ANTARCTIC CRUISE EXPERTS
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Compare Our Featured Antarctica Cruises at a Glance
These six expert-selected itineraries represent the best routes, ships, and values for upcoming Antarctica seasons. Use this quick comparison to see trip length, route style, pricing, and departure months side-by-side, then explore each voyage in more detail to find the perfect expedition for your travel style.
| Trip | Route | Length | Ship Capacity | Best For | From Price | Months |
| Antarctic Explorer | Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands | 11–12 days | 128-199 | First-time visitors & classic peninsula highlights | From $11,546 | Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar |
| Best of Antarctica | Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands | 11–13 days | 80 | Value-focused small-ship expedition cruising | From $8,195 | Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar |
| Antarctic Peninsula Basecamp Cruise | Antarctic Peninsula (Basecamp activities) | 13 days | 108-170 | Active travelers seeking included adventure options | From $9,700 | Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar |
| Antarctica Air Cruise | Fly & cruise: King George Island & Peninsula | 8–10 days | 78-80 | Travelers short on time or avoiding the Drake Passage | From $11,495 | Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar |
| Nat Geo Voyage to Antarctica | Antarctic Peninsula | 12 days | 126 | Luxury expedition experience & in-depth naturalist guiding | From $13,941 | Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar |
| Antarctica Active Cruise | Antarctic Peninsula (activity-focused) | 14–15 days | 132-134 | Adventure travelers wanting all-inclusive activities | From $15,296 | Nov, Dec |
Small Ships for Antarctica Cruises
Antarctica is best explored on small expedition ships built for remote landings, wildlife viewing, and safe navigation among ice. Most vessels carry 70–200 guests and offer Zodiac operations, expert guides, and comfortable accommodations designed for the polar environment. Cruise styles range from classic expedition ships to newer premium and luxury vessels with added amenities.
Choosing the right ship is one of the most important parts of planning your trip, and the best fit depends on your travel style, activity level, and budget. For a deeper look at ship categories, onboard features, and the vessels we recommend, see our full guide: Compare Antarctica Small Ships.
Antarctica Cruise Routes & How to Choose Yours
Most Antarctica cruises follow one of a few classic routes. Your best choice depends on how much time you have, budget, activity level and how important extra wildlife and remote islands are to you.
Antarctic Peninsula Cruises
- Length: 10–13 days
- Highlights: Classic landings, penguin colonies, glaciers, Lemaire Channel, Zodiac cruising
- Best for: First-time visitors, wildlife lovers, travelers seeking the quintessential Antarctica experience
Antarctic Circle Cruises
- Length: 13–15 days
- Highlights: Crossing the Polar Circle, remote ice-filled channels, extended time on the Peninsula
- Best for: Return travelers, adventure seekers, guests wanting a longer and more remote expedition
- Learn more and view Antarctic circle cruises
Falklands & South Georgia Cruises
- Length: 16–22 days
- Highlights: King penguin colonies, Shackleton history, albatross nesting cliffs, dramatic sub-Antarctic wildlife
- Best for: Wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, travelers seeking the most biologically rich Antarctic itinerary
- Learn more and view Falklands & South Georgia cruises
Ross Sea / East Antarctica Cruises
- Length: 25–35 days
- Highlights: Ice shelves, historic huts, emperor penguins, rarely visited regions, true expedition-style travel
- Best for: Veteran explorers, expedition purists, travelers with ample time seeking the most remote routes
Fly & Cruise Antarctica
- Length: 6–10 days
- Highlights: Skip the Drake Passage, fly to King George Island, maximize time on the Peninsula
- Best for: Travelers short on vacation time, motion-sensitive guests, anyone wanting the fastest route to Antarctica
- Learn more and view Antarctica air cruises
EXPERT ADVICE
Tell us your travel style.
We’ll match the best route.
Todd Smith – Antarctica Specialist since 2003
Antarctica Cruise Planning Essentials
Planning an Antarctica cruise involves a few key decisions, and our firsthand expertise helps make them easier. The essentials below offer a quick overview of budget, timing, and operator style, core factors that shape every expedition, along with links to deeper guides if you want to explore further.
How Much Do Antarctica Cruises Cost?
