
Antarctica, South Georgia, & Falkland Islands
An extraordinary voyage following the footsteps of past Antarctic explorers aboard the Ocean Victory Antarctica Cruises
From: USD 12,390
Antarctica, South Georgia, & Falkland Islands
19 Days
5 Reviews
A 19-day expedition cruise
5 Reviews
The Trip Highlights
Conquer the infamous Drake Passage
Wildlife-packed beaches
Immense icebergs and glaciers
Ernest Shackleton's Grave
Your Polartours 'Plus' Experience
Free photo workshop
Expert guides answer all questions
Your trip is 100% carbon offset
Ocean Victory Parka
Departing from Ushuaia in Argentina, you'll cross the mighty Drake Passage en route for the South Shetland Islands. Here you will make Zodiac landings at penguin rookeries, research stations and fascinating viewpoints. Continuing southward, you will explore the Antarctic Sound with its impressive icebergs and enter the Weddell Sea in search for wildlife. Get a glimpse into the famous cruise passage made by explorer, Shackleton. You'll sail between Elephant Island and South Georgia, one of the world's greatest natural wonders, in search of wildlife.
Towards the end of the expedition cruise, you will pay a visit to the incredible Falkland Islands. The capital of Port Stanley with its quaint English architecture will be our first stop before venturing further west for Zodiac landings and wildlife observations on pristine and sheltered beaches.
Your ship: Ocean Victory
We’re delighted to welcome you to the new premium infinity vessel, Ocean Victory, whose maiden Antarctic cruise will begin in November 2021. This makes her one of the most modern small ship Antarctic exploration vessels.
Built to be a robust and capable polar explorer, she’s also designed with a touch of class. Her 93 comfortable guest cabins all feature ocean views and almost all of them feature a private ocean balcony.
Other standout features of Ocean Victory include several restaurants, a dedicated wellness area, a Nordic Bar, an open deck dining facility, a modern lecture lounge, and … Read more about Ocean Victory
Amenities
Fitness Center
Bar
Mudroom
Lecture Theater
Observation Deck
Pool
Zodiac Fleet
Observation Lounge
Spa
Gift Shop
Library
Food & Drinks
Beagle Restaurant Dinner always starts with delicious hot soups, cold cuts, and crisp, fresh salads. Several choices of entrees are offered each evening, to accommodate different tastes and dietary requirements; always including a meat choice, fish choice, and vegetarian choice. After dinner, freshly prepared desserts, including ship-made ice cream or cakes are a great way to end a meal and satisfy any sweet tooth. A selection of wines and beers is available to perfectly complement your visit to our restaurant. Our bar is fully equipped with a variety of cocktails, beers, non-alcoholic beverages and more, to quench your thirst and reward the explorer in you.


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Day 1 • The end of the world. The beginning of everything.



Ushuaia is often called the "Gateway to Antarctica". Thanks to its position on the shores of the Beagle Channel at the southern tip of Argentina, Ushuaia's harbor is equally popular with luxury cruise vessels and huge, rugged ice breakers. A vital port for the resupply of many of the Antarctic research bases, Ushuaia is also a beautiful city that really does feel like it's at the edge of the world.
From the rugged peaks that soar high about the town to the aptly named "Train and the End of the World" steam railway; from fascinating museums and cultural centers to boat trips along the Beagle Channel to get up close and personal with penguins and seals, Ushuaia is a remarkable destination in its own right, as well as a wonderful place to start or finish your Antarctic cruise.
Day 2-3 • Cross the infamous Drake Passage.



The Drake Passage is the name given to the infamous stretch of open ocean between the tip of South America and the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.
It usually takes 2 or 3 days to cross the Drake Passage, and this is a great time to learn from your expert Antarctic naturalist guides. Through a series of fascinating talks and lectures, you'll begin to learn more about the remarkable wildlife and awe-inspiring geology of the Antarctic continent.
Your guides are always on hand to help you identify the sea bird species that always follow the ships, as well as spotting whales and other cetaceans that can be seen en route to the Antarctic Peninsula or the South Shetland Islands.
Day 4-7 • Antarctic Sound & Weddell Sea



A spectacular destination, the Antarctic Sound is the gateway to the Weddell Sea and is always home to many beautiful icebergs.
This 30-mile stretch of water cutting through the base of the Antarctic Peninsula offers remarkable vistas as you sail past Joinville Island.
Only visited by expedition cruises since 2005, the Sound is often nicknamed "iceberg alley" and can sometimes be blocked to cruises in years where the surrounding ice shelves calve in large numbers.
With towering, imposing icebergs and stunning glaciated mountains, the Antarctic Sound is a photographer's delight and offers some of the most breathtaking sights in the Peninsula.
Day 8-9 • Sail to South Georgia



The passage to South Georgia to or from the Falklands or South America is usually a 2-day sailing. On your way to the magnificent yet remote South Georgia, your expert guides will enthrall you with a range of talks and lectures all about the remarkable concentrations of Antarctic wildlife that can be found on the island.
As well as the huge numbers of breeding birds and sea mammals, you'll also learn about the geology and human history of the island, and its importance in the exploration (and exploitation) of the Southern Ocean.
On deck, your guides will help you to identify the bird species that frequently follow the ships, as well as spotting cetaceans and other marine life you can spot en route.
Day 10-11 • South Georgia



