A true gift for pioneers, the volcanic island group of Tristan da Cunha rises out of the Atlantic around 2,400 km (1,491 mi.) from the nearest settlement. If the weather is good, you will land in the Zodiacs to learn more about the lives of the around 230 people who live here, far from civilisation. The pioneering spirit is almost tangible when the HANSEATIC spirit continues on a course that is planned anew every day. The destination: spectacular experiences.

Steep summits on the horizon announce the wildlife paradise of South Georgia. James Cook, who discovered the island in 1775, exclaimed that: "The wild rocks raised their lofty summits till they were lost in the clouds." Hundreds of thousands of king penguins blanket the island's coastlines and mountain slopes. The Zodiacs are used several times a day for landings in the rugged north coast's most beautiful spots. For example, on Salisbury Plain you can watch a huge colony of thousands of king penguins brooding their eggs. The air is filled with ear-splitting screeching. Is there any more atmospheric way to welcome the new year than in the company of these curious creatures? The animals are usually more curious than the guests, who are required to maintain a prescribed distance. The enormous elephant seals and fur seals are more sceptical of their visitors - with a little luck, you will be able to see them in areas such as Gold Harbour. Chinstrap, macaroni and Adelie penguins and giant petrels fill the uninhabited island with life. The overwhelming landscapes give the impression of a huge Noah's Ark. Your team of experts on board will provide deeper insights into your natural experiences with surprising details and information on the Antarctic's pioneering history. In Grytviken, you will visit sites such as an old wooden church from the whaling era. Pay homage to Sir Ernest Shackleton, the great polar explorer, at his final resting place.

Your next destination is the South Orkney Islands, discovered in 1821 by the whaler George Powell. Depending on the local conditions and approval from the station, you will land in the Zodiacs to gain an impression of the work of the Argentinian Orcadas research station, which has been manned since 1904. You will feel how impressive complete silence can be in the Weddell Sea, where gigantic tabular icebergs and dense pack ice await. The ice cracks and crunches around the ship's reinforced bow. How far into this region can the HANSEATIC spirit actually make it? For example, in 1903, the Nordenskjöld expedition was forced to wait ten months to be rescued on the volcanic Paulet Island. Today, the island is home to countless penguins.
With a little luck, you will set foot on the Antarctic Peninsula in Brown Bluff, where tuff cliffs tower up to 700 m (2,296 ft) between two mighty glaciers. This panorama is accompanied by the cries of countless Dominican gulls, cape petrels and snow petrels. The archaic beauty of the South Shetland Islands is a history book of geology and the golden age of Antarctic exploration. In 1916, the crew of Shackleton's "Endurance" expedition spent the winter on Elephant Island after being forced to abandon their ship in the ice. With its shallow draught, the HANSEATIC spirit can even travel into the flooded caldera of the extinct volcano that forms Deception Island. Flanked by rock faces up to 50 m (164 ft) in height, the black sand in front of you gives off steam as a testament to a past eruption - and you in the heart of the scenery. We can set out in smaller boats to reach destinations such as Half Moon Island. Walk across vast fields of snow with stunning views.

In good weather, you will land in the Zodiacs at South America's famous, most southerly point: Cape Horn. After climbing up to the Cape Horn Memorial with the albatross, you will look back on the unforgettable experiences of your Antarctic expedition.