Depart to the Airport this morning for the flight to Ushuaia, the capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province, and your gateway to the White Continent.

Known as “El fin del mundo” or “the end of the world,” the city is set against a backdrop of towering mountains and fertile plains, Ushuaia is a haven for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. Here, the Andes plunge straight into the sea, creating a stunning landscape that invites exploration and wonder.

Late this afternoon, board your ship and set sail, an incredible journey awaits!

Use the days spent in the Drake Passage to familiarize yourself with the ship and deepen your knowledge of Antarctica. The Expedition Leader will first present the IAATO rules of conduct that must be observed during landings in the region and will explain everything you need to know about the zodiac outings. Lectures about the history and wildlife of Antarctica will offer an opportunity to learn more about this magical region, where every cruise is a unique experience. Enjoy exceptional sailing moments on board and join the naturalist-guides on the ship’s exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds flying over the Drake Passage.

Weather permitting, cross the mythic line of the Antarctic Polar Circle, located at 66°33’ south of the Equator. This iconic area marks the point where you can witness the midnight sun during the December solstice. Within this circle, the sun remains above the horizon for 24 consecutive hours at least once a year. Crossing this line, an experience known to few, will be an unforgettable highlight of your polar adventure.

The breathtaking landscapes of the narrow channel between Adelaide Island and Graham Land captivate all who sail towards Marguerite Bay. This passage, resembling an ice palace with its immaculate white walls reflected in the frozen mirror of the Southern Ocean, is scattered with icebergs and gleaming blocks of ice. First explored by the Jean-Baptiste Charcot expedition in 1909 and surveyed by the British expedition under John Rymill in 1936, it is steeped in history. In this magical setting, some of the first subaquatic images of the Antarctic were captured during Philippe Cousteau’s four-month expedition to Antarctica between 1972 and 1973.

In 1910, Jean-Baptiste Charcot discovered this island surrounded by sea ice from aboard the Pourquoi Pas? while mapping Alexander Island. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t get closer than 60 km from it. Located in an area frequently beset by low-pressure systems and regular cloud cover, the island remains an enigma. It is entirely covered in ice and sheer cliffs, except for the rocky outcrops extending over a dozen kilometres in the far northwest.

Recently, the ice in the narrowest part of Wilkins Sound has been cracking, officially detaching this island from its neighbour, Alexander Island, 50 km away. Very few people have set foot on this largely untouched island, whose waters attract numerous seabirds, such as petrels, Antarctic terns, and skuas.

Stretching from the west of the Antarctic Peninsula to the Amundsen Sea, the Bellingshausen Sea is named after the Russian admiral and explorer who made the first confirmed sighting of mainland Antarctica in 1820. Its waters surround two of the Antarctic’s largest islands: Alexander Island and Thurston Island. Explore this sea amid ice floes, blocks of sea ice, and majestic icebergs. The coastal areas along the Bellingshausen Sea are also home to colonies of emperor penguins. Depending on the month of the southern summer, you may be fortunate enough to observe isolated adults, adolescents seeking independence, or newly independent young adults.

The great Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, renowned as one of the first five men to reach the geographic South Pole, give his name to this southern sea in 1929 after an expedition in its waters. Almost entirely frozen by a thick ice floe, the Amundsen Sea stretches along Marie Byrd Land in Antarctica, nestled between the Bellingshausen Sea to the west and the Ross Sea to the east. The monumental icebergs punctuate the endless ice floe, immersing you in a serene and tranquil atmosphere.

These privileged moments sailing in the Amundsen Sea offer opportunities to fully utilise the unique equipment and spaces on Le Commandant Charcot. Embrace the refined comfort of this wonderful ship. Enrich your experience with the knowledge of the scientists and expert naturalists, who provide invaluable insights during your polar cruise. Or simply take in the fascinating and captivating scenery from the ship’s exterior decks.

Marie Byrd Land is one of the most remote territories of our planet’s most inaccessible continent. It is a true privilege to have the opportunity to contemplate its shores. Situated between the Ross Sea with its expansive ice shelf to the east and the Bellingshausen Sea to the west, the frozen coastlines of these lands are bordered by the Amundsen Sea, partially covered by a thick ice floe. Spanning over a million square kilometres in Western Antarctica, it is also isolated from the rest of the continent by the Transantarctic Mountains. This geographic remoteness and harsh climate have made it one of the planet’s rare Terra nullius, a territory claimed by no state.

