It’s your first morning in Antarctica. You pull back the curtains in your suite and take in the view. There’s nothing but snowy mountains fringed with glaciers, and a bay full of sculpted icebergs. On your balcony with a coffee and the freshest air you’ve ever experienced, you listen for the sound of a penguin colony or a humpback whale, before grabbing your parka and setting out for a day of adventure. This is an expedition cruise Antarctica style.
If you want to know what’s the difference between an Antarctica cruise or a traditional cruise, this is the heart of it. An Antarctic expedition cruise ship specially designed for polar waters acts as a floating hotel meets basecamp, typically with around just 200 guests. There are no ports of call or set itineraries. Instead, the focus of each day is more like a polar safari, letting the weather and wildlife guide where the ship goes, to get you off the ship to explore – stepping foot on the 7th Continent to see its unique polar wildlife, getting among the ice on a zodiac cruise , or experiencing Antarctica with adventure activities from kayaking and snowshoeing – or even camping for a night in the snow. Along the way, you’re accompanied by an onboard team of expert polar guides – experts in everything from marine biology and penguin behaviour to the history of the great explorers like Shackleton and Amundsen.
At Swoop, we're the polar travel experts. We fall in love with Antarctica every time we visit – and we know you will too. Let us show you exactly what Antarctica cruising is all about.
Price Match Promise - We’ll match any price you find elsewhere for the same trip
At Swoop we proudly work with every major operator in the Antarctic industry.
This means we can find you the best Black Friday deals – and with our Price Match Promise you know you're always getting the very best price.
The Antarctic Peninsula is the long finger of land that points north from the heart of the continent towards South America. It's the most easily visited accessible part of Antarctica, and as such, is the main destination for the vast majority of Antarctic cruise ships.
The Peninsula is where you'll find the Antarctica of your imagination: noisy penguin colonies, seals on ice floes and humpback whale flukes – all against a backdrop of frozen mountains, glaciers and icebergs. Antarctica Peninsula cruises are all about the classic polar experiences: getting your boots in the snow, zodiac cruising through the ice, adventure activities like kayaking and camping, and as many penguins as you could hope to see.
Cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula are typically 10–12 days long.
Zodiac cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula
It takes two days to sail to the Antarctic Peninsula from South America across the Drake Pass and two days back – but there’s a faster option that skips the crossing altogether.
Antarctica Fly & Cruise trips allow you to hop direct to Antarctica from southern Chile in just two hours, where you join an expedition cruise ship for a classic cruise experience exploring the Antarctic Peninsula. This option is perfect for anyone who is worried about the Drake Passage, or just wants to jump straight into the action.
Fly & Cruise trips to Antarctica typically run for 6–10 days, with other options mixing things up by flying in one direction and sailing in the other.
On the runway in Antarctica for a Fly & Cruise trip
South Georgia island is known as the Serengeti of the Southern Ocean, and a visit here is truly like stepping into a David Attenborough documentary.
King penguin rookeries contain hundreds of thousands of birds while the beaches are thick with an almost uncountable number of fur seals and elephant seals. This is also Shackleton’s island, and a raising a toast at the explorer's grave is an essential South Georgia experience.
South Georgia is visited in conjunction with the Antarctic Peninsula cruise, and cruise itineraries normally also include the wildlife-rich Falkland Islands.
South Georgia and Antarctica cruises are typically 18–23 days long.
King penguins on South Georgia
No matter how many countries you've been to, you can never fully prepare for Antarctica's sensory assault. It's impossible to exaggerate Antarctica's magnificence – the indelible mark it leaves on your heart.
Cassia Jackson Antarctica Specialist
The Weddell Sea is the great frozen sea that lies east of the Antarctic Peninsula, and is one of the great frontiers of Antarctic cruising.
It was in the Weddell Sea Sea where Shackleton's Endurance expedition fought for survival, and even today its ice-clogged waters only allow access for a small number of months a year. Few visit here, but those who do make it here are rewarded with encounters with some of the most spectacular tabular icebergs imaginable. Special itineraries also run in November and December to Snow Hill, where you can visit one of the only accessible Emperor Penguin colonies in the world.
Weddell Sea cruises are typically 11–14 days in length.
Emperor penguins at Snow Hill in the Weddell Sea
The Antarctic Circle is the legendary line of latitude at 66°33’ South, beyond which the midsummer sun never sets. Very few travellers ever get to sail here.
Cruises to the Antarctic Circle follow a route to the itineraries along the Antarctic Peninsula – it's just that when those ships turn back north, Circle cruises keep heading south. This is where the White Continent really starts to show its wildest face – and cruises have a lot more time to explore, with more days in Antarctica and up to 24 hours of daylight.
