Magellan Explorer
Ship overview:
The Magellan Explorer is the first small passenger ship purpose-built for Antarctica in the last 14 years. Capacity will be limited to a maximum of 76 passengers per Antarctic air-cruise departure, with each departure fed by a single flight.
From $5,995
Prices based on two people sharing76 passengers
Constructed in 2019
1:6
Kayaking & snowshoeing
Why we like this ship
- Designed and operated by the original pioneers of the Antarctic Fly & Cruise concept
- Spacious, well appointed suites, many with floor-to-ceiling windows and outside balconies
- Built to the latest Polar Code specifications, she carries a Polar Class 6 ice-class (Lloyd’s Register PC6)
- For passenger comfort, the ship features state-of-the-art stabilisers
- To minimise fuel consumption, a waste heat recovery system recycles the heat produced by the ship’s engines and repurposes it to power the ship’s heating system and to warm the water used on board
We think it's worth noting...
- For those looking to warm up after the polar plunge in a hot tub, this ship doesn't have one. However, the sauna is popular
Swoop says
I loved my time onboard the petite Magellan Explorer. The eye-catching design looks stunning amidst the ice and the small passenger capacity meant my experience of Antarctica was incredibly intimate, maximising my time exploring off the ship and indulging in my passion for photography.
Otto Lock Antarctica Specialist
Your vessel in Antarctic waters
The bridge
Views from a cabin balcony
Relax in the lounge
The restaurant
Views of Antarctica from the dining room
Polar library
Onboard fitness centre
Onboard sauna
Views from the ship's balcony
Lunch on deck, Antarctica
The vessel after dark
Your vessel in Antarctic waters
Your expedition vessel
Swoop Video Review: Magellan Explorer
Onboard Communications & Facilities
There are satellite telephone and internet services on board. Standard internet service is provided on a complimentary basis. Guests in the Penthouse Suites will have access to premium internet service free of charge.
Because of the nature of the expedition and the locations visited, please keep in mind that signal may be slow or delayed.
Exclusive access to Explorers House
Travellers on the Magellan Explorer can enjoy exclusive access to Explorers House while in Punta Arenas. This private club in the Antarctic gateway city is the perfect place to relax. You can unwind with a coffee and a book from the polar library, add to your knowledge of the continent with the informative lectures and enjoy Chilean meals during a welcome dinner.
Whether you’re winding down after a flight or gearing up for the journey ahead, this lovingly restored heritage building is a comfortable – and engaging – spot.
Ample room to relax
What our customers think of Magellan Explorer
Magellan Explorer trips scored 4.5/5 from 258 reviews
10/10 - The small number of passengers and excellent preparations, and excellent expedition staff, crew and service staff made it memorable. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2025
Adnan Shihab Eldin - Kuwait
I like the size of the ship which allows us to have two excursions daily. Excellent hospitality services. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2025
Leopoldo Gonzalez - USA
10/10 - The guides on the Magellan were well informed, helpful, and pleasant. The crew, hotel, and restaurant staff were friendly, welcoming, and efficient. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2025
Marsha Wong - USA
Awesome, knowledgable peeps. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2025
Kelly Patterson - USA
The expedition combined the breathtaking excursions with relaxation on board in very comfortable conditions. The Magellan Explorer staff was very professional, helpful and friendly. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2025
Jerzy Pruski - Poland
The ship was spotless. I loved my cabin. The food was good. I have no complaints about the ship. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2024
Jody Lynn Papini - USA
The ship was great, honestly a lot fancier than I thought it would be. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2024
Elizabeth Downing - USA
Crew were far beyond expectations. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2024
Eric Wu - USA
Very modern ship with an excellent staff. The food was very good and the excursions were top notch. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2024
Robert Gerard Soltys - USA
A superb fit-for-purpose high quality cruise ship. The expedition team were very knowledgeable and experienced. Read the full review
Travelled: October 2024
Cheong Kin Seng - Malaysia
Very comfortable, great service and excellent food. Read the full review
Travelled: March 2024
Akshay Chudasama - India
Very comfortable and great food! It was fantastic having such a small number of guests on board as we got to know them really well by the end of the trip! Definitely new friends we will keep in touch with. Read the full review
Travelled: March 2024
Alysha Vazirally - India
Everything was top class and professional. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2024
Steven Newton - UK
10/10 - Small purpose-built ship with small number of eager and intelligent passengers, plus excellent weather to observe Antarctica and its wildlife is a winning business model. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2024
Terry Goodyear - Canada
I would choose this ship again. It lived up to my high expectations. Great crew all around. Magellan Explorer was very comfortable and provided great views from the cabins and the lounges. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2024
