Antarctica Springs to Life
Polar Latitudes · 10 days · Ushuaia → Buenos Aires
| Operator | Polar Latitudes |
|---|---|
| Available departures | 1 |
| Typical duration | 10 days · Ushuaia → Buenos Aires |
| Price range (per person, USD) | $10,595 – $28,891 |
| ships | Ocean Victory |
| Prices last verified | 48-hour verification methodology |
Upcoming departures — Antarctica Springs to Life
| Departure | Ship | Duration | Availability | From | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 13, 2026 – Nov 22, 2026 Best price | Ocean Victory · 175 guests | 10 days | Available |
$10,595
|
Day by day
Itinerary and landing sites are indicative and subject to change based on weather, sea ice, and wildlife conditions.
DAY 1 Arrive and Explore in Ushuaia
After a friendly welcome at the airport, we'll transfer you to one of our partnered premium hotel resorts nestled in the breathtaking Patagonian nature, where you can take some time to unwind or go explore the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. Our optional evening briefing is your opportunity to ask questions and meet some of your fellow explorers.
DAY 2 All Aboard!
Spend your morning relaxing at the hotel, visiting a museum, or exploring the shops in Ushuaia, before our mid-afternoon escort to the ship. Our Expedition Team and ship staff will welcome you on board and get you settled in, followed by a safety and orientation briefing and our Captain’s welcome dinner. We’re on our way to Antarctica!
DAYS 3–4 Drake Passage
Join our Polar Experts as they share their vast knowledge of Antarctica, from its enchanting wildlife to its bold history. Participate in our pioneering Citizen Science program or sit back and take in this fabled journey while catching glimpses of rarely seen wildlife. Keep your binoculars handy to identify the many seabirds that escort our ship as we cross the Antarctic Convergence into Antarctica’s waters and noticeably cooler temperatures.
DAY 5 South Shetland Islands
Over time, the volcanic activity of the South Shetland Islands has created a geology unlike any other. Here, you can expect a rugged display of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife returning to their busy daily activity after the long winter break. Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins will be a common sight, and it’s not uncommon to share the water’s edge with Elephant and Fur seals. Whales are often spotted as well. So, we’ll settle into our Zodiacs and spend most of our day exploring, perhaps stopping for a walk along the black sands of Deception Island. Whether on land or sea, in a Zodiac or kayak, be prepared for a fully immersive introduction to this incomparable part of the world.
DAYS 6–7 Antarctica in the Spring
Welcome to Antarctica in all its just-waking-up-from-winter glory. Untouched. Pristine. Getting busy. For the next couple of days, prepare to be amazed as we observe numerous species of penguins coming ashore and getting acquainted, building nests, and tending their eggs. Marvel at the winter sea ice that mantles these frigid seas, feast your eyes on glorious icebergs beginning the springtime march, and, as always, be on the lookout for seals and whales in the water. At day’s end, take in the miraculous sunsets that are a special treat this time of year. Visits to active scientific bases and historic landing sites may also be on the agenda.
DAYS 8–9 Drake Passage
We leave this magical place and make our way north, once again crossing the legendary Drake Passage. We have one last hurrah as we celebrate the conclusion of our expedition with a special slideshow and a final meal together.
DAY 10 Ushuaia Disembarkation
With huge smiles on weary, content faces, we disembark in the morning, letting you catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in Ushuaia for more sights and adventure.
Ships operating this itinerary
Activities
33 optional add-ons
Kayaking & paddling
Paddle in near-silence through mirror-calm glacial bays, drifting alongside iridescent ice sculptures and listening to the deep exhales of surfacing humpback whales.
Hiking & snowshoeing
Crunch through pristine snow up glaciated ridges and volcanic vantage points for breathtaking 360° panoramas over iceberg-choked straits and penguin rookeries.
Photography
Specialized workshops and excursions guided by professional polar photographers to capture the ethereal midnight sun, dynamic wildlife action, and sculpted blue ice.
Visited Regions
9Beagle Channel
Scenic Fjord • Sea Lion Colonies & Les Eclaireurs
Drake Passage
Rite of Passage • Albatross Alley
South Shetland Islands
Volcanic Isles • Penguin Rookeries & Calderas
King George Island
Fly-Cruise Hub • Multi-National Stations
Deception Island
Flooded Volcano • Geothermal Steam & Polar Plunge
Gerlache Strait
Whale Highway • Humpbacks, Orcas & Protected Bays
Lemaire Channel
Kodak Gap • Kilometer-High Glaciated Chasm
Antarctic Peninsula
Classic Antarctica • Towering Peaks & Wildlife
Scotia Sea
Southern Ocean Arc • Marine Mammal Highway
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Wildlife on this route
Penguins
Emperor Penguins
The world's largest penguin breeds only in Antarctica's brutal winter. A rare and unforgettable sight.
Penguins
Gentoo Penguin
A stocky, orange-billed penguin of the genus Pygoscelis, closest kin to the Adélie and Chinstrap. Its loud, trumpeting call, delivered with head thrown back, carries across the shoreline colonies where expedition landings are made.
Whales & Dolphins
Humpback Whale
A 14–17 metre baleen whale known for breaching and long pectoral fins, often seen feeding on krill in loose groups along the ice edge.
Whales & Dolphins
Orca
Black and white apex predator instantly recognizable by its pale eye patches, the orca is the largest of the dolphins and one of the ocean's most capable hunters. Sightings often involve a tight-knit family pod working the ice edge together.