Sailing Paradise Bay is a port of call on ocean itineraries concentrated from December through March, with Norwegian Cruise Line, Azamara, and Celebrity calling there.
Paradise Bay sits along the Antarctic Peninsula's Danco Coast, a sheltered harbor framed by ice cliffs and steep, snow-covered slopes. Glaciers calve into the water here, and drifting icebergs shift with the tides, creating an ever-changing seascape prized by photographers and naturalists alike. Gentoo penguin colonies nest on the surrounding rock, while humpback and minke whales are often spotted feeding in the bay's calm waters.
Two research stations, Chile's González Videla and Argentina's Almirante Brown, stand near the shoreline, offering a rare glimpse of scientific life at the bottom of the world. Because Paradise Bay has no pier, landings are made by small boat or zodiac directly onto the shore or ice, weather permitting. The stillness and enclosed setting make it one of the more sheltered stops for exploring this remote and dramatic region.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Sailing Paradise Bay.
Zodiac Cruise Among Icebergs
Glide by small boat past calving glaciers and sculpted ice for close-up views impossible from a ship's deck. Weather permitting, this is often the best way to spot whales feeding near the surface.
Visit Almirante Brown Station
Step ashore near this Argentine research outpost for a rare look at scientific life on the continent, plus a short, steep climb behind it for sweeping views over the bay.
Photograph the Gentoo Colony
Walk carefully along marked paths above the landing site to observe nesting gentoo penguins against a backdrop of ice cliffs, a classic Antarctic photo op best caught in calm morning light.
