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Antarctic Peninsula Cruises

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Cruise To The Antarctic Peninsula

Embark on a cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula, a pilgrimage to Earth's last true wilderness. Disconnect from modern life and reconnect with pristine nature. Seeking adventure? Join us and explore a natural world beyond your wildest dreams.

In a world where travel often revolves around international flights, bustling capitals and popular tourist hubs, a realm seemingly untouched by modernity exists. A magical place where the ice-capped grandeur of nature reigns supreme – welcome to Antarctica!

Cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula attract explorers, nature enthusiasts, and dreamers with awe-inspiring landscapes, outstanding wildlife, and sublimely serene silence. Disconnecting from the hectic world we know and diving head-first into a land of absolute calm and startling beauty is a soul-stirring and, for many, a life-changing experience.

Antarctic Peninsula cruises offer myriad chances to experience spectacular iceberg sculptures, jaw-dropping glaciers, weddell and leopard seals, whales, and innumerable bays bursting with millions of penguins. There is one other advantage of cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula - it's one of the easiest and most popular places in Antarctica to cruise to, so you'll have a wide range of ships, itineraries and departure dates to choose from.

Choose from our range of Antarctica Peninsula Cruises, or contact our Antarctica Destination Specialists for expert help to find the perfect itinerary to suit your requirements.

 

FAQs

How do you get to the Antarctic Peninsula?

Expedition cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula usually depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, or Punta Arenas, Chile, on expedition cruises. These voyages take two days to cross the infamous Drake Passage before reaching the relatively calmer waters north of the peninsula. A few select expeditions allow you to fly directly to King George Island (thus skipping the Drake Passage) and join a cruise ship from there.

You can fly the Drake in one direction or both ways – that's up to you.

When is the best season to go to Antarctica?

The Antarctic cruising season starts late October and runs until March. These are the only months of the year when temperatures are known to reach above 0 degrees Celsius during the day on the Antarctic Peninsula, and though the east tends to be colder, it is still more tolerable at this time of the year.

How many people will be on the ship?

It depends on the ship but the majority of our ships carry between 50 and 150 passengers. A few of the mega-yachts and purpose-built cruise ships carry around 250 passengers. 

How rough is a cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula?

The Drake Passage is known as ‘the roughest sea passage on earth’ – there is no landmass around the globe at this latitude, so winds and currents can be considerable. The unpredictability of weather patterns means there is no way of foretelling just how rough the Drake Passage can be on any specific day. Some Antarctica Peninsula cruise passengers experience the 'Drake Lake' while others have the pleasure (or not) of experiencing the 'Drake Shake'. It really is all up to the weather and sea current gods.

Aside from many seasickness remedies that can help you mitigate a rough crossing to the Antarctic Peninsula, modern expedition vessels are equipped to handle these conditions, providing stability and as much comfort for passengers as possible.

Some types of expedition ships are better for seasickness sufferers than others—ask us about this specific requirement.

Is it a problem if I am sea sick?

Everyone reacts differently to sea conditions whether during the crossing of the infamous Drake Passage to Antarctica, or even during calmer seas. However, our vessels are built for maximum stability and comfort to ensure that even in rough conditions, sea and motion sickness are kept to a minimum at all times. To avoid seasickness, ask your doctor to prescribe appropriate seasickness medicine for you and make sure you have enough for the whole trip. Tips: If you are prone to motion sickness, it is best to avoid alcohol, tobacco, excess liquids and confined spaces.

What do I need to pack for the cruise?

Antarctica is an extreme environment and although Antarctic cruises depart during the spring and summer months, the weather can change dramatically, with no warning and so you need to be prepared for conditions in this harsh region. 

  • A parka jacket, but don’t bring your own, it will be provided.
  • Waterproof boots and pants
  • Warm socks, gloves, scarf and a hat
  • Sunscreen, sunglasses
  • Zip lock plastic bags or dry sacks for carrying camera, batteries, etc. 

Is it safe to travel to the Antarctic Peninsula?

All our tours are 100% tried and tested to ensure that when you travel with us, you are doing so in a controlled and safe environment with trained experts. One of the biggest concerns on a cruise to Antarctica is the weather conditions, so to ensure you have the best adventure without risk of injuries to you or damage to the vessel, activities may occasionally need to be rescheduled or cancelled or your itinerary may need to be adapted during the trip.

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Some of the main attractions

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Paradise Harbour

Paradise Harbour, a pristine gem on the Antarctic Peninsula's western side, enchants cruise guests with its majestic glaciers and serene waters. Wildlife sightings, including penguins and seals, add to the allure of this breathtaking polar paradise.

Neko Harbour

A highlight of Antarctic Peninsula cruises, Neko Harbour offers one of the best landings on the White Continent and terrific hiking opportunities up to panoramic viewpoints.

Neumayer Channel

A narrow 16km-long passage between Wiencke and Anvers islands in the Palmer Archipelago, the Neumayer Channel, named after a German geographer, is known for its towering cliffs and serene waters—a great place to spot whales.

The Weddell Sea

Revered for its colossal icebergs and towering glaciers, the Weddell Sea is remote and immensely biodiverse. It played a significant role in Antarctic exploration history, particularly during Ernest Shackleton's expedition aboard the Endurance.

Cuverville Island

At the entrance of Errera Channel, Cuverville is flanked by mountains and glaciers. Its long shingle beach is home to 6,500 breeding pairs of gentoo penguins and is a favoured stopover on Antarctic Peninsula cruises.

Port Lockroy

A natural harbour on the north-western shore of Wiencke Island, Port Lockroy is a historic British base turned museum. It hosts the southernmost operational post office in the world. Visit on your cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula and send postcards home!

Our Vessels

MV Plancius

108 Passengers

MV Ortelius

108 Passengers

MV Hondius

176 Passengers

Ocean Endeavour

200 Passengers

Ushuaia - Antarctic Cruise Ship

88 passengers and 38 staff Passengers

World Explorer

125 Passengers

Ultramarine

199 Passengers

Ocean Explorer

138 Passengers

Le Boréal

264 (200 in Antarctica) Passengers

Le Lyrial

260 (200 in Antarctica) Passengers

L'Austral

264 (200 in Antarctica) Passengers

Greg Mortimer

132 Passengers

Sylvia Earle

132 Passengers

G Expedition

134 Passengers

Sea Spirit

114 Passengers

The Ocean Nova

71 Passengers

Magellan Explorer

100 (75 on fly-cruise) Passengers

MS Seaventure | Antarctic Cruise Ship

139 - 149 Passengers

Hanseatic Inspiration

199 Passengers

Le Commandant Charcot

270 (200 in Antarctica) Passengers

Ocean Victory

175 Passengers

Ocean Albatros

175 Passengers

Seabourn Venture

264 Passengers

Seabourn Pursuit

264 Passengers