Before You Sail · Antarctica, December 21, 2027 – January 7, 2028
This trip runs from an 84-degree summer city to freezing water and back to the same city. Pack for both ends.
The temperature range
Buenos Aires in late December averages a high near 84°F.
The Drake Passage runs from about 43°F in the north to about 30°F in the south.
On the Antarctic Peninsula in high summer, expect temperatures near freezing. Wind makes it feel colder on an open deck.
Layers, not one heavy coat
Three layers work better than one thick parka. You will be moving between a heated ship and an open deck throughout the day.
Base layer. Merino wool or synthetic. Not cotton, which holds moisture.
Middle layer. Fleece or a light down jacket.
Outer layer. Windproof and waterproof. The wind matters more than the temperature.
What travelers forget to pack
Sunglasses. Sun reflecting off ice and water is harsh, and the glare lasts most of the day.
Sunscreen. Bring it and use it, including on the peninsula days.
A warm hat and gloves. Thin gloves you can operate a camera in are worth having alongside warm ones.
Binoculars. Wildlife on this itinerary is seen from the ship, so magnification is the difference between a shape and a whale.
A lanyard or wrist strap for your phone. Don’t be the person who dropped their phone over the railing.
What you do not need
No rubber boots. No waterproof trousers. No expedition parka. This voyage does not land passengers, so there is no wet gear and no mud room.
For Buenos Aires and the northern ports
Summer clothing. Light layers for the evenings on the water.
Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Stanley all involve walking, so bring walking shoes you would be comfortable in for several miles.
Formal nights and dining
There are formal evenings on a seventeen-day voyage. If you like to dress to impress, pack one outfit you would wear to a nice dinner. Otherwise, you are welcome in typical business casual attire.
Everything else on board is casual during the day.
