Argentina Cruise from Ushuaia — 18 Days

Ushuaia, Argentina

Ushuaia sits between the Beagle Channel and the snow-streaked Martial Mountains, at Argentina’s far southern edge. Its harbor has long served as a gateway to Antarctica, while the town itself rewards a slower look. Ride the End of the World Train into Tierra del Fuego National Park, or tour the former prison museum. Here, wild landscapes begin just beyond the last streets.

At Sea (At Sea)

Isle of Portland

Portland is a limestone island off Dorset, linked to the mainland by a causeway beside Chesil Beach. Its stone has shaped landmarks from St Paul’s Cathedral to the United Nations headquarters. At the southern tip, Portland Bill Lighthouse watches a dramatic stretch of coast. Explore cliff-top paths and former quarries, then admire Portland Harbour, sheltered by monumental breakwaters. Nearby Weymouth offers a graceful Georgian seafront and access to the Jurassic Coast.

• Saunders Island Falklands (Scenic Stop)

At Sea (At Sea)

South Georgia Island

South Georgia is no conventional port of call; this remote, mountainous island is reached by expedition ship. Vast king penguin colonies gather beside beaches crowded with elephant seals. At Grytviken, a former whaling station, visit the museum, the church and Ernest Shackleton’s grave. Come for wildlife on an extraordinary scale, and for the stark history etched into this subantarctic landscape.

At Sea (At Sea)

Antarctic Peninsula

The Antarctic Peninsula brings you within reach of Antarctica’s most dramatic scenery: mountain-backed glaciers, blue icebergs and sheltered bays. Most voyages cross the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, then explore by expedition ship and Zodiac, weather permitting. Watch for gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins, seals and whales. Shore visits follow strict environmental rules, and plans can change with conditions. Expect few comforts ashore; the reward is a rare encounter with a continent still governed by ice and weather.

Drake Passage

Few sea crossings carry the weight of the Drake Passage. Here, the Atlantic and Pacific meet between Cape Horn and Antarctica, and conditions can change quickly. Some voyages pass in calm water; others encounter the swells that made this route legendary. Watch from deck for albatrosses and petrels, then settle into the ship’s routines. The passage is no mere transfer: it is the first clear measure of Antarctica’s scale and remoteness.

Ushuaia, Argentina

Ushuaia sits between the Beagle Channel and the snow-streaked Martial Mountains, at Argentina’s far southern edge. Its harbor has long served as a gateway to Antarctica, while the town itself rewards a slower look. Ride the End of the World Train into Tierra del Fuego National Park, or tour the former prison museum. Here, wild landscapes begin just beyond the last streets.