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In recent times, I’ve gotten more interested in cruising again. It’s an interesting time for the industry, given the number of luxury hotel groups that are sort of getting into the cruising industry, at least from a licensing standpoint — we’re talking about Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Four Seasons Yachts, Orient Express Sailing Yachts, and Aman at Sea. Obviously these brands are trying to make cruising cool for those who may have otherwise preferred land based vacations.
While cruising in general can be a relaxing and luxurious experience, I think the ultimate benefit of cruising is getting easy access to places where you can’t easily vacation on land. I think the prime example of that is Antarctica, which I think is a bucket list destination for just about any traveler. Along those lines, I was hoping to get some feedback, as I’m sure I’m not the only one who is curious to learn about the best options…
In this post:
Planning an Antarctica cruise seems overwhelming
I think I’m hardly alone by having Antarctica at the very top of my bucket list of places to visit. To be honest, since we have two small kids, I’m not sure how realistic this trip is any time soon, even with family help, but it can’t hurt to dream, or to at least start thinking about when this might be realistic.
I think it goes without saying that planning any Antarctica trip seems like a big undertaking. You’re typically committing to a long and expensive journey, and many of the cruise lines that have good expedition ships might be different than the cruise lines that are known for great luxury experiences.
So I think for lots of us there’s a big learning curve in deciding which direction to go. Is it worth cruising to Antarctica and back, or is it worth taking one of the options that involves flying? While all Antarctica cruises are on the long side, is it worth booking one that is extra long, which potentially stops at some other islands as well?
I think the good news is that back in the day, people had to be prepared to disconnect when taking cruises like this. However, thanks to Starlink, it’s my understanding that connectivity at sea (including in Antarctica) is excellent.
What’s the best option for an Antarctica cruise?
As I start brainstorming this cruise concept, I’d love to hear from people who have taken a cruise to Antarctica, with their thoughts, or at least those who have maybe researched it more than I have.
Essentially, I’m curious what the “best” cruise line is for Antarctica. Obviously this is highly subjective. Antarctica cruises are primarily about the destination, and I’ve heard there’s a big benefit to the smaller ships, in terms of being able to get on land more often (given how closely regulated this is in Antarctica).
But beyond that, I’m just also curious which cruise line offers the all-around best experience in terms of the luxury of the ship, the food and drinks, the inclusions, the service, etc. I imagine there’s no right or wrong answer here, which is why I’d love to hear some firsthand reports.
It looks like cruises to Antarctica mostly leave from Ushuaia, and last anywhere from 10 days to several weeks. While that sounds like a long time, it takes at least a couple of days in each direction to get to Antarctica via the infamous Drake Passage, so it makes sense that the cruises aren’t shorter.
Looking at the options, several cruise lines come to mind as being most interesting:
- French cruise line PONANT seems to do really well when it comes to expedition cruising, and has a focus on that; my impression is that PONANT strikes a good balance between adventure and luxury
- National Geographic & Lindblad Expeditions has a focus on expedition cruising and the latest generation Endurance ships seem quite nice
- Some of the traditional luxury cruise lines, like Silversea and Seabourn, have voyages in Antarctica; however, I’m not sure if the more traditional luxury comes with a tradeoff in terms of expedition cruising, or if they have just as much experience with this
- While not cruising, I should mention that White Desert probably has the most premium trips to Antarctica, but those mostly don’t involve cruising; they include flying to & from Antarctica, and then land-based lodging
For some context on the general itineraries, most cruises from Ushuaia to Antarctica take a minimum of 10 days, as that includes two days in each direction to get through the Drake Passage, and then at least five or so days in Antarctica to enjoy the scenery and go adventuring.
Journeys can get much longer than that, though, especially if you pair it with the Falkland Islands. You can easily be looking at a three week trip, then, and it brings you to a part of the world that even fewer people see.
If you’re in more of a crunch for time, Silversea has some shorter six-night itineraries, which include roundtrip flights from Santiago to Antarctica, and then a shorter trip around the region. Flying in obviously lets you skip the rough seas of the Drake Passage, and it’s certainly a cool aviation geek flight!
Bottom line
Regardless of how one feels about cruising in general, I think it’s safe to say that Antarctica is the ultimate place to cruise, given that it’s a destination that isn’t exactly known for five-star hotels.
There are an overwhelming number of options for cruises to Antarctica, so I’d love to hear about some firsthand experiences about which cruises lines are worth seeking out, and which are worth skipping. Similarly, I’d be curious to hear about impressions of sailing across the Drake Passage, vs. flying into Antarctica, and cruising from there.
Anyone else fascinated by the concept of a cruise to Antarctica?
Ponant to Antarctica was amazing. Great lectures, great and fresh food, great staff and crew. An amazing experience.
Hi Lucky, I had this same dilemma over 10 years ago - I posted on TripAdvisor, and the comments convinced me to go with Lindblad -- and it turned out to be the best decision of my life (both for the Antarctica trip & personally). I deleted my original question (I had already taken lots of Lindblad & Tauck tours at the time, which is why I asked about these 2 specifically), but the responses...
Hi Lucky, I had this same dilemma over 10 years ago - I posted on TripAdvisor, and the comments convinced me to go with Lindblad -- and it turned out to be the best decision of my life (both for the Antarctica trip & personally). I deleted my original question (I had already taken lots of Lindblad & Tauck tours at the time, which is why I asked about these 2 specifically), but the responses on the thread are still there: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12337-k8864079-Lindblad_NatGeo_vs_Tauck_what_are_the_differences-Antarctic_Adventures.html. Bottom line for LEX/NG: it's an icebreaker (Scenic's fancy ship recently got stuck, as have others previously); Lindblad controls the itinerary; and the newer LEX/NG ship looks far more luxurious than the Orion that I was on in 2015 -- but the food, staff and quality of the expedition even then were incredible despite average rooms. Cheers
Based on first hand experience I would definitely prefer PONANT over other cruise lines sailing Antarctica: they not only have the most experience but on partner with the Smithsonian Institution on several themed sailings. PONANT hires truly knowledgable guides and onboard lecturers, coupled with outstanding service and excellent food. And for PONANT's ultimate experience, their super luxury ice breaker Commandant Charcot offers a journey beyond the Antarctic: https://en.ponant.com/antarctica-beyond-the-antarctic-circle-in-the-wake-of-jean-baptiste-charcot-cc021227-9
That said, having read your enthusiastic...
