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Antarctica Cruises & Expeditions

Antarctica Cruise Ships

Expedition cruise vessels are a world apart from your average ocean cruise liner; small, agile and exclusively designed for intrepid exploration, built to withstand the most extreme environs and climatic conditions around the Southern Ocean .

Select from the finest selection of polar class Antarctica cruise ships available below, operated by only the most trusted of partners, preeminent pioneers in polar exploration who offer exceptional itineraries, unrivaled knowledge, and utmost levels of service.

For more information to help you choose between ships, and to better understand the differences between vessel categories and their polar classifications, see our Antarctica cruise ship guide .

Ocean Albatros

Ultramarine

Greg mortimer.

Ocean Victory

World Explorer

Sylvia Earle

Magellan Explorer

Ocean Adventurer

Ocean explorer.

MS Fridtjof Nansen

MS Roald Amundsen

Ocean Endeavour

Le Lapérouse

MS Expedition

Heritage Adventurer

Le Commandant Charcot

Antarctica cruise routes.

Part of the adventure of an Antarctic expedition is in the difficulty and anticipation of getting there , a rite of passage for the privilege of visiting one of the most spectacular, awe-inspiring places on the planet, its geographical prominence and vast scale affording a variety of ways to reach and witness its cornucopia of natural wonders.

Explore the most popular routes to cruise Antarctica, its prized peninsula, and its equally alluring sub-Antarctic island neighbors below.

Unsure which route you prefer? Learn more about their differences in our helpful Antarctica cruise routes guide .

Antarctica Fly-Cruise

Drake passage cruise, antarctic peninsula cruise, antarctica, falklands & south georgia cruise, antarctic circle cruise, weddell sea cruise, ross sea & east antarctica cruise, best-selling antarctica cruises.

Whilst most Antarctic voyages and expeditions entail exploration of the more temperate and accessible Antarctic Peninsula, the Seventh Continent and surrounds are privy to a plenitude of polar delights: the habitat for hardy penguin , pinniped and pelagic species ; historic setting for the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration ; and pristine playground for adventure pursuits of all kinds—from snowshoeing and kayaking, to camping on the ice itself.

Indulge in them all with the most popular Antarctica cruises available below.

Classic Antarctica Air-Cruise

Antarctic explorer: discovering the 7th continent.

In-Depth Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia Expedition

South shetland islands & antarctic peninsula.

Antarctica - Basecamp

Antarctic Circle Expedition

Antarctic express: fly the drake, classic antarctica, spirit of antarctica, antarctica cruise themes.

To help you filter the Antarctic forays above, we’ve curated a series of Antarctica cruise themes, subdividing the expedition cruise sector into styles of exploration to suit your preferred type of experience.

Are you a spellbound solo traveler or shutterbug , captivated kith and kin , or enthralled nature or history buff? Perhaps you’re someone seeking more active adventure , a guaranteed White Christmas , the chance to see the iconic Emperor penguin , or the high latitude high life ? Or maybe you’re a large group of explorers ? Whatever your preference, discover the draws of this pristine, primordial polar paradise your way.

• Emperor Penguin
• Photography

The Antarctica Expedition Experience

There are no words to adequately describe Antarctica, no superlatives sufficient for capturing and conveying its ineffable immensity and importance, its sheer scale and significance too great to distill into logical sentences.

For centuries this glistening, glacial-encrusted continent has been a siren for sealers, scientists, and adventure seekers alike, a brilliant white beacon for brave explorers and pinnacle of polar odysseys exalting from pack ice.

Amid the haunting laments of calving icebergs and raucous calls of resident penguins, seals and seabirds, arresting, awakening and visceral experiences abound here, ones that you’ll eternally evoke as the trip of your lifetime.

Explore With Experts

As purveyors of pioneering, small-ship expeditions that optimize a passenger’s polar experience, we promise to minimize your time on ship and maximize your time on shore for a more immersive and authentic Antarctic adventure.

Guided by specialist advisors pre-trip to select the ideal expedition for you, and escorted by distinguished naturalists on excursion, you’ll actively explore this wild and wonderful frozen continent, gliding around enormous tabular icebergs and breaching whales by Zodiac or kayak, and walking along beaches peppered with penguins and seals. Let our experts take you deep into the heart of this majestic environment so it can get into yours.

Cross The Drake Passage

Antarctica doesn’t give up its prized natural treasures easily. Everyone who comes to this isolated continent must ‘earn it’, none more so than those embarking on an expedition cruise from South America’s “Land of Fire”, Tierra del Fuego , bound for Antarctica’s antithetical “Land of Ice”.

In your path, lies one of the world’s most violent bodies of water, the Drake Passage, where three seas converge in a frenzied cocktail of inconceivably strong currents and cyclones, whipping up ferocious waves and winds of frightening magnitudes. Crossing this legendary waterway is a rite of passage, following in the wake of many of history’s greatest explorers.

