Pole-to-Pole Adventure - The Ultimate Bucket List Expedition Cruise

HIGHLIGHTS

From pole to pole on an epic expedition of discovery
This expedition cruise is unlike any cruise you’ve taken before. We begin our 94-day journey in Vancouver, Canada. We’ll sail north along the Alaskan coast and cross into the Arctic Circle as we make our way through the fabled Northwest Passage to Greenland and Baffin Island.

Then, we’ll head southward along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States to tropical, colorful Central America. We’ll pass through the architectural wonder of the Panama Canal to reach South America. Prepare to experience a tantalizing mix of culture and nature as we explore ancient sites in Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. Then, we’ll move on to witness the ethereal splendor of the Chilean fjords and Patagonia before our expedition crescendos at the otherworldly beauty of pristine Antarctica.

Culture, nature, and discovery
This Grand Expedition Cruise will showcase an amazing blend of cultures, nature, and wildlife across the Americas and Antarctica. Your knowledgeable and passionate onboard Expedition Team will guide and inspire you throughout your cruise and ensure that it’s as adventurous, educational, and ecologically sustainable as possible.

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Vancouver, Canada
Day 2 - Vancouver, Canada
Day 3-18 - Vancouver to Nome, Alaska
Day 19-22 - At Sea
Day 23-33 - Canada and Greenland
Day 34-41 - Greenland & Atlantic Canada
Day 42-49 - Halifax to Boston
Day 50-53 - At Sea
Day 54-63 - Miami, U.S., to Colón, Panama
Day 64-77 - Panama Canal to Valparaíso, Chile
Day 78-87 - Patagonia
Day 88-91 - Antarctica
Day 92-94 - Ushuaia/Buenos Aires

Day 1 Overnight in Vancouver
Your pole-to-pole expedition cruise begins in Vancouver. Set amid gorgeous mountain scenery and beside the waters of English Bay, Vancouver is both a bustling seaport and cosmopolitan city. Arrive a few days ahead of your cruise and find out why people rave about British Colombia’s largest city.

Your base in Vancouver will be a centrally located hotel. Take it easy and enjoy the hotel’s amenities or pursue the city’s famed museums, galleries, and nightlife. Vancouver’s various neighborhoods buzz with world-class farm-to-table cuisine. Chinatown and Punjabi Market have arguably the best Asian food in North America, while Commercial Drive is the home of Little Italy.Don’t miss Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood! Gastown’s Victorian buildings house some of the city’s hottest restaurants and Vancouver Lookout offers a great view of the city. Take in the neon lights and nightlife along the Granville Street strip or just relax on one of the beaches in the West End. The West End is also the gateway to the towering red cedars of Stanley Park, which is filled with wide-open spaces to explore.

Pre-Program

Why not pack additional experiences onto your epic expedition cruise? Book our optional Pre-Program and take a trip through the Canadian Rockies aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train journey. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular.

Day 2 Start of the Grand Expedition Cruise
After breakfast, we’ll take you on a half-day bus tour of Vancouver. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the sights of this beautiful, cosmopolitan city. After the tour, MS Roald Amundsen, the world’s first hybrid electric–powered expedition ship, will be waiting for you at the pier. On board, you’ll meet the Expedition Team and crew members who will take you through a mandatory health and safety meeting, for your safety as well as the safety of others. Then, you can settle in and familiarize yourself with this state-of-the-art vessel that was specially designed with sustainable exploration in mind. After a welcome meal, your epic journey from pole to pole will be underway.

Day 3-18 Alaska – Inside Passage, bears, and Aleutian Islands
Sailing north, we’ll make our way toward the narrow channels of Canada’s Inside Passage. Feel the thrill of a great adventure as we navigate among thousands of islands in the Pacific Northwest aboard the stylish and comfortable MS Roald Amundsen.

Misty Fjords
The first area you’ll explore is the spectacular Misty Fjords National Monument. It forms part of the two-million-acre Tongass National Forest, a pristine coastal wilderness of evergreen trees, deep fjords, and majestic snow-capped peaks.

