Mar del Plata hosts first international expedition cruise

The MS Seaventure, an expedition vessel operated by the Chinese company 66° Expeditions, docked at the Mar del Plata Naval Base, marking the start of the 2026/2027 cruise season in Argentina. The ship, which holds a 1A Super ice class rating, carried over 60 Chinese passengers who embarked in Mar del Plata for a journey toward South Georgia and Antarctica.

Daniel Scioli, Argentina’s Secretary of Tourism, Environment, and Sports, attended the reception to highlight the economic benefits for local commerce and the strategic goal of reaching one million cruise passengers annually. However, the event drew controversy due to the operator’s marketing materials. 66° Expeditions uses British nomenclature, such as ‘Falkland Islands’ and ‘Stanley,’ for its itineraries, which conflicts with Argentina’s sovereignty claims over the archipelago.