Antarctica Cruises
Antarctica Cruises
Cruise
Expedition cruises offer the quintessential Antarctica experience. On an expedition cruise you can look forward to a variety of off-ship adventures including heli-flightseeing and kayaking in addition to on land excursions and zodiac boat trips, allowing you to truly make the most of the incredible scenery, wildlife and terrain. Classic Antarctica expedition cruises generally depart from Ushuaia on the very southern tip of Argentina and travel to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands. Longer Antarctic cruises in the Southern Ocean usually visit the classic grounds of the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands, and may also visit the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.
In addition to expedition cruises to Antarctica, scenic cruises are another popular way to explore this remote region. Scenic cruises often include on board naturalists and an expert guided commentary. As the ship size is bigger than expedition cruises, this may come with the advantage of additional facilities, entertainment and dining options to enjoy. The main difference between expedition and scenic cruises is that scenic cruises do not offer on foot visits to Antarctica, being a cruise-by only.
We have a dedicated and highly knowledgeable cruise team who offer expert advice on choosing the right itinerary and ship for your perfect Antarctica cruise holiday. Our Buenos Aires city breaks are a popular stopover choice en route to your cruise, but why not ask your Trailfinders consultant about combining your Antarctic expedition with exploring the nearby national parks of Tierra del Fuego and Torres del Paine, or the alpine beauty of Chile and Argentina’s Lake Districts? Speak to one of our cruise experts and discover the white plains of the Antarctic on a cruise holiday today.
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Offers and News
ANTARCTICA CRUISE DEALS & SPECIAL OFFERS
Below is a selection of some of our best Antarctica Cruise special offers.
For more information on any of these deals, give us a call and speak to one of our expert cruise consultants.
For more information on any of these deals, give us a call and speak to one of our expert cruise consultants.
OUR HOLIDAYS TO ANTARCTICA
Nobody offers more ways to explore Antarctica than Trailfinders.
Here's a snapshot of some of our most popular Antarctica holidays. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, click on the link below them to see our complete range of holidays and tours in the destination.
Here's a snapshot of some of our most popular Antarctica holidays. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, click on the link below them to see our complete range of holidays and tours in the destination.
Luxury Antarctica
Cruise Holiday
12 days / 11 nights
12 days / 11 nights
The Antarctic Peninsula is anything but a world of white emptiness – sail past huge icebergs in the flat calm of a polar morning and encounter whales, enormous penguin rookeries and stunning landscapes on this awe-inspiring voyage.
Guide Price: €20,999 £17,099 pp
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Antarctica Classic in Depth
Guided Small Group Expedition Cruise
13 days / 12 nights
13 days / 12 nights
Like our "Antarctica Classic" tour, this 13-day expedition introduces you to the magic of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, but adds on two additional days to better explore its majesty.
Guide Price: €7489 £6509 pp
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Antarctica, the Falklands & South Georgia
Cruise Holiday
23 days / 22 nights
23 days / 22 nights
Embark on an immersive voyage to one of the most life-changing places on Earth.
Guide Price: €18,449 £16,499 pp
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Antarctica Classic
Guided Small Group Expedition Cruise
11 days / 10 nights
11 days / 10 nights
The Antarctic Peninsula is anything but a world of white desolation. Join us on a true adventure to a world of immense scale and visual splendour.
Guide Price: €6374 £5399 pp
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Highlights of Antarctica
Cruise Holiday
14 days / 13 nights
14 days / 13 nights
Experience nature’s majesty and marvel at colossal glaciers and icebergs on this incredible Antarctica expedition cruise.
Guide Price: €10,599 £8,899 pp
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Antarctica & The Falkland Islands
Cruise Holiday
20 days / 19 nights
20 days / 19 nights
Start your adventure in buzzing Buenos Aires and take in the many treasures the city has to offer. Enjoy a tango show and wander the city’s many eclectic neighbourhoods.
Guide Price: €5,399 £4,699 pp
VIEW MORE ❯WHERE TO GO ON AN ANTARCTICA CRUISE
Each area of Antarctica holds its own unique appeal and your perfect cruise could see you combining several of these.
Start your cruise holiday in Ushuaia, or Punta Arenas, if opting for a fly cruise package. Traverse the famous Drake Passage before taking in the majestic landscapes of Antarctica – from South Georgia, to the Antarctic Peninsula, to Paradise Bay, and beyond.
If you are looking for advice on which included destinations to look for in your ideal Antarctica cruise, give us a call and speak to one of our expert cruise consultants.
Start your cruise holiday in Ushuaia, or Punta Arenas, if opting for a fly cruise package. Traverse the famous Drake Passage before taking in the majestic landscapes of Antarctica – from South Georgia, to the Antarctic Peninsula, to Paradise Bay, and beyond.
