Antarctica Cruise Vacation Planning Guide
Antarctica Cruise Adventure - Explore the Largest Wilderness Area on Earth
An Antarctic adventure cruise is one of the most spectacular trips you can take! This type of experience gets you up close and personal with wildlife, including seals, whales, and penguins, as well as dramatic landscape scenery including spectacular mountain peaks and glaciers.

An adventure cruise to the Antarctic is something you won't soon forget. As you can imagine - not too many people get to enjoy this type of adventure - but those that do, discover a polar environment full of stunning coastal fjords, along with beautiful untouched landscapes and remote communities.
Sailing to the 'somewhat' harsh and barren climate of the Antarctic is nothing like your average Princess or Statendam Caribbean cruise. So in order to get the most out of your Antarctic trip and to fully appreciate what is involved - we've prepared this page to help you plan a most exciting and unforgettable voyage to Antarctica.
Antarctica Cruise - What To Expect
Most cruises to the Antarctic leave from Ushuaia, Argentina with stopovers usually including the Falkland Islands as well as Elephant Island and the South Shetland Islands. Tour operators will schedule stopovers at most ports along the way with plenty of time to sightsee and explore.
Sailings to the Antarctic Peninsula take about 10 to 14 days, with longer voyages possible at different times of the year. It's important to remember that these types of adventure cruises are not cheap.
Depending on what you are looking for in an Antarctica cruise, you can count on spending somewhere between 8,000 to 15,000 dollars for two people. The ships used are primarily ones that have been strengthened to endure ice.
It should be noted that getting to the Antarctic Peninsula is an adventure in itself. The ocean can be extremely rough (especially through the Drake Passage), and if you're one who tends to get seasick easily, you may experience a fair bit of discomfort.
Antarctica Cruise - What To Take With You
In order to have not only an unforgettable but enjoyable experience in the Antarctic, we've compiled a list of necessary items you won't want to forget!
Most outfitters will provide things like rubber boots on board, but you may find that the fit and comfort level is not up to your size.
The following are absolute 'must haves':
- Waterproof Pants and Jackets including a bright colored Parka
- Knee-high Rubber Boots
- Gloves (waterproof and wool)
- Clothing that can be layered
- Motion sickness Remedies (take every kind possible)
- Polarized Sunglasses
- Cameras and Binoculars
- Memory Cards or Film (double the amount)
- Waterproof Daypack (to protect cameras and other things while out on the zodiac)
Antarctica Cruise - When To Go
It is only possible to see Antarctica during its summer period, which lasts for 5 months from November to March. It is during this time that most Antarctica cruises are scheduled.
Mid December and all of January are generally the warmest months and the receding ice pack at this time of year allows for some excellent land exploration.
February and March are great months to go as well, especially if you're interested in seeing the most wildlife. Whale watching is at it best and there's plenty of penguins around too!
Antarctica Cruise Ships
There are a variety of different sized passenger ships to choose from, and it is advisable to research them well.
Different styles of vessels offer different cruising experiences.
- Expedition Ship - This type of vessel is designed for remote waterways, and contain a hardened hull for pushing through ice. Most ships have on-board educational programs and offer comfortable accommodation and good quality service and dining.
- Research Vessel - These ships are geared more towards younger adventure travelers, with simple style accommodations. There's no onboard entertainment and the surroundings are certainly not anything like a conventional cruise.
- Icebreakers - As the name indicates, these vessels are designed to break through ice, and as such are capable of exploring regions that are not easily accessible by other ships. These types of voyages are for the most experienced adventure traveler who wants to go where few others do.
Below are some of our Cruise Ship/Vessel recommendations for exploring the Antarctic Peninsula:
We hope that we've given you some helpful information for planning an ultimate adventure vacation to the Antarctic Peninsula. Although it's not an easy place to get to, it is one of the most spectacular and awe-inspiring places on the planet!
Experience a Thrill of a Lifetime - Explore the Edge of the World on an Exciting Antarctica Cruise!
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