Antarctica Cruises 2021
The 2021 calendar is starting to fill up and an inspiring collection of unforgettable itineraries is coming together. Plan well in advance to secure your preferred voyage and …
Discover MorePress play and immerse yourself in Antarctica's sparkling ice castles, bustling penguin rookeries and beckoning silence...
So you've made the decision to go to Antarctica, the next important step is to decide which trip is best suited to you. There's a vast, tantalising choice of different options open to you - ranging from 6 to 30 days in duration - travelling either by ship or opting to fly:
With many years of experience, Swoop is adept at helping match our customers to exactly the right Antarctic trips.
Choosing when to visit Antarctica is a crucial part of the planning process. Once you've decided which year you plan to travel, the next step is to work out the actual timing of your visit.
Firstly you need to be aware that Antarctica is only accessible to visitors between November and March, and that these months are split into two seasons, with ‘High Season’ being the most popular and expensive time to travel:
It's then important to be aware of the distinctive weather and wildlife characteristics of each month, as the timing of your trip will heavily influence what the wildlife is doing then, and local ice and weather conditions.
The 2021 calendar is starting to fill up and an inspiring collection of unforgettable itineraries is coming together. Plan well in advance to secure your preferred voyage and …
Discover MoreWhether you're considering the prospect of a 2022 trip to Antarctica or pretty much ready to go, we hope this page brings you closer to your visit to the frozen continent. Explore …
Discover MoreA luxury Antarctica cruise means uncompromised, first-class adventuring. From the comfort of the cabins to the expertise of the expedition leaders, luxury Antarctica cruise ships …
Discover MoreThe early explorers had no option, and were grateful for whatever vessel they could commission, but modern day Antarctic visitors are spoilt for choice. Not only can you choose your mode of transport to get there – by either sailing by ship or getting a flight to Antarctica– but there’s also a wide variety of boats, from former Russian research vessels to luxury yachts boasting 24/7 butler service.
Given the considerable amount of time which you’ll be spending on the ship, it's well worth investing the time to finding exactly the right one.
Discover more on getting to the white continent.
Prepare to be busy on an Antarctic cruise! Once you’ve arrived in Antarctica the backbone of each day is taken up by the off-ship excursions, of which there are normally two daily of between 2-3 hours long. These are either ‘landings’, where you go ashore to visit a penguin rookery or a place of historic interest, or a zodiac cruise when you’re on the lookout for wildlife and photographic opportunities.
There are often optional adventure activities – including kayaking and camping – as well as the ‘Polar Plunge’ and a programme of lectures delivered by the expedition team.
A trip to Antarctica is a big ticket item in anyone’s book, so it’s important to have a firm understanding of the likely costs before you start getting too carried away.
Swoop can help to guide you.
Cruises to Antarctica have a minimum age limit on certain ships, but there's certainly no upper age limit. As long as you are fit and healthy, and feel capable of clambering in and out of the zodiacs, you’ll be fine. The average age of Antarctic travellers is approximately 50-75 year old, however, this is falling with every season.
The majority of Antarctic cruises aren’t physically demanding and definitely fall into the ‘soft adventure’ category. Walking distances are fairly short, particularly on the Antarctic Peninsula, and when longer walks are available they are optional and will be offered alongside shorter ones.
For more active travellers, optional adventure activities (kayaking, camping, etc) are widely available on most voyages. There are also select departures like Basecamp Adventure specifically designed for the active traveller.
When deciding when to book your cruise to Antarctica, there are a couple of rules:
Rule No. 1: It’s never too early to book
Rule No. 2: The early mover gets the widest choice
To be confident of securing your first choice you need to be ideally booking 12 - 18 months in advance, or as early as the departure dates are released. The popularity and limited number of departures of Fly & Cruise and South Georgia cruises, in particular, make it even more important to start the booking process for these early.
This may seem excessive to those who don't typically plan this far ahead, but on an Antarctic trip when places aren’t infinite, the need to book early is crucial to avoid disappointment.
99% of Antarctic cruises depart from Ushuaia in Southern Argentina and Punta Arenas in Southern Chile. These are the main gateways to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
The Drake Passage has a reputation, and not without reason as approximately 30% of voyages experience rough weather, however, it can also be surprisingly placid too ('The Drake Lake').
The reality for the majority of our customers is that it's rarely as bad as it sounds, and it's certainly a 'price' well worth paying, but if avoiding The Drake altogether by flying to Antarctica is your preference, we have firsthand experience and can help.
This is the classic way to see Antarctica, and most cruises take you only to this part of Antarctica. A typical cruise will start out from Ushuaia and explore all that the …
Discover MoreEstablished over ten years ago, flying is an increasingly popular way to access Antarctica, particularly if you are short on time or concerned about the sea crossing.
Discover MoreFor the ultimate adventure, join a cruise that crosses the Antarctic Circle at 66 Degrees South and visits some of the most beautiful landmarks both north and south of the Circle.
Discover MoreFor sheer density of wildlife, majestic scenery, riveting history and remoteness, South Georgia is hard to beat in every single one of these categories. It’s one of the least …
Discover MoreWith over 50 years of Antarctic experience between us, we can help guide you to exactly the right trip for you.