Why travel solo to Antarctica?

  • As soon as you walk up the gangplank you're immediately embraced by a group of like-minded adventurers
  • While Antarctica's icescapes and wildlife always take centre stage, the camaraderie of an Antarctic voyage is consistently rated as the third highlight by solo travellers
  • There's a choice of onboard accommodation to suit everyone, from value-led shared same sex cabins, to dedicated singles and twins with single supplements
  • A number of ships we offer provide all-inclusive elements including pre-voyage hotels, domestic flights, gratuities and drinks, to take the hassle out of travel to the ends of the earth
  • Swoop has assisted hundreds of solo travellers over the years and our staff regularly solo travel to Antarctica: we know what’s important to make your trip truly unforgettable
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Maddison says

Whenever I travel solo to Antarctica, I never worry because I know that as soon as I walk up the ship’s gangway I’ll be instantly swept up by a welcoming crowd of excited fellow travellers.

Maddison Clare Antarctica Sales Specialist

Why our customers love Swoop

The Antarctic Experts.
No Compromises

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Our team has visited Antarctica over 150 times and has 100 collective years of polar experience, so from which trip is right for you to what shoes to bring - there’s no question we can’t answer.

Expert impartial advice at no extra cost

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Choosing the right voyage is complicated, Swoop makes it easy. We offer no-nonsense advice on 1500 voyages across 30 ships to find you the right trip, cabin, price - and we don’t charge a fee.

The only B Corp certified Antarctic specialist

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We want to protect Antarctica for future generations - which is why we became a certified B Corp and set up our own conservation fund. So your adventures can be a force for good.

A full concierge service, unlike booking direct

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We leave nothing to chance in delivering your perfect trip and have over 6500 happy travellers to show for it. With a dedicated Antarctic co-ordinator & support throughout - you’re in safe hands.

3 choices of onboard accommodation

1. Shared same sex cabin

Twin cabin with window on board Seaventure Antarctic expedition cruise ship

The most popular (and cost effective) option for solo travellers sailing to Antarctica is to share a cabin. Cabin shares are always with another solo traveller of the same sex.

Wherever possible you’ll be matched with another passenger of the same relative age and nationality to make getting to know each other smooth and easy.

Some ships have triple and quad cabins as well, all with en suite bathrooms. While it might initially feel odd to consider sharing with a complete stranger, it’s a highly effective way to book an affordable Antarctic trip and the very nature of expedition cruising means that new acquaintances rapidly become friends.

In terms of the amount of space you’ll have, it’s worth knowing that average cabin sizes in the polar fleet have almost doubled over the past ten years as well as becoming a lot smarter with storage space, giving everyone a lot more room. Of course,  cabins are really only places for sleeping in and getting ready for excursions: the point of expedition cruising is to be out exploring Antarctica! 

Sharing a cabin comes with the implicit requirement to be respectful of the common space; those concerned about the idea might be more relaxed with securing their own cabin entirely.

While exact cabins vary from ship to ship, note that the highest cabin categories on a ship often aren’t available for sharing.

2. Dedicated single cabin

Single Cabin, National Geographic Endurance, Antarctic Vessel

Dedicated single cabins for solo travellers used to be a real rarity for Antarctic voyages, but the recent growth in expedition cruise ship numbers now means that those travelling by themselves have access to a lot more choice.

The price of a dedicated single cabin is typically close to the cost of a twin cabin with single supplement and is more expensive than a shared cabin.

The number of dedicated solo cabins varies hugely between different ships. These cabins are always limited in number and in high demand however. Even with the increased choice on offer, early booking is strongly recommended: booking 18 months in advance of travel isn’t too soon.

Swoop knows the entire polar fleet like no one else so we can guide you in choosing the right ship on the right date with the perfect cabin for you – our close connections with all the operators will help you secure your chosen berth.

3. Twin cabin with single supplements

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If you’d like your own space and your preferred ship has no dedicated cabins or they’re all booked up, the option exists to pay a single supplement to secure exclusive use of a twin cabin.

There’s no restriction on which cabin category you can choose, but the single supplement you’ll pay operates along a sliding scale according to which ship you're sailing on. Typically, you'll pay somewhere between 140%-170% of the cost of a single berth. On most ships, if you wish to secure the top cabin categories you’ll need to pay the full price of the cabin.

Swoop’s expertise can help guide you through the best matched options for your needs, including which ships offer the most competitive single supplement costs. We’re also on top of when ships may choose to run incentives for solo travellers and waive the single supplements on their twin cabins.

