Day 1-2: At the end of one world, another begins
As your plane lands in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, you'll be treated to a stunning view. Ushuaia is nestled at the foot of the Andes, with the rugged peaks of the Five Brothers overlooking the Beagle Channel. After a night at our host hotel, tour the nearby National Park and enjoy a traditional asado barbecue lunch. Late in the afternoon, from the deck of Kapitan Khlebnikov, watch as crewmen cast off the lines as the voyage begins.

Day 3-4: Look out for birds and ornithologists
Emperor Penguins will be on your mind while you cross the Drake Passage. By the time you reach the Weddell Sea, you'll be a well-rounded expert on birds of all kinds. In addition to the biology, habitat and behavior of Emperors, our ornithologist will have made presentations on the pelagic birds that accompany the ship during the crossing. With your binoculars, scan for Wandering Albatross, Giant Petrels or the tiny Wilson's Storm-Petrel.

Day 5-7: The aristocrats of the Antarctic
Reaching the Snow Hill rookery under the best possible conditions is the goal of the expedition. The Captain and Expedition Leader consult charts, weather bulletins and satellite images to determine where to park the icebreaker for efficient helicopter flights to the rookery.

You will be visiting early in the rearing season. The adult penguins have just endured the harsh austral winter. Males have spent nine weeks without food, incubating eggs by holding them on their feet and huddling with each other.

Our aim is to spend a few days getting to know these gallant birds. We plan to use helicopters to land at a site from which you will walk for a closer look. (But not close enough to interfere.) You'll see the young chicks waddling and jostling about, acting like children in a playground, some might be brooding on their parents' feet. The adults will affect a much more dignified manner - until they drop on their stomachs and start tobogganing.

Day 8-11: Discovering The White Continent
While the Emperors are our priority, we also plan to visit the White Continent. Our exact route will be determined by local conditions.

You will sail Iceberg Alley, passing massive tabular icebergs that will have you snapping pictures until your camera beeps a warning that the memory is full. While passing through Antarctic Sound, you may set foot on the continent. A soulful silence will engulf you - unless a glacier calves an iceberg - then suddenly, everything is noise and waves.

Should conditions make it difficult to reach the rookery during the first days of the voyage, the Expedition Leader and Captain will revise their plans and may make landings on the Peninsula before reaching the rookery.

Delicious food, and activities à la carte
While visiting the Peninsula, we hope to visit penguin rookeries under construction. Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins court, lay eggs, and raise their young during the austral summer. Your voyage takes place when these smaller penguins are selecting nesting sites and choosing partners.

Each day's activities will leave you hungry - but only for a moment. The Hospitality Team prides itself on satisfying your hunger as well as the Expedition Team satisfies your craving for adventure.

Day 12-14: Recollection and reflection
Return to Ushuaia via the Drake Passage. When the ship docks, you'll be recalling what you saw near Snow Hill Island. These memories will stay with you, as clear and powerful as the day they were formed. The existence of the Emperor Penguin is more than a story of survival and endurance. It is the triumph of life itself.