The longer time needed to sail south means that Antarctic Circle cruises are generally 13–15 days in length.
Stonington Island in Marguerite Bay, south of the Antarctic Circle
For many Antarctic lovers, a trip to the Ross Sea is the ultimate prize. It lies on the opposite side of the continent to the Antarctic Peninsula, so travellers must sail from New Zealand to reach it. Only a small number of departures each year make the trip, due to the long time at sea.
Cruises here reach as far as 77º South, to visit Ross Island and the Ross Ice Shelf. Sightings of emperor penguins and orcas are common, but the highlight for many travellers is the chance to visit the sites of the Heroic Era of Antarctic exploration – including Captain Scott's perfectly preserved Terra Nova hut.
Ross Sea cruises are generally 28–31 days long. Itineraries include Australia and New Zealand's wildlife-rich Subantarctic islands, such as Macquarie Island.
Shackleton's Nimrod Hut and Mount Erebus at Cape Royds in the Ross Sea
Daily excursions are at the heart of Antarctic cruising. There are normally two excursions a day, each lasting up to around two hours, depending on the ship. These are either shore landings – perhaps at a penguin rookery or a place of historic interest – or a zodiac cruise among the ice, looking for wildlife and photo opportunities.
Most ships also have optional adventure activities, which are booked in advance. The most popular activities are kayaking and camping, but other options may include snorkelling, snowshoeing, paddleboarding or others. Some ships even have submersibles or helicopters.
While itineraries, excursions and activities are always weather dependent, there's almost always the option of the famous ‘Polar Plunge’ – the chance to take a dip in the coldest water you've ever experienced.
Enjoying an Antarctic sunset while camping
There is no single best Antarctica cruise, only the best Antarctica cruise for you. When planning your cruise, there are several factors to consider: the ship size and passenger numbers, the itinerary and dates of travel, and, of course, your budget.
We know that's a lot to consider, so we make it easy to navigate the many choices. Swoop works with every major cruise operator, and we've been on every polar cruise ship we offer, so we're able to offer impartial (and commission-free) advice to help you towards what's right for you. That starts with a free 30-minute consultation, where we'll discuss what you want from your polar adventure. We'll put together a selection of options based on your requirements, then we'll work together to get you ready for your perfect Antarctica cruise.
Kakaying in Antarctica
Antarctic cruises costs start from around US$8,000 per person for entry-level berths and ships, from US$12,000–$20,000 for mid-range cruises and from US$20,000 and above for luxury cruises. Within these ranges, costs can vary greatly according to the ship style and cabin tier, the itinerary length and whether you’re travelling in high season.
High operating costs mean that Fly & Cruise itineraries can be up to 25% more expensive than traditional sailing cruises.
Is an Antarctica cruise worth the cost? For a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit one of the most sublime places on Earth, we think so. But to make sure you get the most value for your money, our Price Match Promise is a guarantee that we’ll match any price you find elsewhere for the same cruise.
Ice landing on an Antarctic cruise
Antarctica Cruises trips scored 4.5/5 from 1372 reviews
I will keep Swoop in mind for my future adventure trips and also recommend Swoop to my friends definitely. It's a wonderful experience with Swoop. Thank you again for recommending and helping us to get the last cabin at that tight time before the trip's departure, so we experienced this unforgettable Antarctica trip.
Travelled: January 2020
Jinyu Xu - United States of America
Working with Swoop was a delight. They were so helpful and provided such good advice and useful detailed information. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2019
Ralph Pollack - United States Of America
If you have never been there, there is no way of preparing for the impact of being there. The untouched, natural beauty, the mighty icebergs, the silliness of the penguins. You will be spending hours just sitting in one spot adoring the view.
Travelled: January 2018
Zoltan & Stephen Nemeth - Florida
We've traveled to 87 different countries, and this was without a doubt our favorite destination. Of all the cruises we've been on, we spent more time out on our balcony on this trip than all the rest combined. The scenery changes so much, you don't want to miss anything. We saw countless whales from our balcony. And icebergs of every shape imaginable.
Travelled: December 2017
Chris & Amy - Florida
I think the only prerequisites for enjoying this trip are curiosity and realistic expectations about shipboard life: understanding that it is an expedition, not a cruise.
Travelled: December 2017
Marc - Florida
I have visited 89 countries and islands and Antarctica was my final continent. Without doubt, the Antarctica and Falkland Islands trip was the best experience, holiday and adventure I have ever had.