Meet The Penguins

Synonymous with this most southerly of continents, these ever-anthropomorphised birds fearlessly greet newcomers to the White Continent, a myriad of bustling miniature butlers in waiting, perhaps more accurately portrayed as the jostling and jovial jesters of this ice-crowned court with their playful, clumsy and comical antics.

From the perfect “tuxedo” plumage of the Adélie penguin and bushy-browed Macaroni to the fabulously debonair Emperor penguin, the world’s largest, the polar region of Antarctica offers an intimate look inside a world of unique avifauna and sea life that have adapted to survive the most extreme climate on earth. 

Live The Fairytale

Discover a frozen fairytale land whose very existence defies logic, a desert covered in prehistoric ice, dislodged from time itself, a dreamscape drenched in the eerie, eternal light of the austral summer sun where katabatic winds can remake the view before your very eyes.

Here, bizarrely no official time zone exists, and all the lines of longitude segmenting the planet converge at the South Pole, a singular, frigid focal point where confoundingly every hour on earth is happening instantaneously. It is a place preserved for peace and science that does not belong to any one person or nation, a paragon of cooperation, and shimmering symbol of hope for all humanity.

Follow In Their Footsteps

Antarctica’s shores echo with the travails of the great polar explorers from Shackleton and Mawson, to Amundsen and Scott. Follow in their frosted footsteps, feel their pioneering spirit of adventure on the sea air, and imagine their plight forging their way through pack ice on a creaking wooden boat or hauling sledges lionheartedly across the Polar Plateau.

Visit some of the historic huts that still remain, preserved in rime ice, literally frozen in time, to tell the story of Antarctic adventures long since past, and enjoy an honored front-row seat to their gallant scientific endeavors and the incredible history of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Go With The Floe

Antarctica is a destination that demands absolute adaptability, not just from the hardy species that have evolved to survive its seemingly uninhabitable climate but also from those visiting tourists who will find themselves at the whim of the White Continent’s capricious and formidable elements. Here it is ice and weather, not clocks and calendars, that dictate polar proceedings, and patience and flexibility are paramount.

Absolve yourself of preconceived notions of particular landings, scheduled pursuits and wildlife sightings—every expedition is unique—and instead embrace the unknown and blissfully freeing lack of a plan. Bow to the will of providence, surrender any semblance of control, and enjoy the spoils.

Pen Your Polar Experience

Commit your personal polar experience to paper and eternity, as Douglas Mawson, famous Antarctic explorer so eloquently did:

“The tranquility of the water heightened the superb effects of this glacial world. Majestic tabular bergs whose crevices exhaled a vaporous azure; lofty spires, radiant turrets and splendid castles; honeycombed masses illumined by pale green light within whose fairy labyrinths the water washed and gurgled.

Seals and penguins on magic gondolas were the silent denizens of this dreamy Venice. In the soft glamor of the midsummer midnight sun, we were possessed by a rapturous wonder: the rare thrill of unreality.”

Become An Antarctic Ambassador

Many visitors to Antarctica leave having been deeply affected by its humbling grandeur, experiencing soul-stirring epiphanies, and gaining profound new perspectives about the planet and their place within it.

To witness Antarctica’s beauty and fragility first-hand, to connect with it and its inhabitants, and learn of its centrality to life as we know, will undoubtedly inspire you to become an Antarctic Ambassador, championing the importance of protecting its spectacular biodiversity in the face of climate change and unsustainable resource consumption, educating and uniting others in its cause, and advocating the collective responsibility for its crucial conservation.

Antarctica Expedition Cruise Guide

Laying undiscovered to mankind until the eighteenth century , no continent is as remote or uncharted as Antarctica, an otherworldly, timeless realm steeped in heroic tales of human endeavor.

With its heady allure of unbridled adventure, inquisitive inhabitants, and dazzling icescapes, it’s perhaps easy to forget this is one of the world’s wildest frontiers, and an Antarctic expedition should not be undertaken lightly .

Prepare yourself properly for the voyage of a lifetime with our comprehensive Antarctica travel guide .

Why Visit Antarctica? Top 10 Reasons To Go

Antarctica cruise routes: which itinerary is best for you, 8 best places to visit in antarctica.

Antarctica Cruise Ships: Which Expedition Vessel Is Best?

The most inhospitable travel destinations in the world, best time to visit antarctica: wildlife & weather by month, optional adventure activities on antarctica cruises, ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

Get in touch with us via phone or form today and you’ll be assigned a dedicated Antarctica specialist who’ll be with you every step of the way to help you choose, book and plan the right Antarctica cruise for you. Here’s how it works:

Listen & Match

We’ll carefully listen to your aspirations and curate an impartial shortlist of personalized polar cruise recommendations—and pre- and post-cruise extensions—to match your desired experience.

Reserve & Relax

Next we’ll place a free, no obligation, 24-hour cabin hold on your preferred cruise option whilst we discuss the final details. Book and relax safe in the knowledge you’ll be paying the lowest price guaranteed.

