Day 1
Arrive Ushuaia

Arrive in Ushuaia, a small Patagonian city on the Beagle Channel, surrounded by the Darwin Cordillera and forests of southern beech. Transfer to our hotel, with the balance of the day free. We gather for a cocktail reception this evening. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2
Ushuaia / Embark

This morning we set out for a tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park, the southernmost protected region of Argentina, with its bird-filled lagoons and snowy peaks. After lunch at a local restaurant, we transfer to the pier and embark on the Clelia II. We begin our cruise by navigating the Beagle Channel, enjoying spectacular vistas of glaciers and green, misted mountains. The channel is named for the HMS Beagle, the research vessel aboard which the young Charles Darwin sailed the world on his voyage of discovery in the early 1800s.

Days 3-4
At Sea

We watch wildlife from deck and attend lectures by naturalists and historians as the Clelia II navigates the Drake Passage. On these two days, we cross the Antarctic Convergence, where the warmer waters of the north meet the cold waters of the Southern Ocean. We begin to see huge albatross and cape petrels following the wake of our ship as we make our southern passage.

Days 5-9
Antarctic Peninsula

Reaching the extraordinary landscape of the Antarctic Peninsula, we have five full days of exciting exploration. The northernmost part of the Antarctic mainland, the Peninsula separates the iceberg-dotted waters of the Weddell Sea and the Bellingshausen Sea. As we make our way between islands and bays, we take in a breathtaking panorama of enormous icebergs, blue-white glaciers at water’s edge, and endless snow-capped mountains. Our itinerary varies according to local ice and wind conditions, but one of the places we plan to visit is Deception Island, with its giant volcanic caldera flooded with seawater. Once our Captain pilots our ship through the island’s narrow gateway flanked by icy cliffs, the brave souls among us can don bathing suits for the unusual opportunity of a swim in the Antarctic in geothermally heated hot springs along the shore. At aptly named Paradise Bay, habitat of leopard and Weddell seals, our forays by Zodiac take us into a maze of icebergs and “bergy bits.” As we transit the spectacular glacier-lined fjord called Lemaire Channel, affectionately dubbed “Kodak Alley,” the Captain gently nudges aside ice floes with the bow of the ship and we feast our eyes on the photogenic sight of the 3,000-foot peaks of Booth Island on one side and the Antarctic continent on the other. We also plan to land at Petermann Island, with a chance to see humpback and minke whales offshore.

Days 10-11
At Sea

As we watch for whales and seabirds and enjoy onboard lectures, the Clelia II makes the 600-mile return trip to Ushuaia via the Drake Passage, as we return to the South American continent.

Day 12
Ushuaia / Disembark

Disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for departing flights.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure

The Clelia II

More like a private yacht than a cruise ship, the all-suite 100-guest Clelia II is one of the most luxurious expedition ships cruising the Antarctic. All of the ship’s outside facing suites provide views of the sea and landscape, and feature a sitting area or separate living room, twin or queen-size beds, spacious closets, and marble-appointed bathroom. Facilities aboard the Clelia II include two lounges, a library, beauty salon, gym, spa, Jacuzzi, and an elegant restaurant accommodating all guests in a single, unassigned seating. An infirmary is attended by a resident physician and an elevator serves all decks. The Clelia II is staffed by 65 seasoned officers and crew, and boasts one of the best guest-to-staff ratios in the cruising world. She is ice-strengthened for voyages into Antarctic waters and is equipped with a fleet of Zodiac inflatable craft for forays ashore.

 

 

 

 

Deck Plan