Ultimate South Georgia Falklands & Antarctic Peninsula Cruise

Learn more about the biology and history of the Falkland Islands through a series of lectures and presentations and ease into ship life as we cross the South Atlantic Ocean. Scan the sky for Black-browed Albatross, countless Prions and Shearwaters, and look for Orca and Sei Whales during our day at sea.

Explore the pristine wilderness of the Falkland Islands as we navigate East and West Falkland Islands and their remote satellite islands. This stunning landscape spanning more than 700 islands, quiet villages, white sandy beaches, spectacular towering cliffs and grassy fields of wildflowers is a birder’s paradise and home to five species of penguin – Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Magellanic, King and Macaroni– and the world’s largest Black-browed Albatross colony. We will also be looking for the endemic flightless Falkland Steamer Duck and, if lucky, the elusive Cobb’s Wren among Black-Crowned Night Herons, Long-Tailed Meadowlarks, Two-banded Plovers, and Upland and Kelp Geese, making this a cornerstone of any Falkland Islands cruises itinerary. Our adventures may see us stretching our legs on Carcass Island where Southern Sea Lions, South American Fur Seals and Southern Elephant Seals can be found lazing on the beaches and among the tussac grass. If weather conditions are favourable, we hope to explore Steeple Jason Island where some 200,000-plus breeding pairs of Black-browed Albatross, 70% of the world’s population, are joined by Rockhopper and Gentoo Penguins, and attract the largest numbers of predatory Striated Caracara and Falkland Skua in the region. The flora also punches above its weight here with some 417 different plant species found across the Falkland Islands including the Dog Orchid and Vanilla Daisy. History buffs will look forward to exploring colourful British outpost and Falklands capital the ‘city’ of Stanley where nature preserves meet maritime exploration, hilltop memorials to the 1982 Falklands War, the Jubilee Villas and the opportunity to enjoy a pint with the friendly locals.

At sea en route to South Georgia, there’s time to unwind after the adventures of the Falkland Islands. Look for cetaceans, Wandering and Southern Royal Albatross, Sooty Shearwater, Antarctic Prion and Soft Plumaged Petrel, join a lecture or catch up on your photos and journaling. We plan to ship cruise the 150-million-year-old Shag Rocks. Despite their inhospitable appearance, this collection of six, wind and wave carved jagged islets rising up to 75 metres (246ft) out of the Southern Ocean, are an important seabird breeding site, in particular the South Georgia Shag after which the rocks are named. These nutrient rich waters filled with krill, fish and squid, located near the Antarctic Convergence where the cold Antarctic waters meet warmer Subantarctic currents, also makes Shag Rocks perfect for cetacean spotting.

Explore the astounding wildlife sanctuary that is South Georgia, also known as the ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’ – for reasons which will quickly become apparent. Here, among the rugged, unrestrained beauty of towering, ice-capped mountains, glaciers, endless beaches, grasses and the clear emerald water of this British Overseas Territory resides one of the world’s wildlife hot spots. Our voyage is timed to coincide with the start of breeding season, when it is believed South Georgia has more wildlife per square metre than anywhere else on Earth, a defining stretch of any South Georgia cruise’s itinerary. The sheer spectacle and numbers are mind-boggling: more than 60 million seabirds (including White-chinned Petrel, Diving Petrel and 50 million Antarctic Prion), 1 million King Penguins (the world’s largest population), 3.5 million Antarctic Fur Seals (more than 95% of the world’s population) and 400,000-plus Southern Elephant Seals (half the world’s population). Other wildlife to look out for with our guides include Macaroni, and Gentoo Penguins; Wandering, Black-browed, Grey-headed and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross; South Georgia Shag, South Georgia Pipit, Pintail Duck, Weddell Seals and, occasionally, Leopard Seals. While Humpback, Blue and Southern Right Whales are also known to visit these waters. High on our agenda are visits to Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay and Gold Harbour, where the chaos of thousands of King Penguins blanketing these shores offers some of the world’s best birding. Despite the abundance of wildlife, Antarctic Fur Seals were once hunted to almost extinction for their fur in the early 19th Century, and the settlement of Grytviken was once a productive whaling centre. Although the historic whaling station is still a feature, Grytviken’s legacy is now the final resting place of heroic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, where we plan to pay our respects. Like the Subantarctic Islands below New Zealand and Australia, South Georgia was also an important stopover during heroic-era Antarctic expeditions, and we look forward to sharing this history with you.

