Wildlife in a Frozen Wonderland: The Antarctic Peninsula

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: After completing arrival procedures, meet the Road Scholar Group Leader outside the arrivals hall and transfer to the hotel for check in. After some time to freshen up and relax, we will gather as a group for Program Orientation. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Meals aboard ship, prepared by a professional chef, feature international cuisine with coffee, tea, and water included; other beverages available for purchase. Breakfast and lunch are buffets, dinner is plated and served a la carte. Expedition style Road Scholar Afloat programs have flexible schedules. They utilize ships that are more rugged than traditional sailing vessels. Designed to venture into remote landscapes, they enable us to seek opportunities for getting up close to nature. The itinerary may change daily based on weather and sailing conditions. The ship’s educational staff includes experts with knowledge related to the program theme who will lead field trips and give presentations. The schedule that follows is a tentative representative outline. Changes in the schedule, including ports of call, can be expected due to weather and other local conditions. Updates will be provided aboard ship. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: We will walk to a nearby hotel for dinner and order from a select menu with choice of main course and dessert plus a glass of wine and water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer to the ship tomorrow.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach several times during field trip. Walking short distances; boardwalk, unpaved ground.

Breakfast: At the hotel, choose what you like from the breakfast buffet that includes coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we will board a motorcoach for an expert-led field trip to Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego — Tierra del Fuego National Park — approximately 7.5 miles west of Ushuaia. This was Argentina’s first shoreline park. Native forests of lengas, coihues, ñires, canelos, and mossy foliage are home to guanacos, foxes, and muskrats. Short trails follow the southern edges of the park, providing scenic views of the Ensenada and Lapataia Bays, and the famous Beagle Channel. Sea birds are abundant along the coast and include albatross, terns, geese, ducks, and gulls. Also be on the lookout for condors, Magellanic woodpeckers, and Austral conures. A 5-mile trail that leads west from Bahia Ensenada passes through an area of archaeological importance with grass covered shell mounds left by the Yamaná (a.k.a. Yahgan) inhabitants hundreds of years ago.

Lunch: In a local restaurant, we will order from a select menu with choice of a main course and dessert plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Next, we will transfer to the port and board the Ocean Atlantic for 9 nights. After completing boarding procedures and getting your cabin, take some time to start becoming familiar with the ship. There will be a mandatory passenger briefing and safety drill before departure.

Dinner: In the dining room aboard ship, there is one open seating our for our la carte dinner with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase. Road Scholars are invited to sit together as a group on our first night out. While meal times may change due to landings and wildlife encounters, we will always have three meals a day. Hours of operation will be posted around the ship, as they are subject to change based on the activities planned for each day.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know the ship and your fellow Road Scholars.

Activity note: At sea for the day and night.

Breakfast: In the dining room aboard ship, choose what you like from the breakfast buffet.

Morning: Our adventure begins with a 400-mile crossing of the passage that bears the name of the 16th-century English explorer Sir Francis Drake. The Ocean Atlantic is at home in this part of the Southern Ocean, known for the unimpeded, never-ending fetch of the winds that encircle the Antarctic. At some point on the second day at sea we will cross the Antarctic Convergence, a meeting of cold polar water flowing north and warmer sub-Antarctic water moving in the opposite direction. It is the largest biological barrier on earth and is marked by a change in temperature, salinity, and nutrient levels. The north flowing Antarctic waters predominantly sink beneath southward moving sub-Antarctic waters. While further south associated areas of mixing and upwelling creating an ocean very high in marine productivity. When we pass this zone, we have entered the most nutrient rich waters on earth— the Southern Ocean. The best way to experience wildlife of the Drake Passage is to be on deck keeping a look out.

Lunch: In the dining room aboard ship, choose what you like from the lunch buffet.

Afternoon: As we make the passage, we will have time to become acquainted with the ship and frequent the common areas that include the lounge, dining hall, library, and lecture hall where we will meet our guides, ship’s crew and expedition staff. Everyone is invited to attend lecture and information sessions to learn the extraordinary human and natural history of the Antarctic region. Tea and coffee are available in the lounge.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. You might like to check out the library that offers a wide range of multilingual books ranging from fiction to travel literature. You can curl up with a book, watch a DVD, and broaden your understanding of the region's history, flora, fauna, climate, scientific contributions, and more.

Activity note: At sea for the day and night.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: We will continue crossing the Drake Passage. Wandering Black-browed and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Prion's and Cap Petrals are among some of the species of seabirds that may join us on your journey as we cross into Antarctica.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: The onboard educational programming will continue as we cross the Drake Passage.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. Gym facilities and a sauna are available.

Activity note: Getting in/out of Zodiac boats, walking in icy conditions, all depending on weather.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This is what we've all been waiting for: a chance to explore and step foot on the Great White Continent! Over the next six days, we will navigate southwards, making stops in the South Shetland Islands then through to the Antarctic Peninsula. Our goal is to attempt two excursions per day while we navigate through the area, but our itinerary and daily schedule will be based on the local weather and ice conditions we encounter. All excursions will be via Zodiacs, the famous inflatable boats used throughout the world.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: We will continue exploring the South Shetland Islands.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. Gather with fellow Road Scholars to share and compare experiences of the day.

Activity note: Getting in/out of Zodiac boats, walking in icy conditions, all depending on weather.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: As we continue to explore the South Shetland Islands, our goal is to attempt two excursions per day while we navigate through the area, but the itinerary and daily schedule will be based on the local weather and ice conditions that we encounter.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: We will continue to explore the South Shetland Islands.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting in/out of Zodiac boats, walking in icy conditions, all depending on weather.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: We will begin to explore the Antarctic Peninsula. Our goal is to attempt two excursions per day while we navigate through the area, but the itinerary and daily schedule will be based on the local weather and ice conditions that we encounter.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: We will continue to explore the Antarctic Peninsula.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting in/out of Zodiac boats, walking in icy conditions, all depending on weather.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: We will continue to explore the Antarctic Peninsula. Our goal is to attempt two excursions per day while we navigate through the area, but the itinerary and daily schedule will be based on the local weather and ice conditions that we encounter.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Our exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula will continue.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: At sea for the day and night.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Today we will leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage. In between bird watching, whale watching, and some final lectures by our expedition staff, this is a chance to relax and review the adventures of the past week before returning to Ushuaia. Remember, the best way to experience wildlife of the Drake Passage is to be on deck keeping a look out for Albatross, Prions, and Whales.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Our educational program will continue as we cross the Drake Passage.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: At sea for the day and night.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Our educational program will continue as we cross the Drake Passage.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Our educational programming at sea will continue.

Dinner: Aboard ship. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation after arrival in Ushuaia and departure in the morning.

Activity note: Disembarkation is scheduled to begin at approximately 8:00 a.m. after arrival in Ushuaia. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: After completing disembarkation procedures from the ship, we will transfer to the airport. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!