Every question to ask before booking an Antarctica cruise
Antarctica is on the map for an increasing number of adventure travellers - Silversea
Antarctica is a formidable icy seductress, provoking feelings of wonder and trepidation in varying degrees like nowhere else on earth. Ever since the White Continent was formally discovered a little more than 200 years ago, its pristine allure has drawn a steady stream of explorers and opportunists determined to conquer this untamed and isolated wilderness.
Now their ranks have been swelled by a new generation of modern-day adventurers aided by the growing fleet of expedition ships, many of them luxurious and built to withstand the notoriously capricious conditions of this frozen landmass, which extends over 5.5 million square miles.
Travellers can experience nature at its raw magnificence, where close encounters with whales, seals and numerous bird species take place against a backdrop of dramatic landscapes of icebergs the size of skyscrapers, soaring snow-topped cliffs and icy tongues of glaciers tinged with vivid slashes of aquamarine. Going ashore on small Zodiac boats brings memorable encounters with thousands-strong penguin colonies or menacing elephant seals.
Here’s everything you need to know when planning your first cruise in Antarctica.
In this guide:
- Before you book
- Who to cruise with?
- Ports and sights
Before you book
Where can I go?
Due to Antarctica’s unpredictable nature, stops are not detailed in advance, as each ship’s expedition team finalises plans during the sailing, having considered weather and sea conditions. However, ships generally sail southwards through the Bransfield Strait and Gerlache Strait to reach the spectacular Lemaire Channel. Other areas of note include Neko Harbour and Paradise Harbour, known for giant glaciers and for spotting minke and humpback whales.
When can I go?
The best and only time to visit Antarctica is from November to March, during the southern hemisphere summer, when days are long and temperatures are comparatively mild – averaging between -10C and +10C – and wildlife is more active. December and January are the most popular months, when temperatures generally stay above freezing, making this the best time for spotting whales and penguin chicks.
December and January are the most popular months, as it’s the best time for penguin chicks - David Merron
How long should I go for?
Making the journey to the bottom of the planet can be a long, drawn-out process that involves crossing Drake Passage – the stretch of water separating the tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula – but it brings rich rewards for those who do.
Most sailings, of around 12 or 13 days, explore the 800-mile-long Antarctic Peninsula, with key embarkation ports at Ushuaia in Argentina or the Chilean towns of Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams.
Such is the time and distance involved in these adventures, some travellers opt for longer sailings, combining Antarctica with other points of interest such as Patagonia or the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, where explorer Ernest Shackleton is buried.
Longer cruises, lasting around 21 days, add South Georgia and the Falkland Islands to their itineraries, spending a number of days in the British archipelago, while other itineraries continue from the Falklands to Puerto Madryn and Buenos Aires. Some voyages combine the Antarctic Peninsula with the Chilean fjords for three-week adventures following South America’s west coast to/from Valparaiso.
Longer cruises typically add a stop at the Falkland Islands to their itineraries - Yuri Choufour
What types of cruises are available?
The key point to consider is the ship’s size, which will determine your Antarctica experience. Under regulations from the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), ships carrying more than 500 guests cannot land passengers, and ships are only permitted to take 100 passengers ashore at any one time.
Some newer ships are equipped with high-tech toys, such as helicopters and submersibles, while most have kayaks and offer intrepid activities including scuba diving, snow-shoeing, climbing and camping out on the ice.
Antarctic cruises are not just confined to expeditions, as larger ships from lines including Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises offer sailings to the continent, but these are not permitted to make landings and are known as sail-bys or scenic cruises.
Newer ships are equipped with high-tech toys, such as helicopters, Zodiacs and submersibles
Return to index
Who to cruise with?
Because of the IAATO landing regulations, you should choose your ship carefully. If bad weather limits landings, there will be fewer chances to get ashore on ships carrying 400-500 guests rather than those carrying just 200 passengers.
Those of expedition cruise lines such as AE Expeditions, HX Expeditions, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, Swan Hellenic and Quark Expeditions, and the expedition arms of upmarket lines such as Seabourn, Silversea, French line Ponant, Scenic, German line Hapag-Lloyd and Viking, carry less than this and are thus permitted to make landings.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ Orion has a better chance of landing on bad weather days than larger ships
The smallest expedition ships, some carrying as few as 10 or 12 guests, are often sold by specialist adventure companies such as Poseidon Expeditions, Audley Travel and Abercrombie & Kent.
Return to index
Recommended
The six best cruises in Antarctica to book now
Ports and sights
Where will I depart from?
International guests mainly arrive via one of South America’s major gateway cities, notably Rio de Janeiro, Santiago or Buenos Aires, providing an easy option for tagging on stays there too.
From here, ships sail across the Drake Passage – which takes approximately two days – first reaching the South Shetland Islands and then onwards to the Antarctic Peninsula, where they spend around five days, with passengers taken ashore by Zodiac boats at landing points.
Only cruise ships carrying less than 500 guests are permitted to make landings - HX Hurtigruten Expeditions / Dan Avila
As an alternative to sailing across the Drake Passage (and suffering the dreaded “Drake shake” in rocky conditions), a few companies such as Silversea, Quark Expeditions and Atlas Ocean Voyages offer flights instead. The two-hour journey connects Punta Arenas and King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, where guests board their ship.
What will I see?
Another lesser-visited alternative is the Weddell Sea, located on the peninsula’s less-explored eastern side, where giant emperor penguin colonies can be found on Snow Hill Island. This is also the spot where Shackleton’s ship Endurance became trapped in pack ice, sinking in 1915, and was discovered in 2022. It is reached by sailing through the Antarctic Sound, known for its giant tabular icebergs, giving it the sobriquet “Iceberg Alley”.
Emperor penguins are generally found on Snow Hill Island - David Merron
Trips to these areas sometimes depart New Zealand ports including Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, or from Hobart in Tasmania, with itineraries also including the Sub-Antarctic Islands. Dubbed the Galapagos of the Southern Ocean, these remote and relatively unexplored outposts teem with flora and fauna.
If you’re desperate to see king penguins, they are rarely seen on the Antarctic Peninsula. The vast colonies often pictured are in South Georgia. Also, emperor penguins are generally found on Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea.
Return to index
About our expert
Sara Macefield
After finding her sea legs 20 years ago, Sara has gone on an estimated 200 voyages (and counting) across the world’s oceans and rivers, with Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands scoring as all-time favourites.
Telegraph Travel’s cruise expert, Sara Macefield
This article was first published in June 2024 and has been revised and updated.
Play The Telegraph’s brilliant range of Puzzles - and feel brighter every day. Train your brain and boost your mood with PlusWord, the Mini Crossword, the fearsome Killer Sudoku and even the classic Cryptic Crossword.
