Antarctica & South Georgia, Kingdoms of Ice & Wildlife

Day 1 · Buenos Aires

The voyage begins in the Argentine capital, with an included hotel night and breakfast. Buenos Aires is a city made for wandering, and if you arrive early you can join the porteños, as the locals are known, for a long dinner at a parrilla, the traditional grill, and perhaps a tango show afterwards. Suite guests are invited to welcome drinks in the city. Our gateway cities guide has ideas for a day or two here.

Day 2 · Fly to Ushuaia and embark

An included flight takes you south to Ushuaia on the Beagle Channel. Suite guests can relax at the Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, high on the hillside above the town, before boarding. In the afternoon you join MS Roald Amundsen, meet the Expedition Team and sail out along the Beagle Channel as the mountains of Tierra del Fuego fade behind you.

Days 3 to 6 · At sea to South Georgia

Four days crossing the Southern Ocean east to South Georgia. The Expedition Team prepare you with talks on the wildlife you are about to see, on polar history, geology and glaciology, and on how to visit with the lowest possible impact. Before any landing on South Georgia every item of outdoor clothing and kit is checked and cleaned, as the island's biosecurity rules are strict. Out on deck, look for wandering and black browed albatrosses, petrels and prions following the ship.

Days 7 to 10 · South Georgia

South Georgia is often called the Serengeti of the Southern Ocean, and for once the comparison is fair. Its sweeping bays and glacial plains are home to some of the largest king penguin colonies on Earth, where tens of thousands of birds stand shoulder to shoulder on the grass, alongside fur seals, elephant seals and nesting seabirds. Depending on the weather, the Expedition Team will choose landings and small boat cruises from sites such as Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay, Fortuna Bay and Gold Harbour.

The ship will also attempt a call at Grytviken in King Edward Cove. The rusting whaling station is a reminder of the island's industrial past, and the museum and the little Norwegian church are well worth your time. In the cemetery lies Sir Ernest Shackleton, who died on board his ship in the harbour in 1922, and it is a tradition to raise a toast to "the Boss" at his graveside. Read more on our South Georgia page.

Days 11 to 13 · At sea to Antarctica

Three days at sea heading south west towards the Antarctic Peninsula. The lectures continue, and you can join Citizen Science projects, recording seabirds and whales or photographing clouds and plankton for researchers ashore. The first icebergs, many of them broken from the great ice shelves of the Weddell Sea, usually appear before the land.

Days 14 to 16 · Antarctica

Three days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands in full expedition mode. Gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins are busy on their nests, the snow is still thick on the land and the days are long. Conditions permitting, the ship may sail into the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island, and there may be the chance to go kayaking in a sheltered, icy bay. As always, the Captain and Expedition Leader choose each day's plan according to the weather and the ice.

Days 17 to 18 · Crossing the Drake Passage

Two days crossing the Drake Passage back to Ushuaia, with final lectures, a last look through your photographs with the onboard photographer, and time to swap stories with your fellow travellers.

Day 19 · Ushuaia to Buenos Aires

The ship arrives back in Ushuaia in the morning. After disembarking you transfer to the airport for the included flight to Buenos Aires, where you can connect with your flight home or carry on to the Iguazú Falls. Suite guests have access to the VIP lounge at Ushuaia airport.