13 Night Cruise sailing from Ushuaia roundtrip aboard Akademik Ioffe. 1 night hotel stay pre-cruise in Ushuaia.

Day 1: Ushuaia
Hotel stay in Ushuaia. No meals are included on Day 1.

Day 2: Ushuaia - Embarkation Day
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

A transfer from your hotel or town centre to the pier for embarkation on to the ship will take place at 4pm. Full details will be sent with your final joining instructions. Once onboard, our expedition team will welcome you and once you've settled in we'll set sail from Ushuaia, charting our course through the Beagle Channel.

Day 3-4: Drake Passage
Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

As we cross the Drake Passage, our team of experts will be out on deck to help us spot whales and identify seabirds. We also have the chance to take part in the onboard presentation series, preparing us for our adventure to the 'White Continent'. Talks on wildlife, ice and polar history will create enormous anticipation that continues to build as we cross the Antarctic Convergence. Here the cold waters of the Antarctic Ocean meet the warmer waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. We will also notice a sharp drop in temperature at this point. Huge icebergs loom up against the horizon and seabirds such as the wandering albatross and petrels are regularly sighted.

Day 5-12: South Shetland Islands and Antarctica
Meals included: 8 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinners

Our itinerary for these days is flexible by necessity and entirely dependent on ice and weather conditions. Our route will be decided by our expedition leader in consultation with the ship's captain. We may start by sailing as far south as possible, hopefully to the Antarctic Circle, and then working our way back north along the peninsula and finally visiting the offshore South Shetland Islands group. Alternatively, this order may be reversed meaning that we first cruise among the volcanic South Shetland Islands before travelling to the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula. Whatever the case, we will make our first landing on Day 4 or Day 5. The itinerary focuses on the areas with the greatest promise of wildlife. Around both the South Shetland Islands and the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula, we travel ashore as frequently as possible in inflatable Zodiac boats. We hope to make shore excursions at Livingston, Half Moon and King George Islands. Admiralty Bay, on King George Island, is a favoured feeding ground for humpback whales and, with luck, we may see them dining on krill. At crescent-shaped Half Moon Island, we'll observe a breeding colony of chinstrap penguins that share their territory with fur seals and blue-eyed shags, while at Livingston Island we discover more flourishing wildlife. Here there are Weddell seals, elephant seals, skuas, giant petrels, Antarctic terns and rookeries of chinstrap, gentoo and macaroni penguins. Weather permitting, we also hope to enter the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island - a recently active volcano and one of the most perfect crater islands in the world. Steam rises in places along its shores, where the cold Antarctic waters mix with the hot thermal waters of the bay. Here, conditions permitting, the very adventurous amongst us may choose to take a dip. We also observe the island's large chinstrap penguin colony and enjoy spectacular walks to the higher points on the crater rim. We then head further south to Paradise Harbour or Hope Bay, both situated on the Antarctic mainland. Here we'll be stunned by some of the most dramatic scenery the continent has to offer; truly a photographer's paradise. Ringed with overhanging ice cliffs, the bay is filled with a remarkable assortment of floating icebergs that reflect a stunning array of colours, including the most exquisite blues, turquoises and indigos. If the conditions are favourable we have the chance to set foot on the Antarctic continent. The lights of the southern sky bathe the landscape in an eerie luminescence. The days are long and the short nights are often preceded by a wonderful twilight. On one or two occasions we may attempt to go ashore to visit some of the research stations maintained by various countries. On board while we cruise between landing points, we will want to spend time on the bridge or on deck just marvelling at the glorious passing scenery, particularly when travelling through the Lemaire Channel. Penguins are often seen 'porpoising' in the water or resting on ice floes in this area. South of the Lemaire Channel we hope to find clear conditions that will allow us to travel right down to the Antarctic Circle. Here too the scenery is extraordinary and it's particularly exciting to realize we've crossed the line into this remote stretch of southern sea. It's a great feeling! It is likely to be with some sadness that we eventually turn the ship and head back north for the final leg of this remarkable journey.

Day 13-14: Drake Passage
Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

We leave the Antarctic Peninsula (or the South Shetlands depending on our chosen route)and head back across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage. The crossing is completed with the rounding of Cape Horn. We commemorate the conclusion of our adventure and our last evening together on board our ship at the Captain's Dinner, as we cruise on up the Beagle Channel.

Day 15: Ushuaia
Meals included: 1 breakfast

In the early morning we arrive back in Ushuaia, where our cruise ends.