Ali Begeja - USA
The hotel staff and dining staff were amazing. From the moment we got on the boat, they were calling each passenger by name. The individualized attention was impressive. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2024
Stephanie Litz - USA
Well beyond my expectations. The little things on the ship were well thought of. Food was amazing. Staff was phenomenal. Service was beyond expectations. Would 100% choose this ship again. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2024
Sanjit Vallabhaneni - India
The Magellan Explorer exceeded my expectations! I was in a grand suite and it was nothing less than a 5 star suite. The food was excellent and the kitchen staff took care of my dietary restrictions and allergies. I will, without a second thought, choose this ship again :) Read the full review
Travelled: January 2024
Ankita Gupta - India
I'd 100% choose the ship again. Everything was luxurious but unpretentious. I can't believe how many different staff members greeted us by name every day. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2023
Timothy Kleiman - USA
The cabin was beautiful, the food was amazing, and all of the staff were incredible. I have nothing bad to say. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2023
Jeanette Karon - USA
The ship could not have been better! The cabin was large & I loved the heated bathroom floor & towel warmer. The cabin steward was very personable & efficient. The food was wonderful! I would absolutely choose this ship again & have recommended it to many already. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2023
Linda Karon - USA
Everyone on the expedition team is so passionate about the area and the wildlife. They are able to appeal to a wide number of people from all walks of life. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2023
Michelle Anderson - USA
The Magellan Explorer was an awesome vessel and the crew to guest ratio was perfect for us. The whole team did an incredible job through and through to make sure we had the best experience possible! Read the full review
Travelled: November 2023
Sarah Yip - USA
The ship was great! It is a small ship and felt very intimate. My room was extremely comfortable and I was so glad to have a balcony. The food was tasty and the staff was excellent. I would definitely choose the ship again. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2023
Preetee Singhal - USA
Great ship, very comfortable, great service and crew. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2023
Michael Mermall - USA
The small ship experience is by far the best way to visit Antarctica. The crew and expedition staff are first rate. The expedition leader worked tirelessly with the Captain to adapt to evolving conditions and give the guests the best possible experience. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2023
Chuck Gallegos - USA
The Magellan Explorer was better than we could have ever expected. The cabin was always spotless, our room manager Edwin always did a fantastic job and was so friendly to us. The food was incredible and it was mindblowing how the chefs were able to make such amazing dishes and never repeated them during the 16 days onboard. The crew in the restaurant always remembered our names and what drinks we liked and made sure we were taken care of at all times without being overbearing. I would absolutely choose this vessel again. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2023
Sarah Yip - USA
We liked this ship very much. It is new, clean, and very comfortable. Every time, after our meals and excursions, when we entered the cabin, we felt like we were at home. The food was excellent. I enjoyed each meal. Yes, everything not only met our expectations but actually went way beyond our expectations. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2023
Dali Yang - USA
I felt like the size of the boat gave us an intimate enough feel, the ship amenities were great, the boat is well maintained, the crew on board were fantastic and accommodating. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2023
Saebom Lee - USA
We loved our cabin on deck 3 with a verandah. I will always remember our first morning pulling back the blackout curtains and seeing the pristine Antarctic Peninsula. And a few days later doing the same and seeing a humpback whale waving its fin. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2023
Saebom Lee - USA
The size of the ship and relatively small passenger capacity made it very easy for me as a solo traveler to get to meet lots of people and make friends even within the first day or two. You are all going on such a unique adventure, it bonds you together, and that’s coming from an introvert. The ship itself is new and stylish, but not at the expense of the sense of adventure. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2023
Aaron Stewart - USA
10/10 - The Magellan Explorer was terrific and the staff provided an experience beyond our wildest expectations. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2023
Tom Aldrich - USA
There are really no words to describe the ship and its staff. From the porters to the restaurant staff to the executives, the organization is impressive. The ship itself was a great place to relax and enjoy the cruise time. From the library to the lounge to our cabin we enjoyed all it had to offer. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2023
Robert Wenze - USA
10/10 - They did everything well. Every person on the cruise was knowledgeable, helpful and enthusiastic. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2023