In 1929, Admiral Richard E. Byrd named Marie Byrd Land in Honor of his wife, following his expedition to the region. Exploring its ice-sculpted landscapes will immerse you in the vast Antarctic desert, where penguins, seals, whales, and orcas are the only inhabitants. Depending on the time and weather conditions, your exploration of the region may lead you to a string of fascinating, though little-known, islands: Siple Island and its namesake mount, formed by an ancient volcano, and Clark Island.

Cross the International Date Line today. This imaginary line stretches across the Earth’s surface, roughly following the 180th meridian in the Pacific Ocean. Crossing this line necessitates a change in date. When traveling west, you will add a day to the expected date; conversely, when traveling east, you will subtract a day. This fascinating paradox, first noted by Magellan’s crew during his circumnavigation, has inspired several novels, including Jules Verne’s famous Around the World in Eighty Days.

Whilst at sea, make the most of sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the first PC2-class polar cruise ship capable of navigating into the heart of the ice, on seas and oceans inaccessible to ordinary ships due to frozen conditions. Le Commandant Charcot is equipped with oceanographic and scientific tools selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of on-board lectures and discussions with these specialists to deepen your knowledge of the poles. This is time to relax and enjoy the ships many services.

“The last ocean” is how scientists from around the world describe this deep bay running along the edge of Antarctica between Marie Byrd Land and Victoria Land. In 2016, the Ross Sea, the last intact marine ecosystem, became the world’s largest marine protected area. This region has served as the starting point for many great southern expeditions, particularly to the South Pole. James Clark Ross explored it between 1839 and 1843, discovering the immense barrier formed by a gigantic ice shelf extending into the open sea, from which titanic icebergs are calved.

Weather and ice conditions permitting, you will have the opportunity to discover several of the region’s iconic sites. Among the possible ports of call is Cape Adare, at the far north of the Borchgrevink Coast, home to one of the world’s largest Adelie penguin colonies. We will also aim to reach Terra Nova Bay, home to the stunning Drygalski Ice Tongue. At least 4,000 years old, it stretches 70 km out to sea from the David Glacier and measures 24 km at its widest.

On Ross Island, at the base of Mount Erebus, you will follow in the footsteps of the famous explorers Shackleton and Scott, who set up their base camps at Cape Royds and Cape Evans, respectively, in anticipation of their future historic exploits. The scenery of McMurdo Sound, which separates the island from the continent, is surreal, the Taylor Glacier extends its branch into valleys devoid of snow, with mountains of stratified rock towering above. A little further, in the Bay of Whales, another tale unfolds: that of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who departed from this point to reach the South Pole for the first time in 1911.

The Balleny Islands are a remote chain of islands stretching about 160 kilometres in a northwest-southeast direction, straddling the Antarctic Circle approximately 270 kilometres north of the Antarctic mainland. These volcanic islands are heavily glaciated and have seen few human visitors since their discovery in 1839. Their isolated location within the rich waters of the Southern Ocean has led to a species diversity rivalling that of the entire Ross Sea region. Humpback, fin, and minke whales are frequent visitors to the rich feeding grounds, along with crabeater, Weddell, elephant, and leopard seals. Several islands host significant colonies of Adélie and Chinstrap penguins. If time and weather permit, guests will have the opportunity to explore the spectacular coastal environments and view the abundant wildlife from the fleet of Zodiacs.

Continue north to Macquarie Island.

Long celebrated as one of the world’s natural wonders, Macquarie Island is a place of extraordinary beauty and remarkable biodiversity. It serves as a breeding ground for over 3.5 million seabirds, most of which are penguins. Four species breed on Macquarie Island: Royal, King, Gentoo, and Rockhopper penguins. Additionally, three types of fur seals and one-seventh of the world’s elephant seal population breed on the island. In 1948, the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) established its expedition headquarters on Macquarie Island. If time and weather permit, guests will have the opportunity to land ashore and witness the prolific wildlife that inhabits this unique island.

Enjoy the last few days at sea relaxing and reflecting on your incredible adventure with new found friends and the expedition team.

Your adventure comes to an end, disembark in Hobart this morning, we are staying a few days to discover all this southern city has to offer.