Where do trips leave from?

Peninsula voyages generally depart from Ushuaia in Argentina, other South American ports are occasionally used. The great majority of trips leave from South America, those that leave from elsewhere tend to be longer and more expensive - considerably so.
Visits to the Peninsula region usually involve a round trip from Ushuaia. Those to Eastern Antarctica and the Ross Sea area often involve two different ports, e.g. Hobart (Aus) to Christchurch (NZ), Port Elizabeth (SA) to Hobart (Aus).

For trips to the Ross region and Eastern Antarctica, commonly used ports are: Hobart (Australia), Auckland and Lyttelton-Christchurch (New Zealand).

Departures rarely set out from from Cape Town and Port Elizabeth (South Africa) and Fremantle / Perth (Australia).

No documentation or visas are required to visit Antarctica, but if your cruise stops off at other countries en route, visas and documentation may be required for them