Wrangell, Alaska
Feel like you’re truly stepping back in time at Wrangell, one of Alaska’s oldest and most historic island towns. Reconnect with nature on one of the local trails leading to the edge of the rainforest, surrounded by alluring scenery at the mouth of Stikine River and at the foot of Mount Dewey.

Sitka
Situated on Baranof Island on the outer coast of the Inside Passage, Sitka can only be reached by sea or by air. Tongass National Forest surrounds the town. This is the largest temperate rainforest in the world and a local highlight is the 107-acre Sitka National Historic Park. Settlements here date back over 10,000 years, and Sitka is a place where ancient culture can still be felt. Tlingit traditions remain strong, existing alongside Russian and American influences.

Icy Bay
Three prominent glaciers - Guyot, Yahtse, and Tyndall - feed vast chunks of floating ice into the bay’s waters. Our aim will be to visit the 34-mile-long and 8-mile-wide Guyot Glacier, although this depends on local weather conditions. We hope to land as close to the glacier as it is safe to do so, or explore the waters by kayak as part of an optional excursion. Like always, we’ll be on the lookout for the awesome wildlife that abounds in the Gulf of Alaska, including humpback whales, orcas, Stellar sea lions, sea otters, harbor seals, and other marine life.

Kodiak
The bustling fishing port of Kodiak, which is Alaska’s largest, sits on the eastern shore of Kodiak Island. The surrounding spruce forest and grassland here have earned it the nickname the ‘Emerald Isle’. This is Alaska’s largest island, at over 3,670 square miles and over 100 miles in length. It is the second-largest island in the U.S. after Hawaii.

The best-known park here is the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, which covers two-thirds of the island. There are a wide range of habitats here, from mountains to meadows. It is also home to the island’s most famous residents: around 3,500 Kodiak brown bears.

Katmai National Park
Witness a park that spread over four million acres, with over a dozen active volcanoes and which hosts the dramatic Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. In 1912, this was the site of one of the most devastating volcanic eruptions ever recorded in modern times.

Today, we’ll cruise around looking for bears from the deck or from our small boats (RIBs) at one of three possible sites in the park, each one known for its brown bear community. Katmai National Park offers excellent bear watching and has a population of protected grizzlies numbering more than 2,000.

Chignik
The small village of Chignik is a prime example of a typical Alaskan fishing settlement. Red salmon fishing has been the core of the community’s economy for over a century. Stop in for a look at the fish processing factory, meet the welcoming locals, or step into the scenic surroundings to explore the salmon streams. Around 20 waterfowl species inhabit the area, so keep an eye out for them, and don’t forget to look up to the skies to spot Bald Eagles.

Unga Village
Located on the southern end of the uninhabited Unga Island in the remote Aleutian Islands. the abandoned Unga Village is eerily picturesque, Settled by Aleuts in 1833, subsistence fishing proved insufficient to support the community, who had almost completely moved out by 1969. Today, only a few wooden buildings remain, surrounded by a carpet of pink louseworts and fireweed flowers.

Dutch Harbor
The small town of Dutch Harbor is one of the most important fishing ports in the U.S., famous for appearing on the TV show The Deadliest Catch. Steeped in history, the port is home to the Museum of the Aleutians and the Aleutian World War II National Historic Area, as well as the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, which dates back to 1896. Approximately 600 Bald Eagles, along with some 40 - 50 million seabirds - such as puffins, cormorants, and kittiwakes - inhabit the region around Dutch Harbor.

St. Paul and St. Matthew Islands
St. Paul Island is the largest of the Pribilof Islands, an important bird area that is also home to as many as 500,000 northern fur seals. You’ll pay a visit to deserted St. Matthew Island, said to be the most isolated place in Alaska.

Nome
Leftovers from the Gold Rush era are everywhere in the small town of Nome, from abandoned dredges to turn-of-the-century steam engines and old railroad tracks. Cries of “Gold!” “Gold!” You might still spot people prospecting along the banks of the Snake River.

