17-DAY S. AMERICA AND ANTARCTICA HOLIDAY CRUISE

*Accomodations
*Cabin Steward with twice daily housekeeping
*Luxurious dining rooms
*Casual dining restaurants
*Complimentary 24-hour in room dining
*One crew member for every two guests
*Ice service, shoe shine service
*Use of the exclusive Neptune Lounge and personal concierge service for Penthouse and Deluxe Verandah guests
*Lavish Las Vegas-style production shows
*Talented vocalists, illusionists, comedians and vareity acts
*Casino gaming available, movie, Piano Bar
*Crow's Nest Nightclub
*Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine
*Explorations Speaker Series featuring experts on history, culture and cuisine of ports of call

Day 0: Board ship in Buenos Aires, Argentina 9 p.m.

Day 1:Montevideo, Uruguay
Friendly and genteel, Montevideo honors colonial customs: long lunches, siestas, high tea. Nearby: Colonia del Sacramento, the oldest city in Uruguay (ca. 1680) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sample shore excursions: Colonia del Sacramento; A Gaucho's Life. 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 2: At sea

Day 3: Puerto Madryn, Argentina 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Situated in rugged Argentine Patagonia, Puerto Madryn was founded by Welsh immigrants in 1865. Enjoy a famous Welsh "tea" in the village of Gaiman; journey back in time 300 million years at the Paleontology Museum of Egidio Feruglio in Trelew; and see colonies of sea elephants, sea lions and seals in their natural habitat at Punta Norte. Sample shore excursions: Punta Tombo Penguin Adventure; Peninsula Valdes Natural Reserve; Puerto Madryn Private Touring.

Day 4:At Sea

Day 5: Port Stanley, Falkland Islands 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Scotland under the Southern Cross: moorlands, pubs, red phone booths, sheep ranches, a "cuppa tea." Plus penguins of every type: gentoo, Magellanic, king. Sample shore excursions: Stanley Highlights; Sparrow Cove Penguin Advnture.

Day 6:At Sea

Day 7: The Antarctica Sound
Hope Bay (Esperanza Station), Paulet & Elephant Islands (Scenic Cruising) At Hope Bay the scarlet chalets of Esperanza, an Argentine military and scientific station, stand in stark contrast to the white ice. On Paulet Island as several million Adélie penguins nest on every available beach. And at Elephant Island, hear the riveting account of Shackelton s ill-fated expedition and the crew s heroic daily struggle to survive.

Day 8:South Shetland Islands
Deception, Livingston & Half Moon Islands (Scenic Cruising)
Don't be deceived: Deception Island is really the crescent-shaped caldera of a volcano active enough to heat Antarctic waters to bathwater temperatures. The ms Rotterdam will sail right by the crater, where several colonies of chinstrap penguins make their home on the black-sand beaches. More surprises await at Half Moon Island where whales are often seen patrolling the shores; and Livingston Island, home of huge elephant seals.

Day 9: Wilhelm Archipelago
Anvers Island (Palmer Station), Cuverville Island, Petermann Island. Skirt jagged ice cliffs to Anvers Island, home of the U.S. Biological Research Center, Palmer Station. (Perhaps we can entice the scientists to come aboard the ms Rotterdam to share their findings.) Next: the wide cobbled beaches of Cuverville Island, home to Antarctica's extensive colony of gentoo penguins. And Petermann Island, where French explorer/scientist Dr. Jean-Baptiste Charcot studied a colony of Adélie penguins during the winter of 1909.

Day 10:Drake Passage and Cape Horn

Day 11: Ushuaia, Argentina 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The southernmost town in the world, where dominating peaks loom on three sides; the fourth opens to the Beagle Channel, where sea lions bellow and king crab rules. Sample shore excursions: Tierra del Fuego National Park; Penguins & Beagle Channel.
On day 11 we also cruise Glacier Alley, Beagle Channel and Cockburn Channel.

Day 12: Strait of Megellan
Where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans converge, the Straight of Magellan lies along the southern edge of South America and was named by Ferdinand Magellan around 1520. The strait, protected by both the mainland and the islands of the Tierra Del Fuego archipelago, was considered safer than Cape Horn or Drake Passage. Views of Chile from the strait include stunning vistas and landscapes, tiny coves and picturesque inlets.



Day 13:Canal Sarmiento
Be among the lucky few to spend a glorious day scenic cruising through Tierra del Fuego and the snow-capped peaks and ethereal blue glaciers of Canal Sarmiento. Cutting through Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, this majestic waterway is surrounded by other-worldly beauty. Enjoy breakfast or lunch on your private verandah and watch as Amalia Glacier comes into view and witness countless seabirds that make their home in this dramatic landscape.

Day 14 Romanche & Alemania Glaciers
Charted by Charles Darwin on his exploratory cruise in 1832. Follow in his wake through Cockburn Channel for breathtaking views of Romanche, Alemania, Francia and Italia glaciers. Day 15: Puerto Montt, Chile 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Gateway to the scenic Lake District, a series of fragrant eucalyptus and pine forests, icy lakes, Bavarian hamlets and luminous snowcapped volcanoes. Sample shore excursions: Alerce Mountain Lodge & Lake of Reflections; Petrohué Rapids & Frutillar.

Day 16:At Sea
Day 17Valparaiso (Santiago,) Chile 7 a.m.
A lush, irresistible tangle of serpentine streets, steep hills and 15 ascensores - ingenious antique trams. Nearby is the seaside resort of Vina del Mar. Sample shore excursion: Highlights of Santiago.