Antarctica Cruises, Ships & Tours

The cheapest way to visit Antarctica is to book early and secure an Early Booking Discount offer, or risk a last-minute booking and even travel to Ushuaia, Argentina, for a two-week window of time and be available to fill a spot at the last minute. Some Antarctica operators will offer steep promos around Black Friday in late November for last-minute spots in the upcoming season. Another option is to try the Antarctica Express Air Cruise, which sails one way from Ushuaia and then flies back to Chile via King George Island and lasts five days. While you only visit the South Shetland Islands and not continental Antarctica, it can be the best way to get a taste of the experience on a small budget. See Antarctica Express Air Cruise. Here is a list of other Antarctica deals and discounts that may be available on traditional cruises. 

Yes, you need a passport to enter Antarctica in addition to the country from which you enter Antarctica. Most travelers on a cruise to Antarctica pass through Argentina or Chile before reaching the Antarctic continent, and you will likely need a visa in addition to a passport to enter those countries, depending on your nationality.

Yes, you can. About 90% of all travelers arrive in Antarctica by cruise ship, and the remaining 10% arrive by air. The vast majority of travelers arrive in the world's southernmost city, Ushuaia, Argentina, aboard a ship designed for polar travel. Only a few highly privileged individuals have the opportunity to visit the White Continent. There were 122,072 visitors in the 2023-24 season, with the majority coming from the United States, followed by China, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

If you have specific departure dates in mind, these may guide your decision, as availability for Antarctica cruises can be quite limited. If not, you may want to consider the following factors, among others:

Ship size - Some travelers prefer the intimacy of small group travel, which often means more time with the guide, more efficient embarkation/disembarkation, and a cozier feel on board. Ships with fewer passengers also tend to offer more adventure options such as scuba diving, kayaking, and camping. Other travelers prefer the relative spaciousness (cabins still tend to be small on most boats!) and added facilities (Jacuzzi, gym, pool, etc) of the larger boats. Often, though not always, the larger ships tend to have more luxury amenities.

Itinerary - Many of the ships offer a similar range of itineraries. However, some offer more variety than others. If you have a special interest such as visiting South Georgia, crossing the Polar Circle, or traveling to the Falkland Islands, let our trip coordinator know.

Cost - The cost of Antarctica cruises varies tremendously from about USD$5,000 for shoulder seasons and up to tens of thousands of dollars per passenger for luxury cruises. If you are working within a specific budget, let our trip coordinators know so we can match you with the best cruise. Cabin size, itinerary length, ship amenities, etc. can all affect the cost. Once we know your priorities, we can help you choose from the best Antarctica cruises!

Special interests - Some ships offer special Antarctica cruises for divers, kayakers, climbers, campers, photographers, etc. If you have a special interest, please let us know.

Each Antarctica ship has its own type of electrical outlets, depending on the country where it was built. Many of the ships are originally from Russia and use 220 volts, 50 cycle electricity with two round prongs. Ask your Trip Planner for details on the vessel you are taking once you have booked.

Although you do not need to be in excellent physical condition to join an Antarctica cruise, you do need to be in overall good health. These remote areas do not have access to modern medical facilities. You should not join an Antarctica cruise if you have a life-threatening condition or one that requires extensive medical attention. However, a cruise to Antarctica does not need to be physically demanding. You need to be able to balance on a vessel in rough seas, and get in and out of Zodiacs if you wish to participate in shore excursions. You may opt-out of the shore excursions and choose instead to view the wildlife and landscape from the deck. Onshore, most ships offer at least one easy walk that allows participants to experience the destination without going far from the landing site.

Travelers come from all over the world, although most speak English fluently. They may range in age from children to seniors, with most travelers in their 30s to 60s. Some cruises to Antarctica do not permit children under the age of 12, and families should not expect many children on any of the departures.

It depends. Some ships have a minimum age requirement ranging from 8 to 12. Other ships leave it up to the parents to decide if the cruise would be appropriate. The dramatic landscapes and unique wildlife can be fascinating for children. However, the long voyages at sea can become tiresome for even the best child travelers. It is unlikely that there will be other children on board for your kids to play with, so be sure to bring plenty of entertainment options. You may also want to consider upgrading to a larger room or suite on your cruise to Antarctica to give your kids more room to spread out. Since there is no access to medical facilities, children with chronic conditions such as severe asthma, diabetes, etc. are not advised to travel.

Absolutely! Most cruises to Antarctica have special single rates or can arrange a shared room at no additional cost. The majority of Antarctica visitors still travel as couples or families, so these trips can be a bit lonely for some solo travelers. However, the relatively small groups and long voyages on board allow travelers to easily meet others with similar interests. Solo travelers should also take a look at our exclusive Solo Traveler Departures.

Tour rates do not include international flights unless indicated. We find that it is usually less expensive for travelers to book these separately, and this also gives you the flexibility to choose the schedule and routing that is most convenient for you. You are welcome to book these on your own, or we can certainly help you arrange these flights with an airfare consolidator who specializes in South America flights.

The shortest trip length available to Antarctica is typically a ten-day trip starting and ending in Ushuaia for an optimal experience on the Antarctic continent. Shorter express cruises to Antarctica can reduce the time to 5-6 days, but do not actually visit the continent, only the surrounding islands. Cruises to the Ross Sea last around 30 days. To explore the Falkland Islands and South Georgia in addition to the Antarctic Peninsula, you will need at least 18 days.

All of our small ship Antarctica cruises feature Zodiac excursions and hikes for up-close encounters with Antarctic wildlife. Some ships have sea kayaks available at an additional cost, giving you a unique perspective on penguins, whales, and other wildlife. Some Antarctic expeditions include skiing and camping in Antarctica for the ultimate adventure trip to the White Continent.

The average cost of a cruise to Antarctica is around USD$8,500 per person. The most economical cruises to Antarctica start at just under USD$5000 per person for an express trip to visit just the outerlying islands but not the continent itself, or shorter cruises in shoulder season may be on sale for $6500-8000. Cruises to Antarctica from Ushuaia or flight/cruise options leaving from Punta Arenas to the Antarctic Peninsula are the most affordable departure ports. The biggest factors in the cost of an Antarctica cruise are the number of days of your trip, the class of ship, and the type of cabin.