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 Antarctica Luxury All-Gay Cruise 2025
11 nights cruise from/to Buenos Aires, Argentina
January 29 – February 09, 2025
Ponant Cruises L'Austral
 We invite you to embark on an extraordinary luxury gay expedition as we once again set course for Antarctica, a destination that has captured the hearts and imaginations of our travelers like never before. Imagine cruising through translucent icebergs and glaciers which shine in an explosion of blues. Nothing can prepare you for the breathtaking spectacle of whales breaching the surface in graceful arcs, curious penguins waddling along icy shores, and playful seals basking in the Antarctic sun.
As one of our most requested destinations, we’re thrilled to reintroduce this exclusive luxury Antarctica Expedition. This Antarctica Gay Group Cruise is a voyage that transcends the ordinary and defines the extraordinary. Best of all, you’ll be with a group of like-minded LGBTQ+ explorers aboard Ponant’s luxury expedition yacht, L’Austral.
If there is one place on the globe that fires the imagination of travellers and arouses in them an instant thirst for adventure, it is the immaculate and faraway lands of the White Continent. Inhabited by a surprising endemic fauna, the Antarctic will welcome you during an 11-day expedition cruise.
You’ll be immersed in the grandeur of colossal ice shelves. The mountainous landscapes open up to give way to huge calving glaciers. Icebergs shimmer in the distance. It’s like traveling to another planet. Led by Ponant’s expert naturalists, your voyage will be enriched with profound insights in the region’s ecology, history, and geological marvels. Your journey will not only offer remarkable encounters but also raise your awareness of climate change’s impact on this delicate ecosystem.
Antarctica Luxury Gay Cruise Highlights
• The cruise package includes an overnight hotel in Buenos Aires the day before embarkation and the flights to/from Ushuaia
• Polar parka for you to keep & complimentary boot rental
• Open bar package included
• Unlimited Wi-Fi
• Welcome Cocktail Party & Gala Dinner
• Outings and shore visits in Zodiac inflatables with a team of expert naturalist guides
• Lectures hosted by expert guides covering wildlife, history, geopolitics, the great explorers, climate environmental protection, and educational discovery
• Evening entertainment and special events throughout the voyage
• Witness iconic wildlife in their natural habitat.
• Capture epic photographs of dramatic landscapes, magical icescapes, and charismatic wildlife
• Find moments of relaxation with onboard wellness facilities, spa treatments & yoga classes
• Claim your seventh continent as you become one of the few travelers on the Antarctica Peninsula.
Ponant's L'Austral Onboard Experience
Embarking on a Ponant luxury Antarctica expedition is to cruise with the finest in the industry. PONANT has been a leader and expert in Antarctica polar expeditions for over 20 years thanks to its conscientiousness and the responsible approach that is its hallmark. Choosing a PONANT “Expedition” Cruise means choosing a state of mind: a blend of luxury, exploration, great comfort, adventure, and refinement. We aim to offer you a bespoke cruise, so we work daily to provide you with first-class, intuitive service.
During your stay, you can enjoy a sophisticated ambience. Each area has been considered down to the last detail. Wake up every day aboard in your stateroom or suite with luxe-amenities…luxury bedding, fully stocked minibar, Hermes French toiletries, and a private balcony. Enjoy breakfast a la carte in your cabin or in our gourmet restaurant with a decidedly French flair. In addition to the enriching lectures, enjoy morning yoga, the fitness center, or relax in the spa with massage, steam bath or facial.
On this voyage you’ll find beverages, from soft drinks to house wines and spirits, are always complimentary. In the evening, enjoy cocktails with friends and entertainment in the lounge and theater. Throughout this voyage you’ll experience fine dining with gourmet French cuisine and international menu, and the company of like-minded friends.
L’Austral has been crisscrossing the globe, taking passengers to the remotest parts of the planet since 2011. French designers have given this ship a unique style and veritable signature. This modern yacht is elegant and private, with just 132 staterooms and suites and a highly experienced crew. All Ponant Antarctica voyages are limited to under 200 travelers. The Ponant crew and our Source host team are committed to providing attentive service, ensuring you have an exceptional journey with memories you’ll always treasure.
Innovative design, sleek shape and profile, refined interior decoration, friendly, intimate atmosphere: French designers and decorators have managed to give this ship a unique style and veritable signature of its own. Combinations of fine materials, colours and tones harmoniously livened up with touches of bright colour, elegant lines, discreet and subtle refinement… everything has been designed to create a unique atmosphere onboard, a veritable personality: the chic style and naturally relaxing ambiance of a veritable private yacht.
