Antarctic Cruise Destinations

Key Takeaways

• The Antarctic Peninsula draws the most visitors, where you’ll see loads of wildlife and brilliant views as you sail through Paradise Harbour and Lemaire Channel.
• South Georgia Island is home to enormous king penguin colonies – St. Andrews Bay alone has more than 100,000 breeding pairs.
• The Falkland Islands blend British charm with amazing wildlife – you’ll spot five different types of penguins and lovely Victorian buildings in Stanley.
• The Ross Sea area lets you visit old expedition huts and emperor penguin colonies on special voyages lasting 25-30 days.
• Weddell Sea trips take you past massive tabular icebergs and emperor penguins whilst following famous routes sailed by explorers like Shackleton.

Antarctic Peninsula Cruise Routes

The Antarctic Peninsula juts northward like a frozen finger and is the most accessible part of Antarctica for cruising. Most trips start from Ushuaia, Argentina, where you’ll cross the Drake Passage before reaching the Peninsula’s western coast.

The usual routes take in Paradise Harbour, Neko Harbour and the Lemaire Channel – brilliant spots to see massive glaciers and loads of wildlife.

You can visit the South Shetland Islands, including Deception Island with its volcanic caldera and the research bases on King George Island.

Port Lockroy, an old British research station that’s now a museum, shows what life was like in Antarctica’s past.

Throughout your trip, you’ll sail through icy waters and go ashore in Zodiac boats, getting quite close to penguins, seals and whales in their natural surroundings.

South Georgia Island Cruise Guide

South Georgia Island sits about 860 miles east of the Falkland Islands and stands as one of Antarctica’s most brilliant wildlife spots. You’ll come across enormous colonies of king penguins – St. Andrews Bay alone has more than 100,000 breeding pairs. The island’s dramatic landscape is packed with glaciers, mountains, and old whaling stations.

Most ships visit South Georgia for 3-5 days as part of longer Antarctic trips. You’ll go ashore at awesome spots like Grytviken, Gold Harbour, and Salisbury Plain, where you can wander amongst thousands of seabirds and seals.

Falkland Islands Expedition Cruise

As you cruise west from South Georgia, you’ll come to the rugged Falkland Islands – a group of more than 700 islands packed with wildlife and British character.

You’ll spot five types of penguins, including gentoo, rockhopper, and king penguins, alongside black-browed albatrosses and imperial cormorants.

Your cruise will likely call at Stanley, the capital, where you can wander through Victorian-era churches, maritime museums, and proper English pubs.

You’ll also stop at outer islands like Sea Lion Island and West Point Island, where you’ll see elephant seals, sea lions, and massive colonies of seabirds.

The islands’ compelling military history, especially from the 1982 conflict, brings another fascinating angle to your time in this far-flung South Atlantic outpost.

Ross Sea Antarctica Cruise Guide

Away in Earth’s most southern waters, you’ll find the Ross Sea – one of Antarctica’s most untouched areas that’s quite tricky to get to.

You’ll want to book onto a specialist expedition cruise to reach this far-flung spot, and these usually set off from New Zealand or southern Chile. It’s a longer trip than normal Antarctic Peninsula cruises, generally lasting 25-30 days.

As you sail through the Ross Sea, you’ll come across massive ice shelves, explore the old expedition huts from Scott and Shackleton’s time, and wander around Ross Island’s volcanic scenery.

Keep your eyes peeled for emperor penguins, Weddell seals and killer whales going about their business. Being so far from anywhere means you won’t see many other ships in these waters, but do be ready for choppy seas and weather that can change quickly.

Weddell Sea Cruise Adventures

The Weddell Sea sits along Antarctica’s eastern side, where enormous tabular icebergs stand like floating castles and pack ice reaches as far as you can see.

This untouched wilderness is where you’ll spot emperor penguins, Weddell seals and several types of whales going about their daily lives.

Most ships cruise these waters in the austral summer when ice conditions are at their best.

You’ll follow the same paths taken by famous explorers like Shackleton, whose vessel Endurance was crushed by pack ice here in 1915.

1. See the massive Larsen Ice Shelf system, where giant ice chunks break off into the sea
2. Visit historic Snow Hill Island, where emperor penguins make their home
3. Look at the region’s special crystal-clear “Weddell Sea glass” – ancient ice without bubbles that you can see right through

South Shetland Islands Cruise Guide

Just 75 miles north of the Antarctic Peninsula, the South Shetland Islands give you your first glimpse of Antarctic wildlife and landscapes. You’ll see massive penguin colonies on King George Island and walk along volcanic beaches within Deception Island’s horseshoe-shaped caldera. These islands are home to important research stations and provide safe harbour for expedition ships.

Pack waterproof gear for zodiac landings and follow your guide’s instructions when you’re near wildlife. The ideal months to go are between November and March when the weather’s most stable and wildlife is most active.

Antarctic Circle Cruise Journey

Going beyond the Antarctic Circle at 66°33′ South puts you in a special club that not many tourists join. These longer trips, usually 12-14 days, take you deeper into Antarctica’s untouched wilderness, where you’ll see enormous ice formations and brilliant wildlife.

During your Antarctic Circle sailing, you’ll find:

1. Non-stop daylight in summer, giving you endless chances for amazing photos
2. Far-flung scientific research bases that regular Antarctic cruises don’t reach
3. Special wildlife spotting, with emperor penguins and rare whales feeding in their natural habitat

You’ll sail through tricky, ice-packed waters in specially strengthened ships, stopping at spots like Crystal Sound, Detaille Island, and Fish Islands.

These less-visited areas show you Antarctica at its most wild and natural – something very few people ever get to see.

Subantarctic Islands Cruise Routes

Around the Southern Ocean, you’ll find brilliant island chains that lead the way to Antarctica. The New Zealand subantarctic islands, including Campbell and Auckland Islands, are brilliant spots to see rare yellow-eyed penguins and albatrosses.

As you head east, you’ll come across South Georgia’s striking landscapes, where enormous king penguin colonies and elephant seals make their home.

Your cruise might stop at the Falkland Islands, with its five penguin species and distinctive British culture.

The South Sandwich Islands and Peter I Island are amongst the most far-flung places you can visit, whilst Macquarie Island is the only place on Earth where you can see royal penguins.

If you’re travelling from Australia, Heard and McDonald Islands are worth visiting, with their active volcanoes and thriving wildlife colonies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Medical Facilities Are Available on Antarctic Cruise Ships?

Each ship has medical staff and basic treatment rooms to look after routine health issues and urgent cases. If you’re seriously ill, though, you’ll need to be flown to a proper hospital on the mainland.

Can I Use My Regular Cell Phone During an Antarctic Cruise?

Just like a penguin on its tod, your mobile won’t have any signal in Antarctica. You’ll need satellite phones to keep in touch, since normal mobile networks don’t stretch to these far-flung polar waters.

How Do Cruise Ships Handle Emergencies in Such Remote Antarctic Waters?

The cruise boats sailing to Antarctica come kitted out with top-notch medical centres, clever ways to get people off if needed, satellite gear to keep in touch, and extra ships close by. They have to stick to really strict safety rules when they’re down in those icy waters.

Are There Age Restrictions for Antarctic Cruise Passengers?

Similar to climbing a snowy mountain, most cruise lines tend not to have rigid age limits. You simply need to be fit and healthy enough to get around. Many ships suggest that children should be at least 8 years old.

What Happens if Weather Conditions Prevent Scheduled Helicopter or Zodiac Operations?

If rough weather stops helicopter or zodiac trips from going ahead, you’ll usually get different activities onboard instead. When they can, the ship’s crew might try to fit these outings in later during your journey.