Spirit of Antarctica - Classic 12 Day Expedition

Overview
Itinerary
Dates & Prices
Ships
Optional Extras

Embrace the spirit of polar exploration on this classic expedition to the coveted white continent. Sail across the famed Drake Passage, admiring spectacular seabirds and approaching the ice as the explorers of old did: by sea. With a chance to Zodiac-cruise through pack ice, set foot on the continent, choose from a range of adventure options and even perhaps camp under pastel polar skies, this is the quintessential Antarctic voyage for adventure lovers.

Highlights

• Hone your ice and wildlife photography skills

• Search for orcas and minke whales in the icy bays

• Observe busy penguin colonies building their nests, and perhaps catch a glimpse of penguin chicks as they hatch

• Join the exclusive polar plunge club and dive into the beautiful antarctic waters

Day 1 Arrival airport transfer and overnight in Ushuaia

Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to your group hotel (preferred flights only). Upon arrival at your included hotel, kindly remind hotel check-in staff to provide you with Aurora Expeditions cabin tags. Please clearly label the tags with your name and ship cabin number.
Day 2 Embarkation Day

This morning, please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Please take your cabin luggage down to hotel reception by 8.00 AM. Your luggage will be collected from your hotel and transferred directly to port for clearance and delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. Keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day. Once you have checked out of your hotel by 11.00 AM, you have free time before meeting back in the hotel lobby at 2.00 PM to commence a tour of Ushuaia. Alternatively, enjoy time at leisure and make your own way to Prison Museum carpark by 3.45 pm to rejoin the group and transfer to the pier for embarkation. Ushuaia, capital of Tierra del Fuego is located at the shores of the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Martial Mountains giving you a unique landscape in Argentina, which is the combination of mountains, sea, glaciers and forests. On this introductory tour, you will visit “La Mision” neighbourhood, the old Government House, and the upper area of the city, which offers beautiful panoramic views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. During the excursion you will see the antique houses that belonged to the first families settled in Ushuaia. The excursion ends with a visit to the Old Prison Museum before transferring to the pier for embarkation at approximately 4.00 PM. After embarkation, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from port, we’ll gather on the deck to commence our adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. This evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition team and crew at a welcome dinner. (Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch is at own expense)
Day 3 Drake Passage Crossing

As we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures, and start our lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment. Our wildlife experiences begin as we enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following in our wake. They rise and fall skilfully, using air currents created by the ship to gain momentum.
Day 4 Drake Passage & South Shetland Islands

Nearing the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on day four, the excitement is palpable with everyone converging on one of the observation decks, watching for our first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Weather permitting, we may attempt our first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon.
Day 5-9 Antarctic Peninsula

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever. Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish. Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You’ll want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula. While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you’ll have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting! In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea, and take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.
Day 10-11 Drake Passage crossing

Today, our landings come to an end as we enter the Drake Passage for our return journey to South America. With lectures and film presentations to complete our Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and discussion about what we have seen and experienced, and the impact this voyage has had on our attitude to life. As we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.
Day 12 Disembark Ushuaia

During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature. A transfer to downtown Ushuaia before continuing to the airport is included in the cost of the voyage. NOTE: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.
Please Note:

In true expedition style we encourage exploration and adventure, offering flexibility in challenging environments in a way that puts you among the action to see and do as much as possible. This itinerary is only a guide and subject to change due to ice and weather conditions.

07 December, 2026 to 18 December, 2026

Special Departure

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In Partnership with New Scientist New Scientist is the number one destination for anyone interested in science and technology. Founded in 1956, it covers international news from a scientific standpoint and asks the big-picture questions about life, the universe and what it means to be human. If someone in the world has a good idea, you will read about it in New Scientist. Its travel wing, New Scientist Discovery Tours, offers a unique way to explore the world. The science-inspired tours, cruises, expeditions and short breaks are perfect for anyone who is driven by curiosity. Being surrounded by like-minded travellers and accompanying experts from New Scientist enhances the experience, allowing for rich discussions and a deep understanding of the destinations. Aurora Expeditions has teamed up with New Scientist Discovery Tours to deliver polar cruise experiences where you will not only explore the breathtaking scenery and wildlife, but also enrich your understanding through expert-led talks, workshops and floating safaris. Whether you are up close with a glacier, observing a polar bear or sailing around an iceberg, New Scientist’s engaging experts will help you make the most of the experience.