If you are looking for advice on which included destinations to look for in your ideal Antarctica cruise, give us a call and speak to one of our expert cruise consultants.
Antarctic Peninsula
Reaching out from Antarctica towards the tip of South America, the Antarctic Peninsula is the most accessible part of the mainland and will feature on any Antarctica cruise. Gaze in awe at towering icebergs painted in shades of white and blue, saw-toothed mountains and incredible wildlife including unimaginably large penguin rookeries, inquisitive seals and huge whales breaching from icy waters.
South Georgia
South Georgia is considered by many to be the pinnacle of any Antarctica cruise - home to many marvels including the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton, countless historic whaling stations, towering snow-covered mountains, extensive beaches and low lying grassland, attracting an astounding concentration of wildlife.
Falkland Islands
A cruise to Antarctica will often include time in the biologically diverse Falkland Islands where you can spot whales or dolphins, enormous albatross and an abundance of penguins nesting on the rugged coastline. The distinctly British capital of Stanley has local pubs, a post office and opportunities to mingle with the hardy locals whose colourful cottages provide a sharp contrast to the grey seas that surround them.
Ushuaia
A three-and-a-half-hour direct flight from Buenos Aires, the Port of Ushuaia is where most expedition cruises depart from - the world’s southernmost city, boasting beautiful mountains, hiking trails, and more. Explore the scenic Laguna Esmeralda lake, sample freshly made local empanadas, and learn about the history of this city, established in the 19th Century by British missionaries.
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King George Island
King George Island is considered by many as the “Gateway to the Antarctic”, sitting roughly 75 miles from the Antarctic Peninsula, situating it as a midpoint between Chilean Patagonia and mainland Antarctica. The largeset of the South Shetland Islands, the island has evolved from a sealing and whaling hub to a centre for Antarctic scientific research. Flights to King George Island from Chile are often sold as part of a cruise-flight package.
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Drake Passage
Named after British explorer Sir Francis Drake, the Drake Passage is the large body of water that separates South America’s Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands from Antarctica. Crossing the Drake Passage is often on the bucket list of many adventurous explorers – lasting usually a couple of days duration, and is usually a feature of the start and end of an expedition cruise to Antarctica.
Lemaire Channel
Nicknamed the “Kodak Gap” as a result of its extremely photogenic natural landscape, with iceberg-dotted waters and striking, glacier-lined peaks, a journey through Lemaire Channel is often a highlight of an Antarctic expedition cruise. It is possible to see a wide range of wildlife in the channel including orcas, minke, humpback whales, seal and penguin species.
Paradise Bay & Gerlache Strait
Paradise Bay is often where expedition cruises first land in the Antarctic, being a pristine harbour along the western coast of Antarctica is known for its awe-inspiring glacial mountains, mirror-like waters and dazzling array of wildlife viewing opportunities. An Antarctic expedition cruise will often arrange activities here such as Zodiac cruising, kayaking, and occasionally shore landings. If you’re lucky, and depending on the time of year you travel, you may be able to spot a variety of whales and penguins.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is where many Antarctica Air-Cruises depart from and the city is also recognised for being the gateway to the Torres del Paine National Park, making it is easy to incorporate a visit to the national park, a destination known for its incredible glaciers, before embarking on your trip to the Antarctic.
WHEN TO VISIT ANTARCTICA
The Antarctica cruise season runs from late October through to March, when wildlife is at its most active and daylight hours are at their longest. Despite the relatively short season, conditions vary significantly throughout these months, with changing sea ice, temperatures, penguin breeding cycles and wildlife sightings all shaping the experience.
Take a look at our guide to the best time to visit Antarctica to help you decide which month to embark on your trip to this extraordinary corner of the world.
Take a look at our guide to the best time to visit Antarctica to help you decide which month to embark on your trip to this extraordinary corner of the world.
OUR ANTARCTICA CRUISE PARTNERS
Our range of carefully chosen Antarctica cruise partners ensure that there is always a cruise in this spectacular region for you, no matter which areas you'd like to include and how you want to travel.
There are a couple of ways to experience Antarctica - aboard either an expedition or scenic cruise. Read our guide on the differences between scenic and expedition cruises, to help you decide which is right for you. For scenic Antarctica cruises, choose between Princess or Celebrity, while for expedition cruises, cruise line options include Viking, G Adventures, AE Expeditions, Silversea, Seabourn, HX Expeditions, Ponant, and Quark Expeditions.
Each of our cruise partners share our philosophy of delivering award-winning travel at the best value, making sure you’re in safe hands as you travel. Click on the tiles below to learn more about these partners.