Pete Russo - USA
BEAUTIFUL SHIP!!!! I don’t know if I could go on another ship if it wasn’t the Magellan. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2023
Madison Augustyn - USA
Magellan Explorer is a world class piece of art! Brand new ship with everything you can ask for. The outside deck of our cabin was very nice and private. The ship has the latest stabilizer technology so we didn’t feel the waves too much. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2023
Khanh Nguyen - USA
The ship was amazing, so much nicer than we expected!!! Read the full review
Travelled: January 2023
Larry Jaffe - USA
Select this boat for their first class, small ship experience. The small ship has access to locations other ships can not get to, and the staff to guest ratio is excellent. This is a brand new luxury adventure ship. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2022
Kenneth Bych - USA
Cabin size was efficient and very comfortable. The choices at meal time were amazing and the chef provided top quality meals. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2022
Kenneth Bych - USA
Everyone on the ship were inclusive, friendly, and professional, and they made me feel more than welcome to be with them. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2022
Mary Buchino Johnson - USA
This boat was wow. I've never been on a cruise before and now I suspect I'll never be satisfied on a lesser cruise. It was nice having only 60 or so passengers. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2022
Tyler Steffenson - USA
10/10 - Excellent, pristine ship, very stable. Outstanding crew, waitstaff and guides….absolutely top notch. So friendly and professional. Stabilizers really helped it in the rougher seas. We were very surprised at the spaciousness of the room; all the finishes in the ship were so well designed and top quality. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2022
Joe Brubaker - USA
From David, the leader who had an ever changing set of challenges due to weather and seas. We felt entirely safe with him and knew he was sincerely trying to give us the best experience he could. All the expedition team were outstanding, informative, warm, really really great. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2022
Joe Brubaker - USA
Excellent ship. Well appointed and comfortable. Cabin was fine. Excellent staff on ship. Pleased with housekeeping and waiter staff. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2022
Larry Pass - USA
Expedition team members were uniformly friendly, approachable, helpful, and full of knowledge related to what we were seeing or could see. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2022
Fred Delcomyn - USA
I have been on (much larger) cruise ships before, so I did have some general idea of how being onboard would be. My experience with Magellan Explorer was a step up from my previous experiences. Partly this was due to the small size of the ship, but even taking this into account, I found staff extremely friendly and helpful throughout the voyage. In addition, I found the food excellent, with great variety and ample portions. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2022
Fred Delcomyn - USA
Beautiful new boat. Very comfy and nice. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2022
Todd Mackey - USA
Awesome team!!! Very knowledgeable and accessible. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2022
Todd Mackey - USA
Cabin was perfect. Food was unbelievable and staff fabulous. I’d definitely choose the Magellan again. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2021
Chris Dixon - UK
I can't say enough good things about the the expedition team. That were genuinely excited to be on the cruise with us and it showed. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2021
Jeannette Shull - USA
The observation lounge was especially pleasant to spend time in. The dining room was very stable during meals. The food was well prepared. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2021
Jeannette Shull - USA
The epitome of a vessel to ply the waters in Antarctica. Unmatched staff. The food service, world class. The lectures onboard, fantastic. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2021
Ray Applebaum - USA
The size of our ship enabled us to take two excursions each day. Larger ships can only let 100 passengers off at a time and ships larger than 500 cannot let the passengers off at all. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2021
Jeannette Shull - USA
The staff was excellent and very skilled. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2021
Randy Smith - USA
5 star plus treatment - the ship is great. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2021
Randy Smith - USA
Everything went very smoothly from check in to check out. There was always staff available to help. The personnel on the trip were all terrific from the hospitality workers to the guides. They were very friendly and knowledgeable. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2020
Carol Clarke - United States Of America
Particular kudos go to the ship's crew of the Magellan Explorer. Our leader there was Ben and he was just astonishing. He is a world traveller, an athlete, and just one hell of a nice guy. We really felt like somebody had your back and truly wanted you to have the experience of a lifetime. And it was. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2019
Donald Emeigh - United States Of America
Voyages Aboard Magellan Explorer
Price Match Promise - We’ll match any price you find elsewhere for the same trip
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