate tango was born and you can watch, or better yet join in, shows at numerous locations across the city. To fuel your dance moves, there’s plenty of delicious local food to sample, like meaty empanadas, choripán, top-notch Argentinian steak, Malbec red wine and of course creamy dulce de leche for dessert.
Meeting your ship at the ‘End of the World’
Day 3
Meeting your ship at the ‘End of the World’
A flight takes you to Ushuaia early in the morning. Being at the southern tip of South America’s mainland, this port city seems to proudly call itself the ‘End of the World’. MS Roald Amundsen is here, ready and waiting to begin your journey ever south. Over the next two weeks, you’ll appreciate that, of all the possible places in the world, the winner of the ‘End of the World’ title is without a doubt actually Antarctica.
Once you’ve embarked the ship, there will be a mandatory safety briefing, followed by a welcome ceremony by your Expedition Team. The ship will also launch and set sail into the Beagle Channel. After you’ve had some time to relax and unpack in your cabin, a dinner will be held to welcome everyone on board and toast to a great expedition together.
Closing in on Antarctica
Day 4-5
Closing in on Antarctica
Not long now until you are in Antarctica, but first, it’s time to earn your sea legs as we cross the Drake Passage, named after famous English seaman, Sir Francis Drake. However, Drake only discovered these waters by accident when strong winds blew one of his ships off course. The first actual recorded voyage took place 40 years later when Dutch navigator William Schouten successfully sailed the route in 1616.
During the two days spent at sea, the Expedition Team will prepare you for your stay in the pristine wilderness. Want to know how to make your visit safe for the environment? The Expedition Team will teach you all you need to know, introducing you to important IAATO regulations that are there to protect you and these fragile habitats. After that, they will start their inspiring lecture programme in the Science Center. Topics are delivered by a range of experts, equipping you with key information about Antarctica’s explorer history from Shackleton to Scott to Amundsen, the continent’s diverse wildlife and its rapidly changing landscapes. They will also show you how you can get involved in Citizen Science projects to carefully observe wildlife in Antarctica and help collect data for current scientific research.
There’ll be time to enjoy a range of tastebud-tickling meals in the ship’s three onboard restaurants. Our guests, past and present, often have rave reviews about the food we serve on board. And don’t worry, you can always burn off the extra calories in the indoor or outdoor gym, infinity pool or sauna. Meanwhile, joggers can keep up on their kilometres on the outdoor track while racing against the seabirds that sometimes follow the ship.
Exploring south of the Antarctic Circle
Day 6-16
Exploring south of the Antarctic Circle
Antarctica certainly doesn’t disappoint. It is a place of pure wonder and joy. You’ll gaze across waters full of intricate icebergs as a never-ending horizon of brilliant white ice edges and snow-coated mountains stretch out in front of you. In the skies above and shores below, the likes of shearwaters, sandpipers, fulmars, prions and many other seabirds can be seen. With all this to enjoy, even the ten days we spend here may not seem enough.
Perhaps even more thrilling will be your first encounter with the huge colonies of penguins during one of our many landings ashore. Or how about watching whales swim freely in their natural habitat from the ship, or if you are really lucky, while being out with the small explorer boats or in a kayak as part of an optional activity.Whatever wildlife encounters we might be fortunate enough to experience, we are careful to follow clear IAATO guidelines at all times. You’ll see that we live and breathe sustainability and are proud to have the lowest possible CO2 footprint of all expedition cruises to Antarctica.
During the Antarctic summer, new routes through the sea ice further south and below the Antarctic Circle often become possible. We’ll be hoping for just that. MS Roald Amundsen and its strengthened PC6 ice-hull will attempt to aim for Marguerite Bay and to explore islands along the way. First discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot in the early 20th century, the ol’ romantic named the bay after his wife. As long as the weather and sea ice are favourable, there might be the possibility to visit one of the few research stations, as well as Adélie penguin colonies which aren’t usually seen in the northern parts of the peninsula. Wherever we are and whenever possible, the Expedition Team will give you key information on the wildlife and the landscape to make your experience even more vivid. And of course, there will be both included landings and ice-cruising, as well as other optional activities.
