87-Day Amazon and Antarctica Cruise Unveiled for 2028

A newly announced 87-night itinerary from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is drawing attention across the cruise industry, promising passengers the unusual chance to sail both the Amazon River and Antarctica on a single roundtrip voyage from the United Kingdom in early 2028.

One Itinerary, Two Bucket-List Frontiers

According to newly released itinerary details, the Grand Voyage will operate in 2028 aboard the 1,360-guest Borealis, sailing roundtrip from Southampton without the need for long-haul flights. Publicly available information describes it as a one-of-a-kind 87-night cruise that combines scenic days deep along the Amazon River with several days of Antarctic Peninsula cruising in a single continuous journey.

The sailing is positioned as the only itinerary currently marketed from the UK that reaches both regions on the same ship in one departure. Industry coverage notes that the voyage marks Fred. Olsen’s first return to the Amazon in around nine years, alongside a renewed focus on longer, destination-led itineraries that emphasize rare ports and extensive sea days over rapid-fire port calls.

Reports indicate that the voyage is scheduled to depart in early January 2028, taking advantage of high-summer conditions in the Southern Hemisphere. That timing aligns with prime viewing seasons for wildlife in both the Amazon and Antarctica, as well as more favorable daylight hours for long stretches of scenic cruising.

Route From the UK to the Heart of the Amazon

The 87-night cruise is set to begin in Southampton before heading south to the Canary Islands, with calls at Santa Cruz in Tenerife and Santa Cruz on La Palma. From there, the ship is scheduled to cross the Atlantic to the Caribbean, visiting ports such as St John’s in Antigua, Samaná in the Dominican Republic, Ocho Rios in Jamaica and Bridgetown in Barbados, among others.

After the Caribbean segment, the itinerary turns toward South America. The published schedule includes calls at Puerto Limón in Costa Rica, Cartagena in Colombia, Willemstad in Curaçao, Fort-de-France in Martinique, St George’s in Grenada, Roseau in Dominica and additional island stops before approaching the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil.

Once on the river, the ship is expected to spend several days navigating the Amazon itself, with calls including Santarém, Manaus for an overnight stay, Boca da Valéria and Alter do Chão. The routing provides alternating days of port visits and scenic sailing along forested riverbanks, offering views of river communities and the surrounding rainforest from the comfort of an ocean-going vessel.

After emerging from the Amazon, the ship is scheduled to continue down the Brazilian coast, calling at destinations such as Fortaleza, Búzios and an overnight in Rio de Janeiro. That segment is designed to bridge the tropical river and rainforest experience with more urban coastal stops before the itinerary turns toward the far south of the continent.

From Patagonia to the Antarctic Peninsula

Following the Brazilian coast, the voyage heads for colder latitudes, with port calls in Puerto Madryn in Argentina and Punta Arenas in Chile listed in the preliminary itinerary. These gateways in Patagonia are long-standing departure points for wildlife and glacier viewing in the South Atlantic and southern Chile.

The schedule then shifts to some of the most storied waters in polar travel. The ship is set to sail past Cape Horn and across the Drake Passage, an ocean stretch known for powerful swells and changeable conditions. The plan calls for multiple days of scenic cruising in the Antarctic Peninsula region, with the line highlighting opportunities to view vast glaciers, snow-covered mountains and potential sightings of penguins and whales from the decks.

Unlike small-ship expedition products that focus on frequent landings by zodiac, this long voyage centers on the experience of seeing Antarctica from a classic cruise vessel. Industry commentary notes that this opens polar scenery and wildlife viewing to guests who may prefer the facilities and pacing of a mid-sized ship, while still including an extended period in Antarctic waters.

After its time in Antarctica, the ship is scheduled to recross the Drake Passage and call at Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. From there, it continues to Montevideo in Uruguay and Buenos Aires in Argentina, where an overnight call is planned before the voyage begins its gradual journey back north.

Return Across the Atlantic and Lengthy Time at Sea

The homeward leg keeps the focus on Atlantic and African island calls rather than repeating the outbound Caribbean routing. The Borealis is scheduled to sail north along the Brazilian coast again, including a visit to Salvador, before crossing to Mindelo in Cape Verde and then to Las Palmas in Gran Canaria.

On the final stretch toward the UK, the ship is due to stop in La Coruña in Spain before concluding back in Southampton. Between these ports, the itinerary features numerous extended sea days, a hallmark of traditional grand voyages that attract travelers seeking slower-paced, long-duration travel.

Travel trade reports point out that these sea days are likely to be used for enrichment activities, including destination talks, wildlife briefings and cultural programming related to Brazil, the Southern Cone and polar environments. For many passengers, the combination of quiet days at sea and high-impact scenic cruising is part of the appeal of a nearly three-month sailing.

The roundtrip structure also reduces the logistical complexity compared with point-to-point itineraries that require separate long-haul flights into and out of South America. Observers suggest this will be particularly attractive to UK-based guests and to international travelers who prefer to connect to Southampton rather than plan multi-flight journeys.

Target Travelers and Booking Outlook

The voyage is expected to appeal to experienced cruisers and long-haul travelers who have the flexibility to be away for almost three months and are interested in combining two high-profile regions in a single trip. Industry coverage characterizes the itinerary as a way to see the Amazon and Antarctica without booking separate, shorter cruises and long-haul flights to each.

Reports from cruise retail platforms indicate that the 87-night sailing opened for sale in late July 2026, several years ahead of the planned January 2028 departure. That long lead time is typical for extended itineraries, giving potential guests time to plan schedules, budget for the lengthy trip and consider back-to-back arrangements or pre- and post-cruise travel.

While detailed onboard programming and pricing tiers vary by source, early information suggests a range of cabin categories from inside staterooms to suites, in line with Borealis’s existing layout. Analysts note that, given the combination of the Amazon, Antarctica and a near three-month duration, the voyage sits in a niche between conventional long cruises and specialized expedition sailings.

For the wider cruise market, the announcement underlines renewed appetite for complex, itinerary-driven products that promise unusual combinations of destinations. As lines look beyond traditional weeklong routes, offerings such as this 87-night Amazon and Antarctica voyage highlight how far-flung regions are increasingly being stitched together into single, extended journeys.