Antarctica
We know the ships and trips from personal experience. We travel to Antarctica every year to review Antarctica cruises and tours for you – it’s our job to evaluate the quality of the ships, operations, programs and companies and then pass that information on to you.
Find out why the LA Times, USA Today, Conde Nast magazine and others consistently call us the Antarctica Travel Experts.
Click a link below for more information about a ship category. Click on a picture to locate detailed information about the ship, destinations, itineraries, pricing and deck plans.
The best way to reach Antarctica is by small-passenger cruise ship. Many tour companies run Antarctic cruises and expedition programs, providing a wide range of Antarctica travel options, ships, itineraries, dates and prices.
We only represent ships and programs operated by companies that are full members of IAATO, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.
Select Your Antarctica Cruise
The Polar Cruises website organizes Antarctic cruise ships into four categories: Icebreakers, Luxury Ships, Expedition Ships and Adventure Ships. Each type of ship offers its own unique travel experience, amenities and advantages.
Pick a few Antarctica vacations that appeal to you. Then call us at 888-484-2244 or 541-330-2454. We take the time to learn your travel style and preferences, and then we help you book the best Antarctic cruise for you. The goal is to match you with the ship and trip that best meets your travel needs and vacation expectations.
About Your Antarctica Vacation
• Popular travel destinations include: the Antarctic Peninsula, the Weddell Sea and the Ross Sea region.
• Trip prices include ship travel to Antarctica but not flights to departure destinations.
• Antarctic Peninsula trips usually start from Ushuaia, Argentina.
• Longer Antarctica trips can include the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Shetland Islands.
• Ross Sea and Eastern Antarctica trips usually begin and end in either Australia or New Zealand.
• Ships are typically small, comfortable, and offer varying degrees of luxury and adventure.
• Many ships are converted research vessels with ice-strengthened hulls for polar travel and touring.
• Zodiacs shuttle passengers from ship to shore and provide scenic tours.
• A few select Antarctic trips include helicopter shuttles and flight-seeing.
• On-board experts and naturalists offer lectures on wildlife, geology, oceanography, glaciology, and history.
• Antarctica tours, plans and itineraries can change, depending on weather and ice.
Antarctic Ships
Luxury Expedition Ships
(100-150 Passenger Range)
Luxury expedition ships with ice-strengthened hulls; offering Five-Star accommodations and amenities.
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Luxury Class doesn’t have to do with the size of the ship, but rather the class of travel. A luxury ship to Antarctica offers luxurious accommodations, spacious public spaces and lounges, and Five-Star amenities such as a TV/VCR, mini-refrigerator, choice of bed type (twin or queen), elevator, as well as Butler Service and verandas in select cabin types. It carries you in style to the most remote wilderness destination in the world.
You do not need to trade comfort for safety and adventure. Luxury ships to Antarctica still come with ice-strengthened hulls, active stabilizers for motion control, sophisticated navigation equipment, ample Zodiacs for landings, expert expedition staff and lecturers, an experienced crew and wait staff. This type of ship provides you with an Antarctic experience with luxury accommodations.
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National Geographic Explorer, 148 Passengers
Corinthian II, 114 Passengers
Silver Explorer, 132 Passengers
Le Boreal, 199 Passengers
Expedition Ships
(65-125 Passenger Range)
Expedition-style ships with ice-strengthened hulls; comfortable, safe, small-group passenger travel.
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Expedition ships are the bread and butter of Antarctic exploration. Though the ships themselves aren’t small – they displace from 2000 to over 5000 tons – they are designed to carry small groups of passengers for a more intimate travel experience.
Expedition cruising began in 1966. This category of ship still adheres to the principles of conservation and preservation and world exploration for the fortunate few. These vessels let you get up-close and personal with the beauty of Antarctica while having minimal impact on the local environment. All are equipped with a fleet of Zodiac landing craft and staffed by qualified expedition leaders, experienced naturalists and lecturers.
You can’t go wrong aboard one of these ships for your Antarctica voyage.
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Ushuaia, 84 Passengers
MV Ocean Nova, 84 Passengers
Fly and Cruise, 68 Passengers
Fly the Drake Passage!
Ortelius, 100 Passengers
Adventurer, 122 Passengers
Ships with Adventure Options
(55-115 Passenger Range)
Expedition-style ships with ice-strengthened hulls; small-group passenger vessels offering various adventure options (kayaking, camping, etc.) on select departures.
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Ships with Adventure Options are expedition vessels that offer adventure options for travelers who seek a more active trip. Available adventure options depend on the specific ship and trip, and all options are not available on all ships. There is an additional fee for these optional adventures (except for camping), and they limit the number of participants on each departure. In some cases, previous experience is necessary to participate.
Adventure Options include: overnight camping on shore, sea kayaking, mountaineering, cross-country-skiing, diving, and more (weather and conditions permitting). These options provide unique opportunities to interact directly with Antarctica and explore the wilderness in a more active way.
This category of ship still adheres to the principles of conservation and preservation and world exploration for the fortunate few. These vessels let you get up-close and personal with the beauty of Antarctica while having minimal impact on the local environment. All are equipped with a fleet of Zodiac landing craft and staffed by qualified expedition leaders, experienced naturalists and lecturers.
You can’t go wrong aboard one of these ships for your Antarctica voyage.
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Ioffe, 96 Passengers
Plancius, 112 Passengers
Vavilov, 110 Passengers
Expedition, 126 Passengers
Ocean Nova, 68 Passengers
One Ocean Vavilov, 110 Passengers
Sea Spirit, 120 Passengers
Ocean Diamond, 189 Passengers
Polar Pioneer, 56 Passengers
Shokalskiy, 54 Passengers
Ross Sea & East Antarctica Ships
(54-108 Passenger Range)
Unique Cruises on the FAR side of Antarctica, including the Sub-Antarctic Islands accessible from Australia and New Zealand.
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The sub-antarctic islands and Ross Sea region of Antarctica offers very unique opportunities but is characterized by much longer trips with more time at sea. Some of the unique sites and sights found on a Ross Sea visit:
• Historic Huts
• Dry Valleys
• Awe-inspiring Ross Ice Shelf
• Majestic snow-capped volcano of Mount Erebus
• McMurdo Station
• Scott Base
• Enormous Adélie Penguin rookeries
• Emperor Penguins
The forgotten islands of the South Pacific, are the Galapagos' of Antarctica. They include the following: Snares, Aucklands, Macquarie, Campbell, Antipodes, and Bounty Islands. These islands can be numbered among the last unspoilt environments on Earth, they are home to a rich diversity of plants, seabirds and marine mammals, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Nine species of great albatross come ashore to breed, as do many different species of petrels, prions and shearwaters. Eight species of penguin, three of which are endemic, breed on the Islands and the world's rarest sea lion makes its home in the Auckland and Campbell Islands.
• Abundant wildlife
• A birders paradise
• 8 species of penguins
• 9 species of Albatross
• Hooker Sea Lion
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Orion, 106 Passengers
Ross Sea Region
Spirit of Enderby, 48 Passengers
Ross Sea Region
