Revel in the excitement of crossing the famed Drake Passage after embarking from Ushuaia, with the convenience of a northbound return flight at the end of your expedition. Minke and humpback whales or Adélie penguins floating on ice floes may greet you as you pass, enroute to the northernmost tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The surreal silence in this vast wilderness may at first overwhelm, but playful, charismatic wildlife and your intrepid traveling companions keep you grounded. You’ll develop a new appreciation and understanding of Antarctica’s extreme contrasts - harsh, rugged mountain peaks and fragile ecosystems; stark, lonely icescapes and populous, gregarious penguins.
Antarctica
Antarctic Express – Cruise South, Fly North
10 Days aboard World Explorer. From AUD $26,395$20,061pp.
Details
Overview
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Itinerary Highlights
- Spot iconic Antarctic wildlife, such as penguins, seals and whales
- Fly over the Drake Passage and experience the fastest, most direct way to Antarctica
- Enjoy presentations on wildlife, history, glaciology & geology by our onboard polar experts
- Cruise in a Zodiac to get water-level views of icebergs, wildlife and more
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina
- Day 2: Embarkation Day
- Day 3 and 4: Crossing the Drake Passage
- Day 5 to 8: Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
- Day 9: Disembarkation and Fly to Punta Arenas
- Day 10: Depart for Home
Travelling with Eclipse
Peace of Mind
- Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
- 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
- We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
- No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
- We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina
This quaint city at the southernmost tip of South America is your gateway to Antarctica. The city itself provides a wide range of jewelry shops, cafés, gear shops and restaurants to explore before your voyage. Outside the city, snow-capped mountains and hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park offer ample adventure activities if you enjoy exploring nature.
Day 2: Embarkation Day
You will embark in the afternoon, with a journey through the picturesque Beagle Channel. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled and be out on deck, as the channel is home to a wide variety of wildlife including seabirds and seals. Rainbows are common here too, creating a great photographic opportunity to kick off the start to your Antarctic adventure.
Day 3 and 4: Crossing the Drake Passage
Legendary for its high winds and rolling seas, you may get lucky and have surprisingly calm seas. Spend your time in the lounge or chatting with your fellow travelers. As you develop your sea legs during the crossing, our Expedition Team will begin their series of presentations to help prepare you for your upcoming Zodiac and land excursions. You officially enter Antarctica when your ship crosses the Antarctic Convergence, a biological boundary that fluctuates around 60° south.
Day 5 to 8: Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
Icebergs are the first attractions that welcome you to Antarctica. Massive floating bergs become more common as you get closer to land and you catch your first glimpse of the Peninsula, with its grand snow-covered mountains. In addition to spotting icebergs, you’ll likely spot Adélie penguins chilling out on ice floes and minke or humpback whales feeding and swimming in the frigid waters.
As soon as possible, the Zodiacs will be readied for your first landing in the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. Experiencing this immense wilderness up close for the first time can be a numbing experience. The silence is great, the vastness is even greater. Thankfully the noisy locals – penguins and seals – are there to remind you that this wonderful landscape isn’t just a dream.
Your Expedition Team will monitor the ice and weather conditions to determine which landing sites can be visited. With many sites to choose from, each expedition presents new opportunities for exploring the white continent by Zodiac and land. Swimming in Antarctica is perhaps the most adventurous option to tempt you, by taking a Polar Plunge in the water at Neko Harbour!
A typical day in this wildlife wonderland will be spent listening to calving glaciers at Petermann Island, watching penguins waddle around a beach, or taking a hike atop a hill for a panoramic view of Port Lockroy. Whatever you prefer, the photographic opportunities are endless.
Day 9: Disembarkation and Fly to Punta Arenas
As the ship turns north, you’ll say goodbye to the penguins, as well as many of your shipmates. With only the Drake Passage ahead, you’ll disembark and enjoy a bit of time on King George Island before flying off to Punta Arenas, Chile. Once you’re in Punta Arenas, we’ll transfer you from the airport to your hotel, where you’re free to explore and enjoy a final dinner out.
Day 10: Depart for Home
Depart for home.
