9 Best Small Ship Expedition Cruises to Antarctica

1. Silversea Expeditions' Luxury Antarctica Cruises

Silversea Expeditions operate one of the best and most luxurious expedition fleets in the region. Silver Endeavour was purpose-built for expedition and only started operating in 2021, with a maximum capacity of 220 guests, limited to 200 in Antarctica. Their slightly larger ships Silver Cloud and Silver Wind are limited to 240 guests in polar waters. Both ships were converted from classic vessels in 2017 and 2022 respectively, offering enhanced comfort levels on board.

Cruises depart from Puerto Williams, and Silversea offer seamless pre-cruise travel packages from Santiago, including flights, hotels and transfers. They also have a brand-new hotel, The Cormorant at 55 South, the southernmost hotel in the world, located in Puerto Williams. This is used as the base for guests who choose Silversea's Antarctica Bridge itineraries, which allow those short on time to fly across the Drake Passage, though some would argue that if you have not sailed the Drake, you have not really been to Antarctica.

On board you can expect to always be with an expert, whether in the Zodiacs or ashore, thanks to the excellent guest-to-guide ratio of about one guide to every 12 guests. Lectures are of a high standard, and you can expect two landings per day, weather permitting.

2. Antarctica with Polar Experts Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions' expertise is specifically polar: they focus on Arctic and Antarctic sailings only. With three very different Antarctica cruise ships at varying price points, there is plenty of choice with differing itineraries, including a rare opportunity to sail as far south as the Antarctic Circle (66 degrees 33) and ultra-rare voyages to Snow Hill Island. Our favourite ship is Ultramarine, equipped with two helicopters which aim to provide all guests with a flightseeing opportunity, included in the expedition cost.

Look out for sailings with included opportunities for camping, helicopter flightseeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, which distinguish some Quark vessels from the competition. Those wishing to avoid the potentially bumpy journey across the Drake Passage can fly the Drake from Punta Arenas and join their ship at King George Island. This is an interesting option but one that may suffer from adverse weather conditions.

3. Scenic - Six-Star Luxury in Antarctica

Scenic Eclipse, Scenic Eclipse II and the new Scenic Ikon, Scenic's Discovery Yachts, offer high levels of luxury on board in Antarctica, with an exciting programme of adventures ashore. Extras include a helicopter and a submarine (both at additional charge) and kayaks. These three ships are some of the most luxurious vessels operating in Antarctica.

Scenic offers all-inclusive pricing and six-star service on your Antarctic expedition cruise, including butlers for every suite and all suites featuring a private verandah. You will have a wide range of dining options, and an outstanding spa enhances the experience on board. These are impressive features for such small ships, accommodating between 200 and 270 guests in Antarctica, giving everybody the opportunity for frequent landings.

4. The Revolutionary Ships of AE Expeditions

AE Expeditions have been operating in Antarctica since 1991, known by those outside of the UK as Aurora Expeditions. Their focus is on immersive experiences rather than onboard luxury, with an innovative range of activities including trekking, camping, scuba diving, sea kayaking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and climbing.

We are particularly impressed with AE Expeditions' modern ships. The Greg Mortimer, named after the company founder, arrived in 2019 and was joined by a sister ship, the Sylvia Earle, in 2022, with a third ship, Douglas Mawson, joining in 2025. They were the first expedition operator in the Antarctic to use the revolutionary X-BOW design, which offers a smoother sailing experience, reduces noise and vibrations, and results in reduced emissions.

5. Antarctica Voyages with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises have been operating in Antarctica since the early 1990s. They stand out for their consistently high Berlitz five-star rating. Three ships, Hanseatic Nature, Hanseatic Inspiration and Hanseatic Spirit, form their expedition fleet and now all operate bilingually (German and English), offering another option for UK travellers.

Hapag-Lloyd's experience in the area makes them a strong choice, and they often offer exceptionally unusual itineraries, such as semi and complete circumnavigations of Antarctica, as well as more traditional routes. Their knowledge of expedition operations makes for efficient landings and Zodiac excursions, and they have an outstanding team of experts, naturalists, expedition leaders and guides.

6. Icebreaker in Antarctica with Ponant

French cruise line Ponant's Antarctica programme includes voyages on sister yachts Le Boréal, Le Soléal, Le Lyrial and L'Austral, complemented by the high-tech and luxurious Le Commandant Charcot, the world's first electric hybrid polar icebreaker.

Le Commandant Charcot's icebreaking capabilities mean you can travel to areas of Antarctica that other ships cannot reach, including the Charcot and Peter I islands, the Weddell Sea, Snow Hill Island and the ice-covered Amundsen Sea, a remote region that remains mostly unexplored. Ponant's modern fleet is equipped with the latest environmentally friendly technology, including dynamic positioning and advanced wastewater treatment systems, helping them operate sensitively in this environment.

7. Luxury Antarctica Cruises with Seabourn

Luxury line Seabourn's Seabourn Venture and Pursuit launched in 2022 and 2023. The style on board is luxury Alpine meets modern hotel, and they offer strong discovery opportunities from their fleet of Zodiacs. They have a 26-person expedition team to ensure that every voyage is an enriching experience both on board and ashore. On certain Antarctica sailings you can join the Seabourn Images Masters group (at additional charge) for one-to-one photography tuition, photographer-guided Zodiac trips and more.

Activities such as kayaking, hikes, Zodiac rides and special events like Caviar on the Ice are all included, alongside the high levels of all-inclusive luxury and personalised service for which Seabourn is known.

8. Polar Pioneers: National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions' Antarctica Voyages

The pioneer Lars-Eric Lindblad led the first ever citizen-explorer expedition to Antarctica in 1966, inventing the concept of expedition travel. Experience matters, particularly when you are travelling way off the beaten track. For safety and insight, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, with hundreds of Antarctic expeditions under their belts, really stand out.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions' ships carry a whole range of Tools for Exploration: Zodiacs and kayaks of course, but also a remote-controlled crow's nest camera with real-time footage broadcast on video screens within each cabin; a video microscope to view Antarctica's invisible facets; and a hydrophone to listen in on whales. Their ice masters and expedition leaders are among the best, and include an undersea specialist aboard every voyage who dives to capture video footage shown in the ship's lounge. National Geographic Explorer and Orion are each equipped with an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) capable of exploring depths up to 1,000 feet, and their newest vessels, National Geographic Endurance and Resolution, have an X-Bow design and igloos on deck, so you can enjoy a night under the Antarctic sky (hot water bottle included). There is a National Geographic photographer on every departure.

9. Classic Antarctica Cruises with HX Expeditions

With over 100 years of experience operating the renowned Norwegian Coastal Voyage, taking equipment, post and people along the coast of Norway from Bergen every single day of the year, HX Expeditions is no stranger to operating hardy vessels in challenging waters.

They operate the 200-guest MS Fram and the newer 490-guest MS Roald Amundsen and sister ship MS Fridtjof Nansen. This pair of vessels are some of the largest in the region, which limits landings, but they offer a cost-effective option for an Antarctica expedition cruise.

On board they balance comfort with exploration. There is a choice of restaurants and a scenic centre. Accommodation is compact at the entry level but suites with balconies are available, or you could swap the comfort of the ship for camping ashore, either in a tent or, for the hardy, a bivvy bag.