In the Wake of Shackleton
Flights from London→Buenos Aires → Ushuaia → Antarctic Peninsula → South Shetland Islands → South Georgia → Falkland islands → Ushuaia → Buenos Aires→Return to London
Organised by Noble Caledonia.
From
Sold Out
per person
Overview
Discover the wonders of the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia & the Falklands aboard the MS Island Sky.
Antarctica has produced more than its fair share of heroes. It is a land that has consistently challenged and inspired men of extraordinary character to deeds requiring extreme courage. The expeditions of Scott, Amundsen, Shackleton, Ross, Byrd and many others are a shining example of honour, strength and perseverance which continue to inspire today, and it will be a privilege to explore these same waters aboard the all-suite MS Island Sky in the company of just 100 fellow travellers.
Noble Caledonia’s expedition combines the wonders of the Antarctic Peninsula with magnificent South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. Even today after many decades of exploration, Antarctica still remains a world apart, a majestic last frontier surpassing even the most jaded of travellers' expectations. It is hard to put into words the scenic grandeur of Antarctica. This most southern of continents, this desert of ice, is so unique and uncommon to man's experience, that even the most dramatic of photographs pale into insignificance when one is confronted by the sheer magnitude, beauty and wonder of an Antarctic landscape. Enormous icebergs rise from the sea, hillsides are covered with thousands of penguins and seals bask on icebergs dotted in the ocean; the sights, sounds and emotions will stay with you forever.
Highlights
- Experience an orientation tour of Buenos Aires, visiting the historic Plaza de Mayo, the Cathedral, and the vibrant, colourful houses of La Boca.
- Embark on the MS Island Sky in Ushuaia and begin your expedition by cruising through the iconic Beagle Channel.
- Cross the legendary Drake Passage with expert-led lecture programs and opportunities to spot royal albatross and various whale species.
- Spend six days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, using Zodiacs for daily landings to see gentoo, chinstrap, and Adelie penguin colonies.
- Navigate the breathtaking Antarctic Sound, known as "iceberg alley," to witness massive tabular icebergs drifting north.
- Experience four days of expedition cruising in South Georgia, home to thousands of king penguins and massive elephant seal colonies.
- Visit the historic whaling station at Grytviken and pay respects at the gravesite of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.
- Enjoy three days of wildlife-focused exploration in the Falkland Islands, featuring stops at large gentoo and rockhopper penguin rookeries.
- Discover the charming capital of Stanley and explore the historic sites of the Falkland Islands with your expert expedition team.
- Benefit from a comprehensive, ongoing lecture program and naturalist-led wildlife spotting throughout your voyage across the Southern Ocean.
Explore further
Itinerary
- 1
Day 1 London to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fly by scheduled flight.
- 2
Day 2 Buenos Aires.
Arrive and transfer to our centrally located hotel for an overnight stay. This afternoon is free to relax in the hotel or maybe join an orientation tour of the city including the Plaza de Mayo, the Cathedral and the Cabildo (Old City Hall) before we continue towards the most traditional neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, San Telmo which is characterised by its old colonial houses and the cobblestoned streets. Our tour will end in La Boca to look around the colourful zinc houses which used to be the refuge and home for the first immigrants and popular artists. The evening is free for independent exploration.
- 3
Day 3 Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.
