Across the Antarctic Circle - Sylvia Earle
Journey below the Antarctic Circle into a rarely seen world of icy isolation. Navigate pack ice and narrow channels, encountering majestic icebergs, seals, whales, and bustling penguin colonies.
SPECIAL OFFER
9.5*
ECO SCORE
132
PASSENGERS
14
DAYS
3/5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Antarctica: Drink It In
Welcome Aboard the
Sylvia Earle
Venturing below the Antarctic Circle is about more than just earning bragging rights. It is the chance to enter a different world more rarely seen, it feels more isolated and colder than further north, with great swathes of pack-ice and dreamlike icebergs. Thread through pack ice and narrow channels where scenes of ice-clad mountains, feeding whales and lively penguin colonies become lasting memories.
- • Join a rare group of explorers who attempt to voyage beyond the Antarctic Circle for further discovery of the fascinating Antarctic Peninsula.
• An impressive tick on your bucket list, celebrate the crossing of the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66°33' South!
• Explore hidden bays and quiet coves by Zodiac, where you’ll likely spot whales, penguins, and ice seals such as Weddell and crabeater seals.
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Rates:
From $16,316 per person
Late December to early March is prime for crossing the Antarctic Circle. Milder conditions allow access to more remote areas, and you’re likely to see penguin chicks, seals, and whales feeding. It’s a great time for deeper exploration into rarely visited parts of Antarctica.
Inquire for specific dates.
December – March;
Hover here for more information.
Departures:
Trip Sustainability Awards
Carbon
Offsets 100% of operations and is carbon neutral
Community
Partnered with the Community Ambassador Program to foster economic and social benefits for the Inuit
Waste
Participates in clean up initiatives aimed at clearing the coastline of marine debris
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Ushaia
Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met by a representative and transferred with your fellow expeditioners to your assigned pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Ushuaia, we ask you to make your way to your hotel. Check-in is from 3:00pm. This afternoon, visit the hospitality desk in the lobby at Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort, Luis Fernando Martial 1650, between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm, to collect your luggage tags, and confirm if you wish to join our Beagle Channel and Isla de Los Lobos Cruise (sea lion island) tomorrow. Our team will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any questions and provide you with information on where to dine or purchase last minute items.
Expeditioners arriving after 7:00pm will find a welcome pack waiting for them at check-in. We ask you to visit our hospitality desk tomorrow between 08:00am – 10:00am.
The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense.
Assigned accommodation: Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort or Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel
Day 2: Embarkation
This morning, enjoy breakfast and check-out. Please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labeled with your name and cabin number. Take your cabin luggage to hotel reception, prior to, or at check-out. Your luggage will be stored and transferred directly to the port for clearance, to be placed in your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day.
Your morning is at leisure to explore Ushuaia.
Those wishing to join our afternoon catamaran cruise, meet back at the hotel lobby at 12:15pm ready to transfer to the port at 12:30pm. Here we board our catamaran and sail the Beagle Channel, towards the city’s iconic Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. Crossing the Bridges Archipelago we’ll slow down to watch colonies of sea lions and imperial cormorants sun themselves on the rocky outcrops, while gulls, rock cormorants, skuas, petrels, albatrosses and cauquenes are often sighted. Our cruise offers panoramic views of the city and the surrounding mountain range, in addition to hearing tales of the people and communities of the region.
Alternatively, enjoy your day at leisure and meet at your hotel lobby at 3:00pm, or 3:30pm from the meeting point at the parking lot near the pier (details will be given by our ground staff at the hotel), to be transferred to the pier for embarkation. Once onboard, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from port, we’ll gather on the deck to commence our adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. This evening get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition team and crew at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure to Antarctica.
Days 3-4: Drake Passage Crossing
As we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start our lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment. Our wildlife experiences begin as we enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following our vessel. On sea days, you can enjoy the facilities on board the vessel including the gym, sauna and jacuzzis or relax in one of the observation lounges.
Nearing the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on the afternoon of day four, the excitement is palpable with everyone converging on one of the observation decks watching for our first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Time and weather permitting, we may attempt our first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon.
Days 5-11: Antarctic Peninsula & Antarctic Circle
It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever. Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish. Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.
We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.
While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting!
In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.