Next Departure Date: 03 Dec 2025
| Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Dec 2025 - 12 Dec 2025 | AUD$20061pp | ||
| Triple Cabin | Save 20%, Pay in full at the time of booking and save 5% | ||
| Infinity Suite | Save 20%, Pay in full at the time of booking and save 5% | ||
| Verandah Suite | Save 20%, Pay in full at the time of booking and save 5% | ||
| Superior Suite | Save 20%, Pay in full at the time of booking and save 5% | ||
| Deluxe Suite | Save 20%, Pay in full at the time of booking and save 5% | ||
| Owner's Suite | Save 20%, Pay in full at the time of booking and save 5% |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Triple Cabin
22.5m², located on deck 6, 1 double or 2 single beds, 5m² walk-out balcony, separate seating area, sofa bed, private bathroom, bathroom amenities, shower, refrigerator, TV.
Infinity Suite
25m², located on deck 5 and 6, 1 double or 2 single beds, floor-to-ceiling glass balcony,
seating area, private bathroom, bathroom amenities, shower, refrigerator, TV.
Verandah Suite
20m², located on deck 5 and 6, 1 double or 2 single beds, walk-out balcony, separate seating area, private bathroom, bathroom amenities, shower, refrigerator, TV.
Superior Suite
26m², located on deck 5 and 6, 1 double or 2 single beds, walk-out balcony, separate seating area, private bathroom, bathroom amenities, shower, refrigerator, TV.
Deluxe Suite
31m², located on deck 5, 1 double or 2 single beds, walk-out balcony, separate seating area, private bathroom, double wash basins, bathroom amenities, shower, refrigerator, TV.
Owner's Suite
33m², located on deck 5 and 6, 1 double or 2 single beds, walk-out balcony, separate seating area, private bathroom, double wash basins, bathroom amenities, shower, bathtub, refrigerator, TV.
World Explorer Deckplan
Specifications
- Registered: Portugal
- Staff & Crew: 125
- Guests: 176
- Length: 413 feet (126 meters)
- Breadth: 62 feet (19 meters)
- Draft: 15 feet (4-7 meters)
- Propulsion: 2x Rolls Royce 9,000 kw hybrid diesel/electric
- Ice Class: 1B
- Cruising speed: 16 knots in open water
- Lifeboats: 2 fully enclosed
Whats included?
- An official Quark Expeditions parka to keep
- Leadership throughout your voyage by our experienced Expedition Team, including shore landings and other activities
- All Zodiac transfers and cruising as per the daily program
- All shore landings as per the daily program
- Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
- All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage.
- Free beer, standard wines, spirits, and cocktails during bar service hours and dinner
- Complimentary coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
- Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled
- A photographic journal documenting your expedition
- A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for landings and Zodiac cruising excursions
- Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
- Complimentary Wi-Fi service on one device permitting basic Internet browsing, email, posting on social media and voice applications. (Premium packages are available for more dataintensive applications.)
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
- All luggage handling aboard the ship
- Emergency Evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $500,000 per person
- A group arrival transfer in Punta Arenas from airport to pre-expedition hotel on Day 1
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with breakfast. (Note: The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travelers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel. Triple rooms may not be available.)
- A briefing dinner on Day 1 in Punta Arenas
- A pre-expedition group transfer in Punta Arenas from the hotel to the airport
- Flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island
- Group Transfer from ship to hotel for post night
- Post-voyage hotel night in Ushuaia.
What’s not included?
- International airfare
- Passport and applicable visa expenses
- Meals unless otherwise specified
- Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance—strongly recommended
- Excess-baggage fees on international and domestic flights
- Mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac landing and cruising excursions, or any other gear not mentioned
- Laundry, spa services and other personal charges, unless specified
- Phone charges may vary by location
- Our basic complimentary Wi-Fi service does not include Premium packages which enable more data-intensive applications
- Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for expedition staff and shipboard crew
- Additional overnight accommodation
- Arrival and departure transfers, except where explicitly stated
- Adventure Options not listed in Included Activities
- Transfer to airport at end of trip.
Notes
Adventure Options:
- Sea Kayak: US$1,995
- Paddling Excursion: US$395
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: Antarctica
On any cruise to Antarctica you can expect to experience a wide variety of landscapes, unprecedented wildlife viewing opportunities and a healthy mix of historic landing sites. Be astounded by the sensory overload of the huge amount of ice-bergs, glaciers, high mountains and the abundant and tame wildlife.
Downloadable travel guide
Planning your next adventure has never been easier with our free downloadable travel guides. Get in-depth insights into local attractions, dining options, and hidden gems, all curated by our team of travel specialists with decades of experience.
