Best Antarctica Cruise Lines
The best Antarctica cruise line will depend entirely on your budget and your goals. Want to spend the most time possible with boots on the ground in Antarctica? That will require a small ship and a rather large budget. Would you be happiest doing an Alaska-style cruise with plenty of time spent in Antarctic waters while you relax comfortably on the ship soaking up the surroundings? You may want to lean more towards luxury.
Whether you want a full-on expedition cruise with hiking, kayaking and polar plunges, or are looking for a slightly less intense Antarctica cruise, there’s a cruise line that suits your needs. Cruise Critic went in search of the best of both versions to help you decide.
Finding the Best Antarctic Cruise Line for You: Things to Keep in Mind
Most Antarctic cruises begin and end in South American ports like Ushuaia or Buenos Aires. Where they take you is highly weather dependent. It’s truly an adventure, so approach it that way and you’ll enjoy the trip no matter where your ship ends up.
Next, be aware of ship size while you're browsing. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) regulates ship schedules, but more importantly, ship size and passenger landing numbers. No ship that carries more than 500 passengers can land passengers in Antarctica, while smaller ships can land no more than 100 passengers at a time.
Keep in mind that Zodiac rides and kayaking in Antarctic waters do not constitute “landing.” That means a ship carrying 200 guests can land one group while another group participates in water activities, then they swap.
The Best Antarctic Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises: May Be Your Least Expensive Antarctic Cruise Line Option if You Book Early
We always recommend booking Antarctic cruises sooner rather than later. Book Celebrity with the right timing and you might find getting to Antarctica is more affordable than you thought. Celebrity typically doesn’t devote a ship to an extended season in Antarctica, which may narrow your opportunity to only one month. But the good news is that the reservation window is typically roughly two years in advance.
Look for two-week round-trip cruises from Buenos Aires with three full days cruising the bays of the Antarctic Peninsula. Ports with landfalls may include Montevideo, Uruguay plus a stop in the Falkland Islands. Celebrity brings naturalists and experts along, so you’ll get the full experience of learning about Antarctica as you cruise its waters.
Who would like Celebrity Antarctic cruises? These cruises are popular with anyone looking for a slightly more affordable Antarctic option, who enjoys the activity level and amenities of large mainstream cruise lines. Think casinos, specialty restaurants and flashy entertainment when you aren’t out nature-watching.
Holland America Line: Point-to-Point Journeys to Antarctica
Those who cruise with Holland America often typically enjoy the line’s point-to-point itineraries (as opposed to round-trip cruises). In Antarctica, the line sails 22-night cruises between San Antonio, Chile and Buenos Aires, with four full days in Antarctic waters. Added highlights include cruising Chilean fjords and ports of calls in Chile.
Who would like Holland America Antarctica cruises? Holland America Line has a great deal of expertise cruising to Alaska. They bring the same in-depth enrichment approach to Antarctica. The line attracts a slightly older mainstream passenger than Celebrity, and the extended cruise length rules out almost all families. Expect seasoned travelers onboard, particularly those who’ve sailed Holland America before.
Holland America offers a wide range of stateroom choices, from lower-cost interior cabins (which have advantages in Antarctic-length days) to large suites, and all come with fare options to make them more all-inclusive.
Princess Cruises: Lower-Priced Antarctic Cruise Opportunity
Among the big-ship cruise lines sailing to Antarctica, Princess Cruises sits right about in the middle of the pack with pricing that is highly flexible, allowing you to add all-in style fare options that make your cruise almost all inclusive. Book early enough with a sale in place and you might find the deal of the century.
Like Holland America, Princess has a long history of providing non-expedition, yet stunningly beautiful cruises to its guests in Alaska. That fact translates to expectations of a high-quality experience in Antarctica, therefore a high value for the price paid.
The itineraries are generally 17 nights round-trip from Buenos Aires, simplifying airfare. There’s also an extended cruise option, departing from Fort Lauderdale and returning to Buenos Aires. Ports of call include the Falkland Islands. Time spent cruising the waters surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula totals three and a half days.
Who would like Princess Antarctic cruises? We feel like almost anyone who would enjoy a Princess cruise in any scenic part of the globe would enjoy a Princess Antarctic cruise. Princess has scenic cruising down to a science and is capable of both entertaining and educating its guests along the way.
