Antarctic Sound/Peninsula

Explore Earth’s Southernmost Continent with Azamara

Drifting through a world of bright white punctuated by implausibly blue icebergs, you may find the experience surreal. As you cruise through the sound, you’ll view the same rugged landscapes just as those first intrepid explorers did years ago. This frozen continent at the ends of the Earth cannot sustain permanent inhabitants, but the part it plays in the Earth’s weather and water levels is so crucial that 28 nations maintain research stations here.

The peninsula sweeps up towards the tip of South America, and is the only part extending outside the Antarctic Circle. It provides many good habitats for penguin rookeries, and these beguiling birds return each year to mate, dressed in their best tuxedos. Several species of seal are in residence as well, including the enormous elephant seal. Speaking of elephants, the peninsula is a short sail away from Elephant Island, a key destination on Ernest Shackleton’s death-defying Antarctic expedition.