Based on first hand experience I would definitely prefer PONANT over other cruise lines sailing Antarctica: they not only have the most experience but on partner with the Smithsonian Institution on several themed sailings. PONANT hires truly knowledgable guides and onboard lecturers, coupled with outstanding service and excellent food. And for PONANT's ultimate experience, their super luxury ice breaker Commandant Charcot offers a journey beyond the Antarctic: https://en.ponant.com/antarctica-beyond-the-antarctic-circle-in-the-wake-of-jean-baptiste-charcot-cc021227-9
That said, having read your enthusiastic review of your experience with the Ritz Carlton Yacht Club, you might be more comfortable with a luxury cruise line offering a more Americanized, Ritz Carlton hotel like experience than that offered by a French company, though it also markets to Americans caters to English speakers. I'm thinking in that regard specifically of Seabourn, which I find offers a much better onboard experience than Silversea: https://www.seabourn.com/en/us/cruise-destinations/antarctica
Here is my white desert review: https://www.reddit.com/r/chubbytravel/comments/1ag8gcv/review_white_desert_antarctica/
You should also consider the likely guest mix on board.
For your personality type (and mine) you would want the majority of the passengers to be calm and sticking to rules and timing. From what I hear Ponant and Hanseatic have a higher probability for that. The very best is the following: Every once in a while Ponant hosts Japanese Travel Groups, sometimes up to half the ship. If you ask your Ponant agent and...
You should also consider the likely guest mix on board.
For your personality type (and mine) you would want the majority of the passengers to be calm and sticking to rules and timing. From what I hear Ponant and Hanseatic have a higher probability for that. The very best is the following: Every once in a while Ponant hosts Japanese Travel Groups, sometimes up to half the ship. If you ask your Ponant agent and can grab such a departure you will probably have the best experience.
What about Viking??
Silversea has been doing this Forever
The most advanced ship in Antarctica
Please do your research
We did Scenic Eclipse for 21 day including South Georgia. We spent ~6 months working with a travel agent to evaluate all the major lines. Scenic was amazing: Food (6+ restaurants!), ship, scientists/naturalists on board, pax mix (Australians, Brits, Canadians and Americans) so friendly, we've made lifelong friends from the trip. It was an amazing life changing trip. Scenic all the way...
I went with Silversea in 2018...it was wonderful!
Keep in mind that ships above 200 capacity are severely limited in zodiac departures for the ships. If you would like to explore with a zodiac to go to shore on one of the many islands, you need to take a small ship.
We just went through this last Jan. We are so happy on our choice.
We're now working on one around Svalbard.
https://dancingpandas.com/ushuaia-to-antarctica-cruise/
We’ve done Antarctica twice. The first was a four week cruise for the millennium on the Kapitan Khlebnikov, a Russian icebreaker. We left from New Zealand and returned to Tasmania. This was the best trip we have ever done and we have been to 178 countries. We had two helicopters and were flown to both Scott’s and Shackelton’s huts plus many other places. This was an amazing adventure and exceptionally well organized by Quark Expeditions....
We’ve done Antarctica twice. The first was a four week cruise for the millennium on the Kapitan Khlebnikov, a Russian icebreaker. We left from New Zealand and returned to Tasmania. This was the best trip we have ever done and we have been to 178 countries. We had two helicopters and were flown to both Scott’s and Shackelton’s huts plus many other places. This was an amazing adventure and exceptionally well organized by Quark Expeditions. The second time we went out of Ushuaia with GAP Adventures, a Canadian company who should not be in the travel business. From start to finish this whole trip was horrible in every respect and we will never travel with again. Antarctica is amazing, unlike anything else on this planet, but we recommend doing it on an expedition vessel and with an experienced company so that you truly see what makes Antarctica so different and special.
There is also Hapag with small ships doing expeditions in this area. Did this three years ago and it was a great Experience
Not sure how you can address this space without mentioning Viking Expedition ships.
The two built for Antarctica/Artic ships are technological wonders, including Special Operations boats, Submarines, Kayaks and Zodiacs. We had landings on 2 islands and even one on. the mainland. Would have liked a few more of those, but weather wasn't the most cooperative, yet what an amazing adventure. Great science labs, lectures and roundtalbes with the experts. Fantastic luxery service, food...
Not sure how you can address this space without mentioning Viking Expedition ships.
The two built for Antarctica/Artic ships are technological wonders, including Special Operations boats, Submarines, Kayaks and Zodiacs. We had landings on 2 islands and even one on. the mainland. Would have liked a few more of those, but weather wasn't the most cooperative, yet what an amazing adventure. Great science labs, lectures and roundtalbes with the experts. Fantastic luxery service, food and comforts. And no children! It was phenomenal.
We’ve done Seabourn , Silversea but Scenic I thought was the best - am doing it again this year - great food,wines,service and professional guides and specialists - I’d highly recommend them
We cruised with Atlas Ocean Voyages. Small ship, very luxurious, and great value for money. Only 200 possible guests. Food, service, cabins, lectures, all great. Only 100 people can be on land at one time. Larger ships may have issues with getting people on land. Weather is always unpredictable. I would hate to be group 5 on a Viking cruise, and the weather changes and your group can’t go ashore.
The only other ship...
We cruised with Atlas Ocean Voyages. Small ship, very luxurious, and great value for money. Only 200 possible guests. Food, service, cabins, lectures, all great. Only 100 people can be on land at one time. Larger ships may have issues with getting people on land. Weather is always unpredictable. I would hate to be group 5 on a Viking cruise, and the weather changes and your group can’t go ashore.
The only other ship we considered was Seabourn. They have expedition ships which looked amazing.
Spend a few days in Ushuaia. It’s an interesting city with much to see, the national park is the most southerly park in the world.
After Antarctica, go to Patagonia. El Chalten, Argentina in particular. You can fly from Ushuaia to El Calafate, about 1.5 hours.
Ponant Expedition ships are the way to go. We did Abercrombie+Kent's 18 day Falklands, S.Georgia, Antarctica sailing which exclusively uses Ponant. South Georgia is a must. More wildlife than Antarctica: 1M strong penguin colonies, elephant seals fighting, whales breaching. You will visit the gravesite of Shackleton on S.Georgia. You'll want to get the Falklands passport stamp too. Ponant's balance between luxury and adventure was great. Daily zodiac excursions. International clientele. We had Drake Lake, not...
Ponant Expedition ships are the way to go. We did Abercrombie+Kent's 18 day Falklands, S.Georgia, Antarctica sailing which exclusively uses Ponant. South Georgia is a must. More wildlife than Antarctica: 1M strong penguin colonies, elephant seals fighting, whales breaching. You will visit the gravesite of Shackleton on S.Georgia. You'll want to get the Falklands passport stamp too. Ponant's balance between luxury and adventure was great. Daily zodiac excursions. International clientele. We had Drake Lake, not the Drake Shake.
I did Seabourn in November 2024. They have 2, small, purpose-built ships for Antarctica. All the luxury you would expect with Seabourn, but on a smaller 240 person ship. As others have mentioned, it’s all about the expedition crew and we had guides that had visited Antarctica 20+ times with years of experience. It was a great balance of landings and zodiac tours. I went with a 13 day trip that gives you about 9...
