Can you go to Antarctica on a cruise ship?

The most expensive Antarctic cruise itineraries in 2022 will be from the ultra-luxury Antarctica expedition lines such as Silversea, Scenic and Seabourn. If you are happy just to see Antarctica from your ship, then you have a number of much cheaper options available from the mainstream lines.



People Also Ask

The cost of embarking on a cruise to Antarctica can vary depending on the departure date, how long the cruise goes for, and the type of cabin you book on the ship with most cruises starting at around USD$5,000 (AUD$7,000) and going all the way up to USD$12,000 (AUD$17,000) - for a cruise lasting 21 days.

MORE DETAILS

Silversea Expeditions will operate four ships to Antarctica this season: the 296-passenger Silver Cloud, the 132-passenger Silver Explorer, the 298-passenger Silver Wind and the new-to-fleet 200-passenger Silver Endeavour (formerly Crystal Endeavour).

MORE DETAILS

The best way to get to Antarctica is either by ship or plane from the southern tip of South America. Tourist ships depart all summer from Ushuaia, Argentina, and take roughly 48 hours to reach Antarctica.

MORE DETAILS

The Drake Passage can experience up to 15m swells and winds reaching Beaufort scale 10 (hurricanes are scale 12) at its peak. Most Antarctica cruise ships have stabilizers to reduce these rough sea conditions, but it is needless to say these will not stop the effects of Drake Passage sea sickness.

MORE DETAILS

Why is it so expensive to visit Antarctica? Because of the Antarctic Treaty, only certain carriers can visit and they're required to have a permit. This means that even though there are now quite a few companies offering these cruises, there is still limited supply.

MORE DETAILS

A visit in winter may be far less enjoyable than during the summer months. While the Antarctic Peninsula stays relatively mild even during the winter with around -12°C (10.4°F), the average temperature across Antarctica is -34.4°C (-30°F).

MORE DETAILS

Express Overnight Antarctic Stays. If you want to visit Antarctica with limited time, LANDED can arrange an overnight stay at an Antarctic camp. Express Antarctic camping itineraries typically center on a visit to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.

MORE DETAILS

The cheapest way to visit Antarctica is by cruising on a larger ship that sails by the continent but doesn't let passengers go ashore. Instead, you will sail to the Antarctic Peninsula and into some of the surrounding bays where you will see wildlife, mountains, icebergs, and more. It is truly a magical experience.

MORE DETAILS

Here's a round-up of seven of the most exciting things you can do on an Antarctic expedition cruise:
  1. Camping in Antarctica. ...
  2. Sea kayaking in Antarctica. ...
  3. Snorkelling and diving in Antarctica. ...
  4. Stand-up paddleboarding in Antarctica. ...
  5. Snowshoeing in Antarctica. ...
  6. Mountaineering in Antarctica. ...
  7. Cross country skiing in Antarctica.


MORE DETAILS

There are myriad reasons to visit Antarctica. First, the epic landscapes: vast stretches of pack ice, hulking icebergs, mirror-like bays and colossal mountains and glaciers. Second, the wildlife. You will see hundreds of penguins: Gentoo, Chinstrap and, if you're lucky, some penguin chicks too.

MORE DETAILS

For people who are particularly sensitive to motion, flying there really is the only viable option for a trip to Antarctica, unless you want to risk being miserable for up to four days (don't forget you'll have to cross the Drake twice on an all-cruise trip).

MORE DETAILS

I Took a Disney Expedition Cruise to Antarctica With My Whole Family — and It Was the Best Trip We've Ever Taken. The Adventures by Disney Antarctica and Patagonia Expedition Cruise was the ultimate family vacation — here's why.

MORE DETAILS

The best time to visit Antarctica is during the summer period from November to March. Wildlife is most active during these months and the days are at their longest. The most popular period to visit during the summer is from December to February when temperatures are regularly above zero.

MORE DETAILS

Upon boarding a cruise ship or plane to Antarctica, you will need to present a valid passport. Because of the Antarctica Treaty, no visa is required.

MORE DETAILS

Yes, you can visit Antarctica. In fact, Antarctica has never been more accessible to travelers. Do you need permission to go to Antarctica? Travelers do not need permission to go to Antarctica, but tourism operators must hold a valid permit.

MORE DETAILS

Unlike most traditional cruise lines, expedition cruises to Antarctica rarely charge any supplement fee for solo travellers. In fact, almost all expedition cruises offer solo travellers the chance to share with other solo travellers of the same sex in triple and quad cabins.

MORE DETAILS

There are no restaurants in Antarctica, but dining aboard Quark Expeditions' ships is always a gastronomic adventure; even the foodies among us marvel at the fare available in such remote locations.

MORE DETAILS