Day 19-22 Crossing the Arctic Circle
As we sail through the Bering Strait, look to the sky to spot a range of seabirds. There are over 30 species here, including Black-legged Kittiwakes and different species of auklet and murrelet. More than 10 million of these winged wonders visit the region in late summer, so you’ll get plenty of use from your binoculars. As we pass through the Bering Strait, you’ll have Russia to the west and the U.S. to the east. This is also the international date line, where ‘tomorrow’ rests to your left and ‘today’ to the right. At this point, we cross into the Arctic Circle. After crossing the Chukchi Sea, we reach the northernmost point of the U.S. at Point Barrow and enter the Beaufort Sea. Keep an eye on the waters here to spot bowhead and gray whales - we might also start seeing sea ice.

Day 23-33 Heading Through the Northwest Passage
Continuing into the Amundsen Gulf, we hope to observe the amazing sight of the colorful Smoking Hills. Smoke billows from the cliffs on the east coast of Cape Bathurst. This unusual and photogenic phenomenon is due to lignite (a combination of eroded shale and pyrite) spontaneously igniting when exposed to air. Explorer Roald Amundsen - after whom our ship is named - was the first to conquer the Northwest Passage on an expedition that lasted from 1903 to 1906. Before him, many others had tried without success, with the earliest known attempt being as far back as 1497.Fast-forward to today, as we enter the Northwest Passage on our own adventure, aboard a state-of-the-art expedition ship, setting sail for Greenland and Eastern Canada. During our passage, we’ll land at sites linked to early exploration history, visit Inuit communities, and keep a keen eye out for Arctic wildlife such as polar bears, whales, seals, and a variety of seabirds. There may be opportunities for small-boat (RIB) cruising between ice floes. In true expedition style, we’ll go ashore and experience the pristine wilderness of the Canadian Arctic firsthand. The ship’s Captain the Expedition Team Leader will continuously assess the weather and sea conditions and will adapt the activities accordingly, adjusting the itinerary to take the sea ice into account. Like all good explorers, we must respect and work with nature, never against her.

Here are some of the places in this wild and untamed region that we hope to explore during landings and short walks - wind, waves, and sea ice permitting:

Ulukhaktok
Many in this 500-people-strong community are involved in the local artists’ co-op, producing prints, tapestries, and other handicrafts. This is also home to the world’s northernmost golf course, which hosts a tournament in the summer.

Cambridge Bay
Located on Victoria Island, this is a common stop for vessels traversing the Northwest Passage. It’s also called ‘Iqaluktuuttiaq’ (‘A Good Fishing Place’) due to the Ekalluk River, which attracts Arctic char, a type of cold-water salmon.

Gjoa Haven
Roald Amundsen spent the winter at this village in 1903. During his time there, he learnt crucial survival skills from the local Netsilik Inuit people. This knowledge would give him the upper hand later in his famous race to the South Pole in 1911. There is an informative walking tour and a Heritage Center dedicated to the history and culture of the area.

Fort Ross
Here, we’ll investigate an abandoned Hudson’s Bay trading post located at the southern end of Somerset Island. The storehouse there is still occasionally used as a shelter by travelers, with bunk beds and shelves of canned goods.

Beechey Island
This is the final resting place for three members of the infamous Franklin expedition, which sailed into the Northwest Passage in 1845, never to return. It is customary for explorers in the region to stop and pay their respects at their graves, as Roald Amundsen did in 1903.

Devon Island
Welcome to the largest uninhabited island on Earth. The only signs of human life here are at the long-abandoned settlement of Dundas Harbour, along with several archeological sites from the Thule period.

Pond Inlet
Called ‘Mittimatalik' in Inuktitut, it means ‘A good landing place’. This is a traditional Baffin Island Inuit community, with incredible views of the Eclipse Sound and the mountains of Bylot Island. I’’s also a great place to see narwhal - the ‘unicorn of the sea’.