I did Seabourn in November 2024. They have 2, small, purpose-built ships for Antarctica. All the luxury you would expect with Seabourn, but on a smaller 240 person ship. As others have mentioned, it’s all about the expedition crew and we had guides that had visited Antarctica 20+ times with years of experience. It was a great balance of landings and zodiac tours. I went with a 13 day trip that gives you about 9 days on the peninsula. Itinerary is completely dependent on weather and sea conditions. We were lucky and had amazing weather the entire trip with sunny blue skies and daytime temps around 30F. The advantage of going earlier in the season (November and December) is you have a greater chance of an ice-landing and the penguin poop hasn’t built up enough to the point that the smell is unbearable. This was a trip of a lifetime for me, representing my 7 continent. Highly recommended no matter who you travel with.
Would personally love a review of the White Desert Expedition’s A340-500. This is an aviation focused blog after all…
Silversea did not miss any "expedition" experiences and is much different than their traditional cruises. We liked it much we just booked the artic cruise for next June. We were on the cloud in antarctica and will be on the endeavour out of Norway next.
I booked an Antarctica cruise a couple months and had researched the different lines and prices. I discovered that most lines begin their experiences in Buenos Aires and the quoted prices include round trip air from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia where you get on the actual ship after an included hotel night. So you just need to get yourself to BA. What's included on the ship itself is pretty much the same across all lines...
I booked an Antarctica cruise a couple months and had researched the different lines and prices. I discovered that most lines begin their experiences in Buenos Aires and the quoted prices include round trip air from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia where you get on the actual ship after an included hotel night. So you just need to get yourself to BA. What's included on the ship itself is pretty much the same across all lines although whether gratuities are included varies as well as shipboard spending credits vary. Under California law (and followed nationwide by cruise lines and cruise websites), the per person prices quoted have to include all taxes and port charges so double check to make sure they're not adding more to their prices than what was posted. Keep in mind that larger ships might be more stable crossing the Drake Passage while smaller ships have fewer people they need to get onto Antarctica at each stop.
Do yourself a favour and google Scenic Eclipse - an Australian luxury expedition super yacht.
MV Ushuaia (not luxury, but gets it done). Drake Lake on way out; 30 footers on way back. Glad the bunk beds had seatbelts. That’s a one-timer for me. Oof.
I agree with the prior post; the Quark Ultramarine is an excellent choice balancing comfort and activities; kayaking and zodiac every day; a helicopter ride off the boat, knowledgeable guides; great experience.
Somehow I don't think that "Carcass Island" is appropriate for a vacation .
I took a three week cruise from Ushuaia in 2019 on Silversea. We chose Silversea due to it being a more "luxury" option and overall, it was a great experience. We made sure to book on their smallest vessel, because there are strict regulations for landings in Antarctica and you want to make sure you'll be able to get off the ship each time and not have to trade off which landings you get to...
I took a three week cruise from Ushuaia in 2019 on Silversea. We chose Silversea due to it being a more "luxury" option and overall, it was a great experience. We made sure to book on their smallest vessel, because there are strict regulations for landings in Antarctica and you want to make sure you'll be able to get off the ship each time and not have to trade off which landings you get to take because the ship has too many people per site. I plan to take this trip again at some point in the future and currently, I'm most interested in Ponant. I've seen a few reviews of Ponant expedition cruises and it looks like a step above Silversea.
One thing you should look into is what kinds of excursions and activities you're most interested in and who offers it? Silversea was definitely lacking in terms of something other than zodiac cruises and hikes on land. For example, they did not offer kayaking or camping on land for a night (although I wouldn't have gone for this anyway), so it depends on what you're interested in doing.
Finally, I received advice that I absolutely MUST include a visit to South Georgia when visiting Antarctica and I am so glad I did. It adds a huge amount of time to the trip (that's why my trip was three weeks), but it's absolutely incredible to visit and see such abundant wildlife. It was truly the highlight of the trip.
Wishing you a wonderful future adventure!
I also did Silversea in 2025 and they offer kayaking usually twice a day when the weather is favorable.
Hello travelers: how about using a travel agent as we did to provide options that really worked for us in terms of style, interests (i wanted more whales, baby penguins not as important, etc.) time, budget etc. Saved a ton of research. We are just back from AMAZING cruise with Polar Latitudes, a very experienced line which has not been mentioned. Not top of the line luxe but fantastic service, excellent food, focus on nature...
Hello travelers: how about using a travel agent as we did to provide options that really worked for us in terms of style, interests (i wanted more whales, baby penguins not as important, etc.) time, budget etc. Saved a ton of research. We are just back from AMAZING cruise with Polar Latitudes, a very experienced line which has not been mentioned. Not top of the line luxe but fantastic service, excellent food, focus on nature and and history and science and learning etc. Very high crew/staff to passenger ratio. Zodiac expeditions (or kayak - the only "extra" we paid for) morning and afternoon every day. 138 passengers (ship holds 150 but they stop at 138). As far as the Drake, the ear patch works for me and our crossings were not bad. Those 4 days were filled with staff presentations and other fun stuff (crew talent show). It was all so well done.
You failed to mention HURTIGRUTEN
their suites at the Expedition ships are very nice and comfortable
We did NG back in late 2024. United to Miami, LATAM to Puerto Natales via Santiago, a couple days at Puerto Natales, charter to George island, cruise from there. Loved it. Friends enjoyed Hurtigruten.
I hear Natural Habitat does excellent cruises as well - longer than most, a small yacht, etc.
I wouldn’t recommend flying options as weather is unpredictable and you could wait days on land for it to clear. The crossing is hit and miss; we had a rough southbound and a perfectly still return. Used Atlas Ocean Voyages and thought they were a good mix of experience and comfort with good guides. The 200 person boat size meant that you could easily respect the 100 person limit with two groupings of zodiacs.
Seven years ago, we took a Tauck tour on a Ponant ship (Le Lyrial) and had a blast. Started with several days in Buenos Aires and then flew down to Ushuaia. The Drake Passage was mild and weather was great the entire trip. LeLyrial is not a huge ship, I'm guessing there were maybe 240 pax. Once we reached Antarctica, there were Zodiac boat excursions every day, often twice a day.
I’ve only done one cruise to Antarctica so I can’t really compare the various options, but we went with Ponant (Le Boreal) and absolutely loved it. Amazing guides and excellent accommodations, including the food. Would do again in a heartbeat.
You live in Miami with many cruises available. Why not try one? It would be easy.
I'm pretty sure cruises less than 2-3 months in duration don't depart for Antarctica from Miami.
With regard to on board internet service I need to pour some water into the wine. If the ship has Starlink (and by far not all of them do have Starlink antennas) it is still no guarantee that there is a decent connection. If there is coverage, fine. But there certainly is not worldwide coverage - even if they say so. Most of the other systems usually work at quite low speeds. We have 5...
