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Antarctic Express: Cruise South, Fly North – Ocean Explorer, Feb 2026

Itinerary Map

Trip Summary

Dates: 

Feb 21, 2026 -
Mar 2, 2026

Duration: 

10 Days

Ship:

Ocean Explorer
Adventure
options:
Kayaking Paddleboarding
Pre-voyage hotel night in Ushuaia & Post-voyage hotel night in Punta Arenas!
Starting at: $ 16,995.00

Studio Double

$16.995

Studio Veranda Stateroom

$17.995

Deluxe Veranda Forward Stateroom

Deluxe Veranda Forward Stateroom

$18.995

One double bed made up of two twin berths.

Deluxe Veranda Middle Stateroom

$19.995

Deluxe Veranda Stateroom

$20.595

Grand Veranda Stateroom

$21.795

Royal Veranda Stateroom

$22.395

Studio Veranda Single

Studio Veranda Single

$22.995

One twin single.

Junior Suite

Junior Suite

$24.995

Two rooms. One double bed made up of two twin berths fold out sofa bed.

Explorer Suite

$25.995

Owners Suite

Owners Suite

$27.995

Two rooms. One double bed made up of two twin berths fold out sofa bed.

Studio Single

Studio Single

$21.795

One double bed made up of two twin berths

About the Sail from Ushuaia – Fly to Punta Arenas itinerary

Embark on the journey of a lifetime with navigation of the famous Drake Passage. Watch for blue petrels overhead as they guide your way. As you enter the Antarctic seas, you are greeted by monumental icebergs and a pristine serenity that inspires a sense of awe. Witness incredible wildlife with increased sightings of baleen and humpback whales near the Peninsula. When it's time to go, enjoy a flight back over the Drake to King George Island. Here, your free private Charter Jet Service awaits to bring you back to Punta Arenas for your journey back home.

Although its nickname the “End of the World” – derived from its location along the southernmost tip of South America among the Tierra del Fuego archipelago – Ushuaia is far from the end of any adventure. Where the Andes meet the Beagle Channel and the snow-capped Martial Mountains sit behind a sprawling city of colorful buildings, lies a lively town ready and waiting to take you on the thrill ride of a lifetime.
Navigating the intrepid Drake Passage is made for the boldest of explorers. Petrels and albatrosses that glide across the skies guide the way. To witness its awesome power makes the journey to Antarctica all the more triumphant. The Drake Passage leads you from the southernmost region of the Americas to the Antarctic Peninsula, the northern point of The White Continent. This waterway where cold southern ocean meets warm northern sea water creates powerful currents that test your mettle. But the rewards for the journeyer that braves these waters do not compare. The meeting of warm and cold waters creates an environment that attracts extraordinary wildlife. Drake Passage offers the chance to witness the likes of humpback whales and hourglass dolphins that accompany the voyage. The soundtrack of the 48-hour journey through the Drake Passage includes the crash of the ocean against the ship and the cry of petrels, skuas, and gulls. While the waterway is famous for its challenging navigation, you may still get another side of the Drake Passage. On some occasions, the channel is calm and tranquil, making for a pleasant voyage into Antarctica. That’s one of the more splendid characteristics of the Drake Passage – you never know what you will get. As you emerge from the Drake Passage, the mammoth, icy peaks of the South Shetland Islands loom ahead, greeting you on your victorious landing. You have completed the rite of passage to explore the seventh continent.
Part of the greater Antarctica region, the South Shetland Islands contain plenty of wildlife, scenic landscapes, hiking opportunities and magnificent viewpoints that inspire a sense of discovering another world. A possible landing on Elephant Island, named for the shape of its cliffside and the elephant seals that call it home, puts you on the same path as the famous Shackleton Expedition. Deception Island, another possible landing and named for its very nature, is in fact a volcanic caldera where you can find heated springs amid the striking black sands. Other stops could include Half Moon Island, Yankee Harbour, Point Wild and Barrientos Island, where you can find plenty of Gentoo penguin rookeries.
Nicknamed The White Continent for its vast expanse of icebergs, snow and glaciers, Antarctica is often the final frontier for experienced explorers to conquer. As you navigate Antarctic waters, you may set foot on sites like Beak Island, Brown Bluff, Cierva Cove, Hidden Bay and many more. Each landing throughout the continent offers its own unique landscape, from expansive tundra to rugged mountain peaks, all beckoning you to follow the paths that few explorers have trekked before.
King George Island, South Shetland Islands Your charter flight lands in or departs from Eduardo Frei Montalva Station on King George Island, the Chilean air base for Antarctica expeditions with flight options over the Drake Passage. Lying within the Fildes Peninsula, where Chile laid claim to Antarctic territory, the base is an important research station. Made up of over 40 buildings that include a school, bank, hospital and post office, it resembles more a small village than a base. As a haven for an incredible amount of wildlife, including chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, and elephant, leopard and Weddell seals, it’s a prime locale for scientific research.
Welcome aboard the Ocean Explorer

