Wave Season Sale - Save up to 20% off select cabins!

Cruise Itinerary

Date	Port	Arrive	Depart
1 Feb 2027	Queenstown, New Zealand
2 Feb 2027	Bluff, New Zealand
3 Feb 2027	Snares Island, New Zealand
3 Feb 2027	North East Island, New Zealand
4 Feb 2027	Auckland Islands, New Zealand
4 Feb 2027	Enderby Island
5 Feb 2027	At Sea
6 Feb 2027	Macquarie Island, Sub Antarctic Island
7 Feb 2027	Macquarie Island, Sub Antarctic Island
8 Feb 2027	At Sea
9 Feb 2027	At Sea
10 Feb 2027	At Sea
11 Feb 2027	Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
12 Feb 2027	Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
13 Feb 2027	Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
14 Feb 2027	Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
15 Feb 2027	Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
16 Feb 2027	Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
17 Feb 2027	Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
18 Feb 2027	Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
19 Feb 2027	Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
20 Feb 2027	Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
21 Feb 2027	Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
22 Feb 2027	Ross Sea Region, Antarctica
23 Feb 2027	At Sea
24 Feb 2027	At Sea
25 Feb 2027	At Sea
26 Feb 2027	Campbell Island, New Zealand
26 Feb 2027	Perseverance Harbour, New Zealand
27 Feb 2027	At Sea
28 Feb 2027	Invercargill, New Zealand
28 Feb 2027	Queenstown, New Zealand

The Ross Sea region of Antarctica is one of the most remote places on Planet Earth and one of the most fascinating places in the continent's human history. With shipping restricted by impenetrable pack ice to just two brief months each austral summer, few people have ever visited this strange and beautiful territory, with opportunities for non-scientific personnel limited to a handful of tourist expedition ships. Heritage Expeditions offers such a voyage on its own fully equipped and ice-strengthened ship Heritage Adventurer, crewed by some of the most experienced officers and sailors in the world and staffed by a passionate and knowledgeable expedition team. Heritage Expeditions are the original and most experienced Ross Sea operators and have been exploring the Ross Sea region for more than 35 years and our iconic In the Wake of Scott & Shackleton voyage has featured in television documentaries Go Further South, Antarctica from Above (narrated by Lucy Lawless) and Nigel Marven's The Last Penguin.
The Ross Sea takes its name from Sir James Clark Ross who discovered it in 1841. The British Royal Geographical Society chose the Ross Sea for the now famous British National Antarctic Expedition in 1901-04 led by Robert Falcon Scott. That one expedition spawned what is sometimes referred to as the 'Race to the Pole'. Ernest Shackleton almost succeeded in 1907-09 and the Japanese explorer Nobu Shirase tried in 1910-12. Scott thought it was his, but was beaten by his rival, Norwegian Roald Amundsen in the summer of 1911. Shackleton's Trans-Antarctic expedition in 1914-17 marked the end of this 'heroic' or 'golden age' of exploration, but many of the relics of this era, including some huts, remain. The dramatic landscape described by these early explorers is unchanged. Mt Erebus, Mt Discovery and the Transantarctic Mountains are as inspiring today as they were 100 years ago. The penguin rookeries described by the early biologists fluctuate in numbers from year to year, but they still occupy the same sites. The seals, which are no longer hunted for food lie around on ice floes seemingly unperturbed. The whales, which were hunted so ruthlessly here in the 1920s, are slowly coming back, but it is a long way back from the edge of extinction, and some species have done better than others. Snow Petrels, Wilson's Storm-Petrels, Antarctic Prions and South Polar Skuas all breed in this seemingly inhospitable environment.
There is so much to do and so much to see here, from exploring historic huts and sites to visiting penguin rookeries, marvelling at the glacial ice tongues and ice shelves, and understanding the icebergs and sea ice. Then there are all the seabirds, seals and whales to observe and photograph, modern scientific bases and field camps to visit and simply the opportunity to spend time drinking in the marvellous landscape that has always enthralled visitors.
Lying like stepping stones to the Antarctic continent are the little known Subantarctic Islands which, along with Heritage Expeditions and our voyages, featured in Conde Nast Traveler's influential 'The 25 Best Places to Go in 2025' list. Our journey also includes The Snares, Auckland, Macquarie and Campbell Island. They break our long journey, but more importantly, they help prepare us for what lies ahead, for these islands are part of the amazing and dynamic Southern Ocean ecosystem of which Antarctica is at the very heart. It is the powerhouse which drives this ecosystem upon which the world depends. These expeditions include the option to join sea kayaking excursions with an expert guide. Kayaking around the Subantarctic Islands and Ross Sea Anatarctica offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore a wide array of habitats to explore beyond the reach of our Zodiacs.

Heritage Adventurer is a true pioneering expedition vessel of exceptional pedigree. Often referred to as the 'Grande Dame of Polar Exploration' due to her celebrated history and refined design, she was purposebuilt for adventure in 1991 at Finland's Rauma shipyard and specifically designed for Polar exploration.

Setting a peerless standard in authentic expedition travel, Heritage Adventurer (formerly known as MS Hanseatic) combines the highest passenger ship iceclass rating (1A Super) with an impressive history of Polar exploration. Having held records for the most northern and southern Arctic and Antarctic navigations, and for traversing both the Northwest and Northeast Passages, makes Heritage Adventurer perfect for pioneering New Zealand-based Heritage Expeditions signature experiential expedition travel.

Originally designed to accommodate 184 guests, Heritage Adventurer now welcomes just 140 expeditioners ensuring spacious, stylish and comfortable voyages, while a fleet of 14 Zodiacs ensures all guests are able to maximise their expedition adventure. Heritage Adventurer proudly continues our traditions of exceptional, personalised expedition experiences as Heritage Expeditions flagship.

Every year Heritage Expeditions voyages with small groups of between 18 and 140 intrepid travellers to some of the most unique and remote islands, coasts and shorelines on earth aboard their expedition ships Heritage Adventurer and Heritage Explorer on voyages ranging from 5 – 28 days.

Founded in 1985 by the Russ family in Christchurch, New Zealand, Heritage Expeditions is still proudly family-owned and operated. Contributing to conservation through experiential learning and providing funds for research and management, they are pioneers in environmentally-responsible expedition travel offering intimate group excursions to Antarctica and the Subantarctic Islands, through the Pacific, and around New Zealand on their purpose built expedition ships.

Each expedition is meticulously planned and led by a team of botanists, ornithologists, naturalists and experts in their field, ensuring guests maximise every opportunity to learn, discover and experience as much as possible, while minimising the impact of their visit and returning as ambassadors for these very special places.