What’s the Best Antarctica Cruise?
Untouched swaths of ethereal glaciers, unreal wildlife encounters, and the feeling of existing within one of the most remote parts of our planet… The Seventh Continent is unlike any other. Yet once you decide to travel to Antarctica, how do you distinguish between the many cruise vessels available? Ker & Downey can help you find the best Antarctica cruise for you among the more the 70 vessels sailing to the White Continent. But first, here is what you should consider when traveling to Antarctica:
How to Choose the Best Antarctica Cruise
There are typically four different types of cruise offerings to Antarctica:
- Classic Antarctica Cruise (9 to 11 days) to the Antarctica peninsula, departing from Ushuaia, Argentina. This offers the best introduction to the continent. It is especially ideal for those who want to cross Antarctica off the travel bucket list while also experiencing a diverse range of activities. Since it is the most popular method of travel to Antarctica, there are therefore several journeys and variations to fit your style of travel.
- Antarctica Fly/Cruise (6 to 8 days). This option involves a two-hour flight from Punta Arenas, Chile to the Antarctic peninsula. It therefore allows you to bypass the two sailing days required to cross the Drake passage. It is particularly great for those who suffer from seasickness or who are short on travel time. However, this shortcut comes at an extra cost.
- South Georgia and the Falkland Islands (18 to 23 days). A bucket list excursion for wildlife lovers, trips to South Georgia and the Falkland Islands place travelers amid the world’s highest concentration of penguins. These departures also include cruising to the Antarctica peninsula or to the Antarctic Circle, so you will therefore need to carve out at least a month to travel.
- Antarctic Circle (10 to 14 days). For those who wish to cross the polar circle and voyage where few have ventured, where you can experience a full 24 hours of sunlight. This fairytale-like polar cruise experience can usually be added to most classic Antarctica cruises and trips to South Georgia & the Falkland Islands.
How to Plan a Trip to Antarctica
Keeping this in mind, planning a trip to Antarctica on a best Antarctica cruise typically comes down to six key factors: Timing and Flexibility, Ship Availability, On-Board Comfort, On-Land Experience, Wildlife and Landscapes, and last but not least, Budget.
1. What is Your Timing and Are You Flexible?
Cruises to Antarctica sail between November and March.
Traveling to Antarctica takes a serious time commitment. Not only are the cruises longer in duration, but they also require ample travel time to get there. Ker & Downey recommends arriving at your departure destination at least two nights in advance of a cruise in order to avoid any potential delays. In addition, you will want to add at least one night in South America (if not more!) after your cruise before returning home.
In terms of flexibility, if you have a specific journey or ship you want to pursue, you may need to widen your travel window dates to ensure availability (more on that below). However, if you have a shorter travel window, the options become more limited.
Short on Time: Antarctica Fly/Cruise
Just the Right Amount of Time: Classic Antarctica Cruise
Plenty of Time: South Georgia and the Falkland Islands
2. Is There Ship Availability?
The best Antarctica cruise vessels typically book out within the year they depart, if not further out. Therefore, Ker & Downey recommends you plan your travels to Antarctica at least a year in advance to ensure optimal availability.
If you cannot plan a year in advance, consider departures at the beginning or end of the Antarctic season. These Antarctic experiences tend to have more availability than the popular December-February programs.
In November, the polar ice will still be breaking up, but the landscapes are at their most impressive. Plus, penguins build their nests and begin their dances of courtship. March, too, offers plenty of wildlife encounters, especially in the water. It is whale watching season, after all!
Most Availability: Classic Antarctica Cruise, especially in November and March
Just the Right Amount of Availability: Antarctica Fly/Cruise
Least Availability: South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. These only depart a few times per season.
3. What is Your On-Board Comfort Level?
The best Antarctica cruise ships typically fall into three different categories:
- Former Research Vessels. These are less expensive ships with expeditions teams that typically specialize in scientific research. They tend to be smaller and more focused on more active exploration, wildlife, and photography programs rather than amenities. Small and safe, they offer a pure and authentic polar expedition experience.
- Luxury Cruise Ships. Meanwhile, these larger vessels have more bells and whistles such as spas, Jacuzzis, multiple dining rooms, and fitness centers. They can usually hold more people on board and specialize in a truly pampered experience with elevated service standards. Many luxury ships, however, are not polar specialists and the larger ones with 500-plus passengers will not do landings.
