Holiday Voyage: Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands

Arrive in Argentina’s capital and transfer to your hotel. The next day, explore Buenos Aires with your local guides, choosing from excursions that include a guided tour with a tango demonstration or a tour of the city’s vibrant street art scene. Join your fellow guests and A&K staff for a welcome cocktail reception and briefing.

Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Take a guided trek in the Cerro Alarken Nature Reserve before boarding your luxurious expedition cruiser for the next 17 nights. Watch with your family from the comfort of your own private balcony as ‘Le Lyrial’ heads out to sea.

As you sail east toward the Falkland Islands, A&K’s Expedition Team begins their exciting lecture series, covering everything from penguins to the formation of sea ice to thrilling personal accounts of living in Antarctica. Photography enthusiasts of all ages enjoy time with A&K’s Resident Photo Coach, on hand to share tips and answer questions. Young guests — even teens, who may enjoy their own teens-only group — are invited to join Young Explorers Guides for onboard adventures ranging from a scavenger hunt to nautical knot-tying with a former British Royal Marine Commando. The cool waters in these parts are rich in krill, making them a favorite with local wildlife searching for food. Alongside your naturalist guides, spot various species of whales and seabirds from 'Le Lyrial's' deck.

Arrive in the remote Falkland Islands, which you explore for the next two days. Your expedition may take you to the western side of the archipelago to observe its flourishing wildlife. Conditions permitting, you also visit the tiny capital of Stanley, choosing from several excursions. Young Explorers Guides lead young guests on a visit to a sheep-shearing farm and the local museum, where they embark on a tour with a taxidermist.

Time spent cruising is once again filled with fascinating lectures with your Expedition Team as well as exciting family-friendly programming led by Young Explorers Guides. The open ocean is a treasure chest bursting with life, and deck-side sightings of humpback whales and seabirds become more frequent.

Look forward to a most inspiring and unforgettable Christmas Day when you arrive at South Georgia, the Southern Ocean’s crown jewel for wildlife. A nearly submerged continuation of the Andes mountain range, the island offers glacier-covered coves and rugged shores, ideal for exploring with your naturalist guides on Zodiacs (inflatable boats). Weather and ice conditions permitting, excursions over the next three days include stops along the northeast coastline of the island, where we hope to visit vast colonies of king penguins and Southern elephant seals. You may also explore iconic historic sites with your A&K historian, who shares tales of the whaling era and heroic age of exploration. You also learn about the life and exploits of Antarctica’s greatest explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose final resting place is right here on South Georgia Island at Grytviken.

Cruise the Scotia Sea while your expert lecturers recap your adventures in South Georgia and hint at what’s to come in Antarctica. Young Explorers Guides arrange for wild activities that include dissecting loligo squids, creating Japanese fish prints with an ink rubbing and a special visit to the ship’s high-tech bridge to see how ‘Le Lyrial’ is controlled.

Your itinerary and a memorable New Year’s celebration call for landings on the Antarctic Peninsula and a number of South Shetland Islands. Weather and ice conditions permitting, your expedition team takes advantage of the best opportunities to set out on Zodiacs and explore the continent's iconic shores, which teem with gentoo, Adélie and chinstrap penguins. Meanwhile, a parent-free Zodiac ride beckons younger guests, who receive a lesson from their naturalist guide on how to drive the nimble boats, all while cruising past ice floes, whales and napping leopard seals. Antarctica’s stunning geography enhances the excitement of your experience here and competes for your attention with its dramatic snow-capped mountains, shimmering glaciers, and iceberg-strewn channels and bays.

Bid farewell to Antarctica as ‘Le Lyrial’ points north to Ushuaia. Enjoy time with the new friends you’ve made, observe more marine life from the decks or participate in family-friendly activities with your Young Explorers Guides.

After breakfast, disembark ‘Le Lyrial.’ Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Buenos Aires, where you board your flight home or join our new Ushuaia post-tour extension.