Day 34-41 Baffin Bay to Greenland and Atlantic Canada
As we emerge from the Northwest Passage, we’ll leave Canadian territory behind us for now and set course for Greenland. The informative lectures in the Science Center continue while we sail across Baffin Bay and the Davis Strait. The topics may include the wildlife you might see, Greenlandic culture, expedition history, geology, photography, and lectures on famous historic explorers.

Ilulissat, Greenland
Ilulissat (translated simply as ‘Icebergs’) is set in the stunning scenery of the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place is picture-perfect. It’s also a vibrant hub for adventure seekers who head out onto the polar ice sheet. There are almost as many sled dogs living here as people.

Just outside the town, you can often see enormous icebergs floating in the deep blue waters. They originate from the Jakobshavn Glacier, which calves some 35 billion tons of icebergs each year. These bergs make their way down the 12-mile fjord before entering Disko Bay. Their shimmering forms and delicate hues are a nature photographer’s dream.

Sisimiut, Greenland
Greenland’s second-largest settlement sits 25 miles north of the Arctic Circle in the central coastal area of the Davis Strait. Its name translates into ‘The People at the Fox Holes’, a reference to the many Arctic fox burrows found nearby. Another local animal is the musk ox, whose wool is used to make a local fabric called qiviut - said to be 10 times warmer than sheep’s wool.

After Sisimiut, we’ll set out across the Labrador Sea. Relax, get to know your fellow travelers, and make full use of the onboard facilities. In the Science Center, the Expedition Team’s fascinating lecture program focuses on the wildlife and ecosystems of the Arctic region.

Red Bay, Canada, is a former Basque whaling settlement on the coast of southern Labrador in the Strait of Belle Isle. Keep your eyes peeled for humpback and minke whales as we sail through these waters.

A fair share of whaling vessels met their doom before reaching the shores of Red Bay. Wrecked galleons and chalupas - small boats used by whalers in the 16th century - are just some of the ships that have been found preserved in these icy waters. These discoveries make Red Bay one of the most important underwater archeological sites in the world.

Corner Brook, Canada, As we sail into the Bay of Islands, surrounded by the jagged slopes and dense forests of the Long Range Mountains, we’ll chart the same course as Captain James Cook over 250 years ago.

Just like the famed British explorer, we´ll head to Corner Brook, at the mouth of the Humber River. This is the second-largest city in the Newfoundland and Labrador province, after St. John´s. While St. John´s is trendy and international, Corner Brook is more traditional and local.

Day 42-49 History, seafood, and nature
The next leg of your journey begins in Halifax, the cosmopolitan capital of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. This well-situated seaport looks out over one of the world's largest natural harbors.

Sable Island, Canada
Our first stop after Halifax is the long, crescent-shaped Sable Island, some 185 miles to the east. The name comes from the French word for sand, as this unusual sandbar island cannot support any natural trees. People come here to see the wild horses, as more than 550 are thought to live here.

Due to frequent heavy fog and strong currents, even our modern navigation equipment can struggle with the unpredictable waters close to the island, making landing a challenge. Should the weather not cooperate, the captain will maneuver close enough to see the horses from the observation deck. If conditions are more favorable and we can go ashore, we’ll see the Sable Island horses up close and keep our eyes peeled for harbor seals and gray seals on the shoreline.

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
The colorful buildings along the waterfront will mark your first sight of Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its brightly painted houses and square gardens are almost unchanged since the 1700s, when it was a British colonial settlement.

Eastport, Maine
As we exit Canadian waters and cross into the U.S., the next stop on our expedition cruise is Eastport City, on Moose Island. Archeologists believe the indigenous Passamaquoddy people lived here for at least 10,000 years before the first Europeans appeared in 1604. While we’re in Passamaquoddy Bay, check out Old Sow, believed to be the biggest whirlpool in the western hemisphere and named after the ‘squealing’ noise it supposedly makes as it spins.

Rockland & Castine, Maine
If you’ve ever been served a Maine lobster, chances are it passed through Rockland. Art lovers should check out the Center for Maine Contemporary Art and the Farnsworth Art Museum, which contain works by Andrew Wyeth and other New England painters. The real magic happens when night falls. We’ll drop anchor in Castine Harbor, where the unique aquatic ecosystem creates the perfect environment for bioluminescent phytoplankton to thrive. Subject to availability, we’ll have a number of kayaks for guests to see this natural phenomenon up close, gliding between the starlit sky and the shimmering waters.

