14 exceptional cruises to explore Antarctica in style
From luxury vessels to “drive-by” voyages, these are the best cruises to traverse the coldest continent on earth.
Cruising Antarctica is a vivid dream. Elephant seals, whales and orcas. Ancient blue glaciers that boom like howitzers as they avalanche into the sea. And those tuxedo junction rookeries of countless pratfalling penguins. Hard on the heels of your Antarctic dream comes the reality. Confronted by multiple options from a score of polar operators, the looming question is which cruise to choose?
Antarctic voyages fall generally into overlapping categories of luxury and expedition. High-end trips might include excursions by helicopter or mini submarine, along with fine dining, heated infinity pools and spas. Don’t assume, however, that the expedition-focused cruises offering challenges like diving, camping and wildlife-spotting hikes, are going to scrimp on creature comforts.
A constant activity across almost all voyages will be excursions aboard inflatable Zodiac boats and guidance by specialist expedition crews. Meanwhile, there are some cool cruisers who happily do it all in “scenic” mode, choosing to rarely, if ever, venture ashore. Contemplating the distant grandeur of a calving glacier or a nearby flash of pop-up penguins, the closest encounter with ice is strictly of the gin and tonic kind.
Cruising season in Antarctica runs from November to March when “The Freezer” (as David Attenborough dubbed the Antarctic) does its summer defrosting and passage through the ice is easiest. Voyages can range from eight days to spectacular itineraries of more than a month.
The majority embark from the South American ports of Ushuaia in Argentina and Punta Arenas, Chile, and head south to the Antarctic Peninsula. Some cruises travel beyond the Antarctic Circle to the Weddell Sea while others take a northerly course to sub-Antarctic destinations like the Falkland Islands.
Unlike the sea-accessible North Pole, Antarctic cruises go nowhere near the landlocked geographic South Pole. For time-poor or ocean-averse passengers there are “fly-sail” packages. These overfly the 1000km-wide Drake Passage that separates South America from Antarctica, landing where the ship waits ready to begin cruising.
THE LUXE LIFE
Most luxury cruises are also fully geared for adventure-minded passengers. Along with infra-red saunas, butlers and plush staterooms, the top-shelf lines can deliver plenty of off-ship adrenaline.
SILVERSEA CRUISES
Silver Endeavour, one of the world’s most luxurious expedition ships, offers a special Antarctica Bridge itinerary by which passengers fly business class from Punta Arenas, Chile, to join the ship at King George Island off the Antarctic Peninsula. Silver Endeavour’s spacious, all-balcony suites are among the most luxurious in expedition cruising while the onboard Basecamp gives its 200 passengers access to a wealth of information on polar history and wildlife. Antarctica Bridge cruises start from $19,019. Meanwhile, other Silversea expeditions from Puerto Williams to Cape Horn, Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands start from $13,480.
PONANT
French line Compagnie du Ponant specialises in luxury expedition cruising, with its latest rock star, Le Commandant Charcot, being the first hybrid-electric polar exploration ship powered by LNG. A Polar Class 2 icebreaking vessel (it has reached the North Pole) carrying 245 guests, it appeals to travellers equally keen on French gastronomy and wines as well as adventure. Its naturalist-led shore excursions include challenging sorties like ice-fishing, snowshoeing and polar plunges, along with more sedate visits to penguin rookeries and research stations. Its longest trip, Unexplored Antarctic, of 28 nights from Ushuaia to Lyttleton, starts from $70,580.
POLAR LATITUDES
This Antarctic specialist operator was the first to adopt the Polar Tourism Guides Association certification standard for its expedition crews. Its 114-passenger Island Sky is staffed by world-class marine biologists and environmental scientists, while professional guides lead shore-side activities that include wildlife-spotting, kayaking and camping. History-focused passengers might opt for themed voyages such as the 22-day Shackleton’s Final Quest excursion, which sails from Ushuaia via the Falkland Islands to South Georgia Island and the grave of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Berths on this epic start from $31,340.
ANTARCTICA21
This specialist boutique line’s newest ship, Magellan Explorer, is purpose-built for cruising the planet’s deeper latitudes in comfort. It carries just 73 passengers in multiple categories of cabin (including singles) and has a gym and medical clinic. There’s equal emphasis on both stylish dining and informed explorations in a fleet of 10 inflatables. Its Air-Cruise packages allow guests to fly one way (and sometimes both) between Patagonia and King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, thus crossing “the Drake” in two hours rather than two days. A six-day Antarctica Express Air-Cruise starts from $8810.
SCENIC CRUISES
New ship Scenic Eclipse, part of Australia’s Scenic Cruises fleet, carries only 200 passengers when in polar regions, allowing an almost one-to-one staff ratio. Multiple dining venues offer sophisticated menus from French to Asian cuisine. With all-suite accommodation, two helicopters, the seven-person Scenic Neptune submarine, pilates studio, spa and a Comfort Class 1 rating, the six-star Scenic Eclipse asserts itself as “the world’s most luxurious discovery yacht”. Scenic’s 16-day Crossing the Antarctic Circle itinerary, return from Buenos Aires, starts from $24,402.