- Polar Expedition Ships. These ships offer the perfect compromise between the two: intimate size, plenty of facilities and deck space, and specialized guides and crew. They also feature lots of activity options liking kayaking, snowshoeing, and polar plunges. While they may not be as well-appointed as the luxury ships, they still come with nice add-ons like wellness centers, libraries, and even helicopters. Many specialize in the polar regions and offer lectures on photography and the history of exploration in the region.
Beyond the amenities, on-board comfort directly correlates to the boat's stability. Indeed, nearly everyone has the potential to experience sea sickness while crossing the Drake Passage. The larger luxury cruise ships provide good stability due to their sheer size in the water. However, many newer expedition vessels come outfitted with state-of-the-art stabilizers.
Of course, the best way to avoid the "Drake Shake" is to opt for an Antarctica Fly/Cruise, which bypasses the Drake Passage altogether. Knowing and communicating your preferred cruising style allows Ker & Downey to find the best ship for you.
Most Comfort: Luxury Cruise Ship
Just the Right Amount of Comfort: Polar Expedition Ship
Least Comfort: Former Research Vessel
4. What Kind of Off-Board Experiences Do You Want?
Ship size greatly affects the off-board experience. In Antarctica, the traditional 500-passenger cruise ships cannot anchor or do landings. Plus, only 100 passengers can land at any one time from a single vessel.
So, if a 200-passenger vessel stops at a landing site, 100 travelers will go onshore while the other 100 will head out on zodiacs. They will then swap experiences during a five- to six-hour landing.
Smaller ships carrying less than 150 passengers, however, allow for more time on land and less time queuing. They may not have all the luxuries and comforts of a bigger vessel, but the high staff-to-guest ratio and exclusivity in some of Antarctica’s most remote areas often makes up for it. Plus, the smaller the ship, the less environmental impact on the delicate Antarctic ecosystem.
The caliber and size of the ship's expedition team also contributes to the off-board experience. All Antarctica vessels must adhere to a minimum expedition passenger-to-guide ratio of 20:1 on landings. While some stick to the minimum 20:1 ratio, others offer as low as a 6:1 passenger-to-guide ratio ashore.
Finally, consider the activities on offer: some ships offer add-ons such as kayaking, camping, or polar plunges. Others even have helicopters for daily passenger use.
Most Experiences: Small Polar Expedition Cruise
Just the Right Amount of Experiences: Former Research Vessel
Least Experiences: Large Luxury Cruise Ship
5. What Are Your Wildlife and Landscape Priorities?
Your must-see wildlife and landscape priorities may dictate the best time for you to travel. Indeed, each month showcases a different dimension of Antarctica.
For example, penguin chicks come out to play during the mid-season departures in December and January. Meanwhile, early-season departures in November provide optimal ice breaking photo opportunities, as well as courtship dances among the penguins. Finally, the late-season departures in February and March see an increase in whale activity, with humpback, minke, and orca sightings common as they return to the region to feed.
If, however, massive waddles of penguins and colonies of elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals is on your must-see list, then consider making the journey to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. These remote islands house half of the world’s population of elephant seals, 95% of Antarctic fur seals, and no less than six species of penguins. Known as the “Galapagos of the Poles,” this is the ultimate paradise for wildlife lovers.
So, keep in mind if there is a particular animal or sight you must see on your Antarctica cruise, and let Ker & Downey make your bucket list a reality.
Most Amount of Wildlife: South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.
Average Amount of Wildlife: Classic Antarctica Cruise, Antarctica Fly/Cruise, or Polar Circle Cruise
Least Amount of Wildlife: N/A
6. What is Your Budget?
Traveling to Antarctica can be pricey.
Most of the best expedition-style cruises begin around $1,000 per person per day. Meanwhile, luxury cruises start at $1,300 per person per day, and fly-cruises begin at around $1,500 per person per day.
This also does not factor in international and regional flights, nor pre- and post-cruise overnights and extensions.
The good news is that many cruise operators will offer either early-bird specials on the following season’s departures or last-minute promotions on November and March departures of the same year. Having a tour operator like Ker & Downey can help you take advantage of those significant saving opportunities.
Bigger Budget: Antarctica Fly/Cruise or Luxury Cruise Ship
Average Budget: Polar Circle on a Polar Expedition Ship
Lower Budget: Classic Antarctica Cruise on a Former Research Vessel
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