Most polar operators supply a parka to keep and lend waterproof boots, so the two most expensive items are usually covered. What you buy is the layering underneath, waterproof trousers and good gloves. You need enough mobility to get in and out of a Zodiac unaided, a medical form signed off in advance, and insurance that explicitly covers emergency evacuation from a remote region, most standard travel policies do not.

Polar packing goes wrong in two directions. People either buy a mountaineering wardrobe they will never use again, or they underestimate wind on an open deck and spend the trip cold.

The reality sits in between. Temperatures on an Antarctic Peninsula voyage in summer hover near freezing, which is not extreme, but you will stand still in wind on a moving boat for an hour at a time, and that is what the clothing is for.

What the ship provides

Check your operator’s specifics before buying anything, but the pattern is consistent:

  • A parka, nearly all polar operators supply an insulated waterproof outer jacket, usually yours to keep. It is factored into the fare
  • Muck boots, knee-high waterproof boots are lent for the voyage on most ships, sized in advance. These are essential for wet Zodiac landings and there is no point buying your own
  • Sometimes walking poles, and on some ships waterproof trousers

That leaves you buying layers, waterproof trousers if not lent, gloves, hat and technical socks.

The layering system

Three layers, and the principle is that no single item does the work.

Base layer. Merino wool or synthetic, long-sleeved top and long johns. Two sets so one can dry. Never cotton, it holds moisture against the skin and is the single most common packing mistake.

Mid layer. Fleece or a light down jacket. A fleece plus a thin down layer is more versatile than one thick jacket because you can shed one on an active landing.

Outer layer. The supplied parka, plus properly waterproof over-trousers. Trousers matter more than people expect, you sit on wet Zodiac tubes and kneel on wet rock.

Extremities, where trips are actually ruined:

  • Gloves, two pairs. A thin liner for camera operation and a heavy waterproof mitt over the top. Wet gloves with no spare ends a landing
  • Hat covering the ears, plus a neck gaiter or buff
  • Socks, merino, several pairs, thick enough for the loaner boots but not so thick they cut circulation
  • Sunglasses, essential. Reflected glare off ice and water is severe
  • Sun cream and lip balm with high SPF. Polar sunburn is real and comes from below as well as above

Fitness

You do not need to be an athlete, and plenty of passengers in their seventies and eighties do these trips. You do need a specific, unglamorous set of capabilities:

  • Step down into a moving Zodiac from a gangway, and climb back out, with a hand from crew but not carried
  • Sit on an inflatable tube for up to an hour in swell
  • Walk unaided on snow, loose rock and uneven ground, sometimes uphill
  • Manage your own balance in wind while carrying a camera

Operators may decline to land passengers who cannot do these things safely, and there is no appeal at sea. If mobility is a concern, say so at booking, some ships have more accessible tender arrangements than others, and some voyages are far more deck-based than others.

Optional activities such as kayaking, snowshoeing and mountaineering carry their own fitness requirements and are usually capacity-limited, so book them when you book the cruise.

Health and medical clearance

Medical form. Most polar operators require a physician-completed medical questionnaire, often 60 to 90 days before departure. This is not a formality, operators do decline passengers, because the nearest hospital may be several days away.

Ship’s doctor. Expedition ships carry a doctor and a basic infirmary. They are equipped for stabilisation, not for surgery or cardiac events.

Seasickness. The Drake Passage is the reason. Bring more than one remedy, tablets, patches and wristbands work differently for different people, and start medication before departure rather than once you feel unwell. Ask the ship’s doctor early; they will have seen it all.

Prescriptions. Bring more than the trip’s duration in your hand luggage, in original packaging, with a copy of the prescription. Resupply is impossible once you sail.

Mobility and chronic conditions. Declare them. Concealing a condition to get medical clearance risks a life-threatening situation in a place with no evacuation options for days.

Travel documents

  • Passport valid at least six months beyond your return, with blank pages
  • Visas for the gateway countries rather than the polar regions themselves. Antarctica has no immigration; you clear Argentina or Chile. Arctic voyages mean Norway, Greenland/Denmark, Iceland or Canada, and Svalbard has its own status but is reached through mainland Norway
  • Proof of insurance, many operators require evidence of a policy meeting minimum evacuation cover before you board
  • Vaccination records if your operator or gateway requires them
  • Digital and paper copies of everything, stored separately

Insurance

The one item people get wrong most expensively.

A standard travel policy will not cover you. What you need, and should confirm in writing:

  • Emergency medical evacuation from a remote region, with a cover limit high enough to be meaningful. Polar evacuations can run to six figures. Many operators specify a minimum, commonly around US$100,000-200,000
  • Trip cancellation and interruption at the full voyage cost, which is substantial
  • Cover for the activity you booked, kayaking, diving and mountaineering are often excluded as hazardous
  • Missed departure cover. Flight disruption to Ushuaia or Longyearbyen is common. Arriving a day or two early is the standard defence, and cancellation cover is the backstop

Buy at the point of booking, not before departure, so that pre-departure cancellation is covered for the whole period.

Camera kit

Bodies and lenses. A mid-range zoom plus something in the 100-400mm range covers almost everything. Wide angle earns its place on landings among penguins and under big ice. A second body saves changing lenses in spray and wind.

Batteries. Cold flattens them fast. Bring three or four times what you would normally carry and keep spares in an inside pocket against your body.

Cards. More than you think. People shoot several times their usual volume here.

Protection. A dry bag for Zodiac transfers is non-negotiable, spray is constant and salt water kills cameras. A rain cover, and a microfibre cloth in an accessible pocket.

Condensation. Coming from cold air into a warm ship fogs everything. Put the camera in a sealed bag before going inside and let it warm up slowly.

Binoculars. 8×42 is the practical choice. For a lot of passengers binoculars deliver more than a long lens does.

Drones are effectively banned at Antarctic landing sites and heavily restricted in Svalbard. Assume you cannot fly one.

Packing checklist

  • Base layers, merino or synthetic, two sets
  • Fleece and a light down mid layer
  • Waterproof over-trousers
  • Liner gloves plus waterproof mitts
  • Warm hat and neck gaiter
  • Merino socks, several pairs
  • Sunglasses, high-SPF sun cream, lip balm
  • Dry bag, spare batteries, memory cards
  • Binoculars
  • Seasickness remedies, prescriptions, basic first aid
  • Swimwear, for the polar plunge and any sauna or hot tub
  • Casual indoor clothes, there are no formal nights

Common questions

Do I need to buy a parka?

Usually not. Most polar operators supply one to keep. Confirm with your operator before spending.

Are boots provided?

On most ships, yes, knee-high waterproof boots, lent for the voyage and sized in advance.

How fit do I need to be?

Fit enough to board a Zodiac unaided and walk on uneven, slippery ground. Not more than that.

Will my normal travel insurance do?

Almost certainly not. You need explicit remote-region evacuation cover, and many operators require proof of it.

What is the biggest packing mistake?

Cotton next to the skin, and only one pair of gloves.

Can I bring a drone?

Assume no. They are effectively prohibited at Antarctic sites and tightly restricted in Svalbard.

Related guides

For voyage types, seasons and costs, see the complete guide to Arctic and Antarctic expedition cruises. For what you will see and when, read the polar cruise wildlife guide. For the rules governing landings and behaviour ashore, see the polar cruise responsible travel guide.

Requirements last verified August 2026. Operators set their own medical, insurance and equipment policies, always check yours.