Abercrombie & Kent: Antarctica Charters that Feature All-Inclusive Luxury
The only tour operator on our list, Abercrombie & Kent (A&K), specializes in luxury Antarctic expeditions. For Antarctic expedition cruises, A&K charters a ship from French line Ponant. With A&K, you enjoy this stylish ship's sumptuous amenities (such as a salon, spa, fine dining and pool) in an all-English-speaking sail. (If you cruise directly with Ponant, the cruise will be bilingual in French and English.)
And, here's another major plus: A&K brings their own distinguished lecturers and expedition team members onboard, guaranteeing A&K's notable quality.
Cruises run from 13 to 19 days. A&K Antarctica voyages also add a two-night pre-cruise handpicked luxury hotel stay in Buenos Aires, and roundtrip charter flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, Argentina, the embarkation and disembarkation ports. A&K is well known for its pre- and post-cruise add-ons. For Antarctica, possibilities include a four-day Iguazu Falls pre-cruise package
Who would like A&K Antarctica Charter Cruises? A&K Antarctic cruises appeal to luxury cruisers and A&K devotees who prefer all-inclusive sailings, staterooms with balconies and included pre-cruise hotel stays with sightseeing. Expect lectures, not just by scientists, but by historians and Polar Medal winners too. Families seeking a family-friendly cruise during school holidays, with youth-focused activities.
HX Hurtigruten Expeditions: Two Ship Sizes with Ample Experience and Exploration
Hurtigruten's history is impressive; its founder began polar explorations more than 125 years ago. HX Hurtigruten Expeditions's three Antarctic ships -- Roald Amundsen (500 passengers), Fram (250 passengers) and Fridtjof Nansen (500 passengers) -- vibe upscale and provide a modern Scandinavian ambiance and coveted features, such as outside cabins and private balconies. Fancier aft suites have private outdoor Jacuzzis.
Roald Amundsen (2019) and Fridtjof Nansen (2020) are the world's first cruise ships to run on hybrid battery technology, making them both more environmentally sensitive as they're designed to cut CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. They even move quietly, allowing passengers to revel in nature with reduced ship noise.
Expeditions run from 12 to 23 days. Some begin in Buenos Aires; others start in Santiago and include more of South America, such as Patagonia and the Chilean fjords. Good opportunities to explore the Falklands and South Georgia, too. The line also offers coveted sailings that include time inside the Antarctic Circle, not just out on the Peninsula.
Who would like Hurtigruten Antarctica cruises? Cruisers who want an active, adventuresome polar exploration, but on a relatively large ship, or those seeking a smaller environmental footprint will appreciate the line’s two newest ships.
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic: Experienced and Iconic
Combine Lindblad Expeditions' 50-plus years of experience with National Geographic's iconic photographers, experts and, often, researchers and scientists, and we're talking a match made in an educational adventure heaven.
The casually elegant 148-passenger National Geographic Explorer, and more luxurious, newer vessels 126-passenger National Geographic Endurance and twin National Geographic Resolution sail Antarctica. Among the amenities are fine dining, hot tubs, yoga classes, spa services and fitness center.
On the twin ships, passengers can stay overnight in a geodesic glass igloo perched atop the observation deck. These ships are also equipped with X-Bows, offering smoother sails in rougher seas. The bridge is always open, too.
All vessels provide kayaks and Zodiacs, and they possess ROVs (unoccupied remotely operated underwater vehicles) capable of reaching 1,000 feet (far beyond a diver's reach) to reveal vast stretches underwater. Videos captured are shared with passengers and transmitted to aid scientific research.
Families are welcome, too, with many activities designed for multigenerational cruisers to enjoy together throughout the Antarctic cruise season, not just during the December holidays.
Antarctic itineraries on Lindblad-National Geographic run between eight and 25 days. The shortest (and most economical) are the Fly the Drake cruises that let you skip sailing across the Drake Passage, thus allowing you to spend the entire cruise actually in the waters of Antarctica.
Who would like Lindblad-National Geographic Antarctic cruises? National Geographic devotees are at the top of the list -- from magazine admirers to those who've already toured or cruised with National Geographic -- who like the scientific bent.
Photography enthusiasts, who want to learn from and shoot pics with a National Geographic photography expert are next in line, as are active explorers, who care more about adventure than fancy cruising.
