14 day Cruise

ANTARCTICA is the opposite of the world as you know it. "Terra Incognita Australis," as the old maps labeled it--"the unknown land to the south." You couldn't survive on your own; it is not a place for human beings. Then why visit? In this overbuilt, overscheduled world, Antarctica is an entire continent virtually devoid of human influence. The nations of the Earth have agreed. Study. Admire. And let be.

During the brief Austral summer, penguins, gulls, skuas, and other nesting birds return in the thousands to nest on the few scraps of exposed ground. Antarctic fur seals return to breed, leopard seals cruise among the ice floes, and whales migrate to the ice from their breeding grounds in the equatorial latitudes. Scientists return too. The scenery is fantastic. And it's not even all that cold along the Antarctic Peninsula.

THE VOYAGE SOUTH On the way south from Tierra del Fuego, we have time to relax and prepare for the days ahead. Anticipation builds. An abrupt change in sea surface temperature, a band of fog, a squadron of wandering albatross up above-- these are the signs we've been waiting for. We've crossed the Antarctic Convergence and entered Antarctic waters, via the Drake Passage. Located between the tip of South America and the tongue of the Antarctic Peninsula, it's the shortest distance between the civilized world and the continent (about 500 miles). These productive waters are what protect and nurture Antarctica. Soon the ship will sail the protected channels and waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula and its sheltering archipelagos. Here we navigate a flooded geologic fault between towering mountains, taking in the ever-increasing spectacle of snow and ice and wildlife, and marveling at the changing light. Even if you never get off the vessel, you'll have the time of your life.

SEIZING THE DAY With almost perpetual daylight in Antarctica, we could launch the versatile Zodiac landing craft practically anytime. Depending on the voyage, you might enjoy a Zodiac cruise before breakfast or head out after dinner to land on a quiet cobble beach covered with penguins and seals. Each evening, your expedition leader will sketch the following day's adventures. In this land without piers or ports or typical infrastructure, actual landings depend upon the local weather, vagaries of the sea and ice, and unplanned events--like a group of breaching humpback whales, seals cavorting on an ice floe, or an especially picturesque iceberg. Antarctica is a surprising place where the weather is as much a feature of the experience as the wildlife and landscapes. A single day can bring calm, warm weather with sunny skies, snow flurries, a sudden squall, and atmospheric fog and mist. No single voyage, and no day, is alike. That's one reason why so many people fall in love with the place, and return. Be warned: a trip to Antarctica could change your life.

Inclusions

• Ten-night cruise aboard the all-suite, 114-guest Corinthian II
• One night in Buenos Aires at the Marriott Plaza Hotel
• Round-trip group flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
• Full program of excursions as described in the accompanying itinerary
• Welcome and farewell receptions aboard ship, hosted by the captain
• All meals aboard ship with house wine, beer, and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner
• Physician aboard ship (Corinthian II's sophisticated communications system allows for easy link-up with a medical assistance service in the U.S.)
• Educational program of lectures and discussions with accompanying study leaders and onboard naturalist guides
• Expedition parka, complete pre-departure materials, and detailed cruise log
• Travel Dynamics International expedition leader, cruise staff, and trip directors
• Baggage handling and transfers abroad on the designated program departure and arrival dates Embarkation taxes and port dues
• Gratuities to porters, guides, and drivers

NOT INCLUDED: Airfare (other than the designated group flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia); visas; passports; luggage, cancellation, and accident insurance; meals, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages other than those specified above; personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, faxes, and e-mail/Internet service; and gratuities to shipboard personnel

Day 1
USA / DEPARTURE
Depart from the United States on a flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Day 2
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to the Marriott Plaza Hotel for the night. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax after the flight or to explore Buenos Aires on your own.

Day 3
BUENOS AIRES / USHUAIA / EMBARKATION
Fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, a small Patagonian city set on the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Darwin Cordillera, glaciers, and forests of southern beech. Upon arrival, transfer to Corinthian II. As Corinthian II navigates the Beagle Channel, enjoy a spectacular vista of glaciers and green-misted mountains.

Days 4 & 5
AT SEA
Attend lectures by naturalists and study leaders as Corinthian II sails through the Drake Passage and crosses the Antarctic Convergence, where the cold waters of the Southern Ocean override the warmer waters to the north. Albatross and cape petrels are among the birds that accompany the ship on its passage.

Days 6 - 10
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
Enjoy five days exploring the pristine wilderness of the Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding islands. The Peninsula is a narrow finger of land that separates the ice-choked waters of the Weddell and Bellingshausen Seas. As Corinthian II sails through scenic waterways, witness a breathtaking panorama of icebergs, blue glaciers, and jagged, snowcapped mountains. Aboard the ship's fleet of Zodiacs, cruise among ice floes, land at penguin rookeries, and visit with scientists at research stations. Although the itinerary varies according to local ice and wind conditions, we plan to land at such places as Petermann Island, where humpback and minke whales are often sighted offshore; Paradise Bay, the habitat of gentoo and chinstrap penguins and leopard and Weddell seals; and Deception Island, known for its volcanically-heated hot springs. Voyages through the magnificent Lemaire, Neumayer, Errata, and other protected channels are also scheduled--never to be forgotten.

Days 11 & 12
AT SEA
Watch for whales and seabirds and enjoy onboard lectures and the amenities of the ship as Corinthian II makes the 600-mile return trip to Ushuaia.

Day 13
USHUAIA, ARGENTINA / DISEMBARKATION / BUENOS AIRES
Disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for the flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, connect with flights to the United States.

Day 14
USA
Arrive in the United States.