Departure Summary – Cruise Traveller

Ultramarine, Crossing the Circle ex Buenos Aires Return

Cruise Line	Quark Expeditions
Ship	Ultramarine
Destination	Antarctica
Nights	13
Departure Date	06 Jan 2026
Description	12 Night Cruise sailing from Ushuaia roundtrip aboard Ultramarine. Please note: The itinerary shown includes land/flight components that are part of a Mandatory Transfer Package which may be at an additional cost. Please check at time of enquiry/booking. Day 1 Arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina Upon arriving in this splendid city, known for its architecture and rich European heritage, you will make your own way to your group hotel (pre-expedition hotel night included in mandatory transfer package). Day 2 Fly to Ushuaia & Embark After an early breakfast at the hotel, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. Upon arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to a central downtown location to have some time on your own to explore this quaint port town before making your way to the pier. As the ship sets sail in the late afternoon, you will begin your Antarctic journey, passing through the Beagle Channel. Named after the famed ship on which Charles Darwin voyaged, the channel presents great photo opportunities of landscapes and seabirds. Eventually the channel opens up to the Southern Ocean, and onwards to Antarctica. Days 3 and 4 Crossing The Drake Passage Your days at sea are filled with presentations and lectures led by your Expedition Team, who will prepare you for the wildlife that will greet you upon your arrival. In between presentations, spend time chatting with your shipmates over a drink at the bar, or enjoy the fresh air and views on the outer decks. Days 5 to 7 South Shetland Islands & Antarctic Peninsula The most common reaction upon reaching the White Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is beyond words, since few places are as untouched and enduring as Antarctica. You will begin to appreciate why this region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travelers alike. Every visit to Antarctica, we witness something new or unexpected, which means that your expedition will be unlike any other—creating a unique, personal experience. Each day, you will take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore local bays, channels and landing sites. With wildlife always at the forefront of our minds, you will visit penguin rookeries, scout for humpback and minke whales, and search for a number of southern seal species, including the cunning leopard seal. Your Expedition Team will take care of you at each landing, whether you are exploring the Antarctic terrain, visiting a research station or consorting with penguin colonies. Chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins are found here, along with five different species of seals. Zodiac cruising can offer opportunities to view some of the larger local marine mammals more intimately, such as Antarctic minke and humpback whales. Each day and each excursion will present a new collection of creatures to delight you and keep your camera busy. Your days will be busy spotting wildlife and being mesmerized by the astounding beauty of Antarctica. Listening to the crackling and crumbling of icebergs and glaciers and watching penguins waddling on the beach will become your daily entertainment, while sea kayaking, paddle excursions, or camping are optional activities available on select voyages (at an extra cost). Days 8 and 9 Antarctic Circle Crossing the Antarctic Circle is both a memorable experience and impressive achievement, as few travelers reach so far south. If conditions allow us to cross this famed line at 66°33´ S, we’ll toast the first explorers who ventured here, and you can raise a glass and take pride in knowing you’ve made it to a part of the world visited by very few people. This is raw Antarctica, home of the midnight sun, Weddell seals, and your best chances of encountering sea ice – the foundation of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. Days 10 and 11 Northbound Along The Peninsula By now, your knowledge of Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins will be matched by your ability to differentiate between a leopard, fur and Weddell seal. Terms like ‘bergy bits’ and ‘pancake ice’ will become part of your vocabulary, yet there are still many tales to be told. As you head north, Zodiac excursions will fill your days, and your Expedition Team will continue looking out for species of seabirds, seals and whales that may have eluded you on your journey south. Days 12 and 13 Crossing the Drake Passage As you recross the Drake, Antarctica fades away, leaving you with a collection of memories to last a lifetime. Excited conversations with your newfound friends will make the crossing fly by, regardless of weather and sea conditions. Your Expedition Team will round up its series of presentations as well, with a slideshow of the great landing sites and wildlife you’ve witnessed over the course of your voyage. Be sure to take some time to reflect on everything you’ve experienced so far. Day 14 Disembarkation in Ushuaia & Fly to Buenos Aires You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. The mandatory transfer package includes a little taste of Patagonia with a Tierra del Fuego National Park tour before transferring to the airport for the return group charter flight to Buenos Aires.

Sailing Dates
06 Jan 2025 07 Feb 2025 01 Mar 2025 06 Jan 2026 28 Feb 2026

Itinerary

Cruise Itinerary

Day	Date	Activity	Arrive	Depart
1	06/01	Buenos Aires, Argentina		Hotel
2	07/01	Buenos Aires, Argentina		Flight to Ushuaia
2	07/01	Ushuaia, Argentina	Embark
3	08/01	Drake Passage
4	09/01	Drake Passage
5	10/01	South Shetland Islands, Antarctica
6	11/01	Antarctic Peninsula
7	12/01	Antarctic Peninsula
8	13/01	At sea
9	14/01	At sea
10	15/01	At sea
11	16/01	At sea
12	17/01	Drake Passage
13	18/01	Drake Passage
14	19/01	Ushuaia, Argentina	Disembark	Flight to Buenos Aires
14	19/01	Buenos Aires, Argentina

All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

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