11 Night Cruise sailing from Ushuaia roundtrip aboard Polar Pioneer.

Tabular icebergs stream out of Antarctic Sound, marking our entrance to the Weddell Sea, where powerful tides and big ice signal an adventurous voyage. Pack ice stretches to the horizon, reflecting golden sun. Upwellings of cold, nutrient-rich water attract diverse wildlife. Ice-free islands host penguin colonies 200,000 strong. We hope to explore Prince Gustav Channel, fossil-rich Seymour Island and Otto Nordenskjold's historic hut on Snow Hill Island. In contrast to the Weddell Sea's wild isolation, spellbinding scenery captivates us as we sail down the Antarctic Peninsula's west coast. Towering, glaciated peaks rise from a maze of islands and waterways, populated with overwhelming numbers of seals, penguins, whales and seabirds.

Day 1

Board Polar Pioneer or Akademik Shokalskiy dockside to a warm welcome. We have time to settle in, explore the ship and attend a welcome briefing before an evening sail down the Beagle Channel.

Day 2

Ease into shipboard life as we cross the Drake Passage. Our naturalist and geologist expand our Antarctic knowledge, safety and environmental briefings prepare us for landings. The outer decks and flying bridge provide excellent space to see and photograph wildlife.

Day 3

Today we should cross the Antarctic Convergence, biological boundary to an icy world. Penguins and seals appear as we approach the South Shetland Islands, where we hope to make our first landing.

Day 4

Access to the Weddell Sea is totally ice-dependent. Calved from Weddell Sea's massive ice shelves, the giant icebergs of Antarctic Sound on the Peninsula's northeast coast create a memorable sight. We thread our way through waters alive with penguins against a backdrop of breathtaking scenery, forged by volcanic activity.

Days 5-7

For the next three days, the whim of weather systems and shifting pack ice dictate our schedule. We may visit the vast penguin colonies of Brown Bluff, or Paulet Island, fossil-rich Seymour Island and historic Snow Hill Island. We may hike to spectacular vantage points on Beak and Devil islands. We may even reach the islands of Prince Gustav Channel. Wherever we go, wildlife, Heroic Age relics and haunting landscapes await.

Days 8-9

Returning through Antarctic Sound, we head for the Peninsula's beautiful western flanks. We make full use of daylight hours and relatively ice-free waters to experience as much as possible. Wildlife stops on offshore islands, visiting historic huts and Zodiac cruising amidst bergs and whales are all possibilities.

Days 10-11

Petrels, prions and albatross accompany our ship across Drake Passage. The last shipboard talks help polish our Antarctic education before making a ceremonial rounding of Cape Horn, time and weather permitting.

Day 12

A pre-dawn sail along the Beagle Channel and an early breakfast prepare us to dock in Ushuaia. There's time for final photos and to say our farewells before disembarking.

Please note that all of our itineraries are at the mercy of weather conditions and not all landings are guaranteed. Our itineraries are flexible and will change voyage to voyage, allowing the best chance to make the most of surprising wildlife displays and unexpected opportunities.