English
Available October 2026

South Atlantic Cruise: from South Africa to Antarctica

Departure Oct 23, 2026 ⚓ Cape Town
Arrival Nov 12, 2026 ⚓ Ushuaia
Duration 21 days 20 nights
Operator 🇨🇾 Swan Hellenic Cultural Expedition
Ship SH Diana 192 guests
Ice class PC6 Polar Class 6: Summer/autumn operation in medium first-year ice; premier modern polar standard.
Year built 2023

Day by day

Route:
Cape Town Tristan Da Cunha South Georgia Antarctic Peninsula Ushuaia Buenos Aires Ushuaia

Itinerary and landing sites are indicative and subject to change based on weather, sea ice, and wildlife conditions.

Day 1 — Cape Town

Between mountains and the ocean, Cape Town is a vibrant, multicultural city with a lively waterfront featuring seafood restaurants, shopping and attractions. A cable car transports visitors to distinctive Table Mountain with sweeping views. Boats head to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.Boulders Beach is home to African penguins, and world-class Stellenbosch vineyards offer wine tastings amid Cape Dutch architecture

Days 2-5 — Day at sea

Days at sea are rarely idle on an expedition voyage. Scan the horizon from the open deck — albatrosses tracking the ship's wake, a blow in the distance, ice on the edge of visibility. Between landings, the ocean itself becomes part of the itinerary. Head inside when you're ready: sauna, gym, hot tub, or a talk from the expedition team on what lies ahead

Day 6 — Tristan Da Cunha

Seabirds outnumber humans on this remote British outpost in the middle of the southern Atlantic. Millions of species like the rare yellow-nosed albatross, skuas, terns and petrels, including the endangered Tristan albatross, inhabit the bluffs. Northern rockhopper penguins breed on the beaches, while upwellings attract whales and dolphins. Fur seals also haul out on the island teeming with avian life

Days 7-10 — Day at sea

Spend your day at sea enjoying the facilities available onboard. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the hot tub while taking in incredible views along the way. If you prefer to learn a little more about your surroundings, listen to an informative talk or have a chat with one of our knowledgeable experts

Days 11-12 — South Georgia

Often called the 'Galapagos of the Poles,' South Georgia has a number of landing sites with tens of thousands of King Penguins and gentoo penguins, making up some of the largest populations in the world alongside harrumphing elephant seals. Among its remarkable sites is Grytviken, the historic whaling station where legendary British explorer Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) is laid to rest

Days 13-14 — Day at sea

On some days at sea guests are welcome to visit the bridge and see how the ship is navigated through ice, read the instruments, and talk with the officers on watch. Days at sea are also when the expedition team runs their best talks: deeper dives into the wildlife, history, and science of the region you're crossing. Or simply find a quiet corner and watch the Southern Ocean go by

Days 15-18 — Antarctic Peninsula

Among captivating glaciers, majestic icebergs and snowy islands, the Antarctic Peninsula is where most visitors to the White Continent live their Antarctica dream. It's the most accessible part, with scientific bases and incredible scenery, like the photogenic Lemaire Channel. Expedition activities might include Mikkelsen Harbour, where among gentoo penguins, snowy sheathbills and skuas, Antarctic Weddell seals haul out

Days 19-20 — Day at sea

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers

Day 21 — Ushuaia

Nestled in the foothills of the snow-capped Martial Range, Ushuaia’s colourful streets and mismatched buildings cascade from the imposing mountains before coming to an abrupt halt at the shores of the Beagle Channel. As one of the world’s southernmost cities, Ushuaia carries its ‘end of the world’ reputation well. The moody weather and dramatic surroundings certainly help. Board your boutique ship before departing for your journey through one of the most captivating wilderness regions of the world

Expedition Overview

Operator

Swan Hellenic

Cultural Expedition

Swan Hellenic operates dedicated polar expedition voyages to the White Continent with seasoned expedition teams.

Month

October 2026

Early Season · Untouched Snow

Pristine white landscapes, massive sea ice, and penguins returning to court on clean snow.

Penguin Courtship Pristine Snow Giant Icebergs
Regions

Visited Regions

5 regions on this voyage
South Georgia

South Georgia

Serengeti of the South • Hundreds of Thousands of King Penguins

Scotia Sea

Scotia Sea

Southern Ocean Arc • Marine Mammal Highway

Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctic Peninsula

Classic Antarctica • Towering Peaks & Wildlife

Drake Passage

Drake Passage

Rite of Passage • Albatross Alley

Tierra del Fuego

Tierra del Fuego

End of the World • Subpolar Forests & Gateway Port

Cabin offers

Cabin Occupancy Price (per person) Promo Availability Source detail.action
Oceanview
Oceanview Best price

20 m² · 2 guests

Deck 4 staterooms (site tiers Oceanview D4 and Oceanview M4) with two single beds or a double bed, a bedroom with living-room area and a luxurious bathroom; windows rather than balconies.

