After a night of air travel, guests bound for the National Geographic Explorer arrive in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, set on the Rio de la Plata, and check in at the fine Sofitel Buenos Aires (or similar). In the afternoon, get a guided overview of the city, seeing its Beaux Arts palaces, grand boulevards and the famous balcony forever associated with Eva Perón.

Guests bound for the National Geographic Orion arrive today in Santiago. Check in at the fine The Singular Santiago, adjacent to downtown, and take the morning to relax. Santiago is nearly surrounded by the Andes, which form an inspiring backdrop to your afternoon guided overview of this vibrant city. Explore the Plaza de Armas, the main square, and nearby Presidential Palace, enjoying wonderful views from the many hills that dot the city.

Fly by private charter to Ushuaia, Argentina. Guests headed for the National Geographic Explorer will travel from Buenos Aires, while guests of the National Geographic Orion will fly from Santiago.

This morning's charter flight will bring you over Patagonia before landing in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. If the weather is fine, you'll have a chance to view the spectacular mountains rising out of the Beagle Channel as you enjoy lunch on a catamaran cruise. Then you'll embark the expedition ship and set sail.

You will have nearly 24 hours of daylight so a flexible schedule will help take advantage of the unexpected, such as seeing a 40-ton whale surface off the bow.

One day you may take a Zodiac foray amid towering icebergs under a bright sun, walk along the shoreline amid a huge penguin colony, hike to a summit for a breathtaking view or kayak along a cliffside rookery in search of blue-eyed shags. The next, you could have the thrill of watching the ship crunch through the pack ice, or step ashore to the cries of thousands of gentoo penguins. You’ll learn from experts how to identify penguins and get tips from a National Geographic photographer while watching those same penguins.

Back aboard, the undersea specialist may present video from that day’s dive — rare images taken up to 1,000 feet below the surface using a remotely operated underwater vehicle. Lindblad's expert staff will craft an expedition where you will learn more, see more and experience more.

As we sail back to Ushuaia, an albatross or two may join the avian escort of seabirds that cross the bow, and Lindblad's spotters will keep an eye out for marine life. There’ll be plenty of time to enjoy a wellness treatment, log some time in the gym or catch up on the book you haven’t had a minute to read. Talks from the staff will reflect on all you have seen and learned.

After breakfast, we disembark in Ushuaia with some time to explore before proceeding to the airport and departing for home.