With regard to on board internet service I need to pour some water into the wine. If the ship has Starlink (and by far not all of them do have Starlink antennas) it is still no guarantee that there is a decent connection. If there is coverage, fine. But there certainly is not worldwide coverage - even if they say so. Most of the other systems usually work at quite low speeds. We have 5 different systems on our ship (incl. Starlink) and the only point of complaint from our guests is about internet service. Depending on the region we cruise in it's terrible. Very much like on a plane. Hardly useable. You may be lucky with good Starlink coverage but don't rely on it! Be prepared to be disconnected.
When we crusied from Argentina to Antacrctica on Seabourn, we never once had a problem with Starlink, and it was fast. It was also free with our suite upgrade, which makes the cash upgrades an even better deal than they first appear.
Is this Gene Sloan from TPG? If so, was wondering if you’d make an appearance on this topic here! If not, my bad! LOL!
I did the Quark Ultramarine about 4 months ago and it was amazing!!!!
Surprised only one person has mentioned this, so I think it's worth echoing:
The most important factor is making sure you have no more than 100 people. That ensure you will do all of the landings, as that's the cap. Slightly more than that is okay and they will have you do other excursions while the others are landing, but certainly no more than 200 people.
I strongly suggest flying to King George....
Surprised only one person has mentioned this, so I think it's worth echoing:
The most important factor is making sure you have no more than 100 people. That ensure you will do all of the landings, as that's the cap. Slightly more than that is okay and they will have you do other excursions while the others are landing, but certainly no more than 200 people.
I strongly suggest flying to King George. It saves you multiple days and most of those trips give you more time in Antarctica because of it.
As for which, they are all largely very good (the ones you mentioned). I don't think you'll go wrong with any of them. White Desert is a completely different trip and if you want info about it, feel free to email me. I know a few people who have done it and have booked it for clients. Super cool.
You could just fly in and out
https://white-desert.com/camps/echo-base
This is my current my plan
There’s always an option if you want to kinda-go there ASAP and not worry about leaving the kids behind. Princess and some other larger lines do scenic cruising for 4-5 days with stops in Ushuaia, Falklands, etc. Definitely a trip the kids could join you on, and then can do the expedition trip down the road with just Ford
You generally cannot bring your young children on Antarctic cruises.
You can on a mainstream "drive by" cruises once they get over 12 months of age.
Some expedition lines also allow really young kids. Brian Kelly on TPG recently took his 1 yo to Antarctica.
Went with Ponant and had an amazing trip. It was easy for me to decide since they were the only company I could find that offered Antarctica trips with no single supplement, but they've become my preferred cruise line as a result of that trip. Very knowledgeable naturalists, great planning, and they used the time really well. We had relatively easy passage across the Drake and were able to get in a bonus landing since...
Went with Ponant and had an amazing trip. It was easy for me to decide since they were the only company I could find that offered Antarctica trips with no single supplement, but they've become my preferred cruise line as a result of that trip. Very knowledgeable naturalists, great planning, and they used the time really well. We had relatively easy passage across the Drake and were able to get in a bonus landing since we arrived half a day early!
I wouldn't worry too much about how 'expiditiony' things are, Antarctica travel is highly regulated and that includes a limit on the number of passengers and the naturalist/passenger ratio.
Went with Ponant and had an amazing trip. It was easy for me to decide since they were the only company I could find that offered Antarctica trips with no single supplement, but they've become my preferred cruise line as a result of that trip. Very knowledgeable naturalists, great planning, and they used the time really well. We had relatively easy passage across the Drake and were able to get in a bonus landing since...
Went with Ponant and had an amazing trip. It was easy for me to decide since they were the only company I could find that offered Antarctica trips with no single supplement, but they've become my preferred cruise line as a result of that trip. Very knowledgeable naturalists, great planning, and they used the time really well. We had relatively easy passage across the Drake and were able to get in a bonus landing since we arrived half a day early!
I wouldn't worry too much about how 'expiditiony' things are, Antarctica travel is highly regulated and that includes a limit on the number of passengers and the naturalist/passenger ratio.
Judging from your blog and the kinds of properties you prefer (and the cruise lines you seem willing to try) there are several options for you. The most important thing to consider is the expedition team as they will make or break your Antarctica experience. Be sure they are knowledgeable, friendly and willing to interact with the passengers. On the luxury side I suggest one of the following: The Commander Charcot from Ponant, the Silver...
Judging from your blog and the kinds of properties you prefer (and the cruise lines you seem willing to try) there are several options for you. The most important thing to consider is the expedition team as they will make or break your Antarctica experience. Be sure they are knowledgeable, friendly and willing to interact with the passengers. On the luxury side I suggest one of the following: The Commander Charcot from Ponant, the Silver Endeavor from Silversea, Scenic Ec.ipse 2 and possibly the two Seabourn ships, Venture and Pursuit. But you have been given good advice here. Antarctica is a trip where you should not consider the ship your destination, The destination is the destination.
"Luxury" should not be a priority when planning an Antarctica trip. Itinerary and quality of the crew/guides should be. And don't miss South Georgia-far more interesting than Antarctica itself.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!!! THE WHOLE POINT OF GOlNG ON A CRUISE TO GO LUXURY!!!!
Any suggestions as I would not be able to afford a luxury-focused cruise for sure, but it's a destination I definitely want to visit.
Quark was a trailblazer for Antarctica Expeditions, starting out with former Russian ice breakers and (sometimes) Russian crews . They've progressed far beyond that and now have modern, comfortable ships with highly experienced crews and guides. They offer serious experiences for serious people. Those who might feel uncomfortable in anything non-luxury can't go wrong with Ponant, Seabourn, Silversea or Regent.
We’ve done Ponant twice (booked through Abercrombie & Kent) and loved it. Ponant has the right mix and balance of luxury, guests, staff, speakers, excursions, etc. My observation of National Geographic is that you feel out of place unless you study every bird in advance and carry three cameras with you at all times and drop to the floor every time you see a penguin. We thoroughly enjoyed Ponant.
STOP CALLING THEM EXPEDITIONS.
Just like you don't call flying from JFK to SIN an expedition but just a flight.
It's a tourist cruise, full of no one but tourists, and crews.
You don't have to like the terminology, but there is a huge practical difference between "expedition" and "non-expedition cruises", in that the non-expedition cruises require you to stay on the ship (typically a larger cruise ship that exceeds the 500 guest maximum, above which passengers are not allowed to leave the ship or go ashore), while expedition cruises allow you to get off the ship by zodiac and go ashore. As noted elsewhere, only 100...
You don't have to like the terminology, but there is a huge practical difference between "expedition" and "non-expedition cruises", in that the non-expedition cruises require you to stay on the ship (typically a larger cruise ship that exceeds the 500 guest maximum, above which passengers are not allowed to leave the ship or go ashore), while expedition cruises allow you to get off the ship by zodiac and go ashore. As noted elsewhere, only 100 guests allowed onshore at any one time.
