Highlights

Antarctic Fur Seal

Wildlife

Once hunted nearly into extinction, these pointy-eared polar swimmers are the comeback queens and kings of the Antarctic

Antarctic Fur Seal cruises

Arctic Tern

Wildlife

Among the most nomadic birds on the planet, these sun-loving tourists summer twice a year during their ambitious routes

Arctic Tern cruises

Black-Crowned Night Heron

Wildlife

The warmth of their nesting instinct belies the darkness of their name, though that doesn't keep these night hunters from feeding during hours competition is at a low

Black-browed Albatross

Wildlife

So efficient in the air that their in-flight heart rate barely rises above resting, these sub-Antarctic birds pack a stomach full of oil they can spit at would-be attackers

Black-browed Albatross cruises

Blackish Cinclodes

Wildlife

Small and unassuming, these diminuitive birds are inquisitive, daring and a common sight on the Falkland Islands

Blackish Cinclodes cruises

Cobb’s Wren

Wildlife

Named after the farmer and bird writer Arthur Cobb, these native Falkland birds have such a small region and population that they are prone to inbreeding

Cobb’s Wren cruises

Commerson’s Dolphin

Wildlife

Named after the French naturalist who discovered them, these cetaceans are among the smallest to populate the Antarctic seas

Commerson’s Dolphin cruises

Crested Duck

Wildlife

These non-migratory mallards are highly territorial, the males' red and orange eyes brightening when breeding time has arrived

Dark-faced Ground Tyrant

Wildlife

Nicknamed “news bird” for its habit of hopping close to other birds as if to relay news, the dark-faced ground tyrant is part of the largest family of birds in the Americas

Dark-faced Ground Tyrant cruises

Falkland Steamer Duck

Wildlife

One of only two bird species native to the Falklands, the flightless Falkland steamer duck gets its name from the steamer-like way it flaps its legs and wings while swimming

Falkland Steamer Duck cruises

Fin Whale

Wildlife

Akin to their blue whale relatives both in size and the low frequency of their song, these "razorbacks" have asymmetrically colored faces thought to help them while hunting

Fin Whale cruises

Gentoo Penguin

Wildlife

These hygienic divers are the only penguin species whose population is currently increasing along the Antarctic Peninsula

Gentoo Penguin cruises

Humpback Whale

Wildlife

Also known as "great-winged newfoundlanders" for their wing-like flippers, these cetaceans earned their more contemporary name by the way they bow their backs before a dive

Humpback Whale cruises

Killer Whale

Wildlife

Technically a kind of dolphin, orcas were once thought to appear as whales in the summer and wolves in the winter

Killer Whale cruises

King Penguin

Wildlife

Second in size only to the emperor penguin, these colorful divers look so different than their own chicks that they were once thought to be a different species

King Penguin cruises

Leopard Seal

Wildlife

These "slender-clawed water workers" spend much of their lives submerged, though it's known they are the only member of their family to consume other seals

Leopard Seal cruises

Light-mantled Albatross

Wildlife

Though these black-billed birds are so efficient at flying that they spend more energy at nest than in the air, they're often less than masterful at landing

Light-mantled Albatross cruises

Macaroni Penguin

Wildlife

Named for their orange plume feathers, these shallow-nesting hoppers are the largest of the crested penguins

Macaroni Penguin cruises

Magellanic Penguin

Wildlife

These timid feather-shedders are named after the famed Portuguese explorer whose crew spotted them in 1520

Magellanic Penguin cruises

Magellanic Snipe

Wildlife

Keep an eye out for these adept coastal foragers on a visit to the Falkland Islands

Magellanic Snipe cruises

Minke Whale

Wildlife

Though the smallest of the fin whales, these migrating mammals can let out a cry as loud as a plane taking off

Minke Whale cruises

Peale’s Dolphin

Wildlife

Found in the waters of South America, this small dolphin can sometimes be seen in energetic groups of up to 100

Peale’s Dolphin cruises

Prion

Wildlife

Named after the Greek word for "saw" due to their serrated bills, these marine petrels like to flock over surfacing whales to grab the fish that rise with them

Prion cruises

Rockhopper Penguin

Wildlife

One moment these golden-haired divers are sleeping on the water, the next they can be swimming so fast they launch themselves ashore onto their bellies

Rockhopper Penguin cruises

Sei Whale

Wildlife

Among the largest of their parvorder, these "winged whales" usually prefer warmer waters than their polar-traveling baleen relatives

Southern Elephant Seal

Wildlife

The largest of their species, southern elephant seals are often found in haul-outs along Antarctic coastlines

Southern Elephant Seal cruises

Southern Right Whale

Wildlife

These dorsal-less sailors know when it's time to take a load off, occasionally holding their back flippers in the air and letting the wind push them through the water

Southern Right Whale cruises

Sperm Whale

Wildlife

The inspiration for the white whale of Moby Dick, sperm whales have the largest heads, biggest brains, and make the loudest sound of any animal on Earth

Striated Caracara

Wildlife

These "Johnny Rooks" have a penchant for stealing red objects, and prefer to settle on islands populated by seals and seabirds in Tierra del Fuego and the Falklands

Striated Caracara cruises