28 December 2025 - 09 Jan 2026
13 Days/12 Nights
Ushuaia - Ushuaia
Note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. Landings are subject to site availabilities, permissions, and environmental concerns per AECO regulations.
Your expedition begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you set off from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.
Path of the polar explorers
Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.
Entering Antarctica
Gray stone peaks sketched with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and dramatically different wildlife below and above. You first pass the snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, sailing between Brabant and Anvers Islands.
Places you might visit include:
- Neumayer Channel – The vessel may position itself here, launching its multiple basecamp activities from the protected waters around Wiencke Island. You can enjoy the splendors of this alpine environment at sea with Zodiac and kayaking trips, or if you’re in the mood for a walk, there are possible snowshoe hikes and soft-climb mountaineering options farther inland. Naturally, favorable weather conditions determine the possible activities.
- Port Lockroy – After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may get a chance to visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags. At the nearby sites, such as Damoy Point there may be the opportunity for snowshoeing to the old ski-way, this is also one of our favourite camping sites.
- Pléneau & Petermann Islands – If the ice allows it, you can sail through the Lemaire Channel in search of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags. There’s also a good chance you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales here, as well as leopard seals. Kayaking, glacier walks, and more ambitious mountaineering trips are the potential activities of this location.
- Neko Harbour – An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.
- Paradise Bay – You have the chance to make camp here like a true polar explorer, enjoying a supreme overnight Antarctic adventure.
- Errera Channel – Possible sites in this area include Danco Island and Cuverville Island, but also the lesser known (though equally picturesque) Orne Island and Georges Point on Rongé Island.
On your last day of near-shore activities, you pass the Melchior Islands toward the open sea. Keep a sharp lookout for humpback whales in Dallmann Bay. You might also shoot for Half Moon Island, in the South Shetlands, with further chances for activities.
Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.
Familiar seas, familiar friends
Your return cruise is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.
There and back again
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
Camping in the Antarctic Wilderness
For a truly immersive polar adventure, our open-air camping activity lets you experience the Antarctic wilderness like few travelers have. We provide the necessary camping gear, including breathable bivouac bags that are wind and waterproof, and polar sleeping bags to keep you warm and comfortable during the enchanting Antarctic night. Experienced expedition guides will assist and supervise all campers.
Hiking the Surreal Terrain of the Arctic and Antarctica
There's no better way to explore a new area than on foot. We offer a variety of hiking expeditions for all levels, from casual walkers to hard-core enthusiasts.
Explore the Arctic and Antarctic Coastline in a Kayak
Even after exploring shores, mountains, and spotting wildlife, there’s a whole world to discover on the water. Polar kayaking offers a unique way to experience the blue-and-white beauty of the polar seas, visiting stunning ice formations and waterways too small for our ships.
Dramatic Ascents and Breathtaking Descents
Looking for an adventure beyond shoreline walks and wildlife watching? Our ski mountaineering trips offer an invigorating, up-close experience of the rugged peaks and majestic mountains flanking the high Arctic fjords.
Join Our Expert-Led Photography Workshops
Visiting the polar regions is an indescribable experience. Our photography workshops help you capture incredible photos to complement your descriptions. On select voyages, professional photographers assist you in getting the best shots with your camera equipment through our free photo workshop activity.
Snowshoeing in the Arctic and Antarctica
Exploring a new place on foot is one of the best ways to truly experience it. With this in mind, Oceanwide Expeditions offers a variety of snowshoeing expeditions from the Polar shorelines, designed for everyone—from casual explorers to avid snowshoe enthusiasts.
The Amazing Activities of the Basecamp Voyage
A polar expedition cruise offers an array of exotic wildlife, dramatic landscapes, and invigorating outdoor activities. Our signature Basecamp voyages take this experience to another level.
m/v Plancius
Our most longstanding vessel, Plancius, is a classic choice for many of our most popular polar voyages.