Aurora Stateroom Triple

$33,709 NZD pp

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Deck: 3 Cabin size: 22.57m² (242.9ft²) King bed Twin beds Private en-suite Porthole window Closet space Room-controlled thermostat Room safe 42" flat-screen TV Mini bar

Aurora Stateroom Twin

$34,780 NZD pp

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Deck: 3 Cabin size: 15.37m² - 15.97m² (165.4ft² - 171.9ft²) King bed Twin beds Private en-suite Porthole window Desk area Closet space Room-controlled thermostat Room safe 42" flat-screen TV Mini bar

Aurora Stateroom Superior

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Deck: 7 Cabin size: 13.97m² - 16.17m² (150.4ft² - 174.1ft²) King bed Twin beds Private en-suite French balcony Desk area Closet space Room-controlled thermostat Room safe 42" flat-screen TV Mini bar

Balcony Stateroom Category C

$37,812 NZD pp

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Deck: 4 & 6 Cabin and balcony combined size: 21.07m² - 26.77m² (226.8ft² - 288.2ft²) King bed Twin beds Private en-suite Private balcony Full size window Desk area Closet space Room-controlled thermostat Room safe 42" flat-screen TV Mini bar

Balcony Stateroom Category B

$39,775 NZD pp

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Aurora Stateroom Single

$40,667 NZD pp

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Deck: 3 Cabin size: 9.85m² (106ft²) Twin beds Private en-suite Porthole window Closet space Room-controlled thermostat Room safe 42" flat-screen TV Mini bar

Balcony Stateroom Category A

$42,629 NZD pp

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Aurora Stateroom Superior Single

$44,592 NZD pp

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Deck: 3 & 7 Cabin size: 10.97m² - 15.18m² (118.1ft² - 163.4ft²) Twin beds Private en-suite Porthole window Closet space Room-controlled thermostat Room safe 42" flat-screen TV Mini bar

Balcony Stateroom Superior

$46,554 NZD pp

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Deck: 4 & 6 Cabin and balcony combined size: 27.77m² - 36.27m² (298.9ft² - 390.4ft²) King bed Twin beds Private en-suite (wheelchair accessible) Private balcony Full size window Desk area Closet space Room-controlled thermostat Room safe 42" flat-screen TV Mini bar

Junior Suite

$55,474 NZD pp

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Deck: 7 Cabin and balcony combined size: 41.47m² - 41.87m² (446.4ft² - 450.7ft²) King bed Twin beds Private en-suite Private balcony Full size window Separate lounge area Desk area Closet space Room-controlled thermostat Room safe 42" flat-screen TV Mini bar

Captain's Suite

$63,502 NZD pp

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Deck: 4 Cabin and balcony combined size: 45.22m² (486.7ft²) King bed Twin beds Private en-suite Private balcony Full size window Separate lounge area Desk area Closet space Room-controlled thermostat Room safe 42" flat-screen TV Mini bar

29 December, 2026 to 09 January, 2027

Aurora Stateroom Superior

$38,704 NZD pp

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With a bit more room to stretch the legs, the Aurora Stateroom Superior are perfect for polar adventurers who travel with plenty of gear. Located on Deck 7, the Staterooms feature french balconies, floor to ceiling windows, en-suite bathrooms and a comfortable desk area.

Balcony Stateroom Category C

$39,775 NZD pp

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Cabin & balcony combined size: 21m2 - 24.8m2 We have three cabin categories of our Balcony Staterooms. These are classified as A, B or C depending on the cabin size. Our 11 Balcony Stateroom – C cabins are our most economical, fitted with all the necessities and comfortable for up to 2 people. These cabins are scattered throughout Deck 6.

Balcony Stateroom Category B

$41,916 NZD pp

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Cabin & balcony combined size: 21m2 - 24.8 m2 We have three cabin categories of our Balcony Staterooms. These are classified as A, B or C depending on the cabin size. Our 17 Balcony Stateroom – B Cabins are our standard cabin, many fitted with interconnecting features making them great for families or groups. These cabins are located at the fore and aft of Deck 4 and 6.

Balcony Stateroom Category A

$45,127 NZD pp

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Cabin & balcony combined size: 21m² - 24.8m² We have three cabin categories of our Balcony Staterooms. These are classified as A, B or C depending on the cabin size. Our 23 Balcony Stateroom – A cabins are our premium cabin, and the most abundant on board. These cabins are located in preferred positions on Deck 4 and 6 which provides easy access between Decks via the internal stairs or elevator.

Balcony Stateroom Superior

$49,230 NZD pp

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Cabin & balcony combined size: 28m2 - 37.7m2 With a bit more room to stretch the legs, the Balcony Stateroom Superior cabins are perfect for polar adventurers who travel with plenty of gear. Located on Deck 4 and 6, the Staterooms feature floor to ceiling windows, en-suite bathrooms and a comfortable desk area. Some of these rooms are equipped with wheelchair accessible bathrooms.

Junior Suite

$58,685 NZD pp

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Cabin & balcony combined size: 42m2 - 43.5m2 The four Junior Suites take in some impressive scenery from their vantage points on Deck 7. When you aren't enjoying a landing, you can relax in the suites' separate lounge area, or just watch the world float by from the private balcony.

Captain’s Suite

$67,070 NZD pp

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Cabin & balcony combined size: 44.5m2 The largest of all our rooms, the singular Captain's Suite will take you to the polar regions in ultimate style and comfort. Complete with large lounge area, balcony, walk-in wardrobe and en-suite, you'll need to get in early to secure this suite.

17 February, 2027 to 28 February, 2027