Antarctica is almost literally out of this world. It's a remote and isolated place. You couldn't survive on your own; historically no one lived in Antarctica (much of which wasn't even charted until the middle of the 20th century). Then why visit? In this overbuilt, overscheduled world, Antarctica is a last frontier: an entire continent dedicated to science and nature. During the brief Austral summer, penguins, gulls, skuas, and other nesting birds return in the thousands to nest on the few scraps of exposed ground. Antarctic fur seals return to breed, leopard seals cruise among the ice floes, and whales migrate to the ice from their breeding grounds in the equatorial latitudes. Scientists return too. The scenery is fantastic. It's not even all that cold along the Antarctic Peninsula.

On the way south from Tierra del Fuego, we have time to relax and prepare for the days ahead. Anticipation builds. An abrupt change in sea surface temperature signals that we have crossed the Antarctic Convergence and entered Antarctic waters (often accompanied by a squadron of wandering albatross and other birds of the Southern Ocean). Crossing the Drake Passage is an inevitable fact of an Antarctic voyage -- and a badge of honor among many. It's also the shortest distance between the civilized world and the continent (about 500 miles). You can take heart in knowing that these productive waters are what protect and nurture Antarctica. Regardless of the crossing, soon the ship will sail the protected channels and waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula and its sheltering archipelagos. Here we navigate a flooded geologic fault between towering mountains, taking in the ever-increasing spectacle of snow and ice and wildlife, and marveling at the changing light. You'll have the time of your life.

With the almost perpetual daylight in Antarctica, we could launch the versatile Zodiac landing craft practically anytime. Depending on the voyage, you might enjoy a Zodiac cruise before breakfast or head out after dinner to land on a quiet cobble beach covered with penguins and seals.

Each evening, your expedition leader will sketch the following day's adventures, all subject to change. In this land without piers or ports or typical infrastructure, actual landings depend on the local weather, vagaries of the sea and ice, and unplanned events -- like a group of breaching humpback whales, seals cavorting on an ice floe, or an especially picturesque iceberg.

Antarctica is a surprising place where the weather is as much a feature of the experience as the wildlife and landscapes. A single day can bring calm, warm weather with sunny skies, snow flurries, a sudden squall, and atmospheric fog and mist. No single voyage, and no day, is alike. That's one reason why so many people fall in love with the place, and return. Be warned: a trip to Antarctica could change your life.

Day 2 -- BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to the Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires for the night. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax after the flight or to explore Buenos Aires on your own. Enjoy a welcome cocktail reception with your fellow travelers this evening.

Day 3 -- BUENOS AIRES -- USHUAIA -- EMBARKATION
Fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, a small Patagonian city set on the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Darwin Cordillera, glaciers, and forests of southern beech. Upon arrival, transfer to Corinthian II. As Corinthian II navigates the Beagle Channel, enjoy a spectacular vista of glaciers and green-misted mountains.

Days 4 & 5 -- AT SEA
Attend lectures by naturalists and study leaders as Corinthian II sails through the Drake Passage and crosses the Antarctic Convergence, where the cold waters of the Southern Ocean override the warmer waters to the north. Albatross and cape petrels are among the birds that accompany the ship on its passage.

Days 6 - 10 -- ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
Enjoy five days exploring the pristine wilderness of the Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding islands. The Peninsula is a narrow finger of land that separates the ice-choked waters of the Weddell and Bellingshausen Seas. As Corinthian II sails through scenic waterways, witness a breathtaking panorama of icebergs, blue glaciers, and jagged, snowcapped mountains. Aboard the ship’s fleet of Zodiacs, cruise among ice floes, land at penguin rookeries, and visit with scientists at research stations. Although the itinerary varies according to local ice and wind conditions, we plan to land at such places as Petermann Island, where humpback and minke whales are often sighted offshore; Paradise Bay, the habitat of gentoo and chinstrap penguins and leopard and Weddell seals; and Deception Island, known for its volcanically-heated hot springs. Voyages through the magnificent Lemaire, Neumayer, Errata, and other protected channels are also scheduled—never to be forgotten.