Arrive Buenos Aires. Transfer from the airport to the Alvear Icon or similar.
Arrival Time: Arrive before 11:30 a.m. local time.
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888 308 4904
Quick Email
888 308 4904
Experience an in-depth exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula with the pioneers of Antarctic cruising, featuring nine days on the continent—our longest, most comprehensive Antarctica experience available. This is the pinnacle of expeditionary travel as we push further south into rarely visited territory in pursuit of the Antarctic Circle. National Geographic Endurance, your home base for the adventure, is purpose-built to offer unprecedented access to these rarified places, and our diverse team of experts will ensure we maximize our time in the region. Along the way, Zodiac cruise around enormous icebergs, watch for whales off the bow, kayak in tranquility, and hike onshore. Choose an active agenda or surrender to the pleasures of relaxing downtime and shipboard camaraderie. Plus, get top shots with the help of a National Geographic Photography Expert.
Expedition Highlights
• Experience a once-in-a-lifetime occasion as we draw on 55 years of expedition heritage and venture ever south, as conditions allow, in hopes of crossing the imaginary line at 66°33′ south latitude, and celebrate with a group toast
• Sail aboard the state-of-the-art National Geographic Endurance, a top-tier ice class vessel (PC5 Category A) with safety technologies that far exceed industry requirements
• Explore the last great wilderness in the company of a team of veteran naturalists and take epic photographs with the help of a National Geographic Photography Expert on board every departure
• Watch whales off the bow; glide around enormous icebergs in Zodiacs; explore on shore; and kayak near porpoising gentoo, Adelie, and chinstrap penguins
• Discover the unexpectedly dazzling undersea with a dedicated undersea specialist
Day 1 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arrive Buenos Aires. Transfer from the airport to the Alvear Icon or similar.
Arrival Time: Arrive before 11:30 a.m. local time.
Day 2 - Fly to Ushuaia, Argentina / Embark Ship
Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Enjoy lunch on a catamaran cruise of the Beagle Channel. Embark National Geographic Endurance.
Day 3/4 - At Sea Crossing the Drake Passage
This 500-mile-wide strait between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula is one of the most famous bodies of water in the world. Sometimes ferocious, sometimes flat calm, the Drake is always a fascinating place in its own right. This part
of the journey is our best opportunity to see gorgeous seabirds like the wandering albatross, and we might be lucky enough to encounter killer whales or rare species of dolphins. This is also a day to get to know our ship and prepare for the
adventures ahead. Visit the Bridge (a great place to spot wildlife), have a relaxing massage, attend a talk about the biology of the penguins you’ll soon be seeing, or settle into a comfy chair inthe observation lounge, look out over the waves
and reflect on the incredible history of this fabled passage. If it does get a little rough, just take a couple of nice naps; we’ll be in Antarctica before you know it
Day 5/13 - Deep Exploration Towards the Antarctica Circle
With long hours of daylight at this time of year, and nine days on the Continent, we can experience more as we sail in the wake of history’s boldest explorers on a quest to cross the legendary Antarctic Circle. Our schedule is flexible, and our state-of-the-art ship allows us to get deeper and go further to take advantage of the unexpected, whether we’re watching whales at play off the bow of our ship, walking amid thousands of Adélie and gentoo penguins, enjoying an evening Zodiac cruise under the spectacular midnight sun, or even discovering a new uncharted cove. While wildlife is magnificent, ice defines the Antarctic. You’ll get to know ice up close and personal—from icebergs the size of islands, bergy bits and near-vertical glaciers, to the fragile, nearly invisible layers that have just begun to freeze.
One day, we might set out by kayak to encounter towering icebergs at water level or embark on a Zodiac excursion in search of seals and blue-eyed
shags. The next, we might experience the thrill of the ship crunching through pack ice. Everywhere we go in Antarctica we’re surrounded by opportunities to capture uniquely beautiful images. Along the way your expert expedition team will enrich your experiences and our Icemaster Captain will navigate you safely through these icy waters.
Day 14/15 - At Sea
Enjoy the ship’s amenities as the coast of Antarctica disappears from view. Round the southernmost tip of South America and see the meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Take some time to go through your photos. Send a message home to friends and family saying: “Don’t want this to end!” And celebrate your voyage at a farewell dinner on board.
