Transatlantic – Cape Verde to Ushuaia

Sailing from Sal

Your journey begins on the island of Sal, where African and Portuguese influences blend with volcanic landscapes and endless Atlantic horizons. Known for golden beaches, colourful culture and year-round sunshine, Sal offers a fitting starting point for this transatlantic crossing. Take some time to soak up Santa Maria's lively atmosphere, strolling along its white sand beaches and browsing the waterfront before heading to the harbour.  

Once welcomed aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen, settle into your cabin, meet your Expedition Team and prepare for the adventure ahead as we set sail across the Atlantic.  

Sailing southwest towards Brazil

We spend the next several days at sea, crossing the Atlantic towards the Brazilian coast. Make the most of the ship's facilities: relax in the hot tub, sauna, or infinity pool, stroll the open decks, settle down with a book, or grab a drink at the Explorer Bar & Lounge, and chat with fellow travellers. The Expedition Team may give lectures on the destinations ahead, from Salvador's colonial history to the ocean ecosystems you're sailing through. 

Experience the city’s pulsing energy

Brazil's former colonial capital is one of Latin America's most captivating cities. African, indigenous, and Portuguese cultures collide here to create an atmosphere that's entirely its own. Stroll the cobbled streets and rainbow-coloured houses of the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre, known as the Pelourinho. Elsewhere, the Barra Lighthouse, one of the oldest navigational beacons in the Americas, is now a fascinating maritime museum close to several swimmable beaches, perfect for cooling off after hours of exploring. 

Leisurely days crossing the South Atlantic

Over the days ahead we sail south towards Port Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands. Before the next glimpses of land appear, enjoy the ship's facilities and the company of fellow travellers. Perhaps a soak in the hot tub, a drink at the bar, or check out any sessions by the Expedition Team, such as stargazing in the clear skies of the southern latitudes, or learning more about the Falklands' sub-Antarctic ecosystem. 

Wildlife, wildflowers, and a community walk

The Falkland archipelago offers vast horizons and white sand coastlines teeming with birdlife. Black-browed albatrosses and magellanic penguins are found here, alongside seals and sea lions basking on the beaches. Offshore, you may spot whale species passing through these rich waters.

The islands are also home to around 400 recorded plant species, including 14 found nowhere else on Earth. Keep an eye out for the pale maiden, the delicate national flower of the Falklands. We'll take a community walk through Stanley, passing the 19th-century Jubilee Villas (now the headquarters of Falklands Conservation, with a renowned native plant garden), Christ Church Cathedral, the world's most southerly Anglican cathedral, and the Historic Dockyard Museum.  

Relax amid the open ocean 

Your final day at sea is yours to enjoy as you wish. Make the most of a last sessions with the Expedition Team, an evening of stargazing, or one more soak in the hot tub as the ship charts its course towards Tierra del Fuego. 

End at the tip of South America 

Your voyage ends in Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego and Argentina's southernmost city, where the Andes meet the Beagle Channel. From here, you'll take a flight to Buenos Aires. It doesn't have to be the end of your adventure: why not join our optional post-voyage programme before heading home, or even join an expedition cruise south to Antarctica – the Seventh Continent.