Off The Map: Antarctica, Southern Ocean & South Sandwich Islands | Ocean Victory

Arrive and embark in Ushuaia, Argentina - the world’s southernmost city. Explore bustling downtown, or the laid-back local countryside. Alternatively, consider a day trip off the beaten path into the raw, untamed nature of Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia is a hiker's paradise with rugged snow-capped mountains, glaciers, flower-filled meadows and ancient forests.

Albatros Expeditions’ modern expedition vessel Ocean Albatros awaits in port, and guests will embark the ship by mid-afternoon. Albatros Expeditions arranges transfers from the city center to the ship. After being shown to your stateroom you will be given the mandatory safety briefing, while the captain gets ready to steer out into the South Atlantic Ocean.

Our journey begins as we navigate through the tranquil Beagle Channel, the strait marking the Chile-Argentina border in the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago.

During our time at sea, a variety of activities will be arranged on board which will provide the perfect opportunity to socialize with your passionate fellow travelers. Enjoy the fascinating lectures by our onboard Expedition Team, visit our shop, or indulge in the vessel’s purpose-built leisure facilities, designed to provide a comfortable, relaxing day whatever you choose to do.

As we arrive in the Falkland Islands we will deploy our Zodiacs for the first landing of our voyage, landing in the sparsely inhabited and nature-rich western part of the archipelago.

On the following day we will cast anchor and Zodiac ashore in the sheltered natural harbor of Stanley, a quaint and very British outpost in the south Atlantic. The city is walkable, with colorful houses and cozy pubs lining the streets. This tiny capital has plenty on offer to visitors, from rugged scenery, local history and culture to excellent shopping and locally brewed beers. Wildlife watchers could encounter the endemic flightless steamer duck in the harbour, as well as the delicate dolphin gull, while fur seals are often found snoozing on our landing pier.

Heading due East, expect the vessel be followed by numerous black-browed albatross and giant petrels. As we cross the Antarctic convergence the quantity of wildlife will increase; a variety of whale and dolphin species and a plethora of seabirds can be expected in these cold nutrient-rich waters. We will pass Shag Rocks on our way to South Georgia where huge flocks of seabirds feed on krill in between large packs of fur seals. Join your onboard Expedition Team to hear about the species and ecology of this unique region.

The forbidding glacier-clad peaks of South Georgia will be the setting for the next days of our expedition. Lying in the Southern Ocean below the Antarctic convergence, these frigid seas are teeming with life. The island, often referred to as “The Galapagos of the Poles”, can only be reached by ship. There is no permanent human settlement (other than visiting scientists and conservationists), but penguins, seabirds and seals breed in the millions. The difficulty of accessing this remote outposts and the regulations in place to protect the delicate environment makes South Georgia one of the least-visited tourist destinations in the world. Once a global whaling capital, today the island has been left to recover from human over-exploitation, and intensive conservation efforts have resulted in dramatic increases in whale, and bird populations. The itinerary and activities over the next couple of days are largely dependent on the weather and the sea conditions, which dictate all aspects of life here; your onboard team will work hard to ensure you can experience the best of South Georgia’s unparalleled nature.

Potential landing sites include Salisbury Plain, home to one of the largest king penguin colonies on the island, estimated to number up to half a million birds. At this time of the year the beaches will also be crowded with plenty of young and very curious Antarctic fur seals as well as hulking southern elephant seals.

Another possible landing site is Prion Island, a reserve for the wandering albatross. The site is closed until the end of January to protect the breeding birds, and visiting late in the season allows us unique access. This is one of the few sites where one can observe these gentle giants (with the largest wingspan of any bird) up close. Gentoo penguins, giant petrels and Antarctic prions also breed on the island.

The British administration at Grytviken is also a popular stop. Once a Norwegian whaling station specializing in industrialized slaughter, Grytviken now serves as the hub of island conservation, and the preserved ruins of the whaling station and the excellent South Georgia Museum offer a unique glimpse into the island’s industrial past. Legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton (whose heroism is synonymous with the island) is buried in the small graveyard – a fence keeps out the ever-present penguins and seals. The endemic South Georgia pipit and South Georgia pintail may be seen around the buildings; once almost eradicated, these birds have benefitted hugely from the eradication of rats on the island, and these endemic birds are now once again a common sight.

