Please NOTE that this departure embarks Santiago with a flight to Port Stanley, Falklands and ends in Ushuaia, Argentina.

This itinerary will give you a brief idea of what you may encounter on this voyage. However we stress that this is an "expedition" style cruise. Our emphasis is on wildlife encounters, personal contact with the environs, visiting sites of historical interest and to a lesser extent scientific stations. Polar Pioneer is not a luxury ship although she is very comfortable with well-appointed cabins and common areas. She is maneuverable and strong, ideally suited for the sea passages between the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. The bridge is open to us at all times unless there is some tricky navigational situation.

Our actual program will vary to take best advantage of local conditions, spontaneous opportunities and wildlife. No two voyages are the same; there is always an element of the unexpected. This journey combines the best of the sub-Antarctic with the beauty of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Today we board our flight in Santiago. On arrival to Port Stanley passengers will be transferred to the group hotel.

Today we will be taken on a tour of Port Stanley. The Falklands undeniably British capital, features an excellent war museum, welcoming shops and pubs. After our tour we will be transferred to the port in the late afternoon and board our ship, Polar Pioneer.

Today we aim to visit some of the southern, most isolated islands in the Falklands. Between the penguins' nests are gentle black-browed albatross sitting serenely upon beautifully molded mud nests. The air is filled with soaring albatross, turkey vultures, skuas and many species of sea birds.

Cruising towards the South Georgia we will commence our lecture program. During the voyage’s various sea passages, we will learn about the wildlife, geology, history and geography of the Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Our South Georgia landings are mostly along the northeast coast. We’ll see: the world’s largest king penguin rookeries, wandering albatross on nests, beaches of elephant and fur seals, macaroni and rockhopper penguin colonies, walking Shackleton’s route from Fortuna Bay to Stromness and visiting Grytviken’s whaling museum.

Sailing south, we look out for great whales and possibly our first icebergs!

If pack ice allows, we go ashore in the dramatic South Orkney Islands, then across whale-rich waters to Elephant Island, hoping to take Zodiacs near Point Wild, where Shackleton’s men wintered over.

After visiting the South Shetlands, we sail overnight down Gerlache Strait, awakening to the thrill of Antarctica! Weather and ice permitting, we’ll visit busy penguin rookeries, historic sites and make a continental landing.

North across Drake Passage, we’re treated to graceful displays by prions, petrels and majestic albatross. Once we’ve rounded Cape Horn, we recap our many experiences with shipboard friends.

In the wee hours we sail up the Beagle Channel to Ushuaia where our next adventure begins.