HIGHLIGHTS
- The
late austral summer is ideal for whale watching, and seeing fur seals
and adolescent penguins
- See
snow algae in bloom in Antarctica and beautiful sunsets throughout the
cruise
- Hybrid
electric–powered MS Fridtjof Nansen generates the lowest
possible CO2 footprint
- Participate
in an engaging science program led by our experienced Expedition Team
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Mar 17, 2025 | Apr 04, 2025 | EUR 8,493 |
USD 11,438 |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Apr 06, 2026 | EUR 8,903 |
USD 10,971 |
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Mar 17, 2025 | Apr 04, 2025 | EUR 8,493 |
USD 11,438 |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Apr 06, 2026 | EUR 8,903 |
USD 10,971 |
ITINERARY
Day
1 - Buenos Aires
Day
2 - Buenos Aires/Ushuaia
Day
3-4 - Drake Passage
Day
5-9 - Antarctica
Day
10-11 - The Drake Passage
Day
12-14 - Falkland Islands
Day
15 - At sea
Day
16 - Puerto Madryn, Argentina - Docked - Half Day
Day
17-18 - At sea
Day
19 - Buenos Aires
Day
1
If
you thought romance was dead, you’ve never been to Buenos
Aires. The sophisticated yet down-to-earth Argentine capital thrives on
its strong traditions: proud soccer fans, a cultured theater scene, and
the seductive tango. Wander past French and Italian architecture in
Recoleta, finding respite from the summer sun in the sprawling plazas
and parks of Palermo, where fleets of parrots and songbirds roost. At
night, try a choice cut of steak in San Telmo before heading to a local
bar, club, or confitería along Avenida Corrientes for a late
night fueled by tango dancing.
Consider
arriving a few days early to participate in our Pre-Program and explore
the wild land of Patagonia.
Day
2 Rendez-vous with the ship
Your
plane leaves Buenos Aires for the southern port city of Ushuaia in the
early morning. From the plane, you might catch views of Lago Fagnano
and the snow-capped Monte Darwin in Alberto de Agostini National Park
to the west.
Hybrid
electric–powered expedition ship MS Fridtjof Nansen will be
waiting for you to start your adventure on the shores of the Beagle
Channel. We are sure you will come to know the ship well, and see it as
your home away from home with all of its premium comforts. After
boarding, you’ll attend a meeting with the Expedition Team,
who will take you through key health and safety principles. Then enjoy
the welcome dinner, your first of many delicious meals on board. Finish
the day with a stroll on deck, gazing at the stars up above.
Day
3-4 Crossing continents
The
two-day voyage across the Drake Passage will fly by. When
you’re not on deck looking for albatross, petrels, humpback,
and fin whales, our expert Expedition Team will prepare you for the
adventures ahead.
The
Expedition Team’s lectures will teach you about the history,
environments, and challenges of the places we plan to visit. You will
learn what it takes to be an Antarctic ambassador and how to safely and
sustainably explore the continent’s frozen habitats while
observing IAATO regulations. Our precautions include, among many
others, special rubber boots for landings. The Expedition Team will
also introduce you to the Citizen Science programs that will help you
better understand these intricate ecosystems while contributing to
current scientific research. Meanwhile, have a chat with our onboard
photographer, who will sharing some useful tips on how to improve the
quality of your photos.
Included
activities such as art classes are also a great way to spend your down
time. Or relax in the sauna. Work out in the indoor gym or strap on
your running shoes to test the outdoor running track, which is just
under one-tenth of a mile. Then enjoy a massage or a facial in the
Wellness Area, or grab a healthy snack in one of our three onboard
restaurants.
Day
5-9 A world of ice and wildlife
Welcome
to Antarctica. This vast continent is covered almost entirely by ice
and snow. Enormous ice shelves tower over our ship, flanked by
building-sized icebergs. Glaciers cascade down the mountains, crumbling
toward the shoreline where they calve into the water. Austral summer is
coming to an end when we arrive, and you can expect to see these
landscapes beautifully illuminated by breathtaking sunsets. This is
also the best time of year to see penguins in their final stage of
molting and to spot different whale species as they gorge themselves on
krill.
Over
five days, we plan to visit several possible sites in the South
Shetlands and on the Antarctic Peninsula, depending on when and where
conditions are the best. We don’t just waive and sail by. The
Expedition Team has big plans for you. They will guide ice-cruises and
on-shore landings, bringing you to historic and scenic sites and to
penguin colonies (always at a respectful distance). You may even have
the opportunity to go kayaking among the icebergs, an optional
activity. The Expedition Team will also continue their lecture program
and, should you choose to participate, you will find plenty of wildlife
to catalog as part of a Citizen Science project.
The
itinerary for an expedition cruise is not set in stone, nor should it
be. This allows us to be flexible and adapt to our best options
throughout the voyage. After sailing these waters for years, we know
all the possible landing sites, and maximize the experience by knowing
when and where to go.
Day
10-11 Northbound
Join
the Expedition Team in their ongoing lecture program, which covers
topics ranging from the history of great explorers to marine biology,
wildlife, oceanography, and climate change. You might also have the
opportunity to examine seawater samples taken in Antarctica, allowing
you to study its wildlife at the cellular level. Watch for wildlife
from the deck, relax in the Explorer Lounge & Bar, or just
watch the scenery glide by from an outdoor hot tub or the heated
infinity pool. As we approach the Falkland Islands, the ship is usually
followed but a number of different bird species, such as gulls,
fulmars, petrels, and albatross.
Day
12-14 Pubs and penguins
The
barren, white wilderness of Antarctica will seem a world away when we
reach the lush green grass, white sands, and farms of the Falkland
Islands. Similar to Antarctica, our itinerary will be flexible during
our three days here exploring the islands. This allows the captain and
Expedition Team to pick the best spots for each day, based on the
conditions at the time.
