Christmas in Antarctica

Punta Arenas is a city near the tip of Chile’s southernmost Patagonia region. Located on the Strait of Magellan, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, it’s often used as base for excursions to the surrounding wilderness and Antarctica. The Plaza Muñoz Gamero has a memorial to explorer Ferdinand Magellan, and the Museo Nao Victoria features a replica of one of his galleons.

Magellan called it Tierra del Fuego, “the Land of Fire,” having seen flames rising from the darkened islands. For over three centuries, the name struck fear in the hearts of mariners. Howling headwinds, mountainous seas and rocky coastlines spelled a sudden end to many voyages. Today, Ushuaia, a former Argentine penal colony, serves as your gateway to this wilderness where snow-capped mountains plummet to the icy waters of the Beagle Channel.

In the late 19th century, Reverend Thomas Bridges spent years working with local tribes, compiling a dictionary of their Yaghan tongue. The work outlived the Yaghan: by the beginning of the 20th century, they had succumbed to disease.

The most isolated continent on earth, this rugged landscape is some 1,200 miles long and reaches beyond the Arctic Circle. Its shores are comprised of unusually sculpted icebergs, blue-tinged glaciers, majestic mountain peaks and a steep ice shelf that continues to shrink at an alarming rate.

Though the peninsula is covered in icy tundra, it actually features the mildest climate in Antarctica, the perfect environment for hosting the only flowering plants on the entire continent, Antarctic Hair Grass and Antarctic Pearlwort. In addition, the icy waters surrounding the peninsula cater to various species of seals, penguins and seabirds, including the Cape Pigeon, the American Sheathbill and the Antarctic Tern.

Enjoy your scenic cruise in this remote area of the world – it’s a breathtaking wonderland nestled in nature’s frosty embrace.

Note: Antarctic Peninsula is a scenic cruising site. Ships will slowly travel past while a knowledgeable port lecturer points out significant sites you’ll be able to see from onboard.

Stanley is the capital of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), a remote South Atlantic archipelago. The Historic Dockyard Museum has galleries devoted to maritime exploration, natural history, the 1982 Falklands War and Antarctic heritage. By the waterfront, a whalebone arch stands near the entrance of Christ Church Cathedral, which was built in the late 1800s. Magellanic penguins gather at nearby Gypsy Cove.

Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, is a major city along Montevideo Bay. It revolves around the Plaza de la Independencia, once home to a Spanish citadel. This plaza leads to Ciudad Vieja (the old town), with art deco buildings, colonial homes and landmarks including the towering Palacio Salvo and neoclassical performance hall Solís Theatre. Mercado del Puerto is an old port market filled with many steakhouses.

Following your departure from the Majestic Princess, you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight home to Dublin.

Option to extend your stay in Argentina available – call for details