It's hard to beat seeing a humpback whale swim past your zodiac, but having someone hand you a glass of champagne moments after it shows its flukes really pushes the experience into the sublime.
Cassia Jackson Antarctica Specialist
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.
Luxury Antarctica Cruises trips scored 4.6/5 from 760 reviews
It was wonderful; the ship's crew could not do enough for anyone, and the food was excellent.
Travelled: March 2018
Mick - UK
The expedition team went out of their way to make it the best experience possible for us. They were very personal in their approach and always willing to spend time individually with passengers.
Travelled: February 2018
Sue - Australia
It was a beautiful ship! Our rooms were really large. The food was delicious and the entire crew on the ship was so friendly. It's the perfect size ship to get to know pretty much everyone.
Travelled: December 2017
Jill & Family - Texas
The expedition staff were all super professional and top in their field. They were very personable as well. It was nice to have the option to snowshoe on one day and go out on the science boat on another.
Travelled: December 2017
Lori - Texas
Luxury Antarctic cruises are richly immersive experiences. You travel in the company of an expedition team who are all polar experts, well versed in bringing Antarctica to life with their learning and storytelling skills. Weather permitting, you can expect two off-ship excursions every day, whether that's zodiac cruising, landing at a penguin rookery or taking part in an adventure activity.
In today's world the power to choose can be a real luxury. This is a field where today's luxury polar cruise ships really excel.
This choice begins with the luxury of diverse suite types, enabling you to find the perfect fit for your preferences, and an abundance of shared spaces to match your mood, from cosy sitting rooms and tranquil libraries to elegant lounges for evening cocktails.
On your voyage you'll have the luxury of selecting your dining experience, deciding which restaurant and what kind of cuisine to savour, or dining privately in your suite. Choose to participate in every polar excursion, or stay on the ship to get the most of your ship's wide variety of amenities: it's entirely up to you.
Luxury Antarctic cruises offer state-of-the-art expedition ships. You can expect a wide choice of spacious and well-appointed suite categories measuring from 270 to over 1080 square feet (25-100 sq m), with equally generous private balconies for ocean views. Dedicated solos, interconnecting suites for family groups, duplexes and larger suites with private dining rooms are all on offer. Outside, the public areas are more designed to be more like a boutique hotel than a traditional cruise ship.
Since comfort is also about how you travel, your ship will be equipped with modern stabilisation technology, including retractable underwater wings that reduce ship roll by as much as 80% – all in service of making your voyage as smooth as possible.
I loved just how seamless everything was. From the first night in a luxury hotel in the capital and our flight down to meet the ship, we were looked after from the moment we touched down in Buenos Aires.
Lizzie Williams Polar Product Manager
The calibre of the expedition staff on your ship is crucial to getting the most out of a trip to Antarctica.
Luxury cruise ships have some of the highest staff to guest ratios in the industry and attract some of the top talent from the guiding world. The breadth and depth of their knowledge and experience is unbeatable. You can expect one on one conversations with some of the most experienced guides on the ice, from marine biologists and environmental scientists eager to share their knowledge, to leading photographers ready to help you capture your experiences on camera – all in service of showing you the best that Antarctica has to offer.
Modern Antarctic luxury cruise ships are extremely well catered for. As well as a range of dining options (many with menus designed by Michelin-starred chefs), you can expect sophisticated gyms, spas and plenty of ways to relax, whether in a cigar room or in an on-deck Jacuzzi with views of icebergs and glaciers.
More small details build up the luxury experience: Swarovski Optik binoculars and Bose speakers in suites, Starlink internet to stay in touch with home and 24/7 butler service.
These ships manage to pack a lot in for their size – and since they're far smaller than traditional cruise ships, they can easily navigate into small bays and get their passengers out experiencing Antarctica in person.
Luxury ships offer the perfect setting for special occasions. Where better to celebrate a special date, or even just the thrill of finally reaching the 7th continent, with an outstanding degustation meal in a fine dining restaurant, set against a backdrop of icebergs and glaciers?
A wide choice of dining options is on offer aboard every luxury Antarctic cruise, with some ships offering up to eight different places to eat on board. Whether you want to eat in a relaxed bistro or dress up for dinner, or if you prefer Asian-inspired menus, French gourmet or contemporary Italian, you’ll find the best food on the Southern Ocean. To accompany your meals, on board sommeliers ensure that every ship carries an extensive cellar of wines.
For an even more personal service, there’s also the option of dining in your suite. There's nothing quite like having a butler serve you breakfast on your private balcony while you watch icebergs to start your day, or just relaxing with a cheese and charcuterie board and champagne as Antarctica drifts serenely by.
Adventure activities offer some of the best ways to experience Antarctica up close. Kayaking is the most popular activity in Antarctica for a very good reason: there’s nothing quite like silently paddling through the ice or being surprised by a group of penguins that suddenly burst out of the water around you for a close up encounter with Antarctica's wildlife.
