9 Best Small Ship Expedition Cruises to Antarctica

Travel Advice
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An expedition cruise to Antarctica is a truly remarkable adventure, a voyage to a pristine land of ice and snow, populated by an all-star cast of penguins, seals and whales. These are 9 of the best Antarctica cruise ships and expedition cruises to Antarctica to book now.

But with ever more expedition cruises visiting the 'White Continent', it can be tricky to work out which ship is the right one for you. As you would expect, trips to Antarctica are not cheap, so this is an important decision to get right. For some travellers, luxury and comfort will be of the utmost importance, while others will be more concerned with the quality of the onboard expedition team or the tools and gadgets on offer to facilitate in-depth exploration.

With this in mind, we've put together this guide to the best Antarctic expedition cruises.

9 of the best expedition cruises to Antarctica to book now

1. Silversea Expeditions

Excitingly, in 2022 the new Silver Endeavour, formerly the Crystal Endeavour, replaced Silver Explorer in the area leaving Silversea operating one of the best and most luxurious purpose-built expeditions vessels in the region; along with their ships Silver Cloud and Silver Wind, which both joined the expedition fleet after being converted from a 'classic' ship in 2017 and 2022 respectively, offering enhanced comfort levels on board.

The Silversea all-inclusive proposition ensures you avoid any added extras to the (admittedly high) up-front cost. Most cruises depart from Ushuaia or Puerto Williams, and Silversea offer a chartered air connection from Buenos Aires or Santiago. You can also avoid the Drake Passage crossing with Silversea's 'Antarctica Bridge' itineraries, which include return flights between Punta Arenas and King George Island, though some would argue that if you haven't sailed the Drake, you haven't really been to Antarctica!

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

best-antarctica-cruises

2. Quark Expeditions

Quark's expertise is specifically polar - they focus on Arctic and Antarctic sailings only. With a variety of Antarctica cruise ships and price points, you have quite a choice of different itineraries, including a rare opportunity to sail as far south as the Antarctic Circle (66 degrees 33). Of their fleet we recommend the Ultramarine, their newest vessel and the first fully Quark-owned and operated ship and the World Explorer, which launched in 2019.

Look out for sailings with included opportunities for camping, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding, 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 in King George Island. This is an interesting option but one that may suffer from adverse weather conditions.

best-antarctica-cruises

Find out more about Antarctica...

Our expedition cruising guide to Antarctica will tell you everything you need to know, including when to visit, what to see and how to get there.

3. Lindblad Expeditions

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, Lindblad, with hundreds of Antarctic expeditions under their belts, really stand out.

Lindblad 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 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 also each equipped with an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) capable of exploring depths up to 1,000 feet. What's more, there's a National Geographic photographer on every departure.

Linblad Expeditions - National Geographic Explorer

4. AE Expeditions (part of Aurora Expeditions)

AE Expeditions have been operating in Antarctica since 1991, perviously under the name Aurora Expeditions, with a focus on immersive experiences rather than onboard luxury. They offer an innovative range of activities in Antarctica, including trekking, camping, scuba diving, sea kayaking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and climbing.

We are particularly impressed with AE Expedition's modern ships. The Greg Mortimer, named after company founder, arrived in 2019 and was joined by a sister ship, the Sylvia Earle, in 2022. The the first expedition vessel 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.

Aurora Expeditions - Greg Mortimer

5. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Hapag-Lloyd's much loved Hanseatic recently retired after wintering in Antarctica since the early '90s, and Hapag was for years the only luxury operator in the area, with a stand-out Berlitz five star rating. Three exciting new ships - Hanseatic Nature, Hanseatic Inspiration and Hanseatic Spirit - have now joined the fleet, bringing a new level of luxury to Hapag's polar operation. Hanseatic Inspiration will be of the greatest interest to English-speaking travellers, as the ship operates bilingually, whereas the other two are German-speaking only.

To make the most of your extraordinary Antarctica voyage, you need high levels of expertise from the operator. The key issues are of course safety, an efficient and speedy operation for landings and zodiac excursions, and an outstanding team of experts, naturalists, expedition leaders and guides. As regular visitors to the area, Hapag-Lloyd have rightly achieved a prestigious status and reputation amongst experts and customers alike, and will ensure a very special Antarctica experience.

Hanseatic Nature in Antarctica

6. Ponant

French cruise line Ponant is another operator investing in new hardware, with an incredible six new expedition yachts arriving over the last couple of years. Their Antarctica programme includes voyages on sister yachts Le Boréal, Le Soléal, Le Lyrial and L'Austral and the high-tech Explorer Class with ice-strengthened hulls. Also kitted out for polar exploration is the luxurious Le Commandant Charcot, the world's first electric hybrid polar icebreaker and revolutionary in the industry.

Ponant takes guests to areas of Antarctica that other ships can't reach, including the Charcot and Peter I islands, the Weddell Sea and the ice-covered Amundsen Sea, a truly remote region that remains mostly unexplored. Ponant's new ships are equipped with the latest environmentally friendly tech, including dynamic positioning and advanced waste water treatment systems, and all of your meals, drinks and excursions are included.

Ponant - Le Commandant Charcot hybrid icebreaker

7. Seabourn

Luxury line Seabourn have been slowly edging into the expedition arena over the last few years, introducing their 'Ventures by Seabourn' programme of excursions by zodiac and kayak in selected destinations. So it was no great surprise when plans for two purpose-built expedition ships were announced for Antarctica sailings.

The first, Seabourn Venture, launched in 2022, with interiors by designer Adam D Tihany and high-tech toys including a pair of six-seater submarines whilst Seabourn Pursuit has recently launched. Antarctica is a key destination for the new ships, building on the successful Antarctic programme developed on board Seabourn Quest. The Ventures by Seabourn programme allows you to dip into the more adventure-minded activities as and when you feel like it, while enjoying the high levels of all-inclusive luxury and personalised service that Seabourn is renowned for. This is a great option for those who are not quite sure yet whether expedition cruising is right for them.

best-antarctica-cruises

8. Scenic

Scenic Eclipse, Scenic's 'Discovery Yacht', launched in summer 2019, and offers high levels of luxury on board in Antarctica, with an exciting programme of adventures ashore. Extras include a helicopter, a submarine (at an additional charge) and kayaks, and the ship is equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Almost identical sister ship Scenic Eclipse II also recently launched, and both are some of the most luxurious vessels operating in Antarctica.

Expect all-inclusive pricing and 6-star service on your Antarctic expedition cruise - including butlers for every suite, and all suites featuring a private verandah. Lots of dining options and an outstanding spa will enhance your experience on board, and guest numbers are restricted to 200 in Antarctica to give the opportunity for frequent landings.

best-antarctica-cruises

9. Hurtigruten Expeditions

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

More recently their purpose-built expedition ship Fram has begun venturing to another hemisphere during our winter to explore the Southern Seas, and two high-tech new expedition ships, Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, joined the fleet in 2019 and 2020 respectively. The Hurtigruten vessels are some of the largest in the region, which limits landings, but they offer an excellent cost effective option.

Hurtigruten - MS Fram in Antarctica
Meet the author

Edwina Lonsdale is Managing Director and together with husband Matthew, owner of Mundy Adventures. Her most recent adventure was a cruise on Silver Origin and she has also sailed with Seabourn, Ponant and Aqua Expeditions. Her favourite adventure destination is the Galapagos however she's also enjoyed cruises in the Middle East, East Africa & Indian Ocean, Brahmaputra, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Mekong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and the Arctic. When she’s not travelling she loves reading, food and wine.

More about Edwina

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