Ponant: The Ultimate in Luxurious Antarctic Cruises
Bilingual French line Ponant sails five 199-to-200-passenger posh expedition yachts to Antarctica: L’Austral, Le Boreal, Le Lyrial, Le Soleal and new-build icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot. These ships are teeming with amenities; think two restaurants and bars, swimming pool, library, tea room, hair salon, gym and spa with a hammam.
In inimitable French style, the vessels are simply gorgeous and sleek, conjuring up the ocean and its array of moods and colors. The cuisine’s outstanding, with an emphasis on modern French fare.
All but Le Commandant Charcot showcase underwater multisensory lounges, located eight feet below the water line. Called Blue Eye, each lounge features two glass portholes shaped like a whale's eye looking out to the marine world. Walls digitally project images filmed live by underwater cameras. Special microphones transit the sounds of the sea into the lounges. Sofas subtly vibrate in sync with the aquatic acoustics.
Le Commandant Charcot is environmentally sensitive; it’s powered by liquified natural gas among several green attributes. Designed to explore the extreme regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres, it can safely cut through ice more than 8-feet deep and may reach destinations previously unimagined by polar cruisers. It’s loaded with amenities like a heated indoor resistance pool and spa with a nail bar.
Many itineraries run between 10 and 18 days. Most begin in Buenos Aires or Santiago and sail from Ushuaia, Argentina.
Who would like Ponant Antarctica cruises? French-speaking passengers or Francophile cruisers who love Gallic flair and cuisine will find their bliss with Ponant. Passengers who want to see and hear Antarctica's underwater life over cocktails or enjoy major pampering after their day of exploration will adore cruising with Ponant.
Quark Expeditions: Scaled Back Luxury, Amped Up Antarctic Thrills
Quark Expeditions offers many ways to explore Antarctica, from budget-minded vessels like the cozy 128-passenger Ocean Adventurer to more upscale ships like the 199-passenger Ultramarine, with two twin-engine helicopters, spacious suites and 20 quick-launching Zodiacs. This line notably features late winter (Antarctica's late summer) sails -- a chance to see the region in a different season, with nesting penguins and returning whales.
Quark's 172-passenger World Explorer’s amenities include all-suite accommodations, polar library, gym, pool, sauna and spa, plus activities such as kayaking, camping and stand-up paddleboarding. Quark also offers options for those fearful of the roundtrip two-day Drake Passage crossing, which may involve turbulent seas with a “fly the Drake” cruise.
Itineraries can run between eight and 20 days. Quark offers options to venture inside the Antarctic Circle.
Who would like Quark Expeditions Antarctic cruises? Passengers seeking a gentler-on-the-wallet experience, preferring some cruise ship comforts, but care little about private verandas or butlers. Quark’s passengers tend to be uber-active cruisers eager to camp overnight, snowshoe, go mountaineering and cross-country skiing while still traveling upscale.
Quark is also favored by those who prefer flying over the Drake to either save time with a shorter vacay or avoid seasickness concerns. Cruisers wanting bragging rights for crossing the Antarctic Circle -- many expeditions don't venture that far south -- or to see the rare king, or even rarer, Emperor penguins.
Seabourn: Expedition Cruises Bring Well-Known Luxury to Antarctic Expeditions
Long-known for its luxury ocean liners, Seabourn introduced its devotees to Seabourn Venture, its first expedition vessel in 2022 and its second, Seabourn Pursuit in 2023. These 264-passenger sister ships feature many of the amenities of Seabourn’s more traditional ships.
Think casually elegant style -- this time, more reminiscent of a posh ski resort in warmth and coziness -- perfect for a vessel with polar pursuits. Passengers are pampered by an attentive crew and all-inclusive amenities such as free-flowing alcohol and caviar, all-suite digs and a photo studio.
Many Seabourn Venture and Pursuit journeys are 13 days in length, with five days exploring Antarctica via treks, kayaks and Zodiacs. Longer sailings include the Falkland and South Georgia Islands.
Who would like Seabourn Antarctic cruises? These cruises are ideal for luxury cruisers who want every ounce of Seabourn indulgence coupled with spine-tingling adventures. Also count foodies, who, with eight dining experiences to choose from, will never grow tired of the cuisine. And the list must include travelers who dreamed of exploring Antarctica while residing in a two-story suite.