Specifications
| Passengers: | 108 passengers in 50 cabins |
| Staff & crew: | Crew 40 | Guides 8 | Doctor 1 |
| Length: | 89 meters (293 feet) |
| Breadth: | 14,5 meters (47 feet) |
| Draft: | 5 meters (16 feet) |
| Ice class: | 1D (Plancius has a Lloyds class notation 100A1 Passenger ship, Ice Class 1D at a draught of 5 meters) |
| Displacement: | 3211 tonnes |
| Propulsion: | 3x Diesel-Electric |
| Speed: | 10.5 knots average cruising speed |
Cabins Gallery
Ship Interior Gallery
Ship Exterior Gallery
M/v “Plancius” was built in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and was named “Hr. Ms. Tydeman”. The ship sailed for the Dutch Navy until June 2004 and was eventually purchased by the company. The vessel was completely rebuilt as a passenger vessel in 2009 and complies with the latest SOLAS-regulations (Safety Of Life At Sea). M/v “Plancius” is classed by Lloyd’s Register and flies the Dutch flag.
Perfect for any expedition
M/v “Plancius” accommodates 108 passengers with private toilets and shower in 4 quadruple porthole cabins, 9 twin porthole cabins, 25 twin cabins with windows and 2 twin deluxe cabins, all (ca. 12,5 square meters) and 10 twin superior cabins (ca. 21 square meters). All cabins offer lower berths (one queen-size bed in the superior cabins and two single beds in the twin cabins), except for the 4 quadruple cabins (for 4 persons in 2x upper and lower beds).
Plancius: a vessel with comfort and character
Please be aware that a small number of cabins may have a partially obstructed view due to the design requirements of the ship. The best view is always on the outer deck or the bridge. The vessel offers a restaurant/lecture room on deck 3 and a spacious observation lounge (with bar) on deck 5 with large windows, offering a full panorama view. M/v “Plancius” has large open deck spaces (with full walk-around possibilities on deck 4), giving excellent opportunities to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. She is furthermore equipped with 10 Mark V zodiacs, including 40 HP 4-stroke outboard engines and 2 gangways on the starboard side, guaranteeing a swift zodiac operation.
M/v “Plancius” is comfortable and nicely decorated, but is not a luxury vessel. Our voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic regions are primarily defined by an exploratory educational travel program, spending as much time ashore as possible. Plancius fully meets our demands to achieve this. The vessel is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system which reduces the noise and vibration of the vessel considerably. The 3 diesel engines generate 1.230 horsepower each, giving the vessel a speed of 10 - 12 knots. The vessel is ice-strengthened and was specially built for oceanographic voyages. M/v “Plancius” is manned by an international crew of 40 (20 nautical crew and 20 hotel crew), 8 expedition staff (1 expedition leader, 1 assistant expedition leader and 6 guides/lecturers), and 1 doctor.
Dress code
In keeping with our expedition atmosphere, dress on board is informal. Bring casual and comfortable clothing for all activities. Keep in mind that much of the spectacular scenery can be appreciated from deck, which can be slippery. Bring sturdy shoes with no-slip soles and make sure the parka is never far away in case of the call "Whales!" comes over the loudspeaker and you have to dash outside. Wear layers since it is comfortably warm aboard the ship - and often cold on deck.
Currency & payment
Refreshments from the bar and souvenirs will be charged to your cabin. The day before departure you can settle your bill with the Hotel Manager and pay by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) or cash (Euro or Dollar). We do not accept cheques of any kind. The price and standard currency on board our vessels is the Euro. Other currencies may be accepted at the discretion of the hotel manager at prevailing rates.
Electric current
The electrical supply aboard the ship is 220v, 60Hz. Electrical outlets are standard European with two thick round pins. You may need a 220v/110v converter.
Gratuities
The customary gratuity to the ship's service personnel is made as a blanket contribution at the end of the voyage which is divided among the crew. Tipping is a very personal matter and the amount you wish to give is at your discretion. As a generally accepted guideline, we suggest 8-15 Euro per person per day. It is better for the crew, if you can give them cash.
Non-smoking policy
On board our vessels we have a non-smoking policy. It is prohibited to smoke inside the ship. You can smoke in the designated smoking areas. Please respect the wishes of non-smokers.
Your physical condition
You must be in good general health and you should be able to walk several hours per day. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding. Although we spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join most excursions, you must be able to get up and down the steep gangway from the ship to the water level to board the Zodiacs. Staff will assist you in and out of the boats. This will become progressively easier with practice. Ashore it can be slippery and rocky. You are travelling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition, or need daily medical treatment.
The average price for flights (round trip) to Ushuaia
From Jakarta: $2,300
From Singapore: $2,500
From Kuala Lumpur: $1,900
Insurance Requirements:
- Mandatory Insurance: All travelers must have insurance covering medical expenses, accidents, and repatriation/evacuation.
