Sailed · February 2024
World Navigator
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Eleven days from Buenos Aires, including a night camping ashore at Eckener Point.
Antarctica expedition planning
Plan Antarctica with people who've been there.
We've sailed to Antarctica twice, on two very different ships, and toured seven more of the ships that sail there. We'll help you choose the voyage, the ship and the cabin that fit you.
Still researching? Read our Antarctica guide →
No planning fees · You pay the same as booking direct · Antarctica sailed twice
The ship shapes your Antarctica more than the brochure does.
Two people can book Antarctica in the same week and come home with very different trips. The ship, the route and the cabin change the experience more than the destination does.
01
The ship.
How many guests it carries decides how quickly everyone gets ashore. Only 100 people may land at one Antarctic site at a time.
02
The route.
Crossing the Drake, flying over it, or adding South Georgia and the Falklands are three different trips.
03
The cabin.
Where you sleep matters on the Drake. We'll tell you where your money is well spent and where it isn't.
Where our advice comes from
Every recommendation we make comes from a ship we've been aboard or a place we've stood. Where we haven't been, we say so.
Sailed · December 2024
Greg Mortimer
Aurora Expeditions
Ten days round trip from Ushuaia, with whales in the bay all day at Danco Island.
Ships we've toured that also sail Antarctica
Toured in port, not sailed. Each ship page says who toured it and when.
Our adventure to Churchill was more than I ever dreamed. Glacial Expeditions set us up with a couple of unforgettable trips this year: Antarctica back in January and Churchill, Manitoba more recently. We told them what we were looking for and they made it happen.
Angela R. · Antarctica & Churchill · More client reviews
Three ways to see Antarctica
These are the three trips most of our clients choose between. Exact dates, ships and fares change every season, so we quote live departures on the call.
We've sailed this
Cross the Drake to the Peninsula.
10 to 12 days from Ushuaia.
The classic trip, and the one we've done twice. Two days crossing the Drake each way, then four or five days of landings and Zodiac cruising.
We plan these
Fly over the Drake.
Punta Arenas to King George Island.
More time on the Peninsula and no Drake crossing, at a higher fare. Weather can delay flights.
We haven't flown it ourselves.
We plan these
Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands.
Roughly 18 to 21 days.
King penguin colonies and Shackleton history, on a longer, higher-priced voyage.
We haven't sailed this route yet.
Not sure which fits? That's exactly what the call is for. Book a free 30-minute call.
Hosted group departure
Join Erika in Antarctica: February 2027
Erika is hosting a small group to the Antarctic Peninsula aboard HX's Fridtjof Nansen, sister ship to the Roald Amundsen, which we toured together in Boston. She'll be traveling with the group the whole way.
- Dates
- February 17–28, 2027
- Ship
- Fridtjof Nansen, HX
- Route
- Buenos Aires, a charter flight to Ushuaia, the Drake Passage, then five days on the Antarctic Peninsula
- Length
- 1 hotel night in Buenos Aires plus a 10-night expedition cruise
- Included
- the hotel night and charter flights, all meals, wine, beer and spirits, gratuities, an expedition jacket to keep, Wi-Fi, and escorted landings with boots and poles on loan
- Not included
- international flights, travel insurance, and optional activities such as camping and kayaking
From $11,264 per person, double occupancy (ocean view), as of October 2026. Solo pricing on request.
This departure is hosted through Journey with Erika, our hosted group travel brand.
No planning fees. You pay the same as booking direct.
Working with us doesn't add to the fare. What you get is someone who has stood in the mudroom of these ships, comparing them for you, explaining the cabin differences, and staying with you through departure. Here's how we're paid.
On your own
- Research several operators
- Compare ships you haven't seen
- Decode cabin categories
- Line up flights, hotels and insurance yourself
With us
- Ship advice from experience
- Two or three real options, with what's actually included
- Cabin guidance
- Help with flights, pre-cruise nights and insurance
- Someone to call through departure
How planning works
A 30-minute call, no obligation. Tell us when you can travel, what you want to see and your budget.
We come back with two or three real options: ships, cabins, dates and what's included.
You decide. Payment goes directly to the cruise line.
We stay with it through departure.
Questions about planning Antarctica
Does it cost more to book Antarctica through you?
No. There are no planning fees, and you pay the same as booking direct with the cruise line. Here's how we're paid.
How do I choose the right ship?
Start with size. Only 100 people can be ashore at one Antarctic site at a time, so smaller ships get everyone off quicker. Then look at the expedition team, the mudroom and how the ship handles the Drake.
Is a smaller ship always better?
Not always. Smaller ships land faster; larger ships can be more stable and offer more space.
Should I cross the Drake or fly over it?
Crossing costs less and is part of the experience; flying saves about four days at sea and costs more. We've crossed it twice.
How far ahead should I book?
Twelve to eighteen months ahead for the best choice of ships and cabins.
What happens on the planning call?
Thirty minutes, no obligation. We talk about dates, budget and what you want to see, then we follow up with two or three real options.
More detail on seasons, costs and wildlife in our full Antarctica guide.
Let's find your Antarctica.
Thirty minutes on the phone, no obligation. We'll narrow the ships, routes and departures worth considering, and tell you honestly if now isn't the right time to book.
Erika Commisso
Travel Experience Architect · CLIA Elite Cruise Counselor · ASTA Verified Travel Advisor · Signature Travel Expert
Chris Commisso
Expedition Expert · Signature Travel Expert
Co-founders of Glacial Expeditions
Prefer to call? 920-659-2960
By Chris Commisso and Erika Commisso
Last reviewed