There are a couple of ways to experience Antarctica - aboard either an expedition or scenic cruise. Read our guide on the differences between scenic and expedition cruises, to help you decide which is right for you. For scenic Antarctica cruises, choose between Princess or Celebrity, while for expedition cruises, cruise line options include Viking, G Adventures, AE Expeditions, Silversea, Seabourn, HX Expeditions, Ponant, and Quark Expeditions.
Each of our cruise partners share our philosophy of delivering award-winning travel at the best value, making sure you’re in safe hands as you travel. Click on the tiles below to learn more about these partners.
Viking
Viking boasts a fleet of new, state-of-the-art ocean ships featuring modern and stylish Scandinavian style. All rooms on board are spacious veranda staterooms (with balcony) and Viking provides a bonus of a complimentary excursion in every port of call.
G Adventures
Though more widely known for its range of guided group tours, G Adventures also boast a fantastic range of Antarctica cruises. These are a great choice for adventurous and budget conscious travelers, and with capacity for only 128 passengers on board, your smaller ship will be able to get closer to the shoreline than many larger vessels.
AE Expeditions
AE Expeditions aims to offer transformative journeys to the world’s most remote regions. AE ships host a maximum 130 guests on polar cruises meaning that the guide-to-guest ratio is 1:7. You can look forward to two to three landings per day, making it one of the more immersive cruise lines to visit the region.
Silversea
For the ultimate luxurious, all inclusive experience, Silversea is a perfect choice. Enjoy intimate, boutique ships, with all accommodation on board, suites with ocean view (and more than 80%, veranda style with balcony). Butler service comes as a standard in every suite, for complete peace of mind.
Seabourn
Seabourn is for those after the ultra-luxury Antarctica experience. On board, guests can look forward to “Seabourn Moments” designed to surprise & delight guests, in addition to a fascinating array of on-board educational enrichment. Guests are served by an award-winning crew numbering nearly as many as the guests.
HX Expeditions
Recognized as a leader in polar travel, HX Expeditions are often touted as the top expedition cruise line to visit Antarctica, thanks to its 130 year heritage, environmental and sustainability focus, along with expert teams. HX has a working science centre on many of its ships.
Ponant
Ponant offer a luxury small ship experience with a commitment to promoting sustainable tourism. Their modern intimate ships are designed with a classic ‘French touch’, along with an elegant yet casual onboard atmosphere. All accommodation on board is Oceanview Staterooms and worth noting - numerous sailings have no single supplement for solo travellers.
Quark Expeditions
Quark (part of Exodus Adventure Travel) only operate in the polar regions, and are known for their high levels of staff training. Quark’s 6:1 guide-to-guest ratio allows for brilliant access to their Expedition Teams and more opportunities to get off-ship to take part in all the thrilling polar activities on offer.
Princess Cruises
Princess cruises offer comfortable accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, with a wide choice of vessels from medium to large size offering choice to suit different guests. Learn more in our guide, ‘Making the Most of Your Days at Sea with Princess Cruises’.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity cruises are recognised for offering ultra-modern architecture and design-led interiors with high-end amenities, décor and atmosphere, along with fantastic entertainment and dining options. Your scenic cruise may call at popular South American ports including Montevideo, Uruguay, Puerto Madryn and Ushuaia in Argentina, as well as Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands.
Intrepid Travel
Set sail on board Intrepid’s Ocean Victory ship, purpose-built for polar conditions with added design features to promote stability and safety during the voyage. With a capacity of 184 passengers, enjoy an intimate and welcoming atmosphere, with optional educational seminars about the region. You will be accompanied by polar experts in glaciology, ornithology, marine biology and natural history.
Holland America Line
For 150 years, Holland America Line has been a recognised leader in cruising. With a fleet of 11 modern classic ships, Holland America Line holds true to the timeless elegance of ocean travel. Their spacious, mid-sized ships feature classic nautical lines and warm, hospitable service. Experience an exceptional 2:1 guest-to-crew ratio, promoting a highly personalised and attentive service.
Antarctica Top Tips From Our Travel Experts
Lisa Miksch
If you’re debating whether a veranda is worth it, imagine this: the captain comes over the loudspeaker at 6:00am to announce orcas off the starboard side. Being able to step straight onto your balcony in your pyjamas is far preferable to rushing up to the deck!
Sheri Cafer
If it is one of the optional excursions offered on your cruise, I recommend getting into the Antarctic waters for the ‘polar plunge’, an exhilarating experience that you won't soon be able to forget!
Sarah Szyszkiewicz
During your cruise, be sure to get out there on land and into the waters, with zodiac excursions to mountainous islands, snow covered bays and fields of brash ice, as well as opportunities for kayaking, snow-shoeing and even camping on the ice. Take inspiration from Shackleton himself, and "do just a little more than one should expect".
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