Antarctic cruises

We offer a fantastic range of comfortable and safe Antarctic cruises aboard vessels specifically designed for polar exploration.

Antarctic Peninsula and the Sub-Antarctic islands

These voyages focus on a region of Antarctica that is rarely ice-bound during the southern summer. They visit the South Shetland Islands, the northern and western coasts of the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia.

Fly and cruise to Antarctica
Fly from Chile or Argentina over the legendary Drake Passage and land on an island off the Antarctic Peninsula. From here, we join our comfortable ship, and navigate in the quieter waters of the Antarctica Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, enjoying daily landings to see the wildlife and amazing scenery.

Antarctic Explorer (11-12 days)
Aboard the Akademik Vavilov, Sea Spirit, Clipper Adventurer, or the Ocean Nova. The ultimate introduction to the White Continent. Embarking and disembarking in the port of Ushuaia, Argentina, they include many of the wildlife and scenic highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands.

Antarctic Peninsula (11, 12, or 14 days)
Aboard the Plancius. The Antarctic Peninsula offers you the most dramatic scenery and biggest variety of wildlife in Antarctica. This voyage embarks and disembarks in Ushuaia and covers the main highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands.

Antarctic Peninsula Adventure (11 days)
Camping and Kayaking options
Sailing in comfort aboard the comfortable Akademik Ioffe, we cross the Drake Passage and make visits at the South Shetland Islands. When we arrive at the Antarctic Peninsula, where the abundance of wildlife is truly extraordinary including seals, penguins and a profusion of seabirds from albatross to skuas. Enjoy frequent excursions inland, plus colossal icebergs and magical ice landscapes. Optional chance to camp out on the ice overnight like the early explorers.

The Antarctic Expedition Cruise (11 days)
A good value classic Antarctica cruise, departing from the port of Ushuaia and crossing the Drake Passage to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Accommodation is on board the expedition vessel M/V Ushuaia.

Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula (14 days)
Aboard the Plancius. Antarctica is the birthplace of the world's greatest icebergs. On these journeys we will cross the waters made famous by Shackleton's Endurance. From Paulet Island the views across the Weddell Sea are stunning and on the floes we may see Emperor Penguins, the largest of all penguins. Embarking in Ushuaia and disembarking Falkland Islands and flying to Santiago, Chile.

Weddell Sea Explorer (13 days)
We sail the Drake Passage on the M/V Marina Svetaeva heading directly south to the Antarctic Circle. The farther south we go, the more sea ice we will find and our aim is to cross the circle. Few ships go this far south maybe stopping at Marguerite Bay and Detaille Island. Optional camping ashore. Then back up the peninsula, visiting penguin rookeries. Here, the abundance of wildlife is truly extraordinary including five seal species, massive penguin rookeries and a profusion of seabirds from albatross to skuas. Our journey will take us to Petermann Island or Wilhelmina Bay where we encounter colossal icebergs. Optional chance to camp out on the ice overnight like the early explorers.

Polar Circle and Antarctic Peninsula (12 days)
Aboard the M/V Plancius. This voyage covers the main highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, then heads south of the polar circle to Crystal Sound, before turning north, through the Neumayer Channel. Embarking and disembarking in Ushuaia.

Antarctic Circle Quest (15 days)
Aboard the Akademik Vavilov, Sea Spirit, or Ocean Nova. An expedition including the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula and crossing the Antarctic Circle, reaching an extreme latitude at the very bottom of the world. Embarking and disembarking in Ushuaia.

Antarctic Dream Expedition (11 days / 10 nights)
The ideal introduction to the great White Continent, embarking and disembarking in the port of Ushuaia, the trip includes the most exciting sights of the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. Aboard the Antarctic Dream.
Ushuaia - Ushuaia

Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, Falklands and South Georgia

Falkand Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctica Peninsula (20 days / 19 nights)
Aboard the Plancius. Embarking and disembarking in Ushuaia, this cruise covers the dramatic scenery of the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, plus the wildlife-rich sub-Antarctic islands of the Falklands and South Georgia.

Antarctica, Falkland Islands and South Georgia (19 days)
Depart from Ushuaia to the Falkland Islands on the Akademik Ioffe. Sixty species of migratory birds and the rare rockhopper penguin inhabit these islands. Continue to the pristine island of South Georgia, where glacier-covered mountains are the backdrop to spectacular wildlife sightings including rookeries of king penguins, several seal species and the macaroni penguin. Passing the South Orkney Islands, on the way to the South Shetland Archipelago and to the Antarctic Peninsula, where thousands of icebergs line the Paradise Harbour and Hope Bay. A profusion of wildlife is on display from penguins to seals on ice floes. We hope to stand on the mainland of the White Continent itself.

Explorer's Quest (20 days)
Aboard the Ocean Nova and Sea Spirit.
The longer Antarctic Quest cruises combine the Antarctic peninsula with visits to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Depending on the itinerary, the Antarctic Quest cruises embark and disembark in the ports of Ushuaia or Puerto Madryn in Argentina.

Antarctic Peninsula, including the Sub-Antarctic and Atlantic islands

Atlantic Odyssey (36 days)
Aboard the M/V Plancius. After visiting the Antarctic Peninsula, South Orkneys, and South Georgia, this expedition sails to Tristan da Cunha, St. Helena where Napoleon lived in exile, and continues to Ascension Island. The Cape Verde Islands offer a great variety of natural attractions, including volcanoes, and are home to very friendly people.

Far side of Antarctica

These voyages, onboard one of the world's greatest icebreakers, the Kapitan Khlebnikov, visit the far side of Antarctica to see Emperor Penguin rookeries set in spectacular backdrops of icebergs and glaciers, and the famous Ross Sea - the most historically fascinating part of the Antarctic. These cruises depart from the ports of Ushuaia in Argentina, Lyttelton and Auckland in New Zealand and Hobart in Tasmania, depending on the itinerary. The Kapitan Khlebnikov is the only passenger ship ever to sail in some of these regions so we will be among a fortunate few to have experienced this remote and challenging side of the continent.

Hidden Antarctica (31 days)
The farewell voyage of the Kapitan Khlebnikov, exploring the far side of Antarctica. The polar ice-breaker Kapitan Khlebnikov has made the remotest corners of Antarctica accessible since 1991. The two themes running through this trip are the farewell voyage of the ice-breaker and the centenial of the Australian explorer Mawson's 1911 expedition. You will visit research stations, partake of helicopter flights over the ice and visit an emperor penguin rookery. You will be accompanied by a team of renowned experts.
Departs 6 December 2011 from Auckland, New Zealand. Price from £33,460 per person based on two sharing. Please contact us for details.

The Ross Sea Voyage (29 days)
This is the penultimate voyage of the Kapitan Khlebnikov, and will be the last time the ice-breaker sails across the Ross Sea. This voyage commemorates Scott's 1911 expedition; his intention was to be the first person to reach the South Pole, though he was beaten to it by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen. During this voyage, we will celebrate both these explorers' achievements and the ship will bid farewell to the emperor penguins of the Ross Sea.
Departs 9 November 2011 from Christchurch, New Zealand and arrives Hobart, Tasmania. Price from £30,930 per person based on two sharing. Please contact us for details.