In Early December 2025, I will go with my long time friend Victor on a cruise to Antarctica. The cruise company Seabourn (a division of Carnival Cruises) calls it an expedition. Sure, I’ll bring my tent and crampons. It is a standard 11 day cruise of which there are many similar. This one starts and ends In Bueno Aires, Argentina.
Step back a bit. Leaving Toronto, I will fly direct to Panama City and stay there a few days playing touristico. A flight to Buenos Aires and a few days there where Victor and I will meet up. First night is in a 5-star hotel in Buenos Aires, a flight to Ushuaia in the very south of Argentina then board the ship, Seabourn Pursuit. It holds up to 260 passengers, launched in 2023.
A bit of perspective. Toronto is about 44°N. Ushuaia is about 54°S, about as far south as Edmonton is north (plus a bit). The tip of the Antarctic penninsula is about 63°S, about as far south as Yellowknife is north (plus a bit). In Canada, you can drive to Tuktoyaktuk, about 69°N. The weather in early December, the start of the southern summer, is around 0°C and can vary quite a bit because of the exposure to the open ocean.
Upon leaving port, the ship is in the Beagle Channel, a shortcut through the tip of South America, named after some ship that some guy called Darwin was on. Within hours the ship is in the Drake Passage for the next day and a half. That is the harsh sea between the southern tip of South America and the northern tip of the Antarctic peninsula, roughly 1,000km. Side note for word nerds, Antarctica is the continent while Antarctic is an adjective such as Antarctic penguins. The winds from the west have nothing to stop them, except a little ship. The waves can be several metres high, especially in the relatively shallower areas. That is called the Drake Shake. Then again, the wind gods can take a day off, that is called the Drake Lake.
That’s all for now, more added during and after the trip.