Antarctica DiscoveryItinerary

You are embarking on an adventure where daily activities will be determined by weather, opportunities to view wildlife, and other various elements that make up the incredibly diverse landscape. This itinerary is a general listing of activities and excursions that may happen during any part of the program.

Day 1: En Route from U.S.†
Saturday, January 18, 2025

Day 2: Arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Welcome to the world's southernmost city aptly known as El Fin del Mundo (“The End of the World”). Unwind at an exceptional property within the Cerro Alarkén Natural Reserve—a lush, nearly 250-acre protected forest.

This evening become acquainted with fellow travelers during a welcome reception, and share in the excitement of the journey yet to unfold.
Overnight: Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa (R)

Day 3: Ushuaia – Embarkation
Monday, January 20, 2025
Wake to a morning at leisure. Relax at the hotel or independently explore the charming port town of Ushuaia on foot.

Those who are interested in an optional excursion available for purchase to Tierra del Fuego National Park need to sign up in advance.

On this optional pre-embarkation excursion, join a local, English-speaking guide for a tour through Tierra del Fuego National Park for an opportunity to walk short, marked trails. The tour lasts approximately four hours, including the time for transportation there and back. Drive out of town along the coastal road that offers wonderful views of the Beagle Channel towards the stunning and unique landscapes of the national park. With stops at Ensenada Bay, the Acigami Lake, the “Gazebo” viewpoint at Laguna Verde, and the legendary end of the Panamerican Highway at Lapataia Bay, you'll have opportunities to see a varied range of local flora and fauna. During this tour, the group will stop briefly at the visitors' center, which has a cafeteria for refreshments to purchase.

For more detailed information or to register, visit: https://www.bestofba.com/shop/orbridge/orbridge-tierra-del-fuego-national-park/

Late afternoon rejoin the group for a motor coach transfer to the port where your expedition vessel, Ocean Victory, awaits.

As embarkation begins take time to unpack and become familiar with your stateroom and the ship's welcoming public spaces. Cruising through Beagle Channel, stroll the exterior viewing deck to admire the polar scenery, keeping an eye out for active marine mammals and birdlife.

Before dinner meet your spirited expedition staff as they distribute your adventure gear (jackets and boots), and share details of the activities ahead.
Overnight: Ocean Victory (B,D)

Days 4-5: Drake Passage
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - Wednesday, January 22, 2025
The following two days feature an exciting crossing through the Drake Passage, a legendary waterway where the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans converge. Named for 16th-century English privateer, Sir Francis Drake, this stretch of water is an ideal wildlife-spotting zone. Have binoculars in reach to look for dolphins and whales, as well as albatross, skuas and gulls.

Embrace valuable time as Ocean Victory becomes your home away from home amongst the backdrop of the pristine White Continent. Peruse the extensive selection of books in the cozy library, connect with fellow travelers in the stylish lounge, or contemplate upon the unparalleled landscape from the outdoor viewing platform.

On board, fine dining is a priority. Enjoy gourmet cuisine prepared by talented chefs, and partake in an interactive dining experience where chefs demonstrate cooking on lava rock. Between meals take advantage of the self-service coffee and tea facilities in the observation lounge, which are available 24/7.

In the evenings retire to your plush stateroom, a sanctuary of tranquility.
Overnight: Ocean Victory (B,L,D daily)

Days 6-9: South Shetland Islands | Antarctic Peninsula
Thursday, January 23, 2025 - Sunday, January 26, 2025
Emerging from the vastness of the open sea, we reach the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula—a playground of exploration and discovery. While the captain maximizes opportunities to anchor, the flexible daily itinerary includes a multitude of activities: Zodiac safaris and other water excursions, shore landings and hikes, and comprehensive lectures and presentations. At this time of year, long daylight hours provide ample occasion to connect deeply to this magnificent destination.

The ship's expedition team and scientists accompany each outing, offering insight as you explore the dramatic polar scenery of millennia-old ice shelves, sheer cliff faces, and permanent snow cover. You may see evidence of past and present scientific expeditions, including modern research stations, frequently occupied during the summer months.

Visit Deception Island in the South Shetland Islands archipelago, whose active volcano severely damaged research stations in 1967 and 1969. Walk among the enormous colony of chinstrap penguins that inhabit this rugged polar museum—a place where abandoned buildings and structures resemble a film set.

Back on board Ocean Victory, leisure time is cherished between exhilarating escapades. Rejuvenate in one of two hot tubs, master a workout in the well-equipped fitness room, book a luxurious spa treatment (additional fee), or join an optional sea kayaking excursion (additional fee) to further explore Antarctica's grandeur and beauty up-close. The ultra-daring adventurer can brave an optional polar plunge—a brief yet invigorating dip into icy waters off the ship's activity platform, guaranteed to be an indelible hallmark of this Antarctic voyage.
Overnight: Ocean Victory (B,L,D daily)

Days 10-11: Drake Passage
Monday, January 27, 2025 - Tuesday, January 28, 2025
As the expedition comes full circle, we retrace the route through the Drake Passage, recounting tales of exploration and discovery with fellow travelers. Engage in educational presentations by the ship's naturalists, enriching your understanding of this unblemished environment. Gather on deck for a last look at the endless panorama of ice and sea—a serene setting for retrospection and camaraderie.

The final evening on board partake in the crew's End of Voyage ceremonies that commemorate your accomplishment of touring the last remote frontier.
Overnight: Ocean Victory (B,L,D daily)

Day 12: Ushuaia – Disembarkation | Depart for U.S.
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
After breakfast guests departing during the suggested times take the complimentary transfer to the airport for flights home. (B)

†Travel time from/to U.S. may take up to two days depending on flight schedules.

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, R = Reception

Tour days tend to be long, flow at a consistent pace and may include long periods of travel. Guests should be prepared to walk longer distances, climb stairs and tolerate periods of standing, for example on city walks, sightseeing stops or excursions, on sometimes uneven surfaces including cobblestones or unpaved pathways and trails. Some destinations may have variations in altitude and/or temperature. Daily pace and timing may vary significantly between longer and shorter travel days, with additional activities possibly occurring in the early morning or evening. Guests are expected to board transportation without assistance. Elevators are not always available at accommodations or sites visited.

• This tour offers various activities including shore excursions and open-air, inflatable Zodiac raft cruises. Guests should be sure-footed on stairs and ramps, be able to walk or hike at least one mile on uneven and slippery terrain, and be comfortable landing on various terrain and boarding small vessels—both from shore and the deck of the Ocean Victory.

• On board, guests should be able to manage unexpected and unpredictable motion from the ship's movement. Expedition staff will assess shoreline conditions before each shore excursion and may recommend a modified route for guests with limited mobility.

• This expedition is intended for people in reasonably good health. Passengers who are not fit for long trips for any reason, including disability, heart or other health conditions, are advised not to join the tour, as it would entail an unreasonable risk to your enjoyment, health and safety of you and others on the expedition. All guests are required to sign a medical information sheet before boarding, to inform the medical personnel on board about any illnesses, allergies or conditions to be kept in mind during the voyage. Some conditions may require your doctor's signature to join this voyage.

NOTE: Due to this tour's remote location, you must have proof of adequate medical coverage on board the ship. Furthermore, medical evacuation insurance is required with a minimum coverage of $200,000. The cost of this insurance varies by guests' age and state of residence. Orbridge Guest Services can assist with any questions regarding evacuation insurance. Be sure to maintain a copy of your insurance information onboard the ship should it be necessary to be present.