Prepare & Travel

Then we’ll provide you with our expert packing advice, insider travel tips, and more to ensure you are fully prepared for—and maximize your enjoyment of—your once-in-a-lifetime Antarctica expedition.

• With Partner/Friend
• With Family
• As Part Of A Group
• Exploration Heritage
• Antarctic Peninsula
• Antarctic Circle
• Falklands/S. Georgia
• Weddell Sea
• Ross Sea/E. Antarctica

Antarctica21

• Classic Antarctica Savings
• Polar Circle
• Antarctica Express
• Antarctica & South Georgia
• Patagonia & Chilean Fjords Savings
• Falklands (Malvinas) & South Georgia Savings
• Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica
• The Falklands
• South Georgia

Patagonia & Chilean Fjords

Magellan explorer.

• Magellan Discoverer
• Explorers House
• Download Your Brochure
• Our Flights to Antarctica
• Promotions & Adventure Activities
• Antarctica21 Travel App
• Essential Travel Tips
• The A21 Journal
• A21 In the News
• Sustainability

Embark on an Expedition to Planet Earth

Reach Antarctica on a 2-hour private flight and join a boutique cruise expedition along the Peninsula.

Introducing the Use of e-Fuels in our Antarctic Operations

Antarctica21 and HIF Global Collaborate to pioneer the use of synthetic gasoline in Antarctica

2025-26 Season Brochure Revealed

As specialists in small-ship Antarctic expeditions, we provide you with boutique on board accommodations and intimate adventure experiences for an unmatched exploration of the last continent.

Unveiling Magellan Discoverer

Antarctica21’s new state-of-the-art polar vessel is a promise of innovative design and environmental stewardship.

Explore Our Itineraries

Antarctica21 operates Fly & Cruise Expeditions to Antarctica and Sea Voyages to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, and Antarctica. Our trips are boutique wilderness adventures taking you to Antarctica and beyond. Enjoy small ship experiences that allow you time to explore our remote destinations.

Classic Antarctica Air-Cruise

Polar Circle Air-Cruise

Antarctica & South Georgia Air-Cruise

Antarctica Express Air-Cruise

Falklands (Malvinas) & South Georgia

Falklands (Malvinas), South Georgia & Antarctica

Sail on a small ship.

When traveling to Antarctica, there are several Antarctica ship options to consider: small, medium, or large ships. Learn more about how to choose the best ship for your Antarctic expedition.

Create Your Perfect Antarctic Expedition

When planning the ultimate trip to the Last Continent, there are many options to weigh and factors to consider for the best Antarctic expedition. We have compiled a list of 10 steps to help you craft your perfect Antarctic expedition cruise.

An Insider’s View to Antarctica

As the next Antarctic season draws near, we asked some of our expert polar guides and team members why they are looking forward to when returning to Antarctica. Read the response!

Discover Explorers House

Antarctica21’s new exclusive expedition center designed to enhance Antarctic Air-Cruise guests experience in Punta Arenas, Chile. Learn more here!

For our direct Antarctica flights, we operate high-wing aircraft with short runway requirements, making our planes particularly suited for landings in Antarctica.

Sturdy and nimble, this ship was built to sail the ice-choked waters of Greenland and is ideally suited for Antarctic expeditions.

Featuring a modern design and innovative technologies, this expedition vessel was custom-built for our Antarctic air-cruises.

Book Now & Save On Your Antarctic Expedition

Our guests reach Antarctica quickly by flight and cruise through icy and magical landscapes. Check all our available promotions for air-cruises and sea voyages across seasons.

We will be happy to assist you in planning your Antarctic expedition with us.

Are you interested in learning more about our adventure expeditions?

We're here to help plan your trip of a lifetime and customize your journey, want to be the first to know about new departures and exclusive promotions.

Testimonial

’’Expedition leader and staff more than exceeded my expectations – so qualified, intelligent, passionate and patient. By the end of our few days, they felt like old friends. I’ll really miss them and the environment they created for me and my family.’’

Lucy M. – Traveler from USA

Classic Antarctica Expedition, December 2021

‘’Hoping to return again in 2023-2025. Truly mesmerizing, absolute joy – life-changing experience.’’

Ryan B – Traveler from USA

‘’An outstanding experience made possible by everyone involved. Would and will recommend A21 to friends and family.’’

Kevin T. – Traveler from USA

Antarctica21 In the News

Cruise Trade News - April 2024

Antarctica21 Reveals New Ship

Antarctica21 has confirmed construction has begun on its latest ship, Magellan Discoverer, which is set to join its fleet for the 2026-27 Antarctic season. The new vessel, which will be a sister ship to Magellan Explorer, comes as a result of the increasing demand for the Chilean company’s fly and cruise Antarctic expeditions.

World Of Cruising - April 2024

Antarctica21 On The Horizon

Forbes - January 2024

New Private Members Club Opens At The Gateway To Antarctica

Advantage - April 2023

The Great White Wonder

JustLuxe - June 2023

Antarctica21: An Adventure Of A Lifetime At The End Of The Earth