  • Two single beds or a double bed
  • Bedroom with living room area
  • Flame-effect fireplace
  • Luxurious bathroom
In your cabin
  • Welcome bottle of Champagne, snacks and well-stocked minibar
  • Illy espresso coffee machine and tea facilities
  • Smart HDTV
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Personal safe
  • Nikon Prostaff 3S 10x42 binoculars
  • Individually-controlled air-conditioning
  • Wardrobe, desk and comfy seating areas
  • Bathroom with glass-enclosed rain shower and Lajatica toiletries
  • Fluffy bathrobes, slippers and hairdryer
  • 24/7 room service
double €14,275 available Swan Hellenic View at operator
Balcony
Balcony

25 m² · 2–3 guests

Staterooms on decks 5-6 (site tiers Balcony D5, Balcony M5 and Balcony D6) with two single beds or a double bed, bedroom with living-room area, luxurious bathroom and a 5 m² private balcony.

  • 5 m² private balcony
  • Two single beds or a double bed
  • Bedroom with living room area
  • Flame-effect fireplace
  • Luxurious bathroom
In your cabin
  • Welcome bottle of Champagne, snacks and well-stocked minibar
  • Illy espresso coffee machine and tea facilities
  • Smart HDTV
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Personal safe
  • Nikon Prostaff 3S 10x42 binoculars
  • Individually-controlled air-conditioning
  • Wardrobe, desk and comfy seating areas
  • Bathroom with glass-enclosed rain shower and Lajatica toiletries
  • Fluffy bathrobes, slippers and hairdryer
  • 24/7 room service
double €17,125 available Swan Hellenic View at operator
Junior Suite
Junior Suite

32 m² · 2 guests

32-36 m² suites on decks 5-6 with a king-size bed, separate living-room area with flame-effect fireplace, luxurious en-suite bathroom and a 6 m² private balcony.

  • 6 m² private balcony
  • King size bed
  • Separate living room area
  • Luxurious en-suite bathroom
In your cabin
  • Welcome bottle of Champagne, snacks and well-stocked minibar
  • Illy espresso coffee machine and tea facilities
  • Smart HDTV
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Personal safe
  • Nikon Prostaff 3S 10x42 binoculars
  • Individually-controlled air-conditioning
  • Wardrobe, desk and comfy seating areas
  • Bathroom with glass-enclosed rain shower and Lajatica toiletries
  • Fluffy bathrobes, slippers and hairdryer
  • 24/7 room service
double €21,725 available Swan Hellenic View at operator
Suite
Suite

41 m² · 2–3 guests

41 m² suites on decks 5-6 with a king-size bed, separate living room with flame-effect fireplace, ensuite bathroom with separate bath tub and walk-in shower, and a 5-10 m² private balcony.

  • 5-10 m² private balcony
  • King size bed
  • Separate living room
  • Flame-effect fireplace
  • Luxurious ensuite bathroom with separate bath tub and walk-in shower
In your cabin
  • Welcome bottle of Champagne, snacks and well-stocked minibar
  • Illy espresso coffee machine and tea facilities
  • Smart HDTV
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Personal safe
  • Nikon Prostaff 3S 10x42 binoculars
  • Individually-controlled air-conditioning
  • Wardrobe, desk and comfy seating areas
  • Bathroom with glass-enclosed rain shower and Lajatica toiletries
  • Fluffy bathrobes, slippers and hairdryer
  • 24/7 room service
double €25,300 available Swan Hellenic View at operator
Premium Suite
Premium Suite

41 m² · 2 guests

Top-category suites on deck 6 with a king-size bed, separate living room with flame-effect fireplace, ensuite bathroom with separate bath tub and shower, walk-in wardrobe and an 8-12 m² private balcony.

  • 8-12 m² private balcony
  • King size bed
  • Separate living room
  • Flame-effect fireplace
  • Luxurious ensuite bathroom with separate bath tub and shower
  • Walk-in wardrobe
In your cabin
  • Welcome bottle of Champagne, snacks and well-stocked minibar
  • Illy espresso coffee machine and tea facilities
  • Smart HDTV
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Personal safe
  • Nikon Prostaff 3S 10x42 binoculars
  • Individually-controlled air-conditioning
  • Wardrobe, desk and comfy seating areas
  • Bathroom with glass-enclosed rain shower and Lajatica toiletries
  • Fluffy bathrobes, slippers and hairdryer
  • 24/7 room service
double €28,875 available Swan Hellenic View at operator

Prices are captured from operator websites and may change — the operator's site is authoritative. Captured Sep 3, 2026 06:45 UTC.

Getting ready for this voyage?

Everything worth bringing on an Antarctic expedition — an interactive checklist you can tick off as you pack, keep as a personal link and download as a PDF.

Open the packing checklist

Wildlife on this route

Wildlife

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.

Wildlife

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.

Wildlife

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.

Wildlife

Wandering Albatross

The snowy albatross, better known as the wandering albatross, has the widest wingspan of any living bird alive today. Watch for it riding the wind for hours behind the ship without a single wingbeat.

from €14,275
per person · Oceanview
View at operator