Travelled: February 2017
Nick - UK
John made this very hard decision so much easier by reassuring me of the incredible experience awaiting me and explaining every detail of the trip beforehand. If it wasn’t for John, I seriously do not know if I would have had the courage to go on this trip alone.
Travelled: February 2017
Jeff - Arizona
In a word, it was sensational. Everything was terrific: the ship, the "hotel" and the expedition team. You (John) are greatly loved among multiple crew folks. And we share that enthusiasm for you because your natural joy is infectious.
Travelled: February 2017
Larry and Julie - California
Swoop was phenomenal! I am so happy and grateful I booked with Loli and the Swoop team. Loli answered all of my questions and due to her first-hand experience with the trip, she was able to offer terrific guidance and helpful insights. I felt completely looked after and prepared for my trip.
Travelled: January 2017
Colette - California
From the first moment we booked our trip to Antarctica with Swoop, everything went so well. You can read about Antarctica, people can tell you about it, you can look at countless images, but it is so much more beautiful in reality.
Travelled: January 2017
Kim - Australia
The level of expertise and knowledge that Alex has is incredible and he helped us select the perfect trip for our needs and expectations. I've never had such good service.
Travelled: December 2016
Declan - UK
Swoop was fantastic. We were provided with great service, efficient and quality responses to our many questions. Swoop found us the perfect expedition to match our interests and budget. Alex even followed up with us throughout the process and called us the day of our departure to wish us a wonderful trip.
Travelled: December 2016
Bryce - Canada
We were extremely fortunate to link up with Swoop. We planned this trip at the last minute and I do not believe we would have found the right trip, right boat, or the right cabin. Loli knew that we were on our honeymoon and went out of her way to make sure we had the right cabin.
Travelled: November 2016
Ryan - Massachusetts
Antarctica cruises run between late October and late March; the continent is not accessible outside these months. High season for Antarctica cruises is December, January and February, with the other months known as the shoulder season.
There is no 'best' time to visit Antarctica. Each month has something different to offer. The start of the season has the thickest, freshest snows, with penguins arriving to mate and nest. Chicks tend to arrive in late December and into January when days are longest, while February and March are the peak whale watching months.
Some Antarctic locations or experiences are only accessible at certain times of year due to ice conditions, such as emperor penguin colonies, the Antarctic Circle and the Ross Sea.
Gentoo penguin with chicks
Most Antarctic cruises depart from Ushuaia in southern Argentina. There are no direct international flights to Ushuaia, so travellers must fly through Buenos Aires, which is well-connected to the USA and Europe.
Fly & Cruise Antarctica trips depart from southern Chile, from either Punta Arenas, Puerto Williams or Puerto Natales. There are no direct international flights to these cities, so travellers must connect through Santiago, which is well connected to the USA and Europe.
For ease of travel, most luxury Antarctica cruises include the connecting flight from either Buenos Aires or Santiago to their point of departure to join the cruise.
Cruising through the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula
It takes around 48 hours to sail across the Drake Passage from South America to the Antarctic Peninsula.
The Drake Passage is a brilliant way to get ready for Antarctica: watching albatrosses on the Southern Ocean, attending talks from the expedition team with fellow travellers and building excitement for your first sight of the White Continent.
Some travellers worry about big seas and the famous Drake Shake, but only around 1 in 4 crossings encounter any rough patches – a Drake Lake with soft winds and waves is far more common.
However, anxious sailors or those just want to skip the long crossing can fly to Antarctica with the Drake Passage alternative, by taking a Fly & Cruise trip.
Sailing the Drake Passage
Swoop has been helping travellers experience Antarctica for over 15 years, and we work with every major Antarctic cruise operator to offer more than 1,500 voyages. We're also B Corp certified and give 1% of our annual revenues to local conservation projects.
We're multiple winners of Expedition Cruise Network's Tour Operator of the Year, and we send more of our team to Antarctica every year than any other polar travel agency so we know all the ships, destinations and itineraries like the back of our hand. There's no question about Antarctica cruises we can't answer.
Swoop works on a commission-free model to provide impartial advice on the best Antarctic cruise for you. Our Price Match Promise means that we’ll match any price you find elsewhere for the same cruise, and our concierge services means we'll look after you from the moment you book until the moment you get home from your trip.
Your perfect Antarctica experience
Swoop has catered for travellers of every group size. Whether you’re adventuring solo or bringing a group of over 100. We can help.
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.
The Peninsula is the classic way to experience Antarctica. Some of the best wildlife and most dramatic scenery can be found in this part of the Frozen Continent.
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Discover MoreWe'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
