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World Journeys | Crossing the Circle Southern Expedition

Setting foot on the 7th Continent is a polar achievement relatively few people experience in their lifetime. Even more rare is the incomparable milestone that’s achieved when a traveller crosses the iconic Antarctic Circle. Navigating south of 66 degrees 33 minutes South is – for most guests – the highlight of the 14-day itinerary Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition.

Approaching the Antarctic Peninsula, you’ll wonder at the sheer scale and scope of the icebergs, mountains and stretches of polar beaches, dotted with seals and penguins. This exploration will take you further south still to cross into the Antarctic Circle, a privileged achievement you’ll celebrate with your shipmates. Equal parts unpredictable, exciting and awe inspiring, your Antarctic adventure will impart in your memories to last a lifetime.

Highlights include: Crossing the iconic Antarctic Circle, daily with views of dramatic ice formations, humpback whales swimming alongside the ship, leopard seals diving beneath your zodiac, and listening to the crackling and crumbling of icebergs and glaciers.

Your Ship: The vessels in Quark Expeditions fleet accommodation anywhere from 128 to 199 passengers. They never exceed more than 200 passengers which gives guests the best polar experience on a smaller ship. Quark Expeditions boasts the largest polar-class fleet of any polar operator, and the ability to offer you this incredible voyage on one of their ice strengthened vessels. The entire Quark Expeditions fleet is built for challenging polar environments, allowing Quark to take you to places ordinary cruise companies wouldn’t dream of going.

Ultramarine: The newest ship in the Quark Expeditions fleet, Ultramarine is equipped with two twin-engine helicopters and offers guests the most robust portfolio of adventure activities in the industry and the most spacious suites in its category. Ultramarine also features breathtaking public spaces, and more outdoor wildlife viewing spaces than other expedition ships its size. Guests: 199

Ocean Explorer: Was built to provide a more spacious and intimate guest experience. With just 70 cabins, the accommodations are larger than on other ships and nearly all cabins have balconies. The interior was designed to provide comfort, space, and a luxurious ambience.

Special Offer

Special valid until 28/02/2025

Save up to 30%!

Save up to 30% on select departures in the Antarctic 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 seasons. Savings apply to the voyage-only cost. Offer applies to new bookings only, savings vary per departure and cabin category, and are based on availability at the time of booking. Offer may be removed at any time without notice.

Please enquire about specific departure dates and rates.

Summary

Duration
14 Days / 13 Nights from USD US$17,995*
Countries
Antarctica, Argentina
Type of Journey
Cruise, Wildlife, Active
Departure Dates

2025
6 Jan, from Buenos Aires, aboard Ultramarine
4 Feb, from Ushuaia, aboard Ocean Explorer
7 Feb, from Buenos Aires, aboard Ultramarine
1 Mar, from Buenos Aires, aboard Ultramarine
4 Mar, from Ushuaia, aboard Ocean Explorer

2026
6 Jan, from Buenos Aires, aboard Ultramarine
9 Feb, from Ushuaia, aboard Ocean Explorer
28 Feb, from Buenos Aires, aboard Ultramarine
What's Included

Tour Includes

• Leadership throughout the voyage by experienced Expedition Leaders
• All Zodiac transfers and cruising
• All shore landings
• 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
• Presentations by the Expedition Team and guest speakers
• A photographic journal documenting the expedition
• A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for landings and Zodiac cruising excursions
• An official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep
• Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
• 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 US$500,000 per person
• 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 data-intensive applications).
• On journeys aboard Ocean Explorer: Group arrival transfer in Ushuaia from the airport to the pre-expedition hotel on Day 1; one night’s pre-cruise hotel accommodation in Ushuaia with breakfast (NB: The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travellers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel. Triple rooms may not be available); group transfer from hotel to ship on embarkation day; group departure transfer upon disembarkation in Ushuaia from ship to the airport or to the luggage storage facility

