Antarctica
Small Ship Expedition Cruises to Antarctica, From Robust to Luxury
There is nothing quite an Antarctica Cruise. We won’t beat about the bush, an Antarctica adventure is on the bucket list of every traveller. Tours to Antarctica take in some of the most dramatic scenery, wildlife and adventure. Whether it be an Antarctica expedition cruise or a premium luxury Antarctica cruise, there is no better way to see the 7th continent than from a dedicated ice-strengthened but supremely comfortable polar expedition vessel. You may ask, “what can I expect on my Antarctica tour?”
Our Antarctica tours, as much of the polar region as possible, from polar mountain ranges to elephant seals. Taking into account that every Antarctica cruise is subject to weather conditions, typical tours of Antarctica generally allow you to experience the following:
See whales, penguins, seals and orcas (killer whales) from the vessel
Set foot on and explore parts of the 7th Continent.
Gaze at mountains that tower 10,000ft above your Antarctica expedition cruise ship.
Watch glaciers holding ice thousands of years old calve in front of you.
Get a glimpse of Antarctica’s fascinating history, by seeing British, Chilean or Argentine establishments.
Please note: on tours to Antarctica, you will not see any polar bears, they only live in the Arctic, not in Antarctica. If you want a chance to see polar bears, please ask us about our cruises to the Arctic.
How to choose the best Antarctic expedition or cruise vessel.
Choosing the best Antarctica tours takes a little planning. Most people choose an Antarctica expedition cruise ship from Ushuaia, but we also offer tours to Antarctica from Chile. These are a combination of Antarctica fly cruise tours (More about that later). It is important that you choose the right vessel and the style of operations to match your desired type of Antarctica cruise or expedition. All of our Antarctica cruise packages are in modern, comfortable, safe and ice-strengthened vessels that are relatively small. The three most important words here to stress are: small, safe and comfortable. As per the Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, only 100 passengers may be landed at any point.
Your vessel should be a purpose-built Antarctic Expedition vessel with an ice-strengthened hull.
Your Polar expedition ship should carry no more than 160 passengers (Divers or Kayakers do not count towards landing numbers).
The ship’s operation of zodiacs must be slick and well organised giving you the most time on land.
The Polar Expedition guides must be knowledgeable and competent.
Your Antarctica cruise vessel should be comfortable, have an excellent restaurant, and a great hotel team.
Everything (Except drinks) in your Antarctica Cruise package should be prepaid. You do not want any surprises at sea.
The price should be reasonable.
We have found that the best Antarctica Cruise Operator which fits the bill of all the above is Oceanwide Expeditions. Should you require a more premium hotel experience, we recommend Aurora Expeditions.
Oceanwide Expeditions: Adventurous and Robust
Oceanwide Expeditions are the most adventurous operator and offer the greatest value for money on any Antarctica expedition cruise. We are very proud to work with Oceanwide Expeditions. We have sailed on most of her fleet since 2017 and find their Antarctica cruise ships to be comfortable and the activities offered superbly. There is no surcharge for snow shoes and all landings (on the Antarctic peninsula) are included. Oceanwide Expeditions also offer scuba diving during some of their expeditions. On these truly adventurous Antarctic exploration tours, their dedicated dive team is highly dynamic and flexible so in Oceanwide Expeditions we have found the perfect partner. The largest Oceanwide Expeditions vessel we book is the MV Hondius which carries only 160 passengers. The MV Hondius is so well built and the ships’ operations during the days at sea are so smoothly organised that all passengers get ashore on every expedition to see the multitude of birds, seals and penguin rookeries in the coves and harbours of the Antarctic Peninsula. Our favourite vessels in the Oceanwide Expeditions fleet are the MV Ortelius (pictured) and the MV Plancius.
Aurora Expeditions: Adventure with Luxury, Antarctic Cruises and Diving
If you dream of a slightly more luxurious Antarctica Cruise experience, (bear in mind we did say Antarctica, not the Caribbean) Aurora Expeditions and their premium vessel the MV Greg Mortimer (pictured) and the MV Silvia Earle should be your choice. During their Antarctica cruises, Aurora Expeditions also offer scuba diving, kayaking, skiing and snorkelling. However, snowshoeing is at an extra cost and skiers and kayakers are expected to be of a much higher standard than the “occasional” level. The Aurora Expeditions vessels: MV Greg Mortimer and MV Silvia Earle are is a premium products, evident in the quality levels of onboard services and cabin outfitting. To compare, and you must compare: Aurora Expeditions is a superb operator who is a bit more expensive than Oceanwide Expeditions but they are worth every penny. This is your Antarctica dream holiday, let us get it right.
The Best Antarctica Cruise for You.
