Antarctic Peninsula

Many first-time visitors may not realize that most cruises spend much of their expedition time on and around the Antarctic Peninsula. This sliver of land is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica and the closest to South America, making it an attractive option for time-crunched cruisers.

There are several notable ports of call on the Peninsula, which makes it popular for expedition-style cruises. Brown Bluff is located at the northern tip of the Peninsula and is a tuya, a flat-topped volcano formed when it erupted through a glacier millions of years ago. Today it is home to a thriving colony of Adelie and Gentoo penguins that nest there during the summer months when it is safe to mate and raise their chicks. Another popular spot in the Peninsula is Chilean military base known as O’Higgins Station. Named after one of the country’s founding fathers, the base is home to a small but hearty group of personnel who man it throughout the year. In the warmer summer months the station hosts a variety of scientists and researchers, but in the winter no one is allowed to enter or leave the station. These and many other stops make the Peninsula important for any cruise to Antarctica.