The Magellan Explorer is a modern expedition ship custom-built for Antarctic cruises, launched in 2019 and designed to the latest Polar Code specifications with a Polar Class 6 (LR PC6) ice rating for safe polar navigation. It accommodates up to 76 guests in 38 cabins featuring private balconies, individually controlled heating, sitting areas, and bathrooms with heated floors. The ship is 298 feet long, with a beam of 53 feet, and is operated by a crew of 60. Public spaces include a glass-enclosed observation lounge, a spacious dining room with panoramic windows, a library, a gym, a sauna, and an outdoor BBQ area. For wildlife observation and landings, it is equipped with ten Zodiac boats and features two mid-ship gangways for efficient embarkation. The ship’s maneuverability and comfort are enhanced by state-of-the-art stabilizers, bow and stern thrusters, and advanced ice-detecting radar.

It has been a dream of mine to visit Antarctica, and today I booked a 20-day cruise on the Magellan Explorer, which will include stops in the Falkland and South Georgia Islands. We will depart from Punta Arenas, Chile, in late October 2026 (the earliest availability) and return to Ushuaia, Argentina.

489 days and counting!