- Recommended Insurance: It is strongly recommended to include cancellation insurance for added protection.
Drone Usage Policy:
- Prohibited: The use of drones is strictly prohibited during the expedition.
Clothing and Gear Recommendations:
- Water-Resistant Coat and Pants: Essential for protection against the wet and windy conditions.
- Layered Underwear: To ensure warmth and comfort in extreme weather.
- Sunglasses: Necessary to protect against the strong UV rays and glare from the snow.
- Gloves: Insulated and water-resistant gloves to keep your hands warm and dry.
- Additional Items: Consider packing a warm hat, thermal socks, and sturdy waterproof boots.
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
- Flights to the embarkation point and from the disembarkation point.
- Pre- and post- land arrangements.
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Meals ashore.
- Personal health Insurance for Medical, Accident and Repatriation/Evacuating.
- All personal expenses, including but not limited to laundry services, bar beverages, and excess internet usage charges.
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
- In Svalbard, a medevac is usually not more than a few hours away. In East Greenland, an evacuation via a remote airfield or to the hospital in Ittoqqortoormiit could take 1-3 days. All scenarios are highly weather dependent. It is therefore obligatory to acquire a travel insurance that also includes coverage for medical repatriation costs and evacuation by helicopter, plane, or ship. After the booking process, you will be asked to provide us with details of your acquired insurance policy. If you are in poor health or in doubt, please consult your physician for a check-up. All passengers need to be healthy enough to travel to remote places with limited or no medical facilities. On our motor vessels, we sail with a qualified physician at all times. The infirmary on board our motor vessels is only suited for first-aid care, however, and on our sailing vessel we have no doctor or medical facility.
- Yes, but the minimum age we can allow on board is three years old, however we advise against travelling with children under 8 years old. The maximum age we consider to be a child is 16 years old. We offer a 40% child discount in certain cabin types on a selection of voyages for children between three and 15 years old.
- No, you are not able to get cash advances on the vessel.
- When you make a confirmed reservation, we require a 40% deposit. But if the reservation is made within two months prior to departure, the full price of the voyage is due at the time of booking.
- Animal lovers who take their holiday in the Antarctic Peninsula will be treated to a diverse list of wildlife that is especially suited to the area's cold climate. It is common to encounter several penguin species such as the Gentoo penguins. Other types of wildlife that can be spotted from an Antarctic cruise or an Antarctic Peninsula land expedition include the Weddell seal, the Antarctic shag and Snow petrels.
- The Antarctic Peninsula follows Coordinated Universal Time -3 (UTC -3). This means that if it is 18:00 UTC-3 (6 p.m.) during your expedition cruise trip to the Antarctic Peninsula , it would be 17:00 (5 p.m.) in New York City, USA and 22:00 (10 p.m.) in London, U.K.
- There are in total 50 cabins at the Plancius: 4 quadruple cabins with private toilet and shower 9 twin porthole cabins 25 twin cabins with window 2 twin deluxe cabins (ca 15 square meters) 10 superior cabins (ca 21 square meters)
- There is place for 116 passengers aboard the Plancius. Furthermore there are 45 staff & crew on board : 17 nautical crew, 19 hotel staff (6 chefs, 1 hotel manager, 1 steward-barman and 11 stewards/cabin cleaners), 7 or 8 expedition staff and 1 doctor on board.
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The Classic Polar Cruise: Antarctic Peninsula Facts, Pics, and More
Flowers in Antarctica
Weddell Sea, Shackleton’s Endurance, and New Swabia
Of Treacherous Rocks & Audacious Fin Whales
Antarctic Explorer’s Voyage
The Emperor Penguin of the Drake Passage
Life in a Penguin Colony
8 Whales You Might See During Your Antarctica Cruise
Danger Beneath the Water: 10 Facts About Leopard Seals
The Eight Albatrosses of Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic
Graham Land: A landscape dominated by volcanoes
Camping in Antarctica: a True Expedition Experience
Adding Antarctica to Your Seven-Continents Bucket List
Wreck Diving in Antarctica
The Ins, Outs, and Ups of Polar Mountaineering & Ski Mountaineering
Cheapest Antarctica Cruises: How to Save on Your Journey
Eight Antarctic Misconceptions
The Research Stations of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic
The Eight Great Penguin Species of Antarctica