After breakfast in the hotel we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Ushuaia. On arrival transfer to the MS Island Sky and embark. This evening we will cruise down the Beagle Channel. Our voyage begins with two leisurely days on board. Attend some lectures, look for wildlife or simply relax as we make our way across the Drake Passage towards Antarctica. Named after the 16th century English seaman, Sir Francis Drake, the Drake Passage separates the southernmost tip of South America from Antarctica. This is a particularly good area to spot many species of seabirds including the royal albatross, cape petrel, Antarctic prion and we will also be on the lookout for whales. We have six days of exploration around the Peninsula which will include many of the best places to see the vast biodiversity of Antarctic species and iconic icy environments from glaciers to enormous tabular icebergs. Whilst we arrive with a planned itinerary the final schedule will be determined by our Captain and the Expedition Leader based on sea, weather and ice conditions. Using our Zodiacs we hope to make daily landings with the opportunity to see gentoo, chinstrap and possibly Adelie penguins, as well as elephant seals, Antarctic fur seals, crabeater seals, Weddell seals and hopefully the iconic predator leopard seals. We may visit the collapsed volcanic cone of Deception Island for a chance to visit Whalers Bay, Half Moon Island with its rookery of chinstrap penguins, the glaciers of Cierva Cove, see the leopard seals at Pleneau Island and the stunning mountain lined Neumayer Channel. We have requested permission to visit a working Antarctic research station and hopefully send off a postcard from the UK base of Port Lockroy. We also hope to sail through the breathtaking Antarctic Sound, known as ‘iceberg alley', where massive icebergs drift north from the continent. The waters between the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia are rich with fin whales, where in good conditions we have seen dozens in a day. If not whale watching, lookout for Antarctic petrel and one of the most beautiful birds of the Southern Ocean, the snow petrel. The icebergs will also be plentiful. During our time at sea you can join the lecture programme to learn more about the wildlife and history of the region. We have four days of expedition cruising in and around South Georgia, a paradise island with snow-clad mountain peaks rising 9000 feet and with 165 glaciers tumbling down towards the sea. We arrive in the middle of the season when parts of the island will still be covered by a thin layer of snow. For anyone interested in wildlife, South Georgia is a true oasis. The beaches will be covered by elephant seal bulls and females with weaning pups. They share the beach with a myriad of nesting king penguins. Most of the other seabirds will have arrived and begun nesting whilst thousands of Antarctic fur seals return to the beaches to breed. During our time here we hope to visit Salisbury Plain where we will find enormous elephant seals which crowd the beaches alongside thousands of pairs of king penguins. The colony has had an extraordinary population increase over the last century as only 350 breeding pairs were counted at this site in 1912. In Fortuna Bay we hope to see nesting light mantled sooty albatrosses, whilst in Grytviken we will visit the old whaling station and of course pay our respect at the grave of ‘the boss' – Ernest Shackleton. As we cruise towards the Falkland Islands the richness of these waters will be evident in the marine mammal life, especially the fur seals on fishing forays. We will have a good chance of spotting whales such as fins and humpback whilst the birds circling our stern will be outstanding, especially the large albatrosses and numerous breeds of petrels. The Falkland Islands are isolated and windswept, a haven for wildlife. During our three days exploring we hope to include stops at Grave Cove, home to the largest colony of gentoo penguins in the Falkland Islands and see the rockhopper penguin colony and blackbrowed albatross on West Point Island. We will use our Zodiacs to find a suitable location to land and take walks ashore for a closer look with our expedition team. We also plan to call at Stanley, the charming capital of the Falkland Islands, and discover some of the many historic sites on the island.
- 23
Day 23 At Sea.
During our final day at sea, our lecture programme will continue in the lounge whilst our naturalists continue to spot wildlife as we return to Ushuaia.
- 24
Day 24 Ushuaia to Buenos Aires.
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. The evening is free for independent arrangements.
- 25
Day 25 Buenos Aires to London.
After breakfast in the hotel we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
- 26
Day 26 London.
Arrive this morning.
Meet your Experts
A distinguished team of guest lecturers, expedition leaders and specialist hosts will be travelling with you on selected departures — enriching your voyage with their insight, expertise and company.
Finlay Raffle
Born and raised in Scotland, Finlay has been working on expedition ships since 2023, operating with Noble Caledonia everywhere from the British Isles and the Indian Ocean to South America and the Antarctic. From a young age, he developed a passion for history (particularly maritime history) and heritage and pursued this at university with an undergraduate degree in History from the University of Glasgow followed by a postgraduate Masters in Heritage Studies from the University of St Andrews. He then spent several years in different curatorial and museum roles - including at Historic Environment Scotland, Captain Scott's RRS Discovery, and the South Georgia Heritage Trust (working as the curator of the South Georgia Museum on the sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia). His primary area of interest is maritime history, and he has published several articles on the early 19th century history
John Dickens
John was born and grew up in Zimbabwe, spending his childhood fishing, chasing insects, watching birds, and gaining a deep appreciation and love of the natural world. He completed his undergraduate studies in Marine Biology and Zoology at Rhodes University in South Africa in 2010, and a master's degree in Conservation Biology at the University of Cape Town in 2015.