On this voyage, conditions permitting, we plan to cross the Antarctic Circle, an imaginary line located at the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66°33' South (approximately). Crossing below The Circle is certainly a special highlight for many people, and the moment will be celebrated with a toast out on the deck (weather permitting). You have earned some boasting privileges, joining a small group of lucky adventurers who have ventured to this part of the world. As we approach and cross the Antarctic Circle, you will notice subtle changes in the landscape, and also in the distribution of wildlife. The waters at this time of year are rich with krill and we hope to see plenty of whales - particularly humpbacks and minkes and enjoy the spectacle of penguins feeding their ravenous chicks.
Days 12-13: Drake Passage Crossing
Enjoy a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before we re-enter the Drake Passage for our return journey to South America. With lectures and film presentations to complete our Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and discussion about what we have seen and experienced. We hope you become ambassadors for Antarctica telling your family, friends and colleagues about your journey to this magical place, advocating for its conservation and preservation so that they might one day visit the region to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here.
As we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.
Day 14: Disembark Ushuaia
During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to disembark around 8:00am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.
Upon disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region, transportation to the hotel will be arranged exclusively for guests who have booked their accommodations through this operator or for those staying in downtown areas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior to 12:30pm will be directly transferred to Ushuaia Airport, those with flights after 12:30pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airport transfer, and the transfer procedures and details will be communicated onboard before disembarkation
Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12:00pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.
Sylvia Earle
On our small purpose-built ship, the Sylvia Earle, connect with like-minded travelers in a meaningful way on perspective-altering voyages to some of the most remote, unique and spectacular places on the planet. Featuring the Ulstein X-BOW® design, it cuts through the swell for a smoother transit through waves while minimizing its environmental impact.
A floating ambassador for the conservation of the planet, the Sylvia Earle pays tribute to marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle and six pioneering women in conservation – Dr. Carden Wallace AM, Joanna Ruxton, Sharon Kwok, Bernadette Demientieff, Dr. Asha de Vos and Hanli Prinsloo – with public decks honoring their contributions and shining a light on their important causes. With a fully equipped Citizen Science Center, expert lecturers and a participative Citizen Science Program, our aim is to enrich your knowledge and connection to the places we travel to onboard the Sylvia Earle.
The Sylvia Earle is a comfortable base camp for adventure. Carrying on average 132 expeditioners, our aim is to get you off the ship so you can experience the natural environment as much as possible in smaller, more intimate groups.
ACHIEVEMENTS
2023 World Travel Awards: "World's Leading Polar Expedition Operator"
2023 World Travel Awards: "World's Best Expedition Cruise Line"
2023 Wave Awards 2023: "Best Expedition Cruise Line"
2022 Wave Awards 2022: "Best Expedition Cruise Line"
2022 World Travel Awards: "World's Leading Polar Expedition Operator"
"The Sylvia Earle is a small, purpose-built X-bow ship that combines cutting edge safety and comfort with an admirable dedication to female scientists, fostering curiosity and discovery. Modern and inviting, yet informal, this smaller ship still offers plenty of common space for guests to spread out. With the help of the onboard naturalist and knowledgeable expedition team, you can deepen your understanding of the region both onshore and in the ship’s modern science center. Attracting particularly adventurous and high energy travelers, this operator offers more active excursions. With her enthusiastic and seasoned crew, the Sylvia Earle promises an incredible polar experience!"
Wild Nectar
Life On Board
Deck Plan
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Questions?
Rates
"The Sylvia Earle is offered by an Australian operator determined to live up to her namesake, marine biologist, Sylvia Earle’s passion for ocean preservation and adventure. Expect a very active, highly enthusiastic crew on this ship. The X-bow design will go a long way toward helping you get far enough south to cross the mythic Antarctic Circle. I say go for it!"
Joy Martinello, Founder
Questions?
What’s Included & Cancellation Policy:
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
All transfers mentioned in the itinerary; One night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Ushaia on Day 1; Half day city tour in Ushuaia on day 2 prior to embarkation; Luggage transfer from your hotel in Ushuaia to ship on Day 2; On-board accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service; All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage; Beer, house wine and soft drinks with dinner; Captain’s Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages; All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises; Educational lectures and guiding services provided by Expedition Team; Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consultation); One 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket; Complimentary use of Muck Boots during the voyage; Comprehensive pre-departure information; Port surcharges, permits and landing fees; Wi-Fi - Please note we travel to remote regions and therefore the connection can be unreliable.
NOT INCLUDED:
International or domestic flights to or within South America – unless specified in itinerary.
Transfers – unless specified in itinerary.
Airport arrival or departure taxes.
Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and charges.
Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges.
Hotels and meals – unless specified in the itinerary.
Optional excursions and optional activity surcharges.
All items of a personal nature, including but not limited to alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), gratuities, laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, or phone charges.