Ocean Explorer is modern, elegant and purpose-built for polar exploration. The 138-passenger vessel has been designed with the latest in expedition ship technology. One of the ship’s key features is the ULSTEIN X-BOW®, a marine engineering innovation that ensures a comfortable and smooth sailing experience thanks to the inverted bow. Located at the bow is the two-story, light-filled library, which introduces a welcome airiness to the expedition ship.

Spacious cabins feature a modern, bespoke Scandinavian design and almost all have verandas. Guests can relax and find comfort in the spacious gym, sauna with large windows, and two outdoor Jacuzzis.

Ocean Explorer features ample outdoor viewing areas and multi-height outer decks, which are ideal for long-view photography and wildlife viewing. The vessel is equipped with a fleet of 15 Zodiacs that enable guests to get off the ship quickly and safely for off-ship adventures. In addition to the well-appointed and spacious public areas, Ocean Explorer has an industry-leading mix of sustainability systems, including fuel-efficient Rolls Royce engines.

Technical Specs

Cabins & Amenities

  • Two Story Library: Light-filled interior library—at the bow of the ship— allows guests to sit and relax indoors while taking in the surrounding polar landscapes from their choice of two levels.
  • Leading Edge Sustainability: With the latest sustainability technology in polar expedition, the ship features fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines and the ground-breaking MAGS gasification system that converts waste into energy, eliminating the environmental impact of waste transportation.
  • Ulstein X-Bow: the innovative X-Bow design ensures calm, energy-efficient sailing in rough waters.
  • Dry sauna
  • Gym
  • Jacuzzis

Includes: 

  • Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leaders, including shore landings and other activities
  • All Zodiac transfers and cruising as per the daily program
  • All shore landings as per the daily program
  • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
  • NEW Free beer, standard wines, spirits, and cocktails during bar service hours and dinner. 
  • Complimentary coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
  • All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage (Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible. Unfortunately, the ships’ galleys cannot prepare kosher meals.)
  • Beer and wine during dinner; and coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
  • Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled
  • A photographic journal documenting the expedition
  • A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for landings and Zodiac cruising excursions
  • An official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep
  • Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
  • NEW Complimentary Wi-Fi service on one device permitting basic Internet browsing, email, posting on social media and voice applications. (Premium packages are available for more data intensive applications.)
  • Comprehensive onboard materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
  • All luggage handling aboard the ship
  • Group arrival transfer in Ushuaia from airport to preexpedition hotel on Day 1
  • One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Ushuaia with breakfast (Note: The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travelers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel. Triple rooms may not be available.)
  • Group transfer from hotel to ship on embarkation day
  • Group departure transfer upon disembarkation in Ushuaia from ship to local airport or to luggage storage facility

Extras: 

  • International airfare
  • Passport and visa expenses
  • Government arrival and departure taxes
  • Any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel before embarkation
  • Baggage, cancellation and medical travel insurance – strongly recommended
  • Excess baggage charges
  • Mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac landing and cruising excursions, or any other gear not mentioned
  • Laundry, bar, massage services and other personal charges, unless specified
  • Phone and Internet charges
  • Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for expedition staff and shipboard crew
  • Additional overnight accommodation
  • Arrival and departure transfers, except where explicitly stated
  • Adventure Options not listed in Included Activities
  • Emergency Evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $500,000 per person

Adventure options: Kayaking (USD $1,995)-/ Paddling Excursion (USD $395) – / Camping (USD $495) – 

  • Adventure options must be pre-booked and paid for prior to start of the trip. Space is subject to availability. Some activities require experience
Antarctic Express: Cruise South, Fly North – Ocean Explorer, Feb 2026
Feb 21, 2026 -
Mar 2, 2026

Price

$16,995.00 -
 $27,995.00

Adventure Options

Contact

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