Returning to warmer waters
Day 17-18
Returning to warmer waters
Your exhilarating exploration of Antarctica had to come to an end sometime. Even after ten days, you’ll only have scratched the surface of all there is to discover. And yes, let’s say it, it really is just the tip of the iceberg!
Your head will likely still be a swirling kaleidoscope of special memories and new knowledge. You might even hanker for Antarctic scenery again and start to sift through your countless photos and videos just to recapture a sense of its magnitude. Likewise, without the landings you’ve grown accustomed to, you might need to defuse any added adrenaline you have by hitting the gym and sauna. If it’s still tough to switch off, a few relaxing treatments in the Wellness Spa are sure to cure you of that.
Ambassadors for Antarctica
Day 19
Ambassadors for Antarctica
It can be a bittersweet moment as we arrive back in Ushuaia. You’ll have experienced a journey that most can only dream of. But the time has come to leave Antarctica, the ship, the crew, and the Expedition Team behind, and part company with fellow explorers who have felt like family during this adventure together.
After you disembark the ship, a transfer brings you to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires. From there, you’ll either return home, head on elsewhere, or extend your stay in the city of tango to take in more of the beautiful culture and sites you didn’t get a chance to at the start of the expedition. We also offer an optional Post-Programme to the magnificent Iguazu waterfalls from here, if you are in no real hurry to get home.
Departure Day
Day 20
Departure Day
Enjoy a day at leisure in Buenos Aires before being transferred to the airport for your flight back to Australia or New Zealand.
What's included
Take a look at what you can look forward to on this 20-day expedition cruise.
Hotel
- 3 overnights in Buenos Aires before and after the expedition cruise, including breakfast
Flights
- Round-trip flights in economy class between selected cities in Australia or New Zealand and Buenos Aires
- Round-trip flights in economy class between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia
Transfers
- Round-trip transfers between Buenos Aires airport and your hotel, on arrival and departure days
- Round-trip transfers between your hotel and Buenos Aires airport before and after the expedition cruise
- Round-trip transfers between Ushuaia airport and the ship, including a brief tour of the town
Expedition Cruise
- Expedition cruise in a cabin of your choice
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner including beverages (house beer and wine, sodas, and mineral water) in restaurants Aune and Fredheim
- À la carte restaurant Lindstrøm included for suite guests
- Complimentary tea and coffee
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board. Be aware that we sail in remote areas with limited connection. Streaming is not supported.
- Complimentary reusable water bottle to use at water refill stations on board
- English-speaking Expedition Team who organise and accompany activities on board and ashore
- Range of included activities
Onboard Activities
- Experts on the Expedition Team deliver in-depth lectures on a variety of topics
- Use of the ship’s Science Center which has an extensive library and advanced biological and geological microscopes
- Citizen Science programme allows guests to assist with live scientific research
- Professional onboard photographer gives top tips and tricks for the best landscape and wildlife photos
- Use of the ship’s hot tubs, panoramic sauna, outdoor and indoor gyms and outdoor running track
- Informal gatherings with the crew such as daily recaps and preparation for the day to come
Landing Activities
- Escorted landings with small expedition boats while in Antarctica
- Loan of boots, trekking pole, and all equipment for activities
- Complimentary wind and water-resistant expedition jacket
- Expedition Photographers help with your camera settings before landings
What's not included
Travel insurance
Luggage handling
Optional shore excursions with our local partners
Optional small-group activities with our Expedition Team
Optional treatments in the onboard wellness and spa area
Special offers
Expedition exclusive cost savings and rare opportunities.
* Certain offers may not be combinable, up to two savings opportunities except where noted otherwise
Ships on this expedition
Take a closer look at our ships typically used on this expedition