Antarctica cruise pricing varies widely depending on ship style, route, cabin category, and season. Most travelers can expect to find options across a broad range of budgets, with small ships offering different levels of comfort and activity.
General pricing ranges for seasons:
- Entry-level small ships: starting around $5,000–$10,000 per person, offering classic Peninsula itineraries and essential expedition activities.
- Mid-range expeditions: often priced $10,000–$15,000 per person, with newer vessels, more departure dates, and expanded route options.
- Premium & luxury voyages: commonly $15,000–$25,000+ per person, featuring elevated accommodations, enhanced guiding, and more spacious modern ships.
These ranges provide a helpful starting point, but actual fares depend heavily on itinerary length, cabin selection, availability, and early-season booking windows. For a deeper breakdown including sample fares, seasonal trends, and ways to find the best value see our full guide: How Much Do Antarctica Cruises Cost?
Best Time to Take an Antarctica Cruise
Antarctica’s cruise season runs from late October through March, with each part of the austral summer offering different scenery, wildlife activity, and photographic opportunities. Most travelers choose their departure based on whether they prefer early-season ice, peak-season wildlife, or late-summer whale encounters.
General seasonal patterns:
- Early Season (Oct–Nov): Fresh snow, dramatic ice formations, fewer visitors, penguin courtship and nest building.
- High Summer (Dec–Jan): Long daylight, active penguin colonies, chicks hatching, milder weather and excellent landing conditions.
- Late Summer (Feb–Mar): Best whale watching of the year, fledging penguin chicks, retreating ice allowing deeper exploration.
This quick overview helps set expectations, but choosing your ideal month depends on what you want to see and experience. For a detailed, month-by-month breakdown of wildlife, ice, weather, and route advantages, see our full guide:
Best Time to Visit Antarctica.
Best Antarctica Cruise Lines
AdventureSmith works with the most trusted small-ship operators in Antarctica, including Aurora, Quark, Oceanwide, PONANT, Lindblad/National Geographic and others. Each line offers different ship styles, activity programs and levels of comfort, allowing us to match you with the operator that best fits your travel style. See our full comparison: Best Antarctica Cruise Lines
FREE CONSULTATION
Need help with costs, ships or timing?
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Why Book Your Antarctica Cruise With AdventureSmith
Planning an Antarctica cruise is complex, and having a dedicated expert on your side makes a dramatic difference in finding the right ship, route, and departure. AdventureSmith offers personalized guidance backed by decades of firsthand experience exploring Antarctica’s remote waters. Learn more about AdventureSmith.
What sets us apart:
- Unbiased expertise across multiple operators. We work with the most trusted small-ship fleets in Antarctica, giving you real options, not just one brand’s inventory.
- Deep firsthand knowledge. Our crew has sailed on dozens of Antarctica ships and itineraries, returning regularly to scout new vessels, routes, and landings.
- Smart trip matching. We take time to understand your travel style, dates, and priorities, then match you with the ship and itinerary that best fit your goals.
- Continuity of support. From choosing a voyage to preparing for your departure, you have a dedicated specialist available for questions, logistics, gear planning, and more.
- 20+ years pioneering small-ship expedition travel. Since 2003, AdventureSmith has helped thousands of travelers plan meaningful, responsible, small-ship adventures around the world.
- Trusted relationships with ship operators. Our longstanding partnerships mean you benefit from real, up-to-date insight on cabins, seasons, availability, and special offers.
- Best pricing and added value. You’ll never pay more booking through us. Our expertise results in the right trip, better cabin options, timely deals, and added value at no extra cost.
- US-based, award-winning, family-owned service. Your booking is supported by a knowledgeable team who values transparency, accuracy, and exceptional guest care.
AdventureSmith Antarctica Cruises In the News
Recognized with top industry awards and regularly quoted in major media, our team provides trusted expertise on Antarctica cruising and adventure-travel trends. Recent examples include:
- Robb Report – insights on Antarctic cruising during the avian flu outbreak
- New York Times – deals on Antarctic cruises featured in Frugal Traveler column
- San Francisco Chronicle – coverage of Californians traveling to Antarctica
- The Washington Post – how to get to the bottom of the world
- Conde Nast Traveler – 33 trips you should book a year in advance
- Conde Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists
- Outside Magazine Best Places to Work
- Expedition Cruise Network Best Expedition Cruise Travel Agency
READY TO
START PLANNING?