Scenic: Redefining Small Ship Luxury in Antarctica
Known for its posh eponymous river cruise line since 2008, Scenic next conquered the ocean by debuting Scenic Eclipse in 2019, with near-twin Scenic Eclipse II making its splash in 2023. Billed as "six-star discovery yachts," the glam ships feature 114 all-veranda suites (200 passengers in polar waters), 10 dining experiences, nine lounges and bars, gym and even a yoga and Pilates studio.
Exploration amenities include custom-made Zodiacs, paddleboards, kayaks, two seven-passenger helicopters and one seven-passenger submarine.
Some 20 polar specialists lead the way. The environmentally conscious ships feature GPS dynamic positioning and customized zero-speed stabilizers up to 50 percent larger than other ships.
Itineraries run from 13 to 25 days. The 13-day cruises sail roundtrip Buenos Aires; 19-day voyages include South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, while 22 days include the Chilean fjords. Scenic also offers a 24-day Antarctica and the Ross Sea sailing deep inside the Antarctic Circle.
Who would like Scenic Antarctica cruises? Scenic is for cruisers seeking the ultimate hybrid of a luxury cruise ship and a small environmentally conscious expedition vessel. It is also attractive for adventurers wanting to try more unusual Antarctic experiences, such as snowshoeing, viewing wildlife from a submarine or soaring above ice floes in a helicopter.
For those with unlimited budgets who long to see Antarctica while traveling in the lap of luxury (think pampering butlers) and in spacious accommodations, Scenic’s entry-level suites begin at 344-square-feet.
Silversea: Expeditions Offer Door-to-Door Luxury on Antarctica Cruises
Silversea manages to combine an ultra-luxury cruise ship experience with an adrenaline-charged expedition. The line will literally have a car pick you up at home, fly you to your cruise and do the reverse at the end of your Antarctic adventure.
The line sails three 200-passenger ships to Antarctica: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind and Silver Endeavour. All vessels are all-suite and all-inclusive, from complimentary Wi-Fi to white-gloved butlers indulging every passenger no matter the suite status.
Silver Endeavour, the line’s newest expedition vessel, takes both adventure and pampering to new heights. It touts a PC6 ice-class rating, one-to-one crew-passenger ratio and Otium, a new spa concept that debuted on Silver Dawn driven by decadence. Outings are twice-daily in 18 Zodiacs led by a 20-member expedition team or in the 14 onboard kayaks.
Itineraries range from six to 20 days. Lengthier cruises include visits to such destinations as the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. To bypass the notoriously rough waters of the Drake Passage, passengers can book an Antarctica Bridge sail. Passengers fly business class to and from King George Island in the South Shetland Islands and board Silver Endeavour from there.
Who would like Silversea Antarctica Expeditions: Luxury-ship aficionados who embrace an all-inclusive, ultra-pampering cruise style, even in Antarctica, flock to Silversea. Also expect to find expedition buffs seeking an extravagant adventure onboard. And those who are spa devotees -- love massages and other treatments while indulging in hand-fashioned chocolates and bubbly alongside their adventures can revel in Silversea’s luxury.
Viking Expeditions: Bringing Their Worldwide Cruise Experience to Antarctica
Viking Expeditions has entered into the expedition genre with two custom-built vessels, Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis. Both sail to Antarctica with 378 passengers. These new vessels feature many of the amenities favored by Viking fans, such as a light airy Scandinavian design, Nordic spa and king bed staterooms and suites with spacious baths and heated floors.
Viking is premium cruising, just a step below luxury. The focus is always on full immersion in the destination on a highly comfortable ship featuring excellent food. Its cruise fares fall squarely between mainstream and full-on luxury.
Most routes run 13 to 19 days from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, Argentina. The cruise includes time to explore Buenos Aires, a visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park and up to nine full days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula.
Who would like Viking Expedition cruises to Antarctica? It would be the obvious first choice of devotees of Viking’s ocean liners and river cruises. Cruisers who appreciate the inclusive nature of Viking journeys will find high value in the line’s fares to Antarctica. It’s ideal for anyone wanting to partake in citizen science experiments and spend time with research scientists.
Plus, anyone fearful of embarking and disembarking exploration boats can take comfort in the sheltered Hangar where passengers easily get in and out of Special Operations Boats from inside the ship, well protected by elements. And for kayaking couples, Viking makes it easy to snap wildlife photos while in hands-free two-seater kayaks powered by pedaling. And of course, there’s the submarine.