Day 16 - Ushuaia / Disembark Ship / Buenos Aires
Today we disembark in Ushuaia. Fly to Buenos Aires and connect with your overnight flight home.
Departure Time: Depart after 9:00 p.m. local time.
Please consider that our voyages are expeditionary in nature. This means, that there are no concrete itineraries, your Captain and Expedition Leader will utilise their vast experience to chart the best course for your expedition depending on the climatic and environmental conditions. Mentioned highlights and wildlife cannot be guaranteed.
A next-generation expedition ship, purpose-built for polar navigation.
Endurance is a next-generation expedition ship, purpose-built for polar navigation. A fully stabilized, highly strengthened, ice-class Polar Code PC5 (Category A) vessel, it is designed to navigate polar passages year-round, and safely explore unchartered waters, while providing exceptional comfort. Its patented X-BOW® is key to its design; its powerful wave-slicing action provides an extremely smooth ride in even adverse conditions, and even reduces spray on deck, for superior observation. She carries a full suite of expedition tools and offers a variety of experience-enhancing amenities.
TOOLS FOR EXPLORATION:
Expedition Landing Craft
Key to our operation is our fleet of expedition landing craft, which we use to land in places that would otherwise be inaccessible. With 8 of these boats and two loading stations used every time we disembark, we’re able to transfer guests off the ship quickly, so you can be out on adventures, not idly waiting. The expedition landing craft we use is 19 feet long, powered by four-stroke outboard engines, and are capable of comfortably carrying 10-12 people. They are widely recognized as the safest and most versatile small boats afloat.
Remotely Operated Vehicle
Capable of reaching 1,000 feet, far beyond the range of any Scuba diver, the ROV allows you to literally view parts of the undersea that are as unexplored as the moon. Chances are you, like many of our guests, will be struck by how surprisingly colourful undersea life is in these unlikely places. And this glimpse may fundamentally change how you view the ocean.
Kayaks
National Geographic Endurance will be equipped with a fleet of kayaks large enough to ensure everyone who wants to can paddle at every opportunity.
Consequently, prior kayaking experience isn’t necessary—many of our guests have their first kayaking experience in extraordinary locations. Our custom-designed floating platform lets us deploy kayaks from the ship, or any location we want—including far from shore. Kayakers are usually free to explore where they want within boundaries set by the undersea specialist and officer of the watch.
Underwater camera
Our undersea specialist will dive often during your expedition, even in Alaska, with cold-water gear, to shoot high-definition, Cousteau-like footage of the deep. Colourful nudibranchs, swimming, plant-like crinoids, and mysterious fish with antifreeze blood that thrives in the frigid sea will give you an entirely new appreciation of the marine environment.
Video microscope
Naturalists will use the video microscope to help explain all elements of the environment, including tiny organisms that are the building block of the marine ecosystem. Spellbinding live views of krill at 80x magnification fills the high-definition screens in the lounge with vivid detail and fills every onlooker with a sense of wonder at the importance of otherwise unobservable creatures.
Hydrophone
This underwater microphone is deployed to listen to the vocalizations of marine mammals. Real-time transmissions of their eerie, haunting sounds can be broadcast through the ship or recorded for later playback. Few experiences in nature are as captivating as watching humpback whales feed close to the ship as their vocalizations play through the ship’s PA system.
Electronic charts
An electronic chart showing the ship’s location, course, and speed is almost always on display in the lounge.
Open bridge
You’ll find our captains are engaged, knowledgeable members of your expedition who are eager to share their passion with you. Venture’s open bridge features comfortable spaces to sit, enjoy the view, drink your morning coffee, or simply chat with the officers.
| Luxury star rating: | 5 |
| Guests #: | 126 |
| Crew #: | |
| Ice Class: | PC5 |
| Speed: | 16 |
| Refurbished: |
| Year built: | 2020 |
| Length: | 124m |
| Width: | |
| Draft: | 5 |
| Tonnage: | 1250 |
| Registry: | |
| Elec Outlets: | 2 Flat |
We understand that the trip of a lifetime takes planning, so we make the financial commitments easy to manage.