Bar Harbor, Maine
Perched in Frenchman’s Bay on Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor sits at the entrance to Acadia National Park and provides views over Cadillac Mountain and the Cranberry Islands. Its seafood restaurants are said to be among the finest in New England.

Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown is something of an artistic hub. Painters such as Jackson Pollock have drawn inspiration here since the 1940s. The protected dunes of the Cape Cod National Seashore are within walking distance of town, which you can explore on foot or as a possible optional excursion by dune buggy. For whale-watching opportunities, the offshore Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary attracts 17 species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), so make sure to bring your binoculars.

Boston, Massachusetts
Home to Harvard and the Red Sox, there’s something for everyone to love about Boston. It’s one of the most European-looking American cities and is packed with history. Its cobbled streets, Tea Party attractions, and the fascinating Freedom Trail make it the perfect place to explore on foot.

Day 50-53 East Coast sights at sea
With several days at sea, enjoy the onboard facilities such as the infinity pool, hot tubs, sauna, indoor gym, and outdoor running track. Indulge yourself with a treatment in our Wellness Center or participate in an art workshop. Eat in style in one of our three restaurants, and spend time on deck looking for seabirds and other marine wildlife. Use these days at sea to get to know the Expedition Team members better. They’re an impressive bunch! They’ll continue to deliver in-depth lectures on a wide range of subjects relating to our upcoming destinations. If you haven’t done so already, consider participating in one of our Citizen Science projects. Citizen Science projects gather real data to help scientists better understand the environment. Perhaps this information will even help combat some of the problems that threaten our planet.

Day 54-63 Caribbean vibes & ocean exploration

Miami, Florida
The ‘City of Neon’ has a well-earned reputation as one of the world's most popular vacation destinations, and you’ll see why. Year-round sunshine? Check. White-sand beaches? Check. Clear teal waters? Check. These are just a few reasons why visitors come here in droves. While the glitz you’ve seen in the movies does exist, there’s a lot more to Miami than cocktails and luxury yachts. Delve deeper and you’ll find a thriving metropolis with vibrant doses of Latin American, Caribbean, Asian, and European influences.

Belize City, Belize
Charming, low-rise Belize City is a laid-back Caribbean coastal gem. Here, you’ll find colorful British Colonial architecture and monuments, which serve as a reminder of the city’s past as the country’s former capital. Our main focus for the day lies 301 miles north of the city: the well-preserved Maya ruins of Altun Ha. This evocative site is surrounded by a jungle rich in wildlife and features two main plazas surrounded by numerous ancient temples and pyramids.

Lighthouse Reef, Belize
Belize’s famed barrier reef is one of the country’s main attractions. It is considered to be one of the best marine sites in the entire Caribbean. It hosts an extraordinary variety of sealife, lush keys, and opportunities for active activities. We anchor for the day at the uninhabited Half Moon Cay Island, in the Lighthouse Reef, the most remote of the atolls. The island is best known as a sanctuary for the rare Red-footed Booby.

Isla de Providencia, Colombia
This remote and mountainous island in the Caribbean was once used as a base by 17th-century pirate Henry Morgan to plunder passing imperial galleons loaded with gold doubloons. Legend has it that much of the gold remains hidden on the island. But the real treasures to be found here are gorgeous sandy beaches, friendly locals, and pristine waters. Sadly, Hurricane Iona hit the island in 2020. Rebuilding works are underway and our visits are vitally important in helping local businesses, and the community as a whole, to recover.

Corn Islands, Nicaragua
One of the best things about our expedition cruises is our ability to bring you to smaller, hard-to-reach destinations that are often missed by the bigger cruise ships. We plan to land on Big Corn Island, located roughly 50 miles off the coast of Nicaragua. You’ll find none of the usual tourist traps here, just a slow island vibe with beautiful beaches and genuinely friendly locals. You’ll get the feeling that everybody knows everyone in this place and you’ll be welcome wherever you go. Feast on juicy lobster, then allow the tropical island bliss to wash over you as you swing in a beach hammock.