Every year, we offer the full array of Oceanwide Antarctica Cruises itineraries: ranging from the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Orkney Islands to the Weddell Sea, the Antarctic Peninsula with the Lemaire Channel and even the South Shetland Islands with Deception Island. Contact us to discuss the number of days at sea and what is special to you. Just to help you choose itinerary, here are some FAQ:
Q:What is the best Antarctica Cruise ship company:
A: There is no correct answer to this questions, Quark, Hurtigruten and Albatross all operate superb quality expeditions at various price points. They all have their benefits and negatives. The cheapest operator that we are prepared to use is Oceanwide Expeditions, and we believe that Aurora get the balance right between adventure and price. Albatross are also a good value option.
Q: What is the best Antarctica Itinerary
A: Most people choose the 10 day Antarctic Peninsula tour for their first Antarctic cruise holiday. But we believe the 18-21 day Falklands, South Georgia, Antarctica cruise is the very best, as it gives you a true look at the sub Antarctic islands as well.
Q: What do I need to take on an Antarctica Cruise Expedition Holiday?
A: You dont need huge amounts of clothing. Imagine you are going on a walking holiday in the wilds of Scotland or Skiing in Colorado. You need a Gore-Tex (or Similar) Jacket and waterproof trousers. The you’ll need a fleece and a Merino base layer or three. That should keep you warm when you are out and about on the ice or on the sub Antarctic islands.
Q: how much does it cost for an Antarctica Expedition Cruise holiday?
A: You can spend from US$8000 to around US$60,000 for your holiday. If you budget on $10-12,000 for the short 10 day cruise and $17-25,000 for the longer 21 day Falklands, South Georgia Antarctica cruise, then you wont be far off. This really is a holiday of a lifetime, so its worth saving up for it.
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Visit the Antarctic Peninsula, step on the 7th Continent and cruise past Deception Island on this Antarctica cruise tour.
For your first ever Antarctica cruise tour the very best choice would be one of our 10-day Antarctic Peninsula cruise. This Antarctica cruise tour takes in the actual Antarctic Peninsula including Port Lockroy, the Doumer hut and Brown Station, as well as the enigmatic Lemaire Channel and Deception Island.
It is here that you can see where the Royal Navy set up their bases to block German U-boat traffic. Try and imagine life in a tiny hut with a radio and binoculars in the middle of Antarctica, surrounded by ice and mountains. In addition to this, the 10-day Antarctic Peninsula cruise tour takes in Necko Harbour and Deception Island. If you are very lucky, you may be able to experience a transit of the Lemaire Channel, which is possibly the most beautiful cruise in the Southern hemisphere. Whilst heading back north again your captain may have the chance to give you a last visit to Deception Island. Your cruise to Antarctica then ends again with your arrival back in Ushuaia.
These itineraries start and end in Ushaia in southern Argentina. When opting for these itineraries, you can choose to combine a ‘fly & cruise’tour itinerary starting from Chile and landing in King George Island, or opt for the ‘cruise only’ tour itinerary. This depends on the operator and vessel.
What do these Antarctica cruises cost? Our Antarctica 10 Day Itineraries start at £4900 per person. Call or email us to discuss the best vessel, season and operator to match your wishes for your own Antartica Peninsula Cruise tour. -
This 18 day Antarctic adventure cruise starts in Ushuaia takes in the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, the South Orkney islands and Antarctica.
After exploring the west coast of the Falklands Islands by zodiacs and on foot, you will continue towards Port Stanley. After an afternoon in the charming town of Port Stanley the ship heads out towards South Georgia. Two days steaming at 12 knots will see Shag Rocks, a small outcrop 60 nautical miles the South Georgia coast. Here you may see feeding whales.
Next stop is South Georgia with visits to Prince Olaf’s Bay, St Andrews Bay, Salisbury Plains and Grytviken. All of these sites are weather permitting. After three to four days on South Georgia you’ll turn southwest to the South Orkney Islands.
After a zodiac cruise the Antarctic Cruise tour heads southwest to Elephant island. Here you will be one of very few people to have seen the beach on Elephant Island where Sir Ernest Shackleton’s crew spent 4 months . You will also visit the remains of survival huts and spot the lonely research bases on the Antarctic Peninsula. After three days exploration around the Antarctic Peninsula you’ll head north towards and stop off at the South Shetland Islands with a chance to see Deception Island or Yankee Harbour.
Your Antarctic cruise then takes you back towards South America and Ushuaia. During this itinerary you spend days at sea mixed with days on shore and time on the zodiacs. Depending on your choice of season, precise locations of landings may differ from the above.
The Shackleton Voyage Itineraries start at £9600.00 per person Call or email us to discuss the best vessel, season and operator to match your wishes for your own Antarctic Expedition.
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South Georgia is packed with seals, endemic birds and penguin rookeries. This is sometimes called the best of Antarctica cruises. If you travel during December, the beaches of South Georgia are packed with seals and penguins. Protected by British legislation the density of the wildlife found on South Georgia is immense, and unique.
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We escort only one Antarctic scuba dive cruise every year on an Oceanwide Vessel. Grab your chance to travel with the experts and join us for our next Antarctica Scuba Dive Expedition around the Antarctic peninsula.
See our Ice Diving page for more details.