What cruise line takes you to Antarctica?

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).



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

By far the most popular option for Antarctica tourists is a standard Antarctic cruise from Ushuaia. This means sailing from the port of Ushuaia to the Peninsula and returning either straight back or via the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, depending on your itinerary.

MORE DETAILS

We hope to assist you in finding the new Antarctica ship of your dreams!
  • Le Commandant Charcot – 200 Guests. Luxury/Sustainability: Inaugural voyage fall 2021. ...
  • Ultramarine – 199 guests. Exploration/Distance: Inaugural voyage spring 2022. ...
  • Sylvia Earle – 126/132 Guests. Conservation/Activity: Inaugural voyage late 2022.


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

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

Antarctic Peninsula cruises will make this crossing each way. So, a typical 11-day cruise will include 4 days crossing at sea and 7 days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula. How long are Antarctica cruises? Most Antarctica cruises are 10-13 days.

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

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

Where do most cruises depart from? 99% of Antarctica trips start from either Ushuaia in Southern Argentina or Punta Arenas in Southern Chile. It provides the most choice in terms of voyages. Explore the route to Ushuaia or Punta Arenas.

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

Please book your Antarctica cruise with as much notice as possible to give you the best selection of itineraries, ship, travel dates and cabin types. Many voyages are sold out 12-18 months in advance.

MORE DETAILS

Unlike traditional cruises, the itineraries of Antarctic expedition cruises are packed with informative talks. These are given by the expedition crew on board who are all experts in their specific fields. These lectures range in subjects from geology and history to wildlife, conservation and climate change.

MORE DETAILS

The average Antarctica cruise cost is about $8,000 per person. The least expensive trips to Antarctica start at under $5,000. Luxury voyages can exceed $15,000 per person.

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

Ushuaia is by far the most popular gateway city for tourism to Antarctica, accounting for 90% of all tourists to the continent. Nearly all of the passengers departing Ushuaia for Antarctica travel by cruise ship.

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

As no commercial flights operate to Antarctica itself, you would have to book with a private charter operator and prices for a flight expedition can reach in excess of $30,000. Budget at least $1000 – $1500 for flights, slightly more for European travellers.

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

The most common expeditions last approximately nine to ten days, including five full days of exploration in Antarctica. Rather than fly from South America, these voyages embrace the power and the beauty of the Drake Passage (and its rich and abundant bird life), sailing from Ushuaia.

MORE DETAILS