Not Included

• International airfares
• Passport and applicable visa expenses
• Government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned
• Meals unless otherwise specified
• Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance—strongly recommended
• Excess-baggage fees on international flights
• Mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac landing and cruising excursions, or any other gear not mentioned
• Laundry, bar, spa services and other personal charges, unless specified
• Phone and Internet charges (connectivity may vary by location)
• Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for expedition staff and shipboard crew
• Any additional overnight accommodation
• Arrival and departure transfers, except where explicitly stated
• Adventure Options not listed in Included Activities
• A Mandatory Transfer Package, applies to journeys from Buenos Aires aboard Ultramarine, which includes: one pre-expedition hotel night in Buenos Aires with breakfast; group transfer from the hotel to the airport in Buenos Aires; charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, and return; group transfer from Ushuaia airport to the ship; combined airport transfer and express bus tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park after disembarkation in Ushuaia.
Gratuity

• Gratuities are voluntary and can be given at the end of your cruise
• We recommend that you budget US$10 to US$15 per person per day, if you are pleased with the service on board

Pricing

Description	Twin USD	Single USD	Extra USD
2025 Standard cabins priced from: 6 Jan, Ultramarine 4 Feb, Ocean Explorer 7 Feb, Ultramarine 1 Mar, Ultramarine 4 Mar, Ocean Explorer	– – 25895 19995 23595 23095 17995		– – 995 – 995 995 –
2026 Standard cabins priced from: 6 Jan, Ultramarine 9 Feb, Ocean Explorer 28 Feb, Ultramarine	– – 25795 19395 23295		– – 995 – 995

Please note: while prices are accurate at time of loading they are subject to change due to currency fluctuations and currency surcharges may apply. Please check price at time of booking

Itinerary

Day 1: Ushuaia, or Buenos Aires, Argentina
Those joining an expedition aboard Ocean Explorer will begin the journey in Ushuaia, a small but bustling port town at the tip of South America. This Argentine town is an ideal gateway for you to explore the southern extent of Patagonia while preparing for your adventure ahead. Get active in the mountains or enjoy handcrafted chocolate at a café in town. Overnight in Ushuaia.

Those joining an expedition aboard Ultramarine will begin the journey in Buenos Aires, enjoying a taste of this elegant and cosmopolitan city pre-expedition. Overnight in Buenos Aires.

Day 2: Ushuaia, or Buenos Aires and Embarkation
Those already in Ushuaia will be transferred from your hotel to the Ocean Explorer for embarkation. Those in Buenos Aires will transfer to the airport for a flight to Ushuaia. On arrival transfer to the Ultramarine for embarkation.

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 & 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 – 7: The Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands
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 & 9: The 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 degrees 33 minutes South, 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 & 11: Northbound along the Peninsula
By now, your knowledge of Adelie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins will be matched by your ability to differentiate between a leopard, fur or Weddell seal. Terms like ‘bergy bits’ and pancake ice will seem normal too, yet there are still many tales to be told. As you head north, Zodiac excursions will continue to fill your days, while the Expedition team will continue to offer presentations, while giving you time to reflect on everything you’ve experienced.

Days 12 & 13: Crossing the Drake Passage to Ushuaia
Re-crossing the Drake, Antarctica fades away and you’ll be left with a collection of memories to last a lifetime. Excited conversations with your newfound friends will make the time crossing the Drake Passage fly by, independent of weather and sea conditions. Your Expedition Team will round up their series of lectures as well, perhaps with a slideshow of some of the great landing sites and wildlife you’ve visited over the course of your voyage.

Day 14: Disembark in Ushuaia
We will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning after breakfast. Those aboard Ocean Explorer will transfer to the airport to continue your adventure onward, while those aboard Ultramarine will transfer to the airport for your return flight to Buenos Aires.

Important reminder Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy and excitement of expedition travel. There are no guarantees that we can achieve everything we set out to accomplish. A measure of flexibility is something all of us must bring to a voyage. There are nearly 200 recognized sites in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands and the places mentioned above may be changed to others equally as interesting.
Booking Conditions

• Quark Expeditions pricing is dynamic and is therefore subject to change until the booking is confirmed
• Prices enquire for pricing on other cabin categories
• Please enquire about single pricing