Join us for an unforgettable celebration! We are excited to invite you to a once-in-a-lifetime adventure: a special ADR Travel Group-sponsored trip to Antarctica in honor of Irene Boutte’s 40th birthday. Celebrate this milestone with friends, family, and fellow explorers as we journey to the southernmost continent—home to stunning ice landscapes, remarkable wildlife, and endless opportunities for discovery. This unique expedition is the perfect way to mark Irene’s 40th year, blending excitement, wonder, and meaningful connection. Our expert guides and dedicated team will ensure every moment is safe, comfortable, and truly memorable. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this extraordinary experience. Come make memories to last a lifetime as we toast to Irene and explore the wonders of Antarctica together!

Book your trip by August 8, 2026

10-Day Classic Antarctica Expedition aboard MV Ushuaia: December 1–10, 2027

This itinerary begins and concludes in Ushuaia, Argentina. Travelers will enjoy four full expedition days exploring the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Please note that accommodation ashore is not included in this package but can be added. It is highly recommended that participants arrive in Ushuaia at least one day prior to the departure date to ensure a smooth embarkation.

Extra Activities

The polar dip (from the shoreline), zodiac cruises and shore landings come as standard on the MV Ushuaia, but there aren’t any extra activities offered.

Getting There

Reaching Ushuaia would require group members to fly into Buenos Aires International (EZE) and then continue down to Ushuaia (USH) (approx. 4hrs). Most flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia depart from the domestic airport (AEP), located on the opposite side of the city from the international airport. Depending on flight schedules, you may need to spend at least one night in Buenos Aires to safely make your connections, either on the way down or on the return leg to the capital. ADR can assist with any land arrangement if required. Baggage allowance for domestic flights in Argentina is less than that for international flights. You’ll find you may have up to 15kg in checked luggage and 8kg in hand luggage, so this will need to be considered when packing. Please check with the airline when booking flights.  

Embarkation / Disembarkation

It’s highly recommended that group members arrive in Ushuaia the day before the itinerary begins. There is an abundance of hotels to choose from, catering to a variety of budgets. ADR can help you out with this if needed. On the day of embarkation, members will have to make their own way to the rendezvous point in the middle of the town at 3 pm, with embarkation commencing at 4 pm and the ship setting sail at 6 pm. If members choose to fly out of Ushuaia on the day of disembarkation, please avoid booking flights departing before 12 noon.

Booking

For cruise reservations, a 10% non-refundable deposit is required, with a further 20% deposit due 275 days prior to departure. The remainder is then due 95 days prior to departure. The suggested payment plan should cover this, but double-check.

 TERMS & CONDITIONS

PAYMENT INFORMATION
To reserve services, a non-refundable deposit is required.  

Deposits and payments are NOT refundable - We highly recommend travel insurance.

Please note that if the minimum deposit is not made by the above-mentioned date, this quote is null and void and must be requoted.

ADDITIONAL DEPOSIT
At times, additional deposits may be required for your arrangements, and this information may be communicated after the initial quote or confirmation. If applicable, we will advise you as soon as we are notified by the supplier.

FINAL PAYMENT
Final payment is due no later than 95 days before departure.

Electronic travel documents are sent out approximately 30 days before departure.

The above are our standard final payment terms; however, certain arrangements may require payment of the balance earlier.

 Cancellation policy: To cancel your vacation, Travel Advisor charges a non-refundable fee of $100.00 (please continue reading!). This fee is payable at the time of the cancellation request, and the vacation will not be canceled until this fee is paid.  All payments are non-refundable after receipt.  All cancellations must be in writing to adrtravel@adrtravelgroup.com.  By submitting a deposit or payment, you formally accept ADR's Terms & Conditions as stated herein.  Give Travel Advisor permission to accept the terms & conditions of the third-party supplier on your behalf. You agree to abide by the terms & conditions and policies of both the third-party supplier and ADR Travel Group.  Any violation will constitute a breach and the forfeiture of all payments. All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.  ***Contact cynthia@adrtravelgroup.com to add travel protection***

CANCELLATIONS
A cancellation is defined as the voluntary termination of an entire trip and is requested BEFORE the original travel date. Tour packages are completely non-refundable.

INSURANCE
Travel insurance is highly recommended. Travel insurance is mandatory for this trip.

