South America Expedition Cruising with 66° Expeditions: A Practical Planning Guide
What This Route Covers
In our inventory, South America expedition cruising under the 66° Expeditions line spans some of the most remote and geographically dramatic waters in the Southern Hemisphere. Itinerary highlights include arriving in Ushuaia, exploring South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, the Antarctica Peninsula, Puerto Madryn, the South Shetland Islands, and Mar del Plata — a sweep of destinations that moves travellers from sub-Antarctic wildlife strongholds through to the Antarctic Peninsula itself. In our inventory, 21 departures are available across this route, all operated by a single cruise line: 66° Expeditions. Voyage lengths range from 10 to 20 nights, with the most common itinerary running 13 nights — a length that allows meaningful time at multiple landing sites without requiring an extended leave of absence.
The Ship: Seaventure at a Glance
In our inventory, the sole vessel operating these departures is Seaventure, run by 66° Expeditions, with a guest capacity of 150. A ship of this size sits in the mid-range of expedition vessels: large enough to offer comfortable communal spaces and a range of onboard programming, yet small enough to qualify for Antarctic landing rotations that restrict the number of passengers ashore at any one time. Travellers considering how vessel size affects the experience should note that with 150 guests, Seaventure can typically land passengers in multiple Zodiac groups, keeping individual shore parties to a manageable scale. This matters particularly at sensitive sites across the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, where landing quotas are enforced. Smaller ships can sometimes offer more flexible scheduling, but Seaventure's capacity still places it well within expedition-class norms for this region.
Departure Calendar: Months, Ports, and Scheduling Logic
In our inventory, departures operate across six months of the year: January, February, March, October, November, and December. The busiest departure month is November, which aligns with the opening of the Antarctic season when sea ice is retreating and wildlife activity — particularly seabird nesting and penguin colony formation — is at an early peak. Embarkation ports in our inventory include Ushuaia (the primary gateway to Antarctic and sub-Antarctic routes), as well as PMY (Puerto Madryn) and MDQ (Mar del Plata) for itineraries that incorporate Patagonian coastal segments. Travellers considering which departure month suits their priorities should weigh the following: October and November departures tend to coincide with the arrival of wildlife at breeding sites; December and January offer longer daylight hours and more stable weather windows; February and March mark the late season, when penguin chicks are maturing and whale activity in surrounding waters increases. In our inventory, the full spread of 21 departures across these six months means travellers have meaningful scheduling flexibility, though November slots — being the busiest — are worth prioritising early in the planning process.