(Optional Pre-Cruise package) USA to Buenos Aires, Argentina 

Depart the U.S. for your overnight flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

(Optional Pre-Cruise package) Buenos Aires

Morning arrival in Buenos Aires. Upon arrival, our local bilingual guide will meet us at the airport and transfer us to our hotel. 

Afternoon city tour of Buenos Aires. The highlights of this tour include a visit to Plaza de Mayo, the main square surrounded by Casa Rosada, the opposite of the White House, where the Argentine president works. Plaza de Mayo became an icon in this city of almost four million people. During the military governments over 30 thousand people disappeared and believed to have been killed by the oppressive regime. The mothers of the disappeared youth marched in protest around the plaza for many years claiming their husbands or sons. Other highlights include La Boca, a rakish district where the tango is danced in the streets. We will have a steak lunch under the canopy of trees. 

(Optional Pre-Cruise package) Buenos Aires - Gaucho Celebration

Today we drive to the outskirts of the city of Buenos Aires and to a typical Argentine ranch. We will immerse in the lifestyle of the Gauchos. Song and dances of Argentina and a delicious open pit barbecue. The gauchos in their typical attire will present a show riding their horses. Breakfast and lunch included.

Buenos Aires - Board the Norwegian Star

Our adventure navigating the Atlantic Ocean starts today. We will board the Norwegian Star in the afternoon.  The ship will depart at  6:45 pm. This will be a time to be acquainted with our group. 

At Sea, sailing south to Puerto Madryn

Breakfast, lunch and dinner on board. 

Puerto Madryn (Optional shore excursion included in Pre-Cruise package)

At 8:00 a.m. we dock in Puerto Madryn, the first disembarkation of our adventure in Patagonia. Puerto Madryn was the landing place of the Welsh colonists who arrived on July 28, 1865. They named the settlement after a Madryn Estate in Wales, owned by Love Jones Parry who financed the first expedition to Patagonia. Our shore excursion (included) visits Peninsula de Valdes, the home of sea elephants, seals and marine birds. Return to the Norwegian Star. Breakfast, box lunch, dinner included.

At sea, sailing to Punta Arenas, Chile

Punta Arenas, Chile

The docking in Punta Arenas is scheduled at 8:00 a.m. Punta Arenas is the only city on the stormy Magellan Strait, discovered by Ferdinand de Magellan to sail to the Pacific Ocean. We can stretch our legs and walk around this quaint city, the southernmost on the South America mainland; or you can sign for a shore excursion while on board. At 4:00 p.m. we sail to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. All meals included.

Ushuaia, Argentina

The Norwegian Star docks in Ushuaia allowing us sufficient time to take a ride on the Train to the Ends of the World. Ushuaia and Punta Arenas were the sites of Federal Prisons where at the turn of the century political prisoners were sent. Today, Ushuaia is a thriving city and the sailing point for all cruises to Antarctica. We may decide to have a lunch on our own. The best fresh seafood could be had in one of the many restaurants in this city. Excursion on the Train to the Ends of the world included. Breakfast and Dinner included on board. Evening sailing toward Antarctica.

At sea, sailing the Drake Passage

Sailing across the Drake Passage may stir up emotions like no other navigation in the South Atlantic waters. The Drake Passage connects the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans and is the shortest crossing to Antarctica. It is also nicknamed the “Drake Shake” when the seas are stormy or the “Drake Lake” when the waters are still. Back in the age of the discoverers, such as Magellan, Sir Francis Drake, and Sebastian El Cano, the crossing in the small sailing ships required skills unknown to modern ships like our Norwegian Star. There is amazing wildlife to be found as we sail the Drake Passage; albatross, dolphins, and whales are some of the most interesting ones.

Deception Island

Deception Island is made of a volcano’s caldera at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. The island is the home of penguins, petrels, Antarctic terns, as well as seals and other endemic species that you can observe with your binoculars from the bridge of the ship. Thousands of years ago the top of the volcano collapsed and practically made a lake inside of the caldera.

Elephant Island - Cape Island

Deception Island is made of a volcano’s caldera at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. The island is the home of penguins, petrels, Antarctic terns, as well as seals and other endemic species that you can observe with your binoculars from the bridge of the ship. Thousands of years ago the top of the volcano collapsed and practically made a lake inside of the caldera.

At sea, sailing toward the Islas Malvinas or Falkland Islands

Today is your day to relax and enjoy all that your beautiful ship has to offer you!

Islas Malvinas or Falkland Islands

This morning we land in the Falkland Islands. Taken from Argentina by force by the British in 1833, these islands were part of the British Empire until the Argentine government decided to take over the islands in 1982. The ensuing undeclared war lasted only 10 weeks, but during that time hundreds of Argentines and Britons died trying to take and defend the islands. In the end, the British won the battle and took back the capital, which they named Port Stanley.

The flora of the archipelago contains more than 350 different species of wildlife endemic to the archipelago. Five species of penguins can be found in the islands; Magellanic, Gentoos, king (the larger ones), macaroni and rock hopper. The cruise will offer this optional excursion to those who desire to go inland.

Day at Sea

Day at Sea

Punta del Este, Uruguay

We disembark at 8:00 a.m. Here we have plenty of time to enjoy the beach in this beautiful city-resort until we sail again to Buenos Aires, the famous cradle of the Argentine Tango and the Paris of South America. All meals on board, unless you take an excursion

Buenos Aires to the U.S.

We dock early this morning in Buenos Aires. Our bilingual guide will meet us and take us to the selected hotel until the time for transfer to the airport for our flight home.