What happens on an Antarctica cruise?

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.



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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.


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You'll ?regularly ?get off the ship ?to? explore ?Antarctica ?on foot and by zodiac?, adventure activities will more than likely be available and the voyage will have a strong educational focus.

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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.

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Data collected by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) show major incidents are rare—the last one prior to the late 2022 incidents was in 2007 when one of the original Antarctic passenger ships, the MS Explorer, sank after striking an iceberg.

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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).

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It is not illegal to go to Antarctica and thousands of people do each year.

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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.

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The choppy waters of the Drake Passage, named after English explorer Sir Francis Drake, who never actually traveled through the waterway but sailed close to the location in 1578, are believed to have caused more than 800 shipwrecks.

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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.

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Visiting Antarctica is a One-of-a-Kind Experience To visit Antarctica is to undergo a life-changing experience. Only when you get there do you take in the sensation of being at the very end of the world, on a vast continent with no permanent human habitation—just wildlife, mountains, rock, and ice.

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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.

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1. Visit in the summer! It goes without saying that Antarctica is not a warm place – it contains 90% of the earth's ice. However, in the summer, you'll catch much milder weather, with temperatures around 0oC (32oF), although it may feel colder with wind chill.

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Activities include sightseeing ship-based cruises, visits to operational scientific stations and historical huts, small boat cruising, visits to wildlife sites and other wilderness sites, hiking, kayaking, mountaineering, camping and scuba-diving.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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