Bocas del Toro, Panama
Bocas del Toro is a dreamy tropical archipelago made up of nine main islands and hundreds of smaller ones. This is what people imagine when they dream of paradise. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this National Marine Park is one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth. Its many islands support an exotic mix of wildlife, including sloths, red frogs, and leaf-cutter ants. We’ll hop on a local water taxi to one of the surrounding islands and take a guided walk. One place we might visit is Red Frog Beach, where you can try and spot those aptly named frogs. Or we could venture to Solarte Island, which features several great hiking trails for nature walks.

Colon
This bustling Caribbean seaport is a popular stop for ships preparing to transit the Panama Canal. Its population is diverse population for such a small size. As you might expect, there are many of great restaurants here, as well as excellent shopping opportunities.

Day 64-77 Inca history, Colonial architecture, and the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
We’ll pass through the Panama Canal, the man-made marvel of engineering engineering featuring channels and open water that was opened to traffic in 1914. The canal links the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and roughly halfway through the 12-hour transit, we’ll enter the Gatun Lake section. If you’re lucky, you may spot a crocodile or alligator on shore. Watch the trees and you may catch a glimpse of a monkey or even a sloth or two.

Manta, Ecuador
MS Roald Amundsen will bring us across the Equator early in the morning. Join a traditional ceremony on board in which we seek King Neptune’s blessing. Setting foot on South America, our first port of call is Montecristi, located five miles inland from the tuna-fishing port city of Manta. This town was established in the 16th century by the Indigenous Manteños people seeking respite from the frequent pirate raids on the coast. Montecristi is the actual birthplace of the Panama hat, despite its name.

Puerto Bolívar (Machala), Ecuador
Machala’s main claim to fame is Puerto Bolívar, an important Ecuadorian port, where coffee, cocoa, shrimp, and bananas (which the locals call ’oro verde–, or ‘green gold’, given their abundance) leave for export. The nearby Puyango Petrified Forest has one of the largest collections of fossilized trees in the world, thought to be about 100 million years old.

Salaverry, Peru
Pummeled by the Pacific Ocean’s wind and waves, Salaverry can be a tricky port to access. If we are able to land there, it’s a good starting point to explore Trujillo, Peru’s third-largest city, along with the array of pre-Colombian archaeological sites scattered throughout the region.

Lima, Peru
Set on a strip of desert between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains, you’ll find the Peruvian capital city of Lima. Served by the seaport of Callao, Lima is the largest city in the country. It’s a modern, sprawling metropolis where traditions and modernity mix to create a heady cocktail of culture and cuisine. In contrast to this modern metropolis, the fascinating and enigmatic adobe clay ruins of the Huaca Pucllana and Huaca Huallamarca ceremonial pyramids are all that remain of a long-lost ancient culture.

Paracas, Peru
Nestled on a bay behind a peninsula, the humble and sleepy resort town of Paracas is surrounded by brown sugar–colored cliffs and lovely beaches. Opposite the Paracas harbor is a mysterious local geoglyph carved into the landscape of a candelabra-like symbol—the origin and meaning of which remain a mystery. It could be related to the famous Nazca Lines, which you have an opportunity to visit in the Pisco Valley on an optional excursion.

Arica, Chile
Unusual for a city by the sea, Arica is bathed in glorious sunshine almost every day of the year. Residents proudly describe the place as being immersed in a never-ending spring. Don’t miss the San Marcos Cathedral, designed by Gustave Eiffel (of Parisian fame) and inaugurated in 1876.

Iquique, Chile
Welcome to a slice of paradise by the Pacific Ocean, complete with palm trees and beachside promenades. Our plan here is to visit the nearby abandoned saltpeter mining town of Humberstone in the Atacama Desert. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a slice of history that you can literally walk through.