Andrew Browning – Antarctica Specialist since 2007
What It’s Like? Our Experts Have Been
Related Antarctica Cruise Guides & Resources
Plan your trip with our expert-curated guides covering routes, logistics, cruise lines, deals, and everything you need to prepare for an expedition to the White Continent.
- Antarctica Travel Guide – Start here for planning essentials
- How to Get to Antarctica – Flights, gateways & logistics
- Things to Do in Antarctica – Landings, Zodiac cruises & adventure activities
- Places in Antarctica – Key regions, landing sites & wildlife hotspots
- Antarctica Cruise Deals – View specials, early-booking offers & savings
- Antarctica Cruise Reviews – Read firsthand accounts from our experts
- Best Antarctica Cruise Lines – Compare top operators & ship styles
- Luxury Antarctica Cruises – Explore the best premium and all-inclusive ships
- Antarctica Cruises by Year – Browse departures for 2026, 2027 & beyond
- Antarctica Small Ships – Compare expedition vessels & capacities
Expert Answers to Antarctica Cruise FAQs
Choosing the right Antarctica cruise comes with plenty of questions, and our team has the firsthand experience to answer them. Having guided thousands of travelers since 2003, and sailed these ships ourselves, we’ve distilled the most common questions below to help you plan with confidence. When you are ready to start planning, our Antarctica experts are here to help.
Antarctica cruises typically range from $5,000 to $20,000+ per person, depending on trip length, ship category, cabin type, and whether you choose a fly-cruise or sail-the-Drake itinerary.
Most travelers book 10–12 day classic peninsula cruises in the $9,000–$16,000 range.
For a full breakdown of price factors, savings strategies and current deals, see our Antarctica Cruise Cost Guide.
The Antarctica cruise season runs from late October through March, with each month offering different wildlife sightings and conditions.
Nov–Dec: Fresh snow, penguin courtship, dramatic ice.
Jan–Feb: Peak wildlife activity, whale sightings and warmer temps.
Mar: Excellent whale watching and golden-hour light.
Explore our Best Time to Visit Antarctica guide for wildlife-by-month comparisons.
Yes—most expedition cruises aim for one to two landings or Zodiac cruises per day, weather and ice permitting.
Landings are made at penguin rookeries, research stations or historic sites, with expert guides managing group flows to protect wildlife.
See our Things to Do in Antarctica guide for examples of landings, Zodiac adventures and daily activities.
Ships vary by size, comfort level, activity options, and price.
Smaller ships (70–150 guests) offer more time ashore, while luxury ships add enhanced comfort and amenities. Cabin type also affects price and seasickness comfort.
Compare our curated Antarctica Ships and Best Antarctica Cruise Lines to choose the ship that matches your style and budget.
Most travelers sail from Ushuaia, Argentina, crossing the Drake Passage in 2 days each way.
Fly-cruise trips avoid the Drake by flying from Punta Arenas, Chile, directly to the Antarctic Peninsula—saving time and reducing motion concerns.
Learn more about routes, flights and logistics in our How to Get to Antarctica and Fly-Cruise Antarctica guides.
Rates typically include all meals, daily guided shore landings, Zodiac excursions, educational lectures, and loaner boots. Many ships also provide a complimentary expedition jacket.
Wi-Fi varies by ship, and activities like kayaking or camping may require advance reservations. Every itinerary on our website outlines detailed inclusions, exclusions, payment and cancellation terms for that trip.
See our Things to Do in Antarctica page to understand activities and what’s included on most itineraries.
We specialize exclusively in small-ship expedition travel and use firsthand expertise to match you with the right ship, itinerary and dates.
Our team tracks real departure availability, deals, promotions and cabin updates to help you book confidently and get the best value.
Learn more about our polar experience and partner operators on our Best Antarctica Cruise Lines and Antarctica Travel Guide.
PLAN MY ANTARCTICA TRIP
Let our Antarctica experts
help you find the perfect cruise.
Lis Larson – Antarctica Specialist since 2012