Insurance can be added up to 10 days after you purchase your tour package. For more information about insurance, please contact us at adrtravel@adrtravelgroup.com.

Upon booking, it is highly recommended that clients obtain a trip cancellation policy to protect themselves in the event they need to cancel the trip between booking and departure, or if the voyage is canceled due to force majeure. This coverage allows clients to claim reimbursement as outlined in clause 10 of the Terms & Conditions, which should be reviewed carefully for important information regarding payment terms, cancellation policy, insurance requirements, and related details.

Click on Terms & Conditions above for the cruise booking.

Please note: The itinerary is a guide only. Our exact route and program will vary to make the best use of local weather, ice conditions, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Changes will be made by the captain and/or Expedition Leader to facilitate the best results from the prevailing conditions. A daily program sheet will be issued on board. Flexibility is the key to success.

Embark the USHUAIA in the afternoon and meet your expedition and lecture staff. After you have settled into your cabins we sail along the famous Beagle Channel and the scenic Mackinlay Pass.

Named after the renowned explorer, Sir Francis Drake, who sailed these waters in 1578, the Drake Passage also marks the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar water sinks beneath the warmer northern waters. This creates a strong nutrient upwelling, which sustains the biodiversity of this region. The Drake Passage also marks the northern limit of many Antarctic seabirds.

As we sail across the passage, the lecturers will be out with you on deck to help in the identification of an amazing variety of seabirds, including many albatrosses, which follow in our wake. USHUAIA’s open bridge policy allows you to join our officers on the bridge and learn about navigation, watch for whales, and enjoy the view. A full program of lectures will also be offered.

The first sightings of icebergs and snow-capped mountains indicate that we have reached the South Shetland Islands, a group of twenty islands and islets first sighted in February 1819 by Capt. William Smith of the brig Williams.

With favorable conditions in the Drake Passage, our lecturers and naturalists will accompany you ashore as you experience your first encounter with the penguins and seals on Day 3.

The South Shetland Islands are a haven for wildlife. Vast penguin rookeries, beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and Southern elephant seals make every day spent in this amazing island group unforgettable. Sailing through the narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island is breathtaking.

King George Island, the largest of the South Shetland Islands, features colonies of nesting Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins, Kelp Gulls, Blue-eyed Cormorants, Antarctic Terns, and Southern Giant Petrels, and is home to scientific bases of many different countries. Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins, as well as elephant seals, await you at Livingston Island.

The Antarctic Peninsula’s remarkable history will provide you with an excitement often associated only with early explorers. You will have plenty of time to explore its amazing scenery, a pristine wilderness of snow, ice, mountains, and waterways, and an incredible variety of wildlife. Apart from penguins and seabirds, you are very likely to see Weddell, crabeater, and leopard seals as well as Minke, killer (orca), and humpback whales at close range.

We hope to navigate some of the most beautiful waterways (depending on the ice conditions): the Gerlache Strait, the Neumayer Channel, and the Lemaire Channel, the latter of which is a narrow passage between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. We plan to make at least two landings per day, and possible landing sites may include:

Paradise Bay is perhaps the most aptly named place in the world, and we attempt a landing on the continent proper. After negotiating the iceberg-strewn waters of the Antarctic Sound, we hope to visit the bustling Adélie Penguin (over 100,000 pairs breed here) and Blue-eyed Cormorant colonies on Paulet Island. The Nordenskjöld expedition built a stone survival hut here in 1903. Today, its ruins have been taken over by nesting penguins.

Further exploration may take you to the Melchior Island group, Cuverville Island, Portal Point, Neko Harbor, Pléneau Island, and if ice conditions permit, to Petermann Island for a visit to the southernmost colony of Gentoo Penguins.

We leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage. Join our lecturers and naturalists on deck as we search for seabirds and whales and enjoy some final lectures. Take the chance to relax and reflect on the fascinating adventures of the past days on the way back to Ushuaia.

We arrive at the port of Ushuaia in the early morning and disembark the USHUAIA after breakfast.

Please note: The above itinerary is a guide only. Our exact route and program will vary to make the best use of local weather, ice conditions, and opportunities to view wildlife. Changes will be made by the Captain and/or Expedition Leader to facilitate the best results from the prevailing conditions. A daily program sheet will be issued on board. Flexibility is the key to success.