Two of our luxury ships also offer the option to experience Antarctica underwater with a pair of seven-man piloted submarines, giving an extraordinarily rare view of the polar world.
Not every luxury ship offers additional adventure options, so if this is important to you we’ll help guide you to those that do.
Swoop has catered for travellers of every group size. Whether you’re adventuring solo or bringing a group of over 100. We can help.
When starting to plan your luxury cruise, it’s worth considering the following key questions that will help us to find the perfect ship and sailing for you:
When time is a luxury, flying direct to Antarctica is a great option. Several of our luxury partners operate Fly & Cruise trips, getting you there in two hours from Punta Arenas or Puerto Williams in Chile.
On arrival you’ll board your luxury cruise ship and be ready to spot your first penguins in no time at all. The onboard cruise experience is exactly the same whether you fly or sail.
Flying to Antarctica involves working with Mother Nature. Fly & Cruise trips always build extra contingency into their schedules for weather, but a flexible approach to timings is always required.
Offering a luxury expedition cruising experience, the all-suite Seabourn Venture allows you to explore without compromising on comfort.
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With luxury, comfort and exceptional service as the foundations of its onboard experience, Silver Endeavour is one of the most expensive expedition ships ever built.
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A uniquely versatile ship combining the incredible power of an icebreaker with the ultra comfort of a luxury cruise vessel.
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Purpose built expedition ships with state of the art luxury. These ships offer 5* service for their 200 guests travelling in serious comfort.
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With its cutting edge stabilising X-Bow design and ice-strengthened hull, this stylish European-built ship was specifically designed for polar expeditions.
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This stylish European-built ship was specifically designed for polar expeditions. It's packed full of unique features to enhance your Antarctic experience.
Discover MoreMost of the luxury Antarctica ships are expedition ships at heart - their focus is on getting you out and into Antarctica, they just use the most comfortable ships afloat. Experiences such as walking with penguins, kayaking, zodiac rides with humpback whales, and hikes on remote islands are all still very much on the menu. What's more, you'll be with award-winning expedition teams, and can relax in comfort as you sail between Antarctica's most intriguing, spectacular destinations.
These trips are highly sought-after and cabins begin to fill up as far as 18-24 months in advance. To be confident of securing your first choice of ship and cabin, we strongly recommend booking well in advance to avoid possible disappointment.
The best time to visit Antarctica is during the summer months of November to March, during the long days of the austral summer when the seas are ice-free and the wildlife is active. It is not possible to visit Antarctica outside these months.
Within this period, exactly what you’ll see and experience when you go varies from month to month. November has the deepest snows, with penguins breeding and nest -building from then until December. January sees the arrival of penguin chicks, while February and March are the peak months for whale-watching.
For more information, see our page When to go to Antarctica.
The Drake Passage—the body of ocean between the tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula is about 500 miles (800 km). It takes around 48 hours to sail across it by expedition cruise ship, departing from Ushuaia in Argentina.
For those who prefer to skip the voyage, many luxury cruises fly guests direct to Antarctica, from either Punta Arenas or Puerto Williams. The flight takes around two hours.
To join one of our luxury Antarctic cruises, you’ll need to arrange your own international flights. Swoop is happy to assist with making the necessary arrangements for you.
The price of your booking includes return domestic charter flights from the gateway international city – either Buenos Aires in Argentina or Santiago in Chile. Coupled with an arrival night in a luxury hotel in the capital, this makes for a seamless and relaxing experience the moment you step off your international flight.
Yes: kayaking amongst the icebergs and penguins is offered on a number of luxury voyages, offering you the ultimate close-up experience of Antarctica. See our dedicated page about kayaking to more information about exploring Antarctica by paddle.
Two of our luxury expedition cruise ships also offer the chance to dive beneath the waves on submarine tours. giving a truly unique perspective on Antarctica.
There is no dress code on any of our luxury Antarctic cruises. Some passengers may dress up, others may choose to spend their cruise wearing outdoor gear. It's entirely up to you. However, with a wide choice of available dining experiences, as well as captain's cocktails and the possibility of dining at the captain's table, you may want to bring some smart times to get dressed up with.
Dressing to experience Antarctica is a different matter as you'll need to stay warm and dry to deal with the polar weather. We'll provide you with extensive information and packing lists for what gear to take so you're fully prepared for the 7th Continent.
Some of the most luxurious Antarctica cruises are those aboard the Silver Endeavour. The all-suite ship has extensive onboard amenities including a spa, jacuzzi and multiple dining options. Each suite has its own private balcony, where you might sample breakfast delivered by your personal butler. One of our favourite trips aboard the Silver Endeavour is the Ultimate Luxury Antarctic Fly & Cruise.
With luxury Antarctic cruises, the all-inclusive nature means that almost everything is already covered in your cruise fare, so there is no signing of bar tabs or settling up cabin bills at the end of your trip.
However, there are some optional extras that you may choose to purchase and pay for on board. This includes purchases made at the onboard boutique, any spa treatments you book or optional adventure activities.
