Antarctic Cruises

Sights on the way to eternal ice

Travel to the sixth continent of the world and experience the eternal ice in all its majestic splendour during an Antarctic cruise. Whales and penguins in the great outdoors, beautiful sunsets behind glittering ice giants and natural spectacles can all be experienced on a cruise in the Antarctic. Even if this world of ice seems inhospitable and remote from any life, there is much to discover while traveling to the southernmost regions of the world.

The cruise from the Southern tip of the American continent takes you into the area of ​​eternal ice. You will also cross the famous Lemaire Channel on various routes , an eight-kilometre long strait between the Antarctic Peninsula and Booth Islands. To the left and right of you rise up to 1,000 metres high mountains, along the route you will see ice floating on the water and you can marvel at penguins, seals and whales in the wild.

Permanent human life is impossible in the conditions of the ice continence. Accordingly, there are few structures or human legacy. And yet, there is something exciting to see: Scott's hat, the cabin of a researcher who spent a long time here. Built in 1911, the building is still in good condition and can be visited today. Take a look behind the scenes of the people who faced the harsh conditions of ice and snow.

In total there are 60 stations in the Antarctic, most of which are occupied by researchers only during the Summer months. One of the most famous is the Neumayer Station, where you can visit the researchers and learn more about their work.

Undoubtedly, the most important sights in the Antarctic are animals and nature itself. Watch penguins land during the breeding season. You may be lucky enough to watch the cubs. Off the icy coast, seals and whales swim and offer impressive photo opportunities during your cruise.

South America cruises and Argentina cruises take you partly to the Antarctic and past the Tierra del Fuego, where most of the ships in Ushuaia dock or take off. From here you can take boats to the nearby island of Isla Yécapasela and see the great penguin colonies up close. On the deck of your ship at Cape Horn you can discover the monument erected here for the many victims of the shipwreck off the coast.

Typical of the Antarctic and the Southern polar region

In addition to the unique ice landscape with huge icebergs, snow capped peaks and floating, ever-changing ice sculptures, it is the wildlife that makes Antarctica incomparable. Nowhere else can you experience so impressively how animals adapt to the weather conditions and cope with them. During the Arctic Summer, you can marvel at penguins raising their young and observe seals or whales in the icy waters off the coast of the sixth continent.

Popular cruise lines for cruises to the Antarctic

Onboard the cruise ships of Seabourn, luxury awaits you in perfection. First and foremost, the shipping company stands for luxurious travel in the Antarctic.

Hapag Lloyd Cruises, a German cruise line  also offers cruises to the Antarctic. On the expedition ships of the cruise line, you can experience your journey in a calm atmosphere with the possibility to reach even smaller harbours, because the ships are smaller than the cruise giants with several thousand passengers. 5-star comfort is also to be expected on your floating hotel during the expedition voyages to the Antarctic, so you can combine the unique flair of the ship with the equally unique natural experiences. 

Silversea specializes in providing guests with great vacation experiences on board. Not least for this purpose, ships of the fleet have been converted into an ice fleet so that you will not only feel comfortable, but also safe on board your cruise ship.

Best time to go to Antarctica Cruises

The European Winter, which is often mild and rarely snowy, is the only time of the year for cruising the Antarctic. During the Arctic winter, which corresponds to the European Summer, cruises are not possible.

The cruises to Antarctica usually start in mid-November and the last trips are offered at the end of February. A Christmas trip into the eternal ice or a stay on one of the cruise ships in the New Year is really special.  You will always need is warm clothing, because even in the so-called Summer, temperatures in the Antarctic are only slightly above zero.

Access to the departure ports

Most cruise lines offer travel packages. For example, you can either travel to Argentina's Buenos Aires airport in Argentina for the cruise terminal, provided that your trip starts in the Argentine capital. Or it goes with a domestic flight to the airport Ushuaia. To get to the cruise ship terminal from the airport, it is best to take a shuttle service or taxi.