Plan
What an Expedition Cruise Actually Costs.
Expedition cruise fares generally start around $1,000 per person per night. A seven-night Galápagos voyage typically runs about $7,000 per person; Antarctica runs roughly $9,000 to $48,000 depending on cruise line, cabin category, and itinerary. Fares usually include meals, Zodiac landings, and the expedition team. Flights and pre-cruise hotels are normally extra.
Why expedition cruises cost more than ordinary cruises
Expedition ships carry far fewer guests than ordinary cruise ships, sail to places with no port infrastructure, and carry a team of naturalists and a fleet of Zodiacs to get you ashore. The cost of operating in remote waters is spread across a small number of cabins rather than thousands.
What's included in the fare
Most expedition fares cover your cabin, all meals aboard, Zodiac landings, and the expedition team and their lectures. Many polar operators also provide a parka to keep and loan you waterproof boots for the voyage.
- Your cabin
- All meals aboard
- Zodiac landings
- The expedition team and their lectures
- Often a parka and loaned boots
What's almost never included
The fare is not the whole trip. International flights, hotels before and after the voyage, transfers, travel insurance, gratuities on some lines, and optional activities are billed separately and are worth budgeting for from the start.
- International flights
- Pre- and post-cruise hotels
- Transfers
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities on some lines
- Optional activities such as kayaking or camping
What drives the price up or down
Two people on the same ship can pay very different fares. Cabin category and ship size account for much of the difference, and the season, the way you cross to the peninsula, and the length of the itinerary account for the rest.
- Cabin category
- Ship size
- Season
- Whether you fly or sail the Drake
- Whether the itinerary adds South Georgia or the Falklands
When paying more is worth it
Paying more is worth it when it buys time ashore rather than square footage. A smaller ship, a longer itinerary, or a season that matches the wildlife you came for changes the voyage itself. A larger cabin does not.
Written by your expedition advisor
Chris Commisso · Expedition Expert
Chris and Erika have personally sailed 18 expedition ships and explored eight expedition regions.
Last updated .
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