We have done 4 cruises to Antarctica and also done the White Desert Trip (Whichaway Camp).
You Club all Ponant Cruises together, but Commandat Charcot and the Boreal et. al. are very different experiences. So I would look at it differently.
I think the key point to understand is if you plan to just go once or if you consider going multiple time. If it’s just once I would do the big loop including...
We have done 4 cruises to Antarctica and also done the White Desert Trip (Whichaway Camp).
You Club all Ponant Cruises together, but Commandat Charcot and the Boreal et. al. are very different experiences. So I would look at it differently.
I think the key point to understand is if you plan to just go once or if you consider going multiple time. If it’s just once I would do the big loop including South Georgia and then the cruise line doesn’t matter all that much. If you go multiple times, do a shorter Peninsula Trip first and then see what you liked and disliked and then decide on a potential second trip later.
As a first Antarctic trip I would recommend a cruise over White Desert, given how much more varied and dramatic the landscapes are from the sea. We do love White Desert though and plan to go back.
+1 to everyone that has already suggested Quark. Booked my parents on a Quark ship 3 years ago for early January and they said it was magical. They had so many more things to do on and off the ship than other companies, plenty of stops on the continent, and really knowledgeable experts. Luxury, but certainly not over the top. The right balance of expedition cruising with comfort. Also, FWIW, my parents said people make...
+1 to everyone that has already suggested Quark. Booked my parents on a Quark ship 3 years ago for early January and they said it was magical. They had so many more things to do on and off the ship than other companies, plenty of stops on the continent, and really knowledgeable experts. Luxury, but certainly not over the top. The right balance of expedition cruising with comfort. Also, FWIW, my parents said people make too big a deal about the Drake's passage, but also acknowledged that they got some uncharacteristically calm water.
Your focus should be best weather time (early January) not the best fancy ship luxury option
For Antarctica, luxury means good weather, good Internet and being able to get off the boat at every stop, luxury should hopefully not mean fancy meals and plush couches in the ship lounge.
So basically pick any ship rated for 100-140 people in earlyish January (we went with Sea Spirit but there's a few others like National Geographic...
Your focus should be best weather time (early January) not the best fancy ship luxury option
For Antarctica, luxury means good weather, good Internet and being able to get off the boat at every stop, luxury should hopefully not mean fancy meals and plush couches in the ship lounge.
So basically pick any ship rated for 100-140 people in earlyish January (we went with Sea Spirit but there's a few others like National Geographic etc) and regardless of what people say it will basically be the same experience. No one has really tried several different ships within the same 100-140 category to compare (specially not post covid with more rules) so everyone's idea will be subjective.
But truly from what I saw, most similar ships result in similar experience with very very very very little difference on the margins.
Going to Antarctica at all is already one of the most exclusive experiences in the world. Why do you need to have "luxury" on top of this? Are you that dependent on exclusivity for validation, or simply out of touch?
PEOPLE THAT KNOW CRUISES GO LUXURY!!! SO YOU DONT KNOW WHST YOUR TALKING ABOUT!!!
Correct. Otherwise, just go to New Orleans or South Beach or some similar place filled with drunken idiots for the weekend.
@Jonna
ROFLMAO...
That's telling him... You go girl... :-) :-) :-)
My thoughts as someone that has cruised to Antarctica twice.
Being disconnected should be part of the reason for going. If you can't log off for a couple of days and enjoy all the natural wonder, your priorities suggest you shouldn't be going to Antarctica (yes I am being judgmental, no I won't rephrase).
Be sure to find a firm that has solid polar experience (more on that in a moment) as well as one...
My thoughts as someone that has cruised to Antarctica twice.
Being disconnected should be part of the reason for going. If you can't log off for a couple of days and enjoy all the natural wonder, your priorities suggest you shouldn't be going to Antarctica (yes I am being judgmental, no I won't rephrase).
Be sure to find a firm that has solid polar experience (more on that in a moment) as well as one that openly acknowledges the tourism limits of the Antarctic treaty and describes their compliance before you have to ask.
Finally - Quark is my strong recommendation for a cruise firm. The first time I went was amazing, but not with a polar specialist. The second time I expected it to be a little disappointing (since I already had that first time feelings of wonder) and I was wrong. With Quark it was so much better! Better naturalists, better zodiac expeditions, better equipment, even better food and drink. Traveling with a specialist makes a difference and, for the curious, my Quark trip was about the same price as my first trip - with the trips being ten years apart (2007, 2017).
By far the best and most comprehensive js National Geographic/Lindbkad. Not cheap but the best guides, and the best touring on Antarctica proper.
After researching a good bit on the cruising option (from both Punta Arenas and New Zealand), I decided it was not for me for the following reasons:
1) Drake passage is too treacherous for someone like me who is prone to motion sickness.
2) With cruising one never sets foot on the Antarctica mainland.
I and my wife finally did a 5-day tour with White Desert. We flee from Cape Town, SA to...
After researching a good bit on the cruising option (from both Punta Arenas and New Zealand), I decided it was not for me for the following reasons:
1) Drake passage is too treacherous for someone like me who is prone to motion sickness.
2) With cruising one never sets foot on the Antarctica mainland.
I and my wife finally did a 5-day tour with White Desert. We flee from Cape Town, SA to Wolf's Fang Runway, Antarctica and spent 5 nights at their Echo camp. In my view there is no more luxurious way than White Desert to experience Antarctica. We had a fabulous time.
They are quite pricey though. Their cheapest is a daytrip - 5 hours flying each way with 4 hours on Antarctica ice with a couple of activities and costs 16k per person. They have a 5-night trip (the one we took) with a choice of stays at any of their 3 luxury camps with activities including a local flight to Emperor Penguin colony for 75k. Their most comprehensive tour costs 110k and includes flights to south pole.
I did two Antarctic cruises - both times stepping foot on the mainland.
Do yourselves a favour and google Scenic Eclipse.
Went with Silversea this January with their Antarctic bridge (i.e. fly over the Drake) option. That saved time and money, and went without a hitch, but we've since learned that we perhaps got lucky, and that weather interferes with flight schedules more often than we realized. The expedition team was excellent - well organized, very personable team with a good mix of landings, Zodiac sightseeing and kayaking options. Was on one of the "older" vessels,...
