Antarctica21’s New Expedition Ship Magellan Discoverer Starts Sea Trials Ahead of December 15 Debut

November 1, 2026 — Antarctica21’s new hybrid-electric expedition ship, Magellan Discoverer, has begun final sea trials in Chile ahead of a planned December 15, 2026 delivery and debut on the line’s fly-cruise Antarctic voyages.

What happened

Chilean shipbuilder ASENAV sent Magellan Discoverer out of its yard in Corral, near Valdivia, on October 26 for final sea trials, CruiseMapper reported on October 31. The ship is expected to sail to Punta Arenas before it enters service, with delivery and entry into service scheduled for “December 15th, 2026.”

How the voyages work

For its first months the ship will sail in Antarctica on Antarctica21’s fly-cruise program: guests fly to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands to board, skipping the open-sea crossing of the Drake Passage. Itinerary lengths for the ship’s first season were not published in the report.

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What it means for airline travelers

• Getting to Punta Arenas is the long part. The ship is due in Punta Arenas, Chile, before service begins. Reaching Punta Arenas (PUQ) usually means connecting through Santiago (SCL); arrive with at least one spare day, more if you are flying standby, because flights to the far south of Chile are limited.
• The flight to King George Island is part of the trip. Fly-cruise guests reach the ship by air, so follow the line’s instructions on baggage limits and keep your onward flight home flexible in case Antarctic weather shifts the schedule.
• First sailings depend on delivery. A new ship’s first voyages can move if delivery slips. If you are booked on one of the first departures, keep refundable or changeable flights until the ship is handed over.
• No travel-industry or interline rates were mentioned.

Sources

• CruiseMapper — ASENAV’s hybrid-electric expedition ship Magellan Discoverer begins sea trials