Antarctica and Falklands Expedition | Southbound

The Beat of Buenos Aires

Feel the rhythm of bustling Buenos Aires

Home to a proud and diverse community of porteños, or “people of the port,” Buenos Aires is a sensuous fusion of faded European splendor and Latin American panache.

There are plenty of places to explore, including many parrillas serving authentic Argentine steak. Or maybe you’d like to practice your dance moves in the famed birthplace of the tango.

From Buenos Aires, you’ll embark MS Roald Amundsen and commence your voyage southbound. After a briefing from your Expedition Team, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin and explore the comforts and amenities on board.

Glamorous and gritty, Buenos Aires is two cities in one. What makes Argentina's capital so fascinating is its dual heritage—part European, part Latin American. Plaza de Mayo resembles a grand square in Madrid, and the ornate Teatro Colón would not be out of place in Vienna. But you’ll know you’re in South America by the leather shoes for sale on cobbled streets and impromptu parades of triumphant soccer fans. Limited-production wines, juicy steaks, and ice cream in countless flavors are among the old-world imports the city has perfected.

Get into expedition mode

Over the next few days at sea, you’ll learn more about the wonders we’ll encounter on our trip.

Members of the Expedition Team will start their lecture series on topics like oceanography, geology, ornithology, and history. Pop into the Science Center for hands-on presentations.

Grab a pair of binoculars and look for rare wandering albatrosses and petrels. Make the most of your onboard facilities and enjoy the hot tubs, panoramic sauna and gym.

Enjoy birding and hiking on these green islands

The Falkland archipelago is filled with seamless horizons and white sand beaches teeming with birdlife. Only the occasional farm dots the landscape amid grassy hills and wildflowers. Enjoy a community walk around Stanley, taking in the Jubilee Villas gardens, Christ Church Cathedral, and the Historic Dockyard Museum.

Our landings, hikes and excursions are—as always—subject to weather conditions. We hope to visit albatross and penguin colonies, where seals can often be found as well, getting as close as possible without disturbing them.

Time to relax and reflect

After the Falkland Islands, we’ll spend two days cruising toward the beautiful Antarctic Peninsula. Look forward to seeing a natural wonderland filled with diverse wildlife.

The Expedition Team will prepare you for what lies ahead. They’ll tell you everything they know about Antarctica, including information about the area’s wildlife, polar history, geology, and glaciology.

You’ll also learn how to make your visit as safe and as low impact as possible. You can join our Citizen Science programs to help collect data for global research projects.

Experience Antarctica in all its majesty

Nothing prepares you for your first sight of Antarctica’s immense, frozen beauty. Icebergs, sculpted by nature, float in the straits. Gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins watch from the shores. Countless seabirds wheel overhead. Nature is in charge.

During the next five days, you’ll explore several possible landing sites on and around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. It doesn’t matter where we go or what we do, every day will be thrilling and unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

We might sail into a flooded volcanic caldera or land in icy bays surrounded by glaciers. You may also choose to kayak among icebergs and seals or snowshoe to a stunning viewpoint.

Bird enthusiasts should look skyward for Antarctic seabirds such as skuas, petrels and terns. Through onboard lectures and onshore talks, you’ll learn more about this precious habitat and discover how we can all protect it for the future.

Land ahead!

Six unforgettable days in Antarctica are over. It’s time for us to embark upon our final adventure together: the Drake Passage. Known for its frequently high winds and strong currents, the passage can also be silent and still. Luck will dictate whether you will experience the so-called “Drake Shake” or the “Drake Lake.”

Don’t worry; even if we experience rough seas, MS Roald Amundsen is perfectly equipped for this leg of the adventure exploring the Southern Ocean. During the crossing, the Expedition Team will recap our experiences, keeping your head in the Falklands and Antarctica a little while longer.

Enjoy an expedition finale in Buenos Aires

Your expedition cruise ends in Ushuaia, the main city in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina’s southernmost province. From here, you’ll take a flight back to Buenos Aires.

But that doesn’t have to be the end of your adventure. Why not join our optional Post-Program before heading home?