Ross Sea Luxury Cruises, Antarctica

The following day, head to the penguin rookery on Martillo Island, where you will marvel at the bustling colony of Magellanic Penguins at their breeding site. Continue to a delicious picnic lunch on Gable Island, the largest island in the Beagle Channel, before taking a light hike to spot seabirds such as petrels, skuas, cormorants, seagulls and albatross. 

The adventure begins as your captain steers you across the Drake Passage and toward the Antarctic Polar Circle, which marks the latitude where the sun doesn’t set for 24 hours in the summer months. As you cruise further and further south, your expert naturalist guides will organize lectures to provide you with interesting facts and background about the enigmatic Antarctic region that you’re about to experience.

After crossing the Antarctic Polar Circle, embark on your first expedition to Charcot Island. Jagged outcrops of rock that dramatically contrast against the icy white cliffs and cloudy sky characterize this mysterious island. Upon exploring the island with your naturalist guide, you will become one of the few people ever to step foot in such remote and inhospitable terrain. 

As you continue your journey toward the Ross Sea, you will witness the spectacularly stark landscapes at the edge of the world up close, disembarking Le Commandant Charcot for additional expeditions. During your days at sea, experts in the regions will offer lectures and lead discussion groups. Or, you may simply enjoy the amenities of Le Commandant Charcot as you admire the grandeur of the enormous icebergs that dot the landscape.

On your twelfth day aboard, you will arrive at the Ross Sea, the world’s largest marine protected area that famed explorer James Clark Ross first discovered in the 1840s. The sea ice surrounding the nutrient-rich water protects the many bird and mammal species who call the area home. The Ross Ice Shelf, the largest expanse of ice in the world, sits at the southern boundary of the sea. The sheer cliffs and vertical face of the ice shelf dominate the landscape, rising to 100 meters above sea level and reaching even further depths under the water. 

Following your exploration of the Ross Ice Shelf, you will reverse course and begin heading north, stopping for additional expeditions during the return journey. For instance, you may visit some of the only land in the world that remains unclaimed by any country – Antarctica’s Ruppert Coast and Burke Island. Finally, your Antarctic journey comes to a close once you cross the Drake Passage once more and disembark in Ushuaia.