Chasing Light to the End of the World

Fly into Ezeiza International Airport and check into your hotel in Argentina’s vibrant capital. The rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace—perhaps wandering historic neighborhoods, enjoying a late dinner, or simply resting up before the adventure ahead.

A private coach transfers guests from the hotel to Buenos Aires’ Jorge Newbery Airfield for a chartered jet flight to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Upon arrival, another private transfer brings you directly to your expedition ship.

Once on board, settle into your suite, unpack, attend mandatory safety briefings and expedition orientations, and enjoy your first meals—paired, of course, with Seabourn’s signature complimentary beverages.

For the first of two days crossing the Southern Ocean, settle into life aboard your Seabourn expedition ship. Attend expert-led lectures, meet your expedition team, visit the spa and fitness center, relax in the hot tubs, or curl up with a book in Seabourn Square as the open ocean stretches endlessly around you.

This is also a great time to get acquainted with your fellow travelers—and perhaps get an early start on that caviar on demand with a glass of champagne.

At some point during the voyage—this is Antarctica, after all—you’ll cross the legendary Drake Passage. Conditions here are famously unpredictable: you may experience the calm waters of the “Drake Lake,” or the more spirited motion of the “Drake Shake.”

If you’re prone to seasickness, today is a good day to stay ahead of it with medication (readily available on board). Meanwhile, lectures, wildlife sightings, and anticipation continue to build as the ship presses south.

As icebergs begin to appear on the horizon, you’ll know you’ve arrived somewhere truly extraordinary. Towering sculpted ice, snow-covered peaks, and your first glimpses of Antarctic wildlife set the stage for what’s to come.Look out for penguins porpoising through the water, seabirds wheeling overhead, and breaching humpback whales—sometimes even orcas—announcing your arrival on the Great White Continent.

If conditions allow, today could bring one of Antarctica’s most unforgettable moments: an ice landing. Your ice-class vessel may carefully press into a natural ice platform, allowing guests to step directly from the ship onto the snow-covered surface. It’s a rare opportunity for incredible photos—including the playful tradition of passengers “pulling” the ship through the ice with a heavy rope secured to the bow.

Expedition activities may include Zodiac cruises, nature walks, and shore landings. Experiences are dependent on weather, ice conditions, and wildlife distribution.

This is no ordinary destination—and there is no fixed itinerary. Each day in Antarctica unfolds based on real-time conditions, with your Expedition Leader crafting a bespoke plan guided by weather, ice, tides, and opportunity.

Around this time in the voyage, exploration may include places such as Deception Island, where ships sail directly into the flooded caldera of an active volcano, or landings at penguin-rich sites in the South Shetland Islands. You may find yourself walking black volcanic beaches, cruising among icebergs by Zodiac, or standing quietly as penguins waddle past, completely unbothered by your presence.

With no set schedule and endless possibilities, today may bring landings on the Antarctic Peninsula itself. Conditions permitting, guests often visit places such as Neko Harbour, where you can step foot on continental Antarctica, or Cuverville Island, home to one of the largest gentoo penguin colonies in the region.

Activities may include guided shore walks, Zodiac cruising through ice-filled bays, or simply taking in the overwhelming silence and scale of the landscape. Optional experiences such as sea kayaking or submarine dives may also be available at additional cost, offering a completely different perspective of this frozen world.

Today may bring a transit through one of Antarctica’s most photographed locations: the Lemaire Channel. This narrow, dramatic passage is flanked by steep mountains and drifting ice, creating a cinematic experience best enjoyed from the ship’s open decks.

Whales are frequently sighted here, and guests often spend hours outside, cameras in hand, soaking in the surreal beauty of ice, light, and water in near-perfect silence.

As the ship turns northward, reflect on the extraordinary experiences of the past days while enjoying the comfort and elegance of Seabourn once more. Share stories with new friends, relax in the hot tubs with a glass of champagne, revisit expedition lectures with fresh perspective, or simply whale-watch from the decks as Antarctica slowly fades into the distance.

Use this final full day at sea to trade contact information, begin packing, attend live entertainment, and scroll through the photos that now tell a story few people on Earth get to live. The Southern Ocean continues to provide wildlife sightings, while the ship’s amenities offer the perfect space to unwind.

Arrive back in Ushuaia, the “End of the World,” where your Antarctic expedition officially concludes. Depending on docking time, you may have the opportunity to explore this charming Patagonian town or enjoy a scenic drive into the surrounding mountains before transferring to the airport for your return flight to Buenos Aires.