Weddell Sea Exploration

Your Expedition Cruise to Antarctica starts from Ushuaia, the southern-most town of Argentina. We advise you to arrive one day before departure, just in case your flight might be delayed.

Take some time to explore Ushuaia and it’s surroundings, and maybe head down to the port to spot your expedition ship. Boarding the ship will commence late in the afternoon. And while sailing down the beautiful Beagle Channel, you will have time to get settled in your room, attend the safety briefings and enjoy your first dinner on board. Your expedition to Antarctica has officially begun!

Once the ship exits the Beagle Channel, you find yourself on the open ocean for a 2-day crossing of the Drake Passage. Even though you will be at sea with no land in sight for two days, you don’t have to worry about it being boring. It’s always worth having a look out on deck, whales or dolphins sometimes make an appearance and you will often see albatrosses and storm petrels flying alongside the ship. The guides will commence their lecture program about the Antarctic wildlife, geology, history and geography.

Nearing the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, excitement grows with everyone on the lookout for the first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once you are below the Antarctic Convergence. You are likely to find yourself surrounded by oddly-shaped icebergs and you might see some colossal ‘tabular’ icebergs that have separated from the continent’s ice shelf. Also, the chances of seeing whales increase the closer you get to the Antarctic Peninsula.

Depending on the weather and exact route of your voyage, you might approach Antarctica near the South Shetland Islands. The ship will then likely enter Bransfield Strait either at the eastern end of King George Island or the western extremity of Livingston Island. From here on, the Weddell Sea is only a few hours more of sailing!

Once the ship has navigated through Antarctic Sound, the expansiveness of the Weddell Sea becomes very clear. At the entrance, you will see a small cluster of islands before the ice edge commenses. The sea can be so still it mirrors the surrounding mountains, an awe-inspring sight that captures the serene beauty of the polar landscape.

The itinerary is flexible and depending on the current weather conditions. You could visit any of the following places:

• Brown Bluff: A towering, ice-capped volcanic cliff with a 3 kilometer long beach, squeezed in between two impressive glaciers.
• Devil Island: Part of the James Ross island group, but despite the name, it is a pristine penguin paradise.
• Paulet Island: Geothermically heated and, coincidentally, ice free. Home to over 100,000 breeding pairs of Adelie penguins and historical features from British and Swedish exploration.
• Cape Well Met: A coastal feature named by the Swedish expeditions during an unexpected, and life-saving, meeting.

Depending on the itinerary, you could reach Snow Hill either from ship-to-shore helicopter landing, or with an ice breakering ship which will transport you as close as the ice allows. A seldom-visited island claims one of the largest emperor penguin colonies on the planet. If the ice and weather conditions are in our favor, an attempt can be made to land at Snow Hill.

The ship’s navigation team and expedition leader will work closely, hand in hand, to assess the possibility. All operational choices are made after a compelte risk assessment is complete and the activity is deemed safe. Heavy ice may prevent entrance to this area from the Weddell Sea, and ice at the rookery itself might break up and start to melt earlier than expected. Only a few expeditions per year manage to reach Snow Hill Island.

If successful, this is a once in the lifetime experience; but remember, flexibility is the key to expeditions!

Every great adventure eventually comes to an end. While crossing the Drake Passage, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds guiding you home. An Expedition Cruise to Antarctica will create life lasting memories and new friendships. By the time you have to disembark in Ushuaia you’ll have countless photos and stories to share with friends and relatives.

Disembarkation usually takes place after breakfast. We recommend scheduling your flights home no earlier than the afternoon or evening.