Emblematic Antarctica
12 Days - L'Austral
We invite you on a polar expedition cruise to the heart of the icy realm that is the Antarctic Peninsula. Embark on an unforgettable 12-day voyage and succumb to the enchantment of the breathtaking landscapes inhabited by astonishing wildlife.
The start of your cruise will be marked by the crossing of the mythical Drake Passage, during which you will probably be escorted by several albatrosses and Cape petrels, the sentinels of these often-choppy waters. Your ship will then reach the White Continent, realm of the unexpected. Weather and ice conditions permitting, this extreme environment where nature reigns supreme will reveal to you its most beautiful secrets through numerous discoveries. On this uninhabited land, which wasn’t explored until the 19th century, your encounters with the wildlife will no doubt be one of the highlights of your experience. The Gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap penguins, humpback whales, seals and seabirds will provide you with cherished lifelong memories.
from USD $12313pp
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Home » 12 Day L’Austral: Emblematic Antarctica
Itinerary Highlights
- Visiting research stations and former whaling stations.
- Landscapes: a multitude of drifting icebergs, ice floe, imposing icebergs, tall snow-covered mountains.
- Wildlife: Gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap penguins, Minke and humpback whales, Weddell seals, sea leopards and sea birds.
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Buenos Aires
- Day 2: Ushuaia
- Day 3-4: Crossing the Drake Passage
- Day 5-9: Antarctic Pensinsula
- Day 10-11: Crossing the Drake Passage
- Day 12: Ushuaia
Day 1: Buenos Aires
Welcome to Buenos Aires! Make your way to your hotel, where you can check in from late morning. Your afternoon is at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Days 2: Ushuaia
An early morning breakfast will be served before leaving to the airport for your flight Buenos Aires – Ushuaia. Your flight will take approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes and upon arrival to Ushuaia you will be greeted by a representative. Before embarkation you have 2 options in Ushuaia:
Transfer to a restaurant for lunch
OR
Optional excursion to visit Tierra del Fuego National Park (extra cost, please request before departure). If you decide to do so, please note that immediately upon arrival at Ushuaia airport, you will leave towards the Park where you will have lunch before starting the tour.
Created in 1960, the park which covers 63 000 hectares (155 670 acres) is located in the south west of the Tierra del Fuego Province on the Beagle Canal. One of his entries stands slightly over 6 miles from Ushuaia. Mountainous landscapes, lagoons, bogs, and rivers draw a picturesque scenery reinforced by the southern position of the park itself. The Darwin Mountains, which represent the southern part of the Andes Mountains are mainly responsible for such landscape. The Park is only partly accessible to the public and this tour will provide you with the opportunity to discover the local flora and sub-Antarctic landscapes. If you get lucky, you may encounter beavers, dams, birds, wild orchids, etc… This is a true paradise for Nature Lovers!
Lunch will be served in a local restaurant within the Park.
(Please note that the Tierra del Fuego excursion is subject to a minimum of participants: if this number is not reached, our operator will not be able to guarantee the departure – In this case, you will be given the option to join the “Lunch in Ushuaia” programme.)
At the end of your visit, you will return to Ushuaia and the port, for embarkation on your vessel.
The ship departs at 6pm tonight.
Day 3-4: Drake passage
Use your days spent in the Drake Passage to familiarise yourself with your ship and deepen your knowledge of the Antarctic. The Expedition Leader will first present the IAATO rules of conduct that must be observed during landings in the region and will explain everything you need to know about the Zodiac outings. Lectures about the history and wildlife of the Antarctic will be an opportunity for you to learn more about this magical region, where every cruise is a unique experience. From the ship’s bridge, you will experience exceptional sailing moments before joining the naturalist-guides on your ship’s exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds flying over the Drake Passage.
Days 5-9: Antarctic Peninsula
Succumb to the magic of a place unlike any other. To this day, the mythical Antarctic Peninsula still holds real fascination and promises its visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals and giant petrels are at home here, as are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales, and orcas. Depending on which sites you will be lucky enough to visit, you may get the chance to observe them and share with them the beauty of these extreme parts.
Each day, based on ice conditions, the captain and the expedition leader will suggest zodiac outings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula. Glaciers, ice floe, tabletop icebergs, mountain peaks that plunge straight into the sea, volcanic beaches, research stations, enchanting bays, and vestiges of the whaling industry: these are the faces of the Antarctic that will likely reveal themselves to you, in a hushed and surreal atmosphere. You will sail in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache and Sir Ernest Shackleton, great Antarctic explorers who, from the 19th century, set out to conquer these remote and uninhabited lands.
Day 10-11: Drake Passage
If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbours a very diverse marine fauna. Don't forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.
Day 12: Disembark Ushuaia
After early breakfast you will start to disembark the ship and you will be transferred to Ushuaia airport in time to check in for your flight back to Buenos Aires.
Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
---|---|---|---|
22 Dec 2024 - 02 Jan 2025 | USD $16354pp | ||
Superior Stateroom | USD $16354pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3 | USD $17463pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | USD $18252pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | USD $18578pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | USD $19048pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Suite | USD $26959pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | USD $28061pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 6 | USD $29483pp | Contact us | |
Owner's Suite | USD $38884pp | Contact us | |
29 Jan 2025 - 09 Feb 2025 | USD $14000pp | ||
Superior Stateroom | USD $14000pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3 | USD $14918pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | USD $15571pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | USD $15844pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | USD $16238pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Suite | USD $22789pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | USD $23707pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 6 | USD $24878pp | Contact us | |
Owner's Suite | USD $34320pp | Contact us | |
08 Feb 2025 - 19 Feb 2025 | USD $12776pp | ||
Superior Stateroom | USD $12776pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3 | USD $13592pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | USD $14170pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | USD $14408pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | USD $14762pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Suite | USD $20585pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | USD $21401pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 6 | USD $22442pp | Contact us | |
Owner's Suite | USD $34320pp | Contact us | |
22 Nov 2025 - 03 Dec 2025 | USD $12313pp | ||
Superior Stateroom | USD $12313pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3 | USD $13088pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | USD $13653pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | USD $13871pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | USD $14204pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Suite | USD $19782pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | USD $20565pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 6 | USD $21565pp | Contact us | |
Owner's Suite | USD $34925pp | Contact us | |
18 Jan 2026 - 29 Jan 2026 | USD $12313pp | ||
Superior Stateroom | USD $12313pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3 | USD $13088pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | USD $13653pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | USD $13871pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | USD $14204pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Suite | USD $19782pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | USD $20565pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 6 | USD $21565pp | Contact us | |
Owner's Suite | USD $34925pp | Contact us | |
28 Jan 2026 - 08 Feb 2026 | USD $12313pp | ||
Superior Stateroom | USD $12313pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3 | USD $13088pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | USD $13653pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | USD $13871pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | USD $14204pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Suite | USD $19782pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | USD $20565pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 6 | USD $21565pp | Contact us | |
Owner's Suite | USD $34925pp | Contact us | |
07 Feb 2026 - 18 Feb 2026 | USD $12313pp | ||
Superior Stateroom | USD $12313pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3 | USD $13088pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4 | USD $13653pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5 | USD $13871pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6 | USD $14204pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe Suite | USD $19782pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 5 | USD $20565pp | Contact us | |
Prestige Suite - Deck 6 | USD $21565pp | Contact us | |
Owner's Suite | USD $34925pp | Contact us |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Superior Stateroom
21m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Deluxe Stateroom Deck 3
18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service, WiFi access and butler service.
Deluxe Suite
27m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Prestige Suite - Deck 5
36m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, 8m² private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
Prestige Suite - Deck 6
36m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, 8m² private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service, WiFi access and butler service.
Owner's Suite
45m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, located on deck 6, French design, panoramic views, individually-controlled air-conditioning, bathtub and shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, desk with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service, WiFi access, 1 private transfer (round trip: airport - hotel - port) and 1 free hours of spa treatments.
Single Deluxe Stateroom
18m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private balcony, individually-controlled air-conditioning, shower, minibar, flatscreen, satellite TV, deck with stationery, iPod players, video on demand, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, satellite direct line telephone, 110/220V outlets, French bath products, 24-hour room service and WiFi access.
L'Austral Deckplan
Specifications
- Length: 466 ft
- Beam: 59 ft
- Draft: 15.3 ft
- Cruising speed: 14 knots
- Ice class: 1 C
- Classification: Bureau Veritas
- Flag: French
- Guest decks: 6
- Guest capacity (double occupancy): up to 264 pax but capped at 200 for Antarctica
- Normal crew size: 140
- Fleet of expedition Zodiac: (Mark V HD)
- Gross tonnage: 10 944 UMS
- Electric motors: 2 x 2300 KW
- Installed power: 6 400 KW
- Construction: Fincantieri-Ancône-Italy
Whats included?
- Return flights (Buenos Aires / Ushuaia / Buenos Aires) & airport taxes
- 1 night accommodation in Buenos Aires before embarkation
- Transfers as specified
- Bilingual French/English expedition team
- Lectures and presentations by expedition leaders and naturalist staff
- Complimentary polar parka for you to keep
- Waterproof boots on loan
- Captain’s welcome cocktail and gala dinner
- Park entry fees into protected areas
- Accommodation in your selected stateroom
- Landings and zodiac outings
- A full meal plan
- Open Bar: beginning with boarding, and during the duration of the cruise, a wide selection of drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, wine, beer, Charles Heidsieck champagne, spirits, coffee, tea) is served on request and at any time of the day. Certain premium alcoholic beverages on the menu are not included in the Open Bar.
- Free Wi-Fi internet access 24 hours a day
- Port taxes
What’s not included?
- International airfares
- Transfer to Buenos Aires hotel from airport
- Arrival/departure taxes or reciprocity fees, visa fees where applicable
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
- Any items not mentioned as included
Notes
*Please note voyages are subject to ice and weather conditions. The itineraries described for expedition voyages illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.
*Water sports activities (except scuba diving) are included in the tour price, using the ship’s equipment, when permitted by local authorities and confirmed by shipmaster according to safety and sea conditions on-site