The "Mare Australis" was built in 2002 in the Chilean Valdivia Shipyards specially for use as a small cruise vessel around the Patagonian fjords in  3, 4 or 7-night packages from October to April each year.  It sails through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Canal sightseeing fjords, bays, glaciers and islands, between the Chilean city of Punta Arenas and the Argentine city of Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego and then does the reverse cruise with another group of tourists.

It has 40 crew and carries 129 passengers and operates 4 zodiacs for frequent shorebound trips.  It does not visit the Antarctic Peninsula.

Note: The above cover has been stamped with the "Mare Australis" Cachet for Cape Horn as well as the Captain's cachet.

The photo at left shows the vessel passing in front of a glacier near Cape Horn.

Note: the above cover has been signed by the captain of the "Mare Australis" who is pictured at left.

The picture at the top of this page shows the vessel berthed at Punta Arenas on November 30th 2002, the day the above letters were posted.