 Included in this Journey
• 1 night hotel in Buenos Aires
• Welcome dinner in Buenos Aires
• Domestic flight between Buenos Aires & Ushuaia + airport taxes
• Airport transfers in Buenos Aires & Ushuaia
• Lunch in Ushuaia before Embarkation
• Shipboard gratuities
• Zodiac expeditions
• Captain’s welcome cocktail & gala dinner
• Evening entertainment & special events
• All meals and 24 hour room service
• Unlimited Wi-Fi
• Polar parka for you to keep & complimentary boot rental
• Expert naturalist lectures
• Park entry fees into protected areas
• Standard open bar package including wine & spirits
• Minibar
 Not Included in this Journey
• International Flights
• Visa Expenses
• Spa Package
• Premium Drinks
• Laundry services
• Personal Expenses
• Trip Cancellation & medical insurance
• Port charges of $560 per person
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Antarctica Luxury Gay Cruise 2025
Itinerary
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Date |
Port |
Arrive |
Depart |
| 29 Jan |
Buenos Aires, Argentina |
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PM |
| 30 Jan |
Buenos Aires / Ushuaia, Argentina |
AM |
PM |
| 31 Jan |
Crossing Drake Passage |
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| 01 Feb |
Crossing Drake Passage |
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| 02 Feb |
Antarctica |
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| 03 Feb |
Antarctica |
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| 04 Feb |
Antarctica |
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| 05 Feb |
Antarctica |
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| 06 Feb |
Antarctica |
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| 07 Feb |
Antarctica |
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| 07 Feb |
Crossing Drake Passage |
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| 08 Feb |
Crossing Drake Passage |
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| 09 Feb |
Ushuaia / Buenos Aires, Argentina |
8 AM |
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Day 1 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arrive in Argentina’s capital and transfer to the host hotel where you’ll enjoy early check-in. Latin passion and European romance define the beautiful city of Buenos Aires, a dynamic mecca known for its wide-ranging architectural styles, contemporary and historic arts, and culinary pleasures and parrillas (steakhouses).
This afternoon, go on an optional Panoramic City Tour. In the evening, there will be a Welcome Cocktail.
Day 2 - Buenos Aires / Ushuaia, Argentina
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to the charming port town of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch, take a walk in Cerro Alarkén Nature Reserve, or enjoy the scenic views of Ushuaia. The capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia, is considered the gateway to Antarctica. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary.
This afternoon, transfer to your ship and settle in for your first night on board. Take in views from your private balcony or the outside decks as you cruise the beautiful Beagle Channel before heading out to sea.
Days 3 - 4 - Crossing the Drake Passage
Set out on the Drake Passage, a 600-mile-wide swath of ocean which was an important trade route in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
You’ll have time to familiarize yourself with your ship and deepen your knowledge of the Antarctic. The Expedition Leader will first present the IAATO rules of conduct that must be observed during landings in the region and will explain everything you need to know about the zodiac outings. Lectures about the history and wildlife of the Antarctic will be an opportunity for you to learn more about this magical region, where every voyage is a unique experience. You will experience exceptional sailing moments on board and join the naturalist-guides on your ship’s exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds flying over the Drake Passage.
Days 5 - 10 - Antarctica
As the Antarctic Peninsula and its offshore islands appear on the horizon, a sense of excitement begins to build. Succumb to the magic of a place unlike any other. Glaciers, ice floes, tabletop icebergs, mountain peaks that plunge into the sea, volcanic beaches, research stations, enchanting bays, and vestiges of the whaling industry. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of otherworldly scenery surrounded by exceptional wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals, and giant petrels are at home here, as are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales, and orcas.
Each day, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will suggest zodiac outings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula. Antarctic expeditions demand spontaneity, and no two days are ever the same. With that in mind, your itinerary and daily excursions may include the following areas:
Antarctic Sound:
At the northernmost tip of the Antarctic mainland, this body of water features some of the best sightseeing on the peninsula and a proliferation of giant icebergs. Noted for its vast numbers of bird species, the sound is home to the largest breeding colonies of Adélie penguins in Antarctica. Look forward to opportunities to land on remote, wildlife-laden islands and options to experience a continental landing on the northwest tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.
South Shetland Islands:
Antarctic research stations, remarkable history, unique geological features, and abundant wildlife define these islands off the shore of the Antarctic Peninsula. Your Expedition Team looks for opportunities to visit a wide range of sites: working research stations, volcanic islands, and historic sites, as well as Gentoo, Adélie, and chinstrap penguin rookeries.
Danco Coast:
Bordering the South Shetland Islands, it is famed for its scenic waterways. After mornings discovering native species and striking terrain, return to the ship for lunch. Back aboard, you can search for everything from fin whales humpback whales, and orcas. By afternoon, set out for the day’s second planned excursion, which may include visiting a scientific research station, hiking on a sheltered beach with crabeater seals, or circumnavigating the ice floes that serve as floating homes to seals and penguins.
Days 10 - 11 - Crossing the Drake Passage
Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, the Drake Passage is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbors a very diverse marine fauna. Don’t forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.
Day 12 - Ushuaia / Buenos Aires, Argentina
Experience the culmination of our remarkable Antarctica voyage as we disembark in Ushuaia. Following breakfast, transfer to the airport to board a flight to Buenos Aires. Connect with your international flights, or consider extending your journey by embarking on an optional extension to explore the awe-inspiring Iguazu Falls.
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