Went with Silversea this January with their Antarctic bridge (i.e. fly over the Drake) option. That saved time and money, and went without a hitch, but we've since learned that we perhaps got lucky, and that weather interferes with flight schedules more often than we realized. The expedition team was excellent - well organized, very personable team with a good mix of landings, Zodiac sightseeing and kayaking options. Was on one of the "older" vessels, the Silver Wind, but found it to be in great shape. Cabin was the equal of (and virtually identical) to the cabin in my one sailing in one of their non-expedition ships (Silver Moon) Food was consistently quite good (B+) and crew was very friendly and professional. Entertainment, outside of afternoon informational lectures, was virtually non-existent and the main lounge was usually rather empty at night. Only real negative was the landside operations (hotels and staff) pre-and post-cruise, as the hotels were mediocre at best and the staff uninformed and poor at communicating. Hopefully this will be remedied when Silversea opens its own hotel later this year.
Tone-deaf posts like this showcase the dark side of leisure travel. The best thing you can do for Antarctica is to STAY AWAY FROM IT.
It's the last piece of unspoiled land on this planet, and you're all here tripping over each other to visit it IN LUXURY. It's melting because of your luxury, your wasteful travel, and your dirty-engined boats bringing adventurously bored rich people to walk around. What kind of fuel do...
Tone-deaf posts like this showcase the dark side of leisure travel. The best thing you can do for Antarctica is to STAY AWAY FROM IT.
It's the last piece of unspoiled land on this planet, and you're all here tripping over each other to visit it IN LUXURY. It's melting because of your luxury, your wasteful travel, and your dirty-engined boats bringing adventurously bored rich people to walk around. What kind of fuel do these boats use? How much pollution does one of these vanity cruises cause?
If you go to see the penguins, bring a note of apology. And be quick with your photos. Their home is melting thanks to your boat.
Apology? To penguins?
Trust us we have experiences.
Dear Penguins,
We invaded your land, we killed your population. We round the rest of you up in a zoo, but we'll call it a reserve to make it sound nice. We then take over the continent and claim it ours.
We'll stop calling you penguins and start calling you native Antarcticans.
We'll control and corrupt you with drugs and casinos.
And after we populate...
Apology? To penguins?
Trust us we have experiences.
Dear Penguins,
We invaded your land, we killed your population. We round the rest of you up in a zoo, but we'll call it a reserve to make it sound nice. We then take over the continent and claim it ours.
We'll stop calling you penguins and start calling you native Antarcticans.
We'll control and corrupt you with drugs and casinos.
And after we populate the continent, we'll find some one to Make Antarctica Great Again.
Trust us we have experiences.
I did an Aurora Antarctic cruise last year (2025). It was itself pleasant, and the ship (M/V Greg Mortimer) was only a couple years old. The guides have expertise in their respective fields, though I imagine that's normal. That said, some thoughts to consider:
- Due to IAATO regs, make sure your ship has 100pax or fewer; that's the most that can be off-boat at any given time. Many ships will be 'rated' for...
I did an Aurora Antarctic cruise last year (2025). It was itself pleasant, and the ship (M/V Greg Mortimer) was only a couple years old. The guides have expertise in their respective fields, though I imagine that's normal. That said, some thoughts to consider:
- Due to IAATO regs, make sure your ship has 100pax or fewer; that's the most that can be off-boat at any given time. Many ships will be 'rated' for like 130ish, with the understanding that they won't book every cabin to capacity.
- I had no problems with the Drake Passage, other than it made using the workout room challenging. I however don't get seasick, and some of my co-travelers didn't fare so well.
- Internet connectivity, at least as of last year in my case, was very very poor; texts and emails worked ok, but anything involving media was a real challenge and sometimes required multiple attempts.
- The "flight option" via TNM is ok for time considerations but, at some others have noted, is highly prone to delays: The runway on King George Island is unpaved and the BAe-146s they fly are too heavy unless the airstrip is dry.
Few things to keep in mind:
1. I think, you already know this. Ideally, you want to go on a ship with <200 passengers. Gives you more opportunity for landings since only at max only 100 ppl can land
2. The itinerary is nothing but an approximate plan. Your actually itinerary will completely depend on the sea conditions, weather, and ice bergs
3. Don't just look at the total days in the...
Few things to keep in mind:
1. I think, you already know this. Ideally, you want to go on a ship with <200 passengers. Gives you more opportunity for landings since only at max only 100 ppl can land
2. The itinerary is nothing but an approximate plan. Your actually itinerary will completely depend on the sea conditions, weather, and ice bergs
3. Don't just look at the total days in the itinerary. Focus on how many days you'll spend in Antarctica. More days you spend, more chances you'll have for landings
4. If you want to see emperor penguins, then you'll have to go to South Georgia. On your typical itinerary, you won't see them.
5. If you book kayaking/polar plunge etc, normally those are done at the same time as the landings. One group would get to land and the other group will be kayaking etc.
6. If you want to camp, you'll have to go early in the season as snow will be solid enough for you to be able to camp. But if you want to cross the circle, you'll want to go late in the season (mid to end Feb onwards) to have best chance of being able to cross the circle.
7. Comfort and ships are important but the expedition team is equally important.
8. If you want to get first hand knowledge, contact Swoop Antarctica. Their TAs have actually been on Antarctica cruises. So, you'll get best first hand knowledge and they'll be able to help you shortlist your options etc.
Disclaimer - I have no affiliation with Swoop Antarctica.
Have fun planning the trip. I
This is all good stuff. I would add that, when our family went, we were able to camp on Christmas day itself. Pretty cool to have Santa visit from his zodiac (inflatable boat).
Not sure that the expedition team makes THAT much of a difference. In any case, you'll have so many other constraints on your trip, that this will be farther down on the list.
Ponant cruises have a high percentage of French native...
This is all good stuff. I would add that, when our family went, we were able to camp on Christmas day itself. Pretty cool to have Santa visit from his zodiac (inflatable boat).
Not sure that the expedition team makes THAT much of a difference. In any case, you'll have so many other constraints on your trip, that this will be farther down on the list.
Ponant cruises have a high percentage of French native speakers: Could be a plus or minus for you.
Here's a Youtuber guy who knows cruises pretty well: @tipsfortravellers
One bonus tip: because the ships are relatively small, you may want to check with your TA that there is not a large group on board. Large groups sometimes tend to stick with themselves and/or "take over" facilities.
You will not see Emperor Penguins in South Georgia. That is the Kings. If you want to see Emperors in a colony and not just a random lonely one on sea ice you need to go to Snow Hill Island. I went with quark. It’s an amazing experience but much different than when I went a while ago.
You need an icebreaker to get through the sea ice early enough in the season to...
You will not see Emperor Penguins in South Georgia. That is the Kings. If you want to see Emperors in a colony and not just a random lonely one on sea ice you need to go to Snow Hill Island. I went with quark. It’s an amazing experience but much different than when I went a while ago.
You need an icebreaker to get through the sea ice early enough in the season to see the penguins with their chicks. Very few expeditions do this and it is not guaranteed you will get to the colony. So high risk high reward. From my knowledge there are only two operators that go to Snow Hill and they don’t do it every year.