This
is a paradise for birds such as ducks, geese, albatross, caracaras, and
wrens, not to mention the four different species of penguins found
here: the king, rockhopper, Magellanic, and gentoo. The gentoo penguins
typically hang out in large colonies around the islands, which you
might be able to spot from the ship. If conditions allow, we might even
visit a penguin colony during a landing.
Stanley,
the archipelago’s capital, lies on East Falkland Island and
is easy for the ship to access. Small enough to be explored on foot, it
is complete with icon English red buses, inviting restaurants, and pubs
full of friendly locals.
Day
15 Enjoy a day at sea
As
we set out for another day at sea, the Expedition Team will host new
lectures and presentations. You can spend some time going through your
pictures from Antarctica and the Falklands, or swap stories with your
fellow travelers. And if you haven’t already, gazing at the
scenery and watching for wildlife from the sauna or one of the hot tubs
isn’t a bad way to spend some time! There are so many ways to
enjoy a day at sea…
Day
16 World Heritage wildlife haven
Welsh
immigrants founded Puerto Madryn in 1865, and late austral summer
temperatures might even tempt you to visit its inviting beaches. Puerto
Madryn is also the gateway to the dramatic Valdes Peninsula, there is
an optional excursion here to explore a stunning nature reserve that
has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site that we highly
recommend. You might spot marine mammals such as fur seals, elephant
seals, sea lions, and perhaps even a southern right whale, a baleen
whale, or an orca. At least 180 species of birds live on the peninsula,
so break those binoculars out and find your new favorite birds. No
worries if you aren’t into birds. Puerto Madryn is a great
place for just walking around, sampling foods, and shopping for local
arts and crafts.
Day
17-18 Final days at sea
Your
adventurous expedition cruise is coming to an end after a fascinating
tour that included Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and Puerto Madryn.
The temperature will get warmer as we work our way north, so head out
to the deck and soak up some sun by the infinity pool or at the outdoor
gym.
Spend
a little time chatting with members of the Expedition Team. They are
always ready to delight you with their wealth of knowledge, insights,
and interesting stories. Enjoy a farewell dinner on the last evening.
After, watch the stars mirrored in the water beneath the ship one last
time before heading to bed.
Day
19 Back to the beginning
Sadly,
all good things must come to an end, and your expedition cruise is no
exception. Given the intensity and number of experiences
you’ve had, it may seem like months since you left Buenos
Aires, even though it has only been 19 days since you departed. Use
this second opportunity to discover this exotic Latin city that
pulsates to the rhythm of the tango. If you can stay a few extra days,
venture on a Post-Program to the famous Iguazú Falls, one of
the largest and most impressive waterfalls in the world.
Whether
you carry on with your adventure or head home, we bid you a fond
farewell and wish you many more adventures in the years to come. Who
knows? Maybe we’ll see you on an expedition to another
destination we explore, or perhaps Antarctica will tempt you back again!
MS Fridtjof Nansen (Expedition, 500-guests)
Featuring Hurtigruten's revolutionary battery hybrid powered propulsion system, MS Fridtjof Nansen combines state of the art technology and premium on board experience with Hurtigruten's 125 years of experience and unparalleled destinations.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Hotel
- Overnight
in Buenos Aires before the expedition cruise, including breakfast
Flights
- Flight
in economy class from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
Transfers
- Transfer
from the hotel in Buenos Aires to Buenos Aires airport before the
expedition cruise
- Transfer
from Ushuaia airport to the ship, including a brief tour of the town
Expedition
Cruise
- Expedition
cruise in a cabin of your choice
- Breakfast,
lunch and dinner including beverages (house beer and wine, sodas, and
mineral water) in restaurants Aune and Fredheim
- À
la carte restaurant Lindstrøm included for suite guests
- Complimentary
tea and coffee
- Complimentary
Wi-Fi on board. Be aware that we sail in remote areas with limited
connection. Streaming is not supported.
- Complimentary
reusable water bottle to use at water refill stations on board
- English-speaking
Expedition Team who organise and accompany activities on board and
ashore
- Range
of included activities
Onboard
Activities
- Experts
on the Expedition Team deliver in-depth lectures on a variety of topics
- Use
of the ship’s Science Center which has an extensive library
and advanced biological and geological microscopes
- Citizen
Science programme allows guests to assist with live scientific research
- Professional
onboard photographer gives top tips and tricks for the best landscape
and wildlife photos
- Use
of the ship’s hot tubs, panoramic sauna, outdoor and indoor
gyms, and outdoor running track
- Informal
gatherings with the crew such as daily recaps and preparation for the
day to come
Landing
Activities
- Escorted
landings with small expedition boats while in Antarctica
- Loan
of boots, trekking poles, and all equipment for activities
- Complimentary
wind and water-resistant expedition jacket
- Expedition
Photographers help with your camera settings before landings
Not
included in your voyage
- International
flights
- Travel
insurance
- Luggage
handling
- Optional
shore excursions with our local partners
- Optional
small-group activities with our Expedition Team
- Optional
treatments in the onboard wellness and spa area
Notes
- All
planned activities are subject to weather and ice conditions
- Excursions
and activities are subject to change
- Please
make sure you meet all entry and boarding requirements
- No
gratuities expected
Get the most out of
your cruise with activities run by our Expedition Team. They start from
the ship, and are available for reservation once you get on board.
Activities are subject to change.
- Camping
in Antarctica (An Amundsen Night)
- Extended
Hikes in Antarctica
- Kayaking
Adventure in Antarctica
- Snowshoeing
in Antarctica