La Serena, Chile
Perched beside the ocean, La Serena is blessed with beautiful sandy beaches all along Avenida del Mar and beyond. You’ll find Chile’s second-oldest city to have a distinct Neo-Colonial look and feel to it. Its modern buildings meld with classic architecture, such as the 30 or so carefully restored stone churches, some of which are up to 350 years old.

Valparaíso, Chile
Known as UNESCO’s ‘Jewel of the Pacific’, this UNESO World Heritage listed city is a maze of monuments, churches, historical funiculars (cable cars), trendy neighborhoods, cobblestone alleys, colorful houses, and charming plazas.

Day 78-87 Cruising toward the Antarctic

Castro
We’ve made it to Patagonia. In Castro, bring your camera to snap the brightly painted palafitos. These are traditional wooden houses on stilts, which line the edges of the fjord at Gamboa Wharf. The nearby UNESCO-listed Church of San Francisco is a masterpiece of carpentry, made entirely of wood in a Neo-Gothic style.

Puerto Edén
The tiny hamlet of Puerto Edén sits on a bay in a remote peninsula jutting into a fjord in the province of Última Esperanza (which means ‘Last Hope’). This is a good place to access the exceptional landscapes of Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, Chile’s largest protected area. This features a stunning network of peaceful fjords and gorgeous forest-mantled mountains.

There are no roads leading to or from this isolated village—and not even within it! There are simply boardwalks and footpaths connecting the homes of its fewer than 200 residents.

Puerto Natales
Take in the breathtaking views of the southern Andes as we arrive at Puerto Natales. The city is an entry point to Torres del Paine National Park, which attracts hikers and climbers from all over the world. Aside from a full-day optional excursion to the national park, you can also spend some time leisurely exploring Puerto Natales on foot. This sleepy city is a mix of Bohemian bars, outdoor gear retailers, corrugated tin houses, and restaurants serving international cuisine.

Chilean fjords
We’ll cruise among the fabled fjords and a multitude of islands found within Chile’s rugged Magallanes Province, where jagged mountains reach for the sky. We will pass through the western part of the Strait of Magellan, named after the famous 16th-century Portuguese explorer who first traversed it. The scenery is so fantastic that you’ll feel an innate sense of wonder and awe.

Cape Horn & the Drake Passage
After looping around the glacier-carved Alberto de Agostini National Park, we’ll enter Beagle Channel. Take in breathtaking landscapes as we pass between the national park and Isla Gordon, which belongs to the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago. At the tip of South America lies the legendary Cape Horn. It was a major milestone in the old clipper routes that connected Europe with the Far East and Oceania. This is where the open waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans collide, creating powerful waves made even stronger by swirling westerly winds. For yachters, rounding Cape Horn is a maritime feat, comparable, for them, to summiting Mount Everest. Given the notoriety of these turbulent waters, we can’t guarantee a landing. However, if fortune plays in our favor that day and the weather is stable enough to dock on the island, you’ll be among a select few in the world to set foot here. From Cape Horn, it’s a clear shot to Antarctica across the Drake Passage.

Day 88-91 The fabled frozen continent of Antarctica
Nowhere else on Earth can we find anywhere that compares to this otherworldly landscape of snow and ice. The wind and waves mix with the late-spring sun to sculpt icebergs into massive white and white-blue gems, some as tall as buildings. Immense ice shelves and crumpled glaciers creak and rumble while chunks of ice crash into the waters below. Mighty mountains hibernate beneath blankets of soft snow. Welcome to the unmatched Seventh Continent. Welcome to Antarctica.