I cruised to Antarctic on National Geographic/Linblad 8 years ago. Things might have changed but I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. If you "dress up for dinner" or a meal, you might get thrown overboard! Not really but.. I had a prominent politician friend who traveled on Seabourn to Antarctica. He sent me a picture of him and his wife in their matching life jackets and gear, all prim and proper. I responded with a...
I cruised to Antarctic on National Geographic/Linblad 8 years ago. Things might have changed but I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. If you "dress up for dinner" or a meal, you might get thrown overboard! Not really but.. I had a prominent politician friend who traveled on Seabourn to Antarctica. He sent me a picture of him and his wife in their matching life jackets and gear, all prim and proper. I responded with a picture of me in jeans (under the cold weather gear) standing in an inch or so of penguin poo. Nat Geo's ships are working scientific research ships. Spotlessly clean, great food, fantastic crew and passenger ratio (almost 1:1!) can't be beat. At the end of the 10 day stay with them, the crew knows your name, says hello. Everyone has to endure the "Drake Shakes" though. YIKES
By far the best is National Geographic/Lindblad. You'll have the best guides and the best experiences on Antarctica proper. Not cheap, but worth every single penny
Ben, I traveled to Antartica in December 2025 with Quark Expeditions.
First, nothing in these itineraries are guaranteed. Mother Nature is the boss. Newer ships handle the Drake Passage better than older ships. Make sure the ship has stabilizers. Ships with less than 200 passengers is ideal. Less than 150 is better.
I would avoid flying the Drake. There is one operator. This flight is 100% weather dependent. Cancellations and delays are frequent....
Ben, I traveled to Antartica in December 2025 with Quark Expeditions.
First, nothing in these itineraries are guaranteed. Mother Nature is the boss. Newer ships handle the Drake Passage better than older ships. Make sure the ship has stabilizers. Ships with less than 200 passengers is ideal. Less than 150 is better.
I would avoid flying the Drake. There is one operator. This flight is 100% weather dependent. Cancellations and delays are frequent. The expedition ships will sometimes delay departing to avoid rough seas but that is usually a 4-6 hour delay and maybe happens once to twice during a season. A typical Drake Passage crossing is 3-5 meter waves. The patch works for sea sickness but definitely has side effects.
You will regret not going for a longer cruise. South Georgia is stunning. Each month in Antartica is different during the season. November will get you stunning ice landscapes but less wildlife. February-March will get tons of wildlife but less ice pack and slushy and dirty landing spots.
I researched NatGeo. They are way overpriced. I had no interest to go on a luxury Ponant. The oldest ship and the most luxurious ships are all going to the same spots. The food on Quark was very good. Buffett for breakfast and lunch and dinner was from a select menu. It was nice. They also served appetizers and snacks. I ate very well. Here is the thing. Why waste 90 minutes sitting for a fancy dinner when you should be on the observation deck! I wanted to be outside. You go to Antartica to be outside on the deck. Your room is small for a reason. They want you outside. The weather can change in seconds - do you want to waste your time and money waiting for a fancy meal? Even on sea days, you can be outside if the Drake is not rough. It’s gorgeous and amazing to see all the birds following the ship.
The Facebook Group Antartica Travel is an excellent resource. It’s run by real Antarctic guides who can assist. They helped me so much.
Besides Quark, Aurora Expeditions is also very good. Also heard good things about Seabourn. You want a company that only does Arctic and Antarctic cruises. They are the experts. Quark is based in Seattle and Aurora is based in Australia. G Adventures is also good but ships are older.
In summary, new ship. Be outside.
Be outside 100%. This is why it was worth it to us to pay for balcony (small ship, Polar Latitudes). If we weren't out there we had the full door rather than smaller window to look out. Loved it, worth every penny.
We haven’t cruised Antarctica, but have cruised Lindblad / Nat Geo twice. I’d say your comment about their pricing is flawed. You get exactly what you pay for. Experience, expedition-focused, luxury enough, right-sized ships, and beyond excellent when an emergency arises.
My wife Sharon and I cruised on Silversea to Antarctica in 2015. Honestly, we were both very bored the entire time. Any Caribbean cruise or Hawaiian cruise would be a better option.
Please tell me you’re trolling.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE CRUISED ALL THREE REFIONS!!! YOU CANT COMPARE THE FOOD ON AN ANTARTIC CRUISE TO HAWAII OR THR CARRIBEAN!!!
Seabourn. Number of passengers is small enough that every passenger gets two expeditions per day. Ships are only a few years old. Excellent Starlink wifi. Great experience overall.
We were able to score upgrades for cash to the best auite on board. All in came to about $10k pp.
I just booked an Antarctica trip for January with Seabourn Cruise Line. Pricing can vary quite a bit depending on the travel advisor, some offer group rates or hosted trips that bring the cost down significantly. I ended up booking a 13-night cruise for about $15K per person, though I’ve seen 11-night itineraries go for closer to $11K.
I was deciding between Seabourn Cruise Line and Scenic, but ultimately went with Seabourn since the dates worked better for me.
Check out the recent episode of the podcast Las Culturistas with Nicole Kidman. She and co-host Bowen Yang had recently returned from Antarctic cruises on Silverseas and they talk about it for a good bit. It does seem they were able to a decent number of land expeditions and solo kayaking.
As far as doing the one way cruise and flying back, they mentioned that even if you choose that option, it’s not always guaranteed...
Check out the recent episode of the podcast Las Culturistas with Nicole Kidman. She and co-host Bowen Yang had recently returned from Antarctic cruises on Silverseas and they talk about it for a good bit. It does seem they were able to a decent number of land expeditions and solo kayaking.
As far as doing the one way cruise and flying back, they mentioned that even if you choose that option, it’s not always guaranteed due to weather. Kidman was delayed in flying back and Bowen’s cruise was delayed long enough that they almost scrapped the flight back altogether in favor of sailing back to South America. The impression I got is that, unsurprisingly, that even though Antarctic cruises usually only occur in the seasons with the most favorable weather conditions, weather is still a big issue, and more than on other cruises, nothing is guaranteed, including all activities and even how long the cruise lasts.
I went with Quark in 2023 and (as others have commented), had a fantastic time. Not luxury, but very comfortable. The food was pretty mediocre, admittedly but that was more than made up for by top-notch zodiac landings & expedition guides. I specifically chose their voyage that flies over the Drake Passage both ways and don't regret that choice.
It's on my bucket list to return to South Georgia next time I have 3 weeks and $20K to spare.
For a real "sailing" experience - small, comfortable ship, traditional square-rig, international crew, and a chance for your time before the mast - can't recommend enough the Dutch Tall Ship Bark EUROPA.
In addition to amazing time in Antarctica, the sailing itself makes for the memory of a lifetime!
www.barkeuropa.com
If you go include South Georgia, the penguin colonies and wild life are much more impressive than Antarctica. That said, it will turn into a long journey if you do that (~2 weeks'ish). I went with Quark and was happy with them, not luxury but nice. The more luxurious operators are probably worse for actually getting you on land since they tend to have larger boats and landing sites are limited to a 100 people. Going on the smallest boat possible is the best move.
