We visited Antarctica, South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, South Georgia Islands, Falkland Islands and Argentina aboard the cruise ship, the MS Hanseatic. We started from Ushuaia, Argentina and cruised out of the Beagle Channel in relatively calm waters to Cape Horn. As soonas we passed by Cape Horn, the winds and waves picked up strength for the journey through the Drake Passage. After a wild two days at sea, we reached calmer waters near the Antarctic Peninsula. Here we encountered many icebergs of all shapes and sizes as we crossed the Antarctic Circle. We were unable to make a Zodiac landing at Detaille Island but had an interesting journey through the Gulley to 67 degrees south. From here we turned north and landed at Petermann Island tovisit a Gentoo penguin colony. We had great weather as we continued north through the Lemaire Channel and reached the Argentine station of Alimirante Brown at Paradise Bay where we landed on the Antarctic continent. Continuing northeast we made our wayacross the Gerlache Strait to Port Lockroy and had another great weather day as we traversed Andvoord Bay and landed at Neko Harbour for our 2nd landing on the continent. We were entertained by many Gentoo penguins while we watched for calving of the surrounding glaciers. We left the peninsula and headed for Deception Island in the South Shetland group. From there we headed to Signy Island in the South Orkney group avoiding many icebergs in the area. We headed northeast to South Georgia for several more landings on beaches of penguins, seals and tussock grass. From there we turned back west to the Falkland Islands and eventually back to Ushuaia. We took a side trip to Iguazu Falls in northern Argentina after the end of our Antarctic voyage.