Your next four days will consist in an exploration of several landing sites (there are more than 20 possible sites on and around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands). It doesn’t matter where we go and what we do, every day in this immense and pristine region will be thrilling, unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. How about sailing into a flooded volcanic caldera? Or landing at a dramatic bay harboring relics of the whaling era? You can also ashore and stand among thousands of penguins. Of course, we must keep a good distance from the inquisitive ones who come to inspect you. Late spring in the Antarctic means that the Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins will be at the start of their courting season, while the Adélie penguins may have already laid their eggs and be nesting. There are plenty of other birds in Antarctica, such as the skuas, jaegers, petrels, and terns. Unlike penguins, these birds actually have functioning wings, so remember to look up to the sky now and again. The Expedition Team will guide you each step of the way, leading you on landings and leading ice cruises aboard our small boats (RIBs). Depending on local snow, ice, and wind conditions, you could be among the select few to participate in optional activities such as kayaking and snowshoeing and you may even be able to spend a night camping on land.

There are also fun and interesting Citizen Science projects to do, such as cloud observation, or whale and leopard seal spotting. Or look at phytoplankton in a whole new way under a microscope in the Science Center! It is satisfying to know that the data you help collect as part of Citizen Science projects feeds into current scientific studies at key institutes all over the world. The resident photographer will also have handy tips on how to best capture these spectacular landscapes and the photogenic wildlife. Don’t forget to come out from behind your camera lens now and again to take it all in and relish the moment!

Day 92-94 To the bottom of the world and back again.
After the magic of Antarctica, we’ll set off on a two-day journey back across the Drake Passage to South America. This is the perfect time to wind down and reflect on your experiences in the frozen continent. Pamper yourself in the Wellness Center with a soothing treatment and chat with your newfound friends about your shared memories from the trip in the Explorer bar and lounge. Swap photos and stories about your different adventures and experiences. Or join the Expedition Team in the Science Center to recap everything you’ve seen and learned along the way.

Your pole-to-pole journey has reached its triumphant end. Once we arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. You can choose whether to fly home directly or spend a few extra days exploring the birthplace of the tango. Before you disembark, bid a bittersweet goodbye to the ship, the crew, and the amazing Expedition Team. Each of them has worked very hard to make your adventure a joyful and unforgettable one.

We share an overall goal: Showing you - and all our guests - that expedition cruises can and should be as sustainable as possible, and inspiring each of us to do more to protect and cherish the delicate balance of life on our planet. This is the appreciation we want you to take home with you and share with your friends and family. Here’s to seeing you on your next adventure!

Post-Program:
Not ready for your adventure to end? Since you’re in the area, sign up for our Post-Program to the magnificent Iguazú Falls on the Brazilian border. Visit Iguaz´s cascades and viewpoints, seeing them from both the Argentinian and Brazilian side. The trip includes a scenic train ride to the upper falls.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

What’s included

Hotel

• Overnight hotel stay in Vancouver, including breakfast

Flight

• Flight in economy class between Ushuaia and Buenos Aires

Transfer

• City tour in Vancouver ending at the pier, including a boxed lunch
• Transfer between the ship and Ushuaia airport

Expedition Cruise

• Expedition cruise in the cabin of your choice
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including beverages (house beer and wine, sodas, and mineral water) in restaurants Aune and Fredheim
• Fine-dining in À la carte restaurant Lindstrøm is included for suite guests
• Complimentary tea and coffee
• Laundry service
• 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 fill at onboard water refill stations
• English-speaking Expedition Team who organizes and guides activities, both on board and ashore
• Range of included activities

Onboard activities

• Experts from the Expedition Team present detailed lectures on a variety of topics
• Use of the ship’s Science Center, which has an extensive library and advanced biological and geological microscopes
• The Citizen Science program, which allows guests to contribute to current scientific research projects
• The onboard professional photographer will give tips and tricks for taking the best landscape and wildlife photos
• The ship has hot tubs, an infinity pool, a sauna, an outdoor and indoor gym, and an outdoor running track
• Participate in informal gatherings with the crew, such as daily recaps and the next day’s preparations

Landing activities

• Loan of boots, trekking poles, and all equipment needed for the activities
• Complimentary wind- and water-resistant expedition jacket
• Expedition photographers help you configure your camera settings

Not Included

• International flights
• Travel protection
• Baggage 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 conditions
• Excursions and activities are subject to change
• Please ensure you can meet all entry and boarding requirements
• This expedition requires a medical form signed by a doctor
• No gratuities are expected