Antarctica21
Antarctic air-cruise specialist — fly the Drake Passage, sail the Peninsula. Smaller ships mean more landings and no rough crossing.
Cruise styles
Expedition Cruises
Small, purpose-built ships taking you to polar ice, remote coastlines and wild islands with naturalists and zodiac landings.
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Expedition Cruises with Travelisto
Expedition cruising is about getting off the ship and into the landscape. Small, often ice-strengthened ships carry fleets of zodiacs for landings on beaches and ice floes, and an expedition team of naturalists, glaciologists and photographers leads the trips ashore and gives talks on board. Plans are flexible by design: the captain and expedition leader change the route day to day to follow the weather, the ice and the wildlife.
It suits travellers who care more about penguins, whales and glaciers than nightlife and shows. You need reasonable mobility to climb in and out of zodiacs and walk on rocky or snowy ground, and some trips include optional kayaking, snowshoeing or camping. The ships range from simple and practical to genuinely comfortable, so it pays to compare.
Seasons are short and fixed by nature. Antarctica runs from about November to March, with penguin chicks hatching in December and January and whales most active later in the season. Voyages usually start in Ushuaia, while air-cruise specialists such as Antarctica21 fly from Punta Arenas to skip the Drake Passage. The Arctic season, including Svalbard and Greenland, runs from roughly June to August. Norway's coastal voyages with Hurtigruten and Havila Voyages sail year-round between Bergen and Kirkenes, with the northern lights in the dark winter months.
Most polar voyages last 10 to 21 nights, while Patagonia and Cape Horn trips with Australis are shorter. Galapagos, Patagonia and remote Pacific islands have their own seasons, so a Travel Designer can match your dates to the right region. Cabins on the best-timed polar sailings go early, so plan well ahead, ideally a year or more in advance.
Our Cruise Experts Love
Lines we recommend
The cruise lines our Travel Designers suggest most often for this kind of trip. Tap a line for the full guide.
Antarctica21
Polar Latitudes
Antarctic-focused small-ship expedition cruising with photographic and adventure focus.
Hurtigruten
Norwegian Coastal Express — daily ports along the Norwegian coast, year-round, working ships.
Havila Voyages
Norwegian Coastal Express alternative — green-fuel ships sailing Bergen to Kirkenes year-round.
Adventure Canada
Small-ship Canadian Arctic and Atlantic Canada expedition cruising with onboard scholars.
Australis
Cape Horn, Tierra del Fuego and Patagonian channel expedition cruising on twin small ships.
Which line suits you?
| Cruise line | Best for |
|---|---|
| Antarctica21 | Travellers who want to fly over the Drake Passage on an Antarctic air-cruise. |
| Polar Latitudes | Anyone who wants a small expedition ship and plenty of time on landings. |
| Hurtigruten | Travellers who want a long-established line for Norway and the polar regions. |
| Havila Voyages | Coastal-voyage fans who want newer ships along the Norwegian coast. |
| Adventure Canada | Travellers drawn to the Canadian Arctic, Atlantic Canada and Greenland. |
| Australis | Anyone who wants to explore Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn. |
Expedition destinations at a glance
- Antarctica
- Penguins, whales and ice on voyages from Ushuaia, or by air-cruise from Punta Arenas.
- The Arctic
- Svalbard, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic, in search of polar bears, walrus and icebergs.
- Norway’s coast
- Coastal voyages and expedition-style sailings with many small ports and the Northern Lights in winter.
- Patagonia
- The fjords and glaciers of southern Chile and Argentina, including Cape Horn.
- Further afield
- Expedition ships also explore places such as the Galapagos, the Kimberley and remote Pacific islands.
What life on an expedition ship is like
Days are built around landings and zodiac cruises, led by an expedition team of naturalists, guides and lecturers. Between outings there are talks, briefings and time on deck looking out for wildlife.
Plans change with the weather, ice and wildlife, so flexibility is part of the experience. Ships are small, and the atmosphere is relaxed and informal, with the focus on what is happening outside.
Check what is included before you book. Many fares include zodiac landings, lectures and specialist cold-weather gear, while activities such as kayaking may cost extra and have limited places.
Who an expedition cruise suits
An expedition cruise suits curious, adventurous travellers who care more about wildlife and wild places than nightlife and shows. You do not need to be an athlete, but you do need to be able to climb in and out of a zodiac and walk on uneven ground.
The most popular voyages and cabins sell early, especially in the polar regions, so it is worth starting to plan well ahead. Our Travel Designers can compare ships, routes and inclusions for you.
FAQ
Expedition Cruises: your questions answered
When is the best time to go on an Antarctic cruise?
The season runs from about November to March. November brings pristine snow and penguin courtship, December and January have the longest days and penguin chicks, and February and March are best for whale sightings. There is no bad month within the season, so the right choice depends on what you most want to see and how much daylight you want.
What is an Antarctic air-cruise?
An air-cruise replaces the two-day sea crossing of the Drake Passage with a short flight from southern Chile to King George Island, where you join the ship. It saves time and avoids one of the roughest stretches of sea in the world. Antarctica21 specialises in this style, using smaller ships that allow more landings per guest.
How fit do I need to be for an expedition cruise?
You should be able to walk on uneven, sometimes slippery ground and step in and out of a zodiac with help from the crew. Landings are not usually strenuous, and you can always choose to stay on board. Optional activities like kayaking or hiking need a little more fitness. A Travel Designer can suggest ships that suit your needs.
What is the difference between Hurtigruten and an expedition cruise?
Hurtigruten's Norwegian Coastal Express is a working route, calling at many small ports along the coast every day, year-round. It is more about scenery, local life and the northern lights than zodiac landings. A polar expedition cruise visits remote, uninhabited places with a dedicated expedition team. Both are relaxed and casual, but the experience is quite different.
Too many options? We'll narrow it down
Tell a Travel Designer where you want to go, when, and what kind of ship suits you. Three honest recommendations, same business day.