Solar Eclipse: Antarctica + South Georgia aboard the Ocean Victory

You’ll be met on arrival and escorted to the 5-star Arakur Resort & Spa where sea-view rooms have been reserved for our guests.
 

After a hearty buffet breakfast, this day is yours to relax and enjoy the spectacular hilltop setting and amenities of our luxury resort. Our in-the-know resident guide can also offer suggestions if you would like to explore on your own. This evening, gather with your fellow A+R guests for an intimate and congenial Welcome Dinner here at the resort.  Meals B+D
 

This morning’s guided tour reveals the raw, wild beauty of Tierra del Fuego National Park. Traveling all the way to Lapataia Bay, you’ll have a chance to observe indigenous species as you explore the region’s forested mountains and waterways. Then board our state-of-the-art ship and settle in to your outside stateroom. Meet your expedition team and get acquainted with our luxury Polar vessel as you set sail along the Beagle Channel.  Meals B+D
 

Your first full day at sea will be enhanced by our shipboard experts. Engaging talks on a variety of topics from the history and geology of South Georgia to the wildlife and climate of Antarctica will prepare you for the diverse experiences to come. Of course, you can also choose to simply relax in the Library or one of the Victory’s inviting shipboard Lounges.   Meals B+L+D
 

Another day of cruising unfolds with fine dining in our two unique shipboard venues, the convivial company of your fellow travelers and a chance to take in the sea air from the Top Deck viewing platform. During our days at sea, our lecture topics will also cover the Total Solar Eclipse, and there will be informative sessions designed to hone your photography skills – not just for this upcoming astronomical event but also for the landscapes and wildlife that you will soon be encountering!  Meals B+L+D
 

As our first landfall draws near, you can expect our shipboard talks to focus on the geology and wildlife of South Georgia. With the island’s unique topographical features, abundant wildlife, and colorful history steeped in the stories of famous Polar explorations and the whaling days of old, there are many topics to be explored! Up on the Top Deck viewing platform, you might well espy the storm petrels and albatrosses that often follow in the wake of our ship.  Meals B+L+D
 

Despite South Georgia’s remote setting 1,300 miles east of the South American continent, a unique combination of underwater topography and converging ocean currents has resulted in nutrient-rich seas that support a remarkable variety of wildlife. As weather, sea and land conditions permit, the days we’ll spend exploring South Georgia promise experiences you will never forget – chief among them are the many breeding penguins, sea birds, sea lions and seals that we will likely encounter in the days ahead.  Meals B+L+D
 

Weather, sea and land conditions will guide the excursions we enjoy each day as we explore along the ruggedly beautiful coasts and inlets of South Georgia Island. This information will, of course, be communicated to you by our Captain and Expedition Team through our regular shipboard briefings. Calling on Grytviken would offer us the opportunity to experience the island’s long-ago whaling history. You might also visit the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton, who arrived on South Georgia in May 1916 – after navigating in an open boat across 700 nautical miles of wild sea to call for the rescue of his crew left stranded on Elephant Island!  Meals B+L+D
 

Based upon the determinations of our Captain and Expedition Leader, you’ll thrill to another day of exciting Zodiac excursions and shore landings – all designed to show you the stunning landscapes and rich wildlife of this 1,362-square-mile island. Chief among the animals on South Georgia are the massive Elephant Seals who rule many of its beaches. Vast rookeries of King Penguins along with healthy populations of inquisitive Chinstrap and Macaroni Penguins are other wildlife thrills that we hope to experience. If we’re able to navigate close to Cooper Bay on the island’s southeast tip, we might embark on a thrilling Zodiac expedition to observe wildlife from the waterfront.  Meals B+L+D
 

The exact time we leave South Georgia behind will, of course, be decided by our Captain. But you can rest assured that our voyage will be well-timed to ensure our rendezvous with tomorrow’s Total Solar Eclipse. While at sea, you can continue to enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow adventurers – enhanced by our ongoing program of shipboard talks and fine dining in our two distinctive venues. The Library, Observation Lounge and Albatross Polar Spa also beckon.  Meals B+L+D
 

Today’s total solar eclipse will run over the South Atlantic, starting early in the morning east of the Falklands. From here, the moon shadow will speed toward South Orkney Island and Antarctica. We’ve selected the best possible viewing position just east of South Orkney where the sun is just 11 degrees above the horizon. Lasting for nearly 2 full minutes, this wondrous phenomenon promises a truly once-in-a-lifetime thrill, yet is just one of several highlights on our exclusive journey of discovery.  Meals B+L+D
 

As the shimmering white landscapes of the Antarctic Peninsula draw near, the presence of wildlife again multiplies with many species of lively penguins, curious seals and nesting birds – along with the spray of marine mammals. A haven for wildlife, the South Shetlands offer a chance to discover vast penguin rookeries, numerous seabirds and pristine beaches ruled by Fur and Elephant Seals. Conditions permitting, our planned shore landings in this southern archipelago will include King George Island, home to Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins.  Meals B+L+D
 

Our exact itinerary and daily activities will depend on weather and ice conditions, information that will be communicated to you regularly in our shipboard briefings. During our time here, our route is expected to include Gerlache Strait with its towering ice cliffs and pods of whales. Here you can anticipate thrilling Zodiac excursions to experience Antarctica’s wild beauty up-close and shore landings that promise engaging wildlife encounters enriched by the deep knowledge of our expert naturalists.  Meals B+L+D
 

During our time here along the Antarctic Peninsula, there are a number of other sites that we hope to explore. These might include Deception Island where a flooded caldera is filled with waters that are often warm enough for a Polar swim. If we are able to make a landing on Half Moon Island, we are likely to encounter Wilson’s storm petrels and Chinstrap penguins! When not venturing out with our expert naturalists, you can enjoy our ongoing shipboard enrichment program and fine dining in two distinctive venues – with wine at dinner for A+R guests!  Meals B+L+D
 

Having left the Antarctic Peninsula behind us, today finds the Ocean Victory charting a northward course across the Drake Passage. While this storied stretch of water is known for its high winds and seas, you’ll voyage confidently aboard the Ocean Victory; our next-generation Polar ship has been purpose-built with stabilizers, powerful engines and a highly-qualified crew. These final days at sea are the perfect time to enjoy all of our ship’s amenities and inviting public spaces.  Meals B+L+D
 

As the last day of your exciting voyage unfolds, you can delight in the camaraderie of your fellow travelers and attend our final shipboard talks. Our return journey toward the Beagle Channel will take us past Cape Horn, a storied maritime landmark that marks the southern tip of the Continent.  Meals B+L+D
 

Step off the Ocean Victory and transfer to the airport for your onward journey. Meals B