VIKING CRUISES
“Exploring the world in comfort” hints at what guests can expect on the brand-new, 378-passenger Viking Octantis. Heated indoor-outdoor pools, snow grotto, sauna, auditorium, citizen science lab with resident scientist, and staterooms with Nordic balconies are among the ship’s Norwegian-inspired enhancements. Viking Octantis, a Polar Class 6-rated ship, features an enclosed marina hangar at the stern from which passengers can easily board excursion Zodiacs and kayaks. Its 19-day Antarctica and South Georgia Island journey, from Ushuaia via the Falklands, starts from $29,385.
CHILLS AND THRILLS
“Great God! This is an awful place”, reckoned Robert Falcon Scott, leader of the doomed 1912 British expedition to the South Pole. You won’t often hear comments like this aboard today’s Antarctic expedition ships. These boutique vessels, which often carry fewer than 200 passengers, might eschew casinos and “caviar-class” indulgence but are often as impressively well appointed as larger, luxury-focused ships.
AURORA EXPEDITIONS
Citizen scientists and serious adventurers alike will be right at home aboard Sylvia Earle on its inaugural 2022 Antarctic season. The 71-cabin, Australian-owned ship, certified as 100 per cent carbon neutral, has a fully equipped science centre as well as multiple Zodiac launching docks. Polar experts oversee scientific activities onboard and shore excursions that include climbing, ski touring, kayaking and diving. The ship’s comforts include a heated pool, gym, sauna, stabilising X-Bow design, glass atrium lounge and roomy cabins. Unique itineraries include a 14-day Weddell Sea exploration; starts from $17,980.
LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS
Lars-Erik Lindblad pioneered Antarctic touring back in the 1960s and now his namesake ships, co-branded with National Geographic, include two X-Bow®-equipped polar vessels. National Geographic Resolution and sister ship National Geographic Endurance carry just 126 passengers each and are equipped for physically adventurous travellers. Think: Zodiacs, kayaks, snowshoes and cross-country skis. Meanwhile, comfort zones onboard the ships include a gym, yoga studio and outdoor hot tubs, plus two restaurants featuring sustainable cuisine. As a bonus, you find a National Geographic photographer and videographer aboard. A big-ticket, 33-night Epic Antarctica tour, Buenos Aires to Auckland starts from $66,240 per person.
OCEANWIDE EXPEDITIONS
The classic, ice-strengthened former oceanographic ship Plancius is a floating base camp for guests who are into ice camping, paddling, snowshoe hiking, mountaineering and photography. Carrying 114 passengers in cabins that range from superior twins to quadruples, Plancius might evoke an earlier age of adventure travel but it has been fully refurbished with a comfortable lounge, bar, library and, of course, good dining facilities. These affordable Antarctic voyages focus on exploratory educational travel, with as much time spent ashore as possible. A 12-night Antarctic Peninsula Basecamp Cruise ex-Ushuaia starts from $11,116.
QUARK EXPEDITIONS
“That’s it. The big seven!” It’s an exclamation often heard from passengers on their first voyage to Antarctica as they tick off the seventh continent. Ultramarine, the newest ship in this veteran Canadian operator’s fleet, claims the most spacious suites in the polar cruise category. The 199-passenger vessel boasts two twin-engine helicopters for flights over the Antarctic wilderness while at water-level its launching hangar can rapidly deploy up to 20 Zodiacs. Spa, sauna, fitness centre, restaurant, bistro, theatre and lounge bar await passengers returning from these excursions. A classic 12-day Antarctic Explorer voyage starts from $8900.
HURTIGRUTEN EXPEDITIONS
When it comes to polar cruising, Norway’s Hurtigruten line, born 1893, is the old man of the sea. Its newest ships, Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen, appeal to those seeking a spacious, mid-sized vessel that offers a full array of onboard and onshore options, ranging from fine Nordic dining to marine biology excursions. Custom-built for these waters, each ship can accommodate up to 300 passengers, although usually carries significantly fewer on Antarctic and Arctic cruises. Aboard each is an elaborate science centre geared for maximum guest engagement. Multilingual lectures on polar history and ecology maintain Hurtigruten’s strong conservation ethos. Its ships were among the first expedition vessels to employ hybrid battery propulsion. Meanwhile, sea kayaking amid icebergs and photographing seal colonies close-up are unmissable options. An 18-day Antarctic Circle Expedition starts from $14,928.
Prices are listed in Australian currency but could vary according to exchange rates applied by overseas shipping lines.
THE ULTIMATE OVERVIEW
There are Antarctic voyages with landings but also “drive-by” cruises where you look but don’t land. Consider these trips to the Antarctic Peninsula that don’t include excursions ashore.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
This 16-day round-trip voyage
ex-Buenos Aires on Norwegian Star visits spectacular Tierra del Fuego and the Beagle Channel before crossing to Antarctica’s Admiralty Bay and Elephant Island. Its penultimate destination is the Falkland Islands. From $4353.
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
A South America and Antarctica holiday aboard Oosterdam packs in plenty bang-for-buck on a 22-day trip from Buenos Aires to Santiago de Chile. Highlights include the Falklands, Drake Passage, Antarctic Sound, Beagle Channel, Strait of Magellan and the Chilean fjords.
From $6936.
OCEANIA CRUISES
A 20-day voyage aboard the 1238-passenger ship Marina, cruising from Santiago de Chile to Buenos Aires, is similarly rich in spectacles. Having explored the Chilean fjords, Marina heads to Ushuaia and “the Drake”, before cruising Antarctic shores at Half Moon Island, Paradise Bay and Admiralty Bay. Port Stanley in the Falklands is the finale. From $7257.