New Year's Antarctic Circle Crossing (Ocean Victory)

Welcome to Ushuaia – the gateway to Antarctica. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be transferred to your comfortable hotel for tonight. You’ll have a welcome meeting this evening to meet the other travellers who will be joining you for your journey. If you arrive in Ushuaia with time to spare, maybe explore what the southernmost city in the world has to offer – you could visit the Maritime Museum or seek out classic Argentinian dishes at the local restaurants. Or simply unwind in preparation for tomorrow, when you’ll set sail.

This morning, you might like to continue exploring Ushuaia or just relax at the hotel until this afternoon, when you’ll board your ship – the Ocean Victory. Settle into your cabin, meet the Expedition Team who will be guiding you throughout your journey, then have a safety and orientation briefing. Tonight, join your group and the captain for a welcome dinner. Toast to the start of an epic Antarctic adventure!

Spend your first two days at sea crossing the infamous Drake Passage. Named for explorer Sir Francis Drake, this crossing separates the southernmost point of South America from the Antarctic Peninsula. Participate in onboard activities like educational talks by the Expedition Team to learn about Antarctica’s history, geology and ecology, or contribute to the Citizen Science program, where you can help collect data for important research into the region’s ecosystems. Have your binoculars ready for wildlife spotting – albatross, petrels and prions are all common sights as you cross this passage. Feel the temperature drop as you cross the Antarctic Convergence and officially enter Antarctic waters.

Gear up for a New Year’s Eve celebration like no other as you head south across the Bransfield Strait to explore the Antarctic Peninsula and hopefully cross the Antarctic Circle! Over five full days of exploration, you’ll go on Zodiac cruises twice daily – explore historic expedition huts at Damoy Point, be on the lookout for humpback whales in Wilhelmina Bay and visit historic British Antarctic Survey bases. Keep your binoculars handy for rare seabird sightings, including the black-browed albatross, wandering albatross and southern giant petrel. As New Year’s Eve approaches, weather permitting, you’ll enter the Lemaire Channel. Towering peaks up to 1000 m tall border this 11-km-long, iceberg-filled passage – this is the backdrop for a New Year’s Eve you won't soon forget. Weather permitting, cross the Antarctic Circle at 66°33’S – an achievement held by few adventurers. Ring in the new year in the unspoiled wilderness of the Great White Continent.

The South Shetland Islands forms the northernmost tip of Antarctica, and each of the islands has its own natural wonders to discover. Today, you might find yourself walking along the black sands of Deception Island. Formed by the caldera of an active volcano, this island is scattered with the ruins of whaling stations and scientific research bases from the 1960s. Or maybe you’ll explore Livingstone Island, Greenwich Island or King George Island, where you’ll witness the remarkable biodiversity that thrives in these harsh elements. See colonies of gentoo and chinstrap penguins and seabirds like the giant petrel.

Begin your journey back north as you cross the Drake Passage once again. Look back on the memories you’ve made as you join your fellow travellers for a slideshow of the trip, a photography contest and a celebratory farewell dinner. Toast to a new year that’s already off to an adventure-filled start!

As you disembark in Ushuaia this morning, your adventure comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.