This remote and mountainous island might seem to be barren at first, given that it has no trees and is snow-covered for much of the year. However, appearances can be deceptive, and South Georgia is teeming with life!
Not only is it home to important breeding grounds for fur seals, elephant seals, and king penguins, it is also the only known habitat of the South Georgia Pipit - the Antarctic's only songbird - and the South Georgia Pintail duck.
High, rugged mountains and stunning coastal fjords make cruising the coast of South Georgia a spectacle you will remember.
Used as a base for early-20th century sealers, there are relics of this industry at various places around the island - a reminder of the human history of exploitation of Antarctica and its natural resources.
Day 12-13 • The Drake Passage



The Drake Passage is the name given to the infamous stretch of open ocean between the tip of South America and the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.
It usually takes 2 or 3 days to cross the Drake Passage, and this is a great time to learn from your expert Antarctic naturalist guides. Through a series of fascinating talks and lectures, you'll begin to learn more about the remarkable wildlife and awe-inspiring geology of the Antarctic continent.
Your guides are always on hand to help you identify the sea bird species that always follow the ships, as well as spotting whales and other cetaceans that can be seen en route to the Antarctic Peninsula or the South Shetland Islands.
Day 14-15 • Sail to the Falkland Islands



The Falklands Passage is the name given to the stretch of the Southern Ocean between mainland South America and the Falkland Islands. This is usually a 2-day sailing.
During this time, your naturalist guides will hold a series of informative and exciting talks and lectures about the wildlife and the geology that makes the Falklands and the Southern Ocean so remarkable.
Your guides will also be available to help you spot the various species of seabirds you will encounter, as well as using their expert eye to spot whales and other cetaceans in the water as you make your way to your next destination.
Day 16-17 • Port Stanley & the Falkland Islands



Lying 300 miles off the Patagonian coast, and 750 miles from the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland Islands (also known as Islas Malvinas in Spanish) is a far-flung British overseas territory.
Consisting of two major islands and over 770 smaller islands and islets, they are home to a hardy resident population of about 3,400 islanders. With a chequered history of disputed sovereignty, the islands were uninhabited until the 1700s.
With an economy that was traditionally driven by whaling, then fishing and farming, the islands have more recently diversified into sustainable tourism. With an abundance of wildlife, particularly birds - including some species found nowhere else - the islanders have been restoring natural habitats previously lost to grazing, as well as farming in ways that are more environmentally friendly.
There are a variety of sites to visit where you can see endemic and migrant birds, as well as several colonies of penguins and seals. Whales and dolphins are frequently spotted in the Sound and off the shoreline around the islands.
You will also see the historic capital, Stanley, which visitors often remark reminds them of how England used to be 50 years or more ago…
Day 18 • Sail back to Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel



Named after the first voyage of the ship HMS Beagle (which carried a certain Mr. Charles Darwin on its second visit here), this 150 mile stretch of water separates the large archipelago of Tierra del Fuego from the smaller islands that make up the very tip of South America - including the infamous Cape Horn.
The Channel lies between stunning mountains, tidewater glaciers, and rocky beaches where seals, penguins, and sea lions breed.
The breathtaking backdrop of the Beagle Channel is a suitably magnificent way to begin or end your cruise to Antarctica, and your expert naturalist guides will always be on hand to help you spot the huge variety of wildlife that call the Channel home.
Day 19 • Your unforgettable Antarctic cruise comes to an end in Ushuaia



Beaver watching (opt.)
Dinghy tour to Lapataia Bay
Ushuaia is often called the "Gateway to Antarctica". Thanks to its position on the shores of the Beagle Channel at the southern tip of Argentina, Ushuaia's harbor is equally popular with luxury cruise vessels and huge, rugged ice breakers. A vital port for the resupply of many of the Antarctic research bases, Ushuaia is also a beautiful city that really does feel like it's at the edge of the world.
From the rugged peaks that soar high about the town to the aptly named "Train and the End of the World" steam railway; from fascinating museums and cultural centers to boat trips along the Beagle Channel to get up close and personal with penguins and seals, Ushuaia is a remarkable destination in its own right, as well as a wonderful place to start or finish your Antarctic cruise.
Reviews

Scott
So many once in a life-time moments. I loved the wildlife encounters. Tens of thousands of penguins on the beach. Interactions of penguins and fur seal pups. Amazing to watch a leopard seal hunt and catch a penguin. Who knew that icebergs could be so amazing and fascinating. (Copied from Swoop Antarctica)

Sue
It is a very comfortable well appointed ship and thankfully very stable. I did have a problem with my cabin when after two days there was a loud, metallic banging noise which seemd to be from above and outside the porthole. I asked to be moved when it didnt get fixed and I went up from deck 3 to 4 and a very nice cabin with a window. Lucky me! The food was very good too. My only complaint was the lack of hot plates & often the 'hot' food was cold too, for breakfast/lunch up in the deck 8 restaurant. (Copied from Swoop Antarctica)

Gordon
Well Antarctica was impressive with all its splendor.. it’s vastness, whiteness. And for a few of the coves we were able to get in. But South Georgia.. was the highlight with so much wildlife and the history. The museum in Grytviken and the church were also very interesting. All the penguins - thousands of them at a time was very overwhelming at times. And Malvinas was good to as we learned more about its history. (Copied from Swoop Antarctica)