Leaving the jagged peaks of South Georgie behind, we venture further East towards the South Sandwich Islands, the least visited part of the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia. While these remote seas can be rough, the unique backward sloping bow of Ocean Albatros and her efficient stabilizers reduces vibration and wave action, ensuring a comfortable crossing. En route to the next set of remote islands, you will have plenty of time to edit your photos of the wildlife and stunning landscapes from the first half of the voyage. Our onboard photographer will offer you help, tips and tricks to improve your picture taking and editing skills. Guests can attend high quality lectures on geology, meteorology, ornithology, marine mammals as well as the exploration history of the Southern Ocean. From the upper decks you can study the albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters taking advantage of the ship to hunt for food in the vast emptiness of the South Atlantic.

Arriving at the South Sandwich Islands, we are now truly off the edge of the map. This string of active volcanoes is one of the most remote and seldom visited parts of the South Atlantic, some islands going years between visits by ships of any type. The South Sandwich Islands are exposed to the raw fury of the Southern Ocean, and wind, sea and ice conditions will dictate the exact itinerary of our time in these islands.

The South Sandwich Islands exist at the edge of the tectonic plate underlying the Drake Passage; here, Earth’s surface crumples, producing this string of active volcanos, punching out of the ocean in an arc. Plumes of ash and smoke are commonly seen from these boiling rocks, and the ash-striated glaciers and tortured rocks of the volcanoes form the backdrop to our days exploring.

Conditions on the islands are frequently challenging, but your skilled Captain and Expedition Leader will work hard to maximise your opportunities to explore these isolated outposts. Exploration possibilities include witnessing the largest penguin colony outside Antarctica on the shores of Zavodovski Island, seeing ice boulders and ash-marbles glaciers on Saunders Island, or watching vast seal colonies cavort in the ruins of the wartime Argentine station on Thule Island. Everywhere on the South Sandwich Islands, wildlife abounds; the islands hold the majority of the world’s chinstrap penguins, vast numbers of other bird species and huge seal colonies. From the southern end of the island chain, we will strike out southwest towards the Antarctic continent.

Leaving the South Sandwich Islands behind we will cross the 60th parallel south, signaling our departure from British Overseas Territories and into the jurisdiction of the Antarctic Treaty. While we have been in the Antarctic region for several days, we now enter true Antarctic waters. Expect to see brutal steel-grey seas, soaring giant petrels, and vast icebergs studding the sea on our journey to the Antarctic Peninsula. During our time at sea, a variety of activities will be arranged on board, providing the perfect opportunity to socialize with fellow travelers. As the white shimmer of Antarctica looms on our horizon, the volume of wildlife will increase tenfold with lively penguins, inquisitive seals, and the plumes of whales inviting us on towards the ice.

Over the coming days, we will begin our exciting Antarctic experience at the very tip of the Continent. The itinerary and activities over the next few days will depend on weather and ice conditions. The route and shore landings will be determined by the Captain and Expedition Leader and communicated to the guests through regularly scheduled briefings. Wildlife abounds on the Antarctic Peninsula: leopard, fur, crabeater and Weddell seals are common throughout the peninsula; humpback whales come to feed in the rich waters of the Gerlache Strait; penguin colonies cling to rocky outcrops warmed by the sun, and orcas hunt for prey in the frigid depths. Our program in Antarctica will aim to include a mixture of sites to give guests the best possible range of experiences; these may include historical sites, wildlife colonies, or areas with particularly spectacular scenery.

Today, we depart Antarctica and spend two days at sea on our way back to the calmer waters of the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia, Argentina. En route, we will cross the Drake Passage and cruise past Cape Horn, a legendary maritime landmark and the southern tip of South America. During our time at sea, a variety of activities will be arranged on board providing the perfect opportunity to dwell on some of the fantastic moments we have witnessed during this exceptional voyage.

After a hearty farewell to the vessel and crew, we disembark Ocean Victory in Ushuaia, departing with memories of the voyage of a lifetime across the Southern Ocean.