Life Returns - Springtime Expedition to Antarctica

Feel the rhythm of bustling Buenos Aires

Home to a proud and diverse community of porteños, or “people of the port,” Buenos Aires is a sensuous fusion of faded European splendor and Latin American panache.

There are plenty of places to explore, including many parrillas serving authentic Argentine steak. Or maybe you'd like to practice your dance moves in the famed birthplace of the tango.

Your Expedition Ship will await you for embarkation.

Get into expedition mode

Over the next few days at sea, you'll learn more about the wonders we'll encounter during our trip.

Members of the Expedition Team will start their lecture series on topics like oceanography, geology, ornithology, and history. Pop into the Science Center for hands-on presentations as well.

Grab a pair of binoculars and look for rare wandering albatrosses and petrels. Make the most of your onboard facilities and enjoy the hot tubs, panoramic sauna, and gym.

Enjoy birding and hiking on these green islands

The Falkland archipelago is filled with seamless horizons and white sand beaches teeming with birdlife. Only the occasional farm dots the landscape amid grassy hills and wildflowers. Enjoy a community walk around Stanley, taking in the Jubilee Villas gardens, Christ Church Cathedral, and Historic Dockyard Museum. 

Our landings, hikes, and excursions are, as always, subject to weather conditions. We hope to visit albatross and penguin colonies, which are often found sharing space with seals, and get as close as we can without disturbing them.

Cruising the South Atlantic

After the Falkland Islands, we'll spend two days cruising toward beautiful South Georgia. You can look forward to seeing an archipelago filled with diverse wildlife.

Meet up with the Expedition Team as they prepare you for what lies ahead. They'll tell you everything they know about South Georgia, including the area's wildlife, polar history, geology, glaciology, and stories of Norwegian whalers.

As we approach, the Expedition Team will talk about the IAATO environmental guidelines and sustainability rules that we follow when visiting. We leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but pictures.

Visit a wildlife watcher's paradise

South Georgia's abundant wildlife has earned it the nickname “Serengeti of the Southern Ocean.” Its unique position free from sea ice makes the island a breeding site for large colonies of penguins, other seabirds, and seals. In fact, it's an Important Bird Area and home to albatrosses, petrels, shags, skuas, and terns.

During our three days in the area, we'll land as often as we can to explore the wilderness and observe the wildlife. We'll also try to reach Grytviken, the final resting place of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Our expedition route will as always be guided by nature, and we will adapt to daily conditions to seek out the best possible experience.

While our itineraries are always flexible, they're even more so during peak breeding seasons, when the wildlife is most vulnerable to disturbance. When opportunities allow, we'll land here and observe the wildlife. When our presence could disturb the animals, we'll choose another place to visit. As always, your Expedition Team makes these decisions based on lifetimes of combined experience in these destinations. Sometimes we'll land, sometimes we'll cruise—it's all part of the adventure!

Time to relax and reflect

After visiting the Falklands and South Georgia, take some time while we head toward Antarctica to relax and reflect on your journey so far.

Antarctica is a symbol of global cooperation, dedicated to peace, science, and wildlife conservation. Protected by the Antarctic Treaty, it remains free of military conflict, preserving its pristine environment for future generations.

As a hub for scientific research on climate change and ecosystems, it offers unique insights into nature's resilience. You can join our Citizen Science programs to help collect data for global research projects.

Experience Antarctica in all its natural majesty

Nothing prepares you for your first sight of Antarctica's immense, frozen beauty. Icebergs, sculpted by nature, float in the straits. Gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins stand erect as they watch from the shores. Countless seabirds wheel overhead. Nature is in charge.

You'll spend four exciting days exploring several possible landing sites on and around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. Wherever we go and whatever we do, each day will offer something different and thrilling.

We might sail into a flooded volcanic caldera or land in icy bays where remnants of whaling paraphernalia lie abandoned. You may also get a chance to go kayaking among icebergs and seals, or snowshoe to a stunning viewpoint.

Bird enthusiasts should look skyward for Antarctic seabirds such as skuas, petrels, and terns. Through onboard lectures and onshore talks, you'll learn more about this precious habitat and how we can all protect it for the future.

Looking for land ahead

Five unforgettable days in Antarctica are over, and your ship will now embark upon our final adventure together: the Drake Passage. Known for its potentially high winds and strong currents, the passage can also be silent and still, inspiring the nicknames “The Drake Shake” and “The Drake Lake.”

But don't worry—even if we experience rough seas, your ship is perfectly equipped for this leg of the adventure exploring the Southern Ocean. During the crossing, the Expedition Team will recap our experiences, keeping your head in the Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica a little while longer.

Onward from Punta Arenas

Your Antarctica and Patagonia expedition cruise comes to an end in Punta Arenas. From here, you'll catch a flight to Santiago de Chile and then your connecting flight home, taking with you a wealth of fantastic memories.

If you're not ready to end your adventures just yet, we recommend extending your trip and joining our optional Post-Program.