Choosing your ship: a guide for solo travellers

Adventure activities

A groups of kayakers on the Antarctic Peninsula

There are few better ways of breaking the ice with new travel companions than getting out in a zodiac together for your first landing in Antarctica, but there are plenty of other ways to find your people when you're on board.

Booking additional adventure activities such as kayaking or camping can be an ideal option for solo travellers. Groups taking part in activities are often the first to bond during a voyage: you'll take part in dedicated briefings from your guides and if you're kayaking you'll be paired up with a kayaking buddy. We know from experience how like-minded people meeting for the first time quickly become tight-knit teams through shared adventure. From sharing photos of the day in the ship’s lounge and swapping stories over dinner, these activities are a great way to make new friends as well as experiencing Antarctica from a unique perspective.

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What our customers think about about solo travel to Antarctica

I was a solo traveler - do not let this stop you in going on this trip . One of the best solo trips I have had. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Juanita Chase - USA

My experience has definitely inspired me to continue traveling solo when I feel the need or get the opportunity. It has reminded me to live curiously and boldly. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Dianne Salcedo - USA

Hondius was a great ship. I was nervous about sharing a quad cabin but it ended up being more spacious than the pictures showed. Read the full review

Travelled: March 2023

Sarah Larson - USA

As a single traveler everyone on board made sure that I was part of a group and went out of their way to make sure I was looked after. Read the full review

Travelled: March 2023

Adelle Kopp-McKay - Canada

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 - As a solo traveller, Swoop helped me figure out every detail about my expedition, from private transfers to extra tours in Ushuaia. Having an Antarctic Specialist available at all times to answer my questions made me feel comfortable and ready for such a great adventure! Read the full review

Travelled: January 2023

Maricela Alaniz - USA

I went solo and was worried about being bored and alone on the cruise. I ended up making friends with some amazing people in my cabin and the guys next door as well. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2022

Chelsea Davis - USA

I traveled alone, so I didn't have a group as others did; however, I met very nice people from the US, Hong Kong, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2019

Dennis Roy - United States Of America

Review:

Travelling solo to Antarctica: FAQs

  • Do all ships offer solo cabins or single supplements?

    An increasing number of ships have dedicated solo cabins and the vast majority offer twin cabins with the option of paying a single supplement.

  • Why is it so expensive to have my own cabin?

    We get asked this question a lot! Ship economics means that most cabins are designed to be reserved by two or more people, so if you'd like one to yourself you'll generally have to pay a premium (albeit less than buying two berths yourself). This said, there are often no single supplement offers on different ships. These tend to sell out very quickly, but our close relationships with the many ship operators means that we'll always be able to offer you the best deals available at the time.

  • Who will I be eating meals with?

    Antarctica cruising is one of the most sociable forms of travel out there – you'll only eat alone if that's what you choose. If you're staying in a shared cabin, you'll have met a first dining companion the moment you check in. Most ship restaurants will have tables set up for sixes and eights that are perfect for mingling, as well as for twos and fours. Once you've been at sea for a while or done your first landings, the shared travel experience soon breaks down barriers. Joining other people for dinner is the norm rather than the exception, even for those travelling as couples!

  • I'm happy to share: should I book a twin, triple or quad?

    It's all down to personal choice in terms of what you're comfortable with in terms of budget as well as space. Without a doubt these cabins provide the most budget-friendly way of getting to Antarctica. If you're the sort of person who might once have enjoyed staying in hostels with communal accommodation, these are a great option; if you're not as gregarious (or want a cabin with a balcony) then a twin might be a better option.

    If opting for a triple or a quad, it's important to note that these cabins tend to have bunk beds and that individual bunks cannot be reserved in advance of sailing. Triples and quads also typically don't have balconies.

  • How much room will I really have in a shared cabin?

    Sharing a cabin with someone you've only just met always takes a little bit of accommodating, but cabins are a lot more spacious than you'd expect.

    Cabin sizes naturally vary between different ships and across the twin-triple-quad range. However, twin cabins typically average around 190-215 square feet (18-20 square metres).

    Once on board you'll quickly develop a routine to make sure you and your cabin mate get enough quiet time. This said, Antarctic cruises have packed itineraries – you'll be out on landings or zodiac cruises or just out on the deck or relaxing in a lounge – so at the end of your trip you may be surprised at how little time you actually spent in your cabin.

More on Antarctica cruising

Ready to plan your Antarctic adventure?

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Listen

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We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.

2
Match

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Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.

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Reserve

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We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.

With over 100 years of Antarctic experience between us, we can help guide you to exactly the right trip for you.

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