What a great idea, the blog famously telling its readers that flying luxury itineraries adds precious little to the environmental catastrophe adds another scorcher, flooding the artic with luxury cruise liners. Almost certainly no environmental impact there either. Good times. Thank goodness Ben doesn’t have kids, otherwise he might think differently about this. Oh, wait…
Agreed.
I just went through this process and wrote about it.
https://emptynestermiles.com/2026/02/20/bucket-list-booked-antarctic-cruise/
I went with Quark Expeditions back in January 2020 and did the "Crossing the Antarctic Circle" expedition which gave a full 7 days exploring Antarctica. I chose them because all they do is polar expeditions so its their specialty. I wouldn't call them lux, but they do have all new ships now, so it does look way nicer than it used to!
I enjoyed them so much I'm actually going again with Quark back...
I went with Quark Expeditions back in January 2020 and did the "Crossing the Antarctic Circle" expedition which gave a full 7 days exploring Antarctica. I chose them because all they do is polar expeditions so its their specialty. I wouldn't call them lux, but they do have all new ships now, so it does look way nicer than it used to!
I enjoyed them so much I'm actually going again with Quark back to Antarctica this November with my Mom (this time just doing the typical Antarctica peninsula trip, the longer ones have gotten so expensive!).
I'd recommend the longest trip you can afford. The further south you reach the more epic icebergs! South Georgia would be great too, but for me thats too many sea days and I only have so much PTO. If I had the money I would 100% go on a "search for emperor penguin" trip, so you might want to look I to that.
I’m recently back from Quark Expedition’s Antarctic Express - Fly the Drake, as we didn’t want to sail the Drake Passage. While they have a strong reputation, our experience was very disappointing, but due to significant disruption and the way in which it was handled.
We booked a trip centred on four days of Antarctic exploration but, due to flight delays and operational decisions, we effectively received only one meaningful day. Much of our...
I’m recently back from Quark Expedition’s Antarctic Express - Fly the Drake, as we didn’t want to sail the Drake Passage. While they have a strong reputation, our experience was very disappointing, but due to significant disruption and the way in which it was handled.
We booked a trip centred on four days of Antarctic exploration but, due to flight delays and operational decisions, we effectively received only one meaningful day. Much of our limited time was spent near King George Island while priority appeared to be given to disembarking passengers from the previous voyage who were stuck on board. We only reached the Antarctic Peninsula on the final day, and even then the experience felt rushed.
There was also a lack of communication and empathy throughout. The scale of the shortfall was never properly acknowledged, and Quark did nothing to mitigate the situation.
Given what we paid, I’m really disappointed with Quark, and they are not entertaining any requests for refund or compensation. So be prepared to get a fraction of the experience you’re paying for.
Have done Antarctica with HX, Seabourn and Silversea. All of the expedition teams are excellent. No real difference between them for the actual expedition activities.
To say Silversea and Seabourn might have trade-offs is totally not true at all - their expedition trips should NOT be mixed up with their regular ships. They did everything on the ice that HX did and perhaps more.
I found HX expedition team to be excellent but the...
Have done Antarctica with HX, Seabourn and Silversea. All of the expedition teams are excellent. No real difference between them for the actual expedition activities.
To say Silversea and Seabourn might have trade-offs is totally not true at all - their expedition trips should NOT be mixed up with their regular ships. They did everything on the ice that HX did and perhaps more.
I found HX expedition team to be excellent but the hotel side was lacking if you take a standard cabin... there are very distinct (but upper end) "Norwegian ferry" vibes from their catering and availability of food/service outside of their standard serving times is limited. Only a suite on HX comes close to Seabourn or Silversea.
Seabourn expedition ships are some of the newest specialised expedition luxury ships out there and well worth the extra few thousand dollars... definitely closer to the Ritz yachts you experienced earlier in the year. Silversea ships are generally a touch older, and 2 of their 3 are refurbished regular ships that might need some love now.
For heaven’s sake, don’t skip sailing the Drake Passage. You will always regret that. I loved HX Expeditions it was just right for this destination. Very nice cabins, crew, scientists, and free Starlink internet.
My husband and I are booked on Quark Expeditions for 2026 season. 11 Days trip starting in Buenos Aires, and includes hotel in Buenos Aires as well as flights to and from Ushuaia. Better to have two people in the cabin as you get charged per cabin, and each person pays about $13,000 to $15,000, depending on the cabin and on the excursion selected. I did a lot of research and the company seems legit....
My husband and I are booked on Quark Expeditions for 2026 season. 11 Days trip starting in Buenos Aires, and includes hotel in Buenos Aires as well as flights to and from Ushuaia. Better to have two people in the cabin as you get charged per cabin, and each person pays about $13,000 to $15,000, depending on the cabin and on the excursion selected. I did a lot of research and the company seems legit. They work with Intrepid, which is a land based tour company that I’ve booked trips with at least 4 times all over the world. Worth checking out.
Quark is great! I went with them to Antarctica back in Jan 2020 and going again this November. You'll have a fabulous time.
Thank you, I really appreciate hearing from someone who has sailed with them already. I feel reassured.
Want to go there so badly, but do NOT want to risk the "Drake Shake"
Flight option is definitely the way I'm looking at it.
I just got back from a 10-day Antarctica expedition with HX, roundtrip from Ushuaia. I can't recommend them enough. The ship, service, food, accommodations were decidedly upscale. They did such a good job taking us ashore and on cruises in the zodiac boats. Going to Antarctica is an amazing experience but I was also pretty surprised at how good of an experience our time onboard with HX was, too. It also was much more reasonably...
I just got back from a 10-day Antarctica expedition with HX, roundtrip from Ushuaia. I can't recommend them enough. The ship, service, food, accommodations were decidedly upscale. They did such a good job taking us ashore and on cruises in the zodiac boats. Going to Antarctica is an amazing experience but I was also pretty surprised at how good of an experience our time onboard with HX was, too. It also was much more reasonably priced than some of the absurd $20k per person ones (I think we paid less than $10k per person).
Given the options available I would go with Hurtigruten. Beautiful but not stuffy ships, excellent and friendly staff and good food. I’ve sailed with them before in Norway and would be happy to sail with them again.
Second this! Hurtigruten/HX is the best!
HX will always get you on land even if they have to carve stairs by hand into the ice. They are tops in landing you there.
The only bad thing about HX is they go right up to the limit of 500 passengers.
If you are going all the way down there, strongly recommend you consider doing the "Triangle Trip" to include Falklands and especially South Georgia ... as the later is even more impressive than Antarctica.
My trip report here - https://www.komar.org/faq/travel/vacation/antarctica/