Soaring albatross and petrels circle the vessel as we steam southward through the cetacean-filled Scotia Sea. Lectures will now concentrate on Antarctica and there is some good whale watching to be enjoyed. Look out for our first iceberg, these otherworldly frozen cathedrals will become part of our daily adventures, each one a unique natural sculpture as we enter the realm of more than 20-hours daylight! Relax in the ship’s bar, catch up with some reading in the library or download and edit photos to free up space on your memory card.

Early season Antarctica is an especially magical time pairing long clear days with an abundance of wildlife and spectacular lighting. Our voyage is timed to coincide with the arrival of the breeding season, when Antarctica’s wildlife converges in full force and mating behaviours at chaotic penguin cities can be observed. We have more than 20-hours of daylight to explore multiple historic and wildlife rich landing sites, hidden bays, quiet coves and walk on the ice and snow of the Seventh Continent. Look for, and walk among Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins; Weddell, Leopard and Crabeater Seals; in the water Humpback and Minke Whales fill these important feeding grounds along with Orca. While specific landings cannot be guaranteed, they could include the following, and many other exciting opportunities:

Elephant Island
It’s hard to believe this hostile environment of mostly vertical rock and ice cliffs sustained 22 crew from Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition/Endurance Expedition for four-and-a-half months after their ship Endurance sank in the Weddell Sea.

Brown Bluff
This scenic setting in the Antarctic Sound, which marries sheer stone walls, fallen boulders and ice-capped peaks, is the location of a large, bustling Adélie Penguin rookery, where Gentoo Penguins and Snow Petrels can also be observed.

Whalers Bay, Deception Island
Taking its name from a prolific whaling history and the island’s ‘hidden’ entrance, Whalers Bay is a designated Historic Site tucked away in a small natural harbour used by sealers and then whalers from the 1820s. It’s also the location of a ‘heated lagoon’ and fascinating microclimate courtesy of volcanic activity with Antarctic Tern, Cape Petrel, Kelp Gull, Skua and Wilson’s Storm Petrel all breeding here.

Cierva Cove
A visit to Cierva Cove is sure to be a highlight as you weave through this magnificent body of water navigating astounding calved icebergs and ice sculptures. Ten species of bird breed here including a Chinstrap Penguin colony, Humpback Whales are regular visitors.

Petermann Island
Petermann Island might be small, at just 1-kilometre long, but this volcanic outpost boasts some incredible features. More than half the island is covered by a permanent icecap and the island is both Antarctica’s northernmost Adélie Penguin colony, and southernmost Gentoo colony. It’s also the wintering site of renowned French Explorer Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot’s second French Antarctic Expedition (1908–1910).

Port Lockroy, Goudier Island
Location of the famed Penguin Post Office, the world’s southernmost post office, Port Lockroy’s safe harbour in the Palmer Archipelago has attracted explorers, whalers, scientists, and sailors for more than a century.

Paradise Bay
Once the anchorage site for whalers’ floating factory ships, Paradise Bay is now considered one of Antarctic Peninsula’s most stunning locations delivering the ultimate, unrestrained, iconic and pristine Antarctic wilderness experiences just north of the legendary Lemaire Channel. Whales, Gentoo Penguins and Crabeater Seals are all known to frequent these waters.

Cuverville Island
Cuverville Island combines a stunning, ice-capped landscape where steep cliffs and a boulder-strewn beach meet Antarctic Peninsula’s largest Gentoo Penguin population (home to some 14,000 birds), while its shallow bay features astounding monolithic grounded icebergs perfect for Zodiac exploration.

En route to Ushuaia we cross the legendary Drake Passage and experience one of the world’s great ocean crossings. Take time to rest after the adventures of Antarctica, look for whales and enjoy shipboard life.

Early this morning we will arrive in the Ushuaia Cruise Port. After a final breakfast, we bid farewell to our fellow voyagers and take a complimentary coach transfer to Ushuaia International Airport. In case of unexpected delays due to weather and/or port operations we ask you not to book any onward travel until after 12 noon. 

 Note: During our South Georgia, Falklands & Antarctic Peninsula Cruise, circumstances may make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the proposed itinerary. This can include poor weather and opportunities for making unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed. This tour offers a variety of activities and excursions. Your personal interests will determine which of these you wish to join. Please note that some activities and excursions will run at similar times, and it will not be possible to participate in both. Accordingly, refunds for excursions and missed landings are not available. Voyages are planned and scheduled pending final regulatory approval.