Michael Bowen
Mike was born in South London, and from an early age wanted to join the Military, at 16 Mike joined the Royal Marines and served for 27 years retiring as a Warrant Officer in 2010. He then went into the Security sector and specialised in Maritime Security and close protection.
Professor Mark Brandon
Professor Mark Brandon MBE is a polar oceanographer based in the UK. He has spent his entire career working in polar science at the Scott Polar Research Institute, The British Antarctic Survey, and now a British university. With almost three years of Antarctic field work he has published more than 40 research articles and 3 text books. Mark pioneered the use of robots beneath the Antarctic sea ice and is an expert on the interaction between the ocean and ice. He has worked extensively with broadcast companies and has significant television credits for the BBC series Frozen Planet and Frozen Planet II, Blue Planet and Blue Planet II and Planet Earth. In 2012 he was awarded the Times Higher Education Most Innovative Teacher of the Year and in 2020 he was awarded an MBE in for Services to Polar Science.
The Ship
Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Hebridean Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Deck plan
Life aboard Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is an intimate, 118-passenger vessel offering a relaxed atmosphere akin to a private yacht or country hotel. Ideal for travellers seeking peaceful, small-ship exploration without the bustle of large resort-style ships.
Quick facts
Passengers
118
Crew/Staff
75
Year built
1992
Length
90.60 metres
Gross Tonnage
4200 tonnes
Suites
The vessel features 59 spacious, outside-facing suites across five decks, designed with a traditional maritime aesthetic using wood panelling and brass. All suites offer en-suite bathrooms with walk-in showers and adjustable climate control.
- •All beds can be configured as either double or twin.
- •Suites on Explorer and Erikson decks feature private balconies.
- •Marco Polo deck suites have tinted sliding glass doors for enhanced views.
- •Amenities include mini-fridge, safe, television, hairdryer, and Noble Isle toiletries.
- •Island Suite features an extra-large balcony, complimentary minibar, and laundry service.
Life on board
The ship focuses on a peaceful, informal environment with comfortable public spaces for reading, lectures, and socialising. Entertainment is low-key, centered on port briefings, guest speakers, and casual conversation.
- •Main Lounge features presentation equipment for daily briefings and talks.
- •The Club on the Marco Polo deck includes the main bar and a 24-hour tea and coffee station.
- •Library contains reference books, games, and internet access devices.
- •Outdoor spaces include an observation area on the Explorer deck and a rear Lido deck.
- •A hairdressing and beauty salon is available for treatments.
Dining
Dining is a highlight, featuring one-sitting service in the Restaurant or al fresco on the Lido deck when weather permits. The onboard chefs prioritize fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create varied international menus.
- •Open seating policy with no reservations required.
- •House wine, beer, and soft drinks are included at lunch and dinner.
- •Breakfast is buffet-style, while lunch and dinner are served à la carte.
- •Special diets can be catered for with sufficient advance notice.
- •Afternoon tea and pre-dinner canapés are served daily.
Practical information
Life on board is casual, with no formal or black-tie evenings, and guests are encouraged to relax. Key operational services including medical care, laundry, and internet are provided, though guests should note specific power and connectivity requirements.
- •Dress code is casual during the day and smart casual in the evenings.
- •Complimentary satellite Wi-Fi is provided but bandwidth is limited; text-based communication is recommended.
- •Power sockets are 110v/60Hz (American standard); two flat-pin adaptors are required.
- •Medical facilities with a doctor are available 24/7 on a chargeable basis.
- •Smoking is restricted to a specific designated area on deck; prohibited inside and on balconies.
- •Laundry service is available with a 24-hour return; no self-service launderette facilities.
- •A lift serves all passenger decks.
- •Some ports may require the use of Zodiacs or local tender boats to go ashore.
Ship information may be subject to operational change. Please contact us for the latest details before booking.
Departures & pricing
No departures currently listed — please enquire for upcoming dates.