18-night South America and Antarctica Cruise

The question is not how low can you go, but how far south can you go before falling off the planet. Lying across the Beagle Channel from Ushuaia at "the end of the world," this town is a rag-tag collection of colorful tin-roof houses, ice-capped peaks, scenic beaches, and a naval base. Sitting on tiny Navarino Island, no phone lines stretch between earth and sky, which is all the better for the penguins, geese, and albatross. Pristine hikes lead past beech forests, bogs, and hidden streams. Sailors and kayakers ply through quiet waters with snow-covered mountains looming on all sides.

New Island is one of the finest wildlife areas in the Falklands. This is largely because of the variety and density of bird life which lives there. The island's north and eastern coasts feature majestic cliffs, and some beautiful lower lying sandy bays. The island is a research center as well as a nature reserve and is home to a slew of wildlife including, Rockhopper penguins, South American sea lions and many other creatures for nature lovers and bird watchers to enjoy.

West Point is one of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. With a more rugged lifestyle than the military school of the same name, this small island has a stark beauty. Soaring tufts of tussock grass - some nearly six feet tall provide a sheltering habitat for rockhopper and Magellanic penguins and a large albatross colony.

Port Stanley is the only town on the Falkland Islands, and though it has little more than 1,200 residents, it contains half of the islands' population. There are 700,000 sheep, and a wonderful assortment of sea birds and elephant seals.

Southeast of the Falklands, South Georgia is lost in the midst of the Southern Ocean, one of the most remote regions on earth. South Georgia's climate is dominated by the freezing effects of the Antarctic continent 1,000 miles to the south. Glaciers coat more than half the island, and the scenery is spectacular, as if the Alps had been dropped down in the south Atlantic. The only access is by sea, and the journey can take up to 10 days battling against south Atlantic gales.

Southeast of the Falklands, South Georgia is lost in the midst of the Southern Ocean, one of the most remote regions on earth. South Georgia's climate is dominated by the freezing effects of the Antarctic continent 1,000 miles to the south. Glaciers coat more than half the island, and the scenery is spectacular, as if the Alps had been dropped down in the south Atlantic. The only access is by sea, and the journey can take up to 10 days battling against south Atlantic gales.

Southeast of the Falklands, South Georgia is lost in the midst of the Southern Ocean, one of the most remote regions on earth. South Georgia's climate is dominated by the freezing effects of the Antarctic continent 1,000 miles to the south. Glaciers coat more than half the island, and the scenery is spectacular, as if the Alps had been dropped down in the south Atlantic. The only access is by sea, and the journey can take up to 10 days battling against south Atlantic gales.

When the Endurance was crushed by the ice of the Weddell Sea, it is on Elephant Island in the South Shetlands that Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew sought refuge, floating on three small boats through mammoth icebergs and landing between steep cliffs. For 105 days, 22 members of the crew endured hardship as Shackleton pressed forth on a harrowing search for help. Here, expedition photographer, Frank Hurley, took his striking photo of the crew waving at Shackleton as he set off.

Antarctic Sound also know as, Iceberg Alley, is accompanied my views that can only be described as amazing. Huge open skies, enormous icebergs, low clouds, sudden weather changes and constant surprises from the hugely abundant wildlife you see will keep you in a constant state of awe. Travellers will discover colonies of Adelie penguins, and ice floes also provide a floating resting spot for various seals.

The Antarctic Peninsula thrusts out past the Antarctic Circle, lunging vainly towards the Andes, across the infamous Drake Passage. As far as the Antarctic is concerned, the peninsula is the most densely populated location on the continent, sprinkled with vast research bases and minute outposts alike. At the height of the summer season, the human population numbers over 3,000 - not counting tourists. That figure shrinks to less than 1,000 during the intensely chilly winter.

The Antarctic Peninsula thrusts out past the Antarctic Circle, lunging vainly towards the Andes, across the infamous Drake Passage. As far as the Antarctic is concerned, the peninsula is the most densely populated location on the continent, sprinkled with vast research bases and minute outposts alike. At the height of the summer season, the human population numbers over 3,000 - not counting tourists. That figure shrinks to less than 1,000 during the intensely chilly winter.

The South Shetland Islands are a string of islands running parallel to the north west coast of the Antarctic peninsula. The South Shetlands are almost completely ice covered. About 2-3 percent is ice free, usually along the coast, where all life is found whether penguins, seals, or the human inhabitants of the various bases. The islands are frequently visited by tourist cruise ships and each has a different character. From north to south, the main islands are: Elephant Island, King George Island, Penguin Island, Bridgeman Island, Aitcho Islands, Greenwich Island, Half Moon Island, Livingston Island and Deception Island.

The Drake Passage is the body of water between the southern tip of South America at Cape Horn and Antarctica. It forms part of the Southern Ocean. It is named after 16th century English explorer Sir Francis Drake.

The question is not how low can you go, but how far south can you go before falling off the planet. Lying across the Beagle Channel from Ushuaia at "the end of the world," this town is a rag-tag collection of colorful tin-roof houses, ice-capped peaks, scenic beaches, and a naval base. Sitting on tiny Navarino Island, no phone lines stretch between earth and sky, which is all the better for the penguins, geese, and albatross. Pristine hikes lead past beech forests, bogs, and hidden streams. Sailors and kayakers ply through quiet waters with snow-covered mountains looming on all sides.

The question is not how low can you go, but how far south can you go before falling off the planet. Lying across the Beagle Channel from Ushuaia at "the end of the world," this town is a rag-tag collection of colorful tin-roof houses, ice-capped peaks, scenic beaches, and a naval base. Sitting on tiny Navarino Island, no phone lines stretch between earth and sky, which is all the better for the penguins, geese, and albatross. Pristine hikes lead past beech forests, bogs, and hidden streams. Sailors and kayakers ply through quiet waters with snow-covered mountains looming on all sides.