Trip Overview
This voyage to the White Continent blends exploration, education, astonishing wildlife, and unparalleled natural beauty. Your adventure begins with an included overnight stay in Buenos Aires, followed by flights to and from Ushuaia. Then, from the Drake Passage, where roaring winds and waves dominate, to the glaciers, tabular icebergs, and shimmering sea ice of the peninsula, experience a magical, 10-night voyage.
Naturalists onboard unveil the mysteries of this fragile ecosystem, preparing you for encounters with iconic species. Gentoo, Adélie, and chinstrap penguins waddle along beaches shared with leopard, crabeater, and Weddell seals. Zodiac outings bring you close to the polar beauty, with certified guides ensuring an unforgettable experience. Optional activities include sea kayaking amid the ice, hiking excursions, and visits to research or historic whaling stations (conditions permitting).
Onboard lectures dive into topics like wildlife, history, climate, and conservation, deepening your understanding of this extraordinary region. Witness dramatic icebergs, snow-covered peaks, and the rich wildlife, from humpback whales to a variety of seabirds.
Please note: We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each cruise to these regions a unique experience. The ship’s captain and your expedition leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO).
Schedule by Day
Depart on independent flights to Buenos Aires, Argentina. The program begins with two hotel pre-nights on Saturday December 26, 2026, and Sunday, December 27, 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Most flight options from the US East and West coast will arrive the next day into Buenos Aires, Argentina at arriving at Ezeiza International Airport (EZE). Consequently, guests should plan to depart on Friday December 25, 2026, to ensure arrival on Saturday December 26, 2026. There are some options that will get guests to Buenos Aires, Argentina the same day, but travel from other major cities in the US will require one day.
Welcome to Buenos Aires! Upon arrival at Ezeiza Airport (EZE), you will be met and transferred to the Hilton Buenos Aires, your home for the next two nights. For those arriving in the morning, an early check-in will be available. A local representative will be available at the hospitality desk to assist with recommendations for dining and independent exploration. Gather this evening with your HAA Study Leader and fellow alumni and friends for a welcome cocktail reception. Dinner is on your own.
Overnight: Sofitel Buenos Aires Recoleta
Meals: R
Discover the rich culture and history of Buenos Aires on a guided excursion through its most iconic neighborhoods and landmarks. After breakfast at the hotel, explore Plaza de Mayo, the historic square surrounded by the Government House, Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Cabildo. Continue to San Telmo, one of the city's oldest quarters, known for its antique shops and historic charm, before visiting La Boca’s famous Caminito, a lively pedestrian street with colorful houses and an artistic atmosphere. The tour also includes a stop in Recoleta, home to elegant cafés, art galleries, and the renowned Recoleta Cemetery, the final resting place of Eva Perón. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
After the tour, return to your hotel and enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. This evening gather with fellow travelers from the entire ship for dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Sofitel Buenos Aires Recoleta
Meals: B, L, D
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to your group charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. Located at the southernmost tip of the continent and nicknamed “El fin del Mundo,” Ushuaia lies at the end of the Andes, where jagged mountain peaks plunge dramatically into the This afternoon embark on L’Austral.
Overnight: L’Austral
Meals: B, L, D
Spend your days crossing the Drake Passage, a dynamic stretch of water where the Antarctic Circumpolar Current creates strong ocean currents that shape the surrounding marine ecosystems. Learn about the region’s geology, including the tectonic plate interactions that formed the Antarctic Peninsula. The Expedition Leader will present IAATO rules and provide insights into the fascinating geology of Antarctica, with lectures on the history, wildlife, and the ever-changing ice formations. On deck, our naturalist will guide you in spotting albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds as they glide over the passage’s waters.
Overnight: L’Austral
Meals: B, L, D
Explore the mystical Antarctic Peninsula, a geological wonder shaped by ice, volcanic activity, and ancient rock formations. The jagged peaks, volcanic beaches, and dramatic glaciers tell the story of this frozen land’s geological evolution. As you venture through the icy expanse, you’ll encounter massive glaciers that have sculpted the landscape, towering mountains formed by tectonic movements, and vast ice floes drifting across the frigid waters. Depending on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will determine zodiac outings or landings to explore volcanic beaches, research stations, and historic whaling sites. This surreal, hushed environment is teeming with wildlife, including penguins, seals, whales, and orcas, all of which have adapted to the extreme conditions of the continent. Sail in the wake of pioneering explorers like Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache, and Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose expeditions to this remote and wild region revealed the raw power of nature’s geology.
Tonight raise a toast to the New Year!
Overnight: L’Austral
Meals: B, L, D
The return journey through the Drake Passage offers an opportunity to reflect on your Antarctic adventure. This formidable stretch of water, shaped by the Furious Fifties winds and positioned along tectonic plate boundaries, forms the vital link between Antarctica and South America. As the Antarctic convergence zone, where cold currents from the South Pole collide with warmer equatorial waters, the passage is home to an extraordinary diversity of marine life. Be sure to look to the skies, where graceful albatrosses and Cape petrels glide effortlessly, their wings outstretched as they dance on the wind around your ship.
Overnight: L’Austral
Meals: B, L, D
Return to Ushuaia, the gateway to the Antarctic Peninsula, where towering mountains and icefields meet the ocean. After breakfast, disembark and take the group charter flight to Buenos Aires to connect with your departure flight homeward.
Meals: B, L
Pricing
Category | Per Person, Double Occupancy | Single Occupancy |
| Superior Stateroom - Deck 3 | $17,070 | $29,880 |
| Deluxe Stateroom - Deck 3 | $17,690 | $31,120 |
| Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | $18,130 | $32,000 |
| Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | $18,310 | $32,360 |
| Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | $18,570 | $32,880 |
| Deluxe Suite - Deck 6 | $23,000 | $41,740 |
| Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | $23,620 | $42,980 |
| Prestige Suite - Deck 6 | $24,420 | $44,580 |
| Owner's Suite - Deck 6 | $52,030 | $99,800 |
Accommodations
- Two pre-nights on December 26 & 27, 2026 at the Sofitel Buenos Aires Recoleta in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Ten night cruise aboard L'Austral
Extensions
To be Announced
