Antarctica Cruises

[CaptainCurtis]

Life is short, and with my proximity being in the US, I am considering doing an Antarctica cruise. Bucket list stuff obviously, and I have plenty of leave to take.

Looking firstly to hear who has done one, and for any help with things such as:

• Best time to go
• Recommended itineraries and durations. Have seen there are options up to 22 days which I’m not opposed to
• Recommended expedition lines, noting I’ll be going solo. I’ve heard Ponant is a good option.
• Best way to book

 

[DC3]

Life is short, and with my proximity being in the US, I am considering doing an Antarctica cruise

Arctic cruises, also?

 

[VPS]

I went with Seabourn as a solo traveller and loved it

Thread 'On the Quest to see pingüinos'

Jan 21, 2020

So a little play on words here but I'm on the Seabourn Quest heading for Antarctica. I had hoped that I could do a live TR but the speed of the Internet (and the cost) on board isn't going to make that possible. I have been writing up my TR each day so when I get home I will be able to write it up reasonably quickly.

I only booked this trip three weeks before the cruise started and many of the people on board are seasoned Seabourn travellers (I've met some that have done about 15 Seabourn and 70 cruises all up).

We are now on two sea days having just left Ushuaia and one of the...

• VPS
• Replies: 241
• Forum: Trip Reports

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• 

There is also this thread

Post in thread 'Planning an Antarctic expedition type cruise'

Aug 23, 2022

Yes, I've recently re-checked out your TR and the Penguinos . I will, but at the moment its the Devil I know ...

We did Ponant to Antarctica. Itinerary included South Georgia which was wonderful. To be truthful, I felt Silversea was better for a number of reasons. Lectures were in French and then an English version later - quality of English lecturers much poorer than French. Though if fluent in French would be fine. Food was very average I felt. Zodiac experience still great though.

• love_the_life

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• 

And I think @love_the_life did a Ponant cruise to Antarctica

Happy to answer any questions but I very much enjoyed a few days in Buenos Aires before I came home

 

[zig]

The longer itineraries generally include South Georgia and the Falkland Islands which you should definitely try to include.
As small a vessel as possible will ensure that you have more time on land.
I went with Silversea and would recommend them. The solo supplement with them though could be a disadvantage.
Regardless of when you go in the season I'm sure you will enjoy the experience.

 

[RooFlyer]

• Best time to go
• Recommended itineraries and durations. Have seen there are options up to 22 days which I’m not opposed to
• Recommended expedition lines, noting I’ll be going solo. I’ve heard Ponant is a good option.
• Best way to book

Once in a lifetime - try not to go budget.

Best time to go - early in the season (before, or at Christmas), before the penguin cough is everywhere.

Recc itineraries Definitely do the Falklands and especially South Georgia. The latter arguably a better experience than the Antarctic continent. Two weeks, then the longer the better!

Recc lines. I did SilverSea as a solo and it was great. TR here.

Thread 'Chile and Antarctica cruise'

Dec 12, 2023

I haven't begun this TR until I'm sitting here in the Qantas F Lounge at Sydney, waiting for my flight to Santiago, mainly because there have been so many issues to date, I wondered if I'd ever make it this far.

But what is planned:

Flights are all revenue, except the VA one first.
HBA-SYD, VA J
SYD-SCL , QF J
SCL-MVD, LATAM Y (bumped to the next day due to late SYD-SCL, was originally booked PE )
MVD-SCL LATAM PE
SCL-PWU Charter flight, effectively Eurobusiness
Cruise
PWU-SCL charter, 'Eurobusiness'
SCL-SYD, QF J
SYD-HBA, VA J



Cruise is SilverSeas, 19 days...

• RooFlyer
• Replies: 336
• Forum: Trip Reports

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But must be a small, expedition vessel <250pax. If you don't know what expedition is, pls ask.

I cruise on Ponant a lot, as there are lots of cruises with no single supplement (you pay 1 fare for a cabin) but for Antarctica I think anyone should aspire for a better experience, like SilverSea or Seabourn. The French/Anglo thing on Ponant has drawbacks. You will probably pay a single supplement on SS or Seabourn (I paid 25% with SS and that was a good deal). If you look at Ponant, or anyone, watch the timing of the cruise - is it no single supplement, but at the cough end of the season?

Best way to book. With a cruise specialist Travel Agent. They can advise on the various lines, prices etc and if its a Virtuoso agent, there are on board credits and other stuff. Not to sway you one way or another, but nice if it comes in. Check out the various lines - and see the 'Solo travellers' thread VPS started recently

Thread 'Solo traveller deals'

Jan 1, 2026

I know there are few solo travellers on this site so thought it might be worth having a dedicated thread for deals with no or reduced single supplement

I found this site that might help

Solo Travel Tips, Destinations & Deals for Those Who Travel Alone

Solo travel tips and advice from experts and real travelers. For over 10 years, Solo Traveler has been THE source for those who travel alone.

solotravelerworld.com

• VPS
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Cheap Flights & Travel Deals

• 

... then talk to a TA. I can put you in touch with a very good 'bricks and mortar' TA who is a cruise specialist and has booked me all round the place. DM me, if you like.

 

[k_sheep]

• Best time to go
  • Now! As soon as you can! Just go. To echo rooflyer, we went end nov/early dec and it was great because it was all fresh and clean. But next time we'll go end season (Feb) to try to get below antarctic circle.
• Recommended itineraries and durations. Have seen there are options up to 22 days which I’m not opposed to
  • 100% go to South Georgia. Unlike anything else on earth. Go to Antarctica for ice, but to SG for wildlife.
• Recommended expedition lines, noting I’ll be going solo. I’ve heard Ponant is a good option.
  • For solo Ponant is great. Most of their ships can house 260+ pax, and they limit the Antarctic to less than 200 (you can only have 100 on the continent at any time) so lots of options there.
• Best way to book
  • Travel agents can get you perks - I tend to DIY but I use an agent for these things and she got me all sorts of freebies and discounts.

 

[VPS]

South Georgia was on our itinerary, but the weather wasn’t on our side so you do have to be a bit pragmatic about what will happen

 

[JohnM]

It's a long time since I went (2013) and that was on a real expedition vessel (<100 pax) - but that meant we could land the full pax complement every time, given the 100 pax at a time landing limit in Antarctica.

One of the fun things was spending a night sleeping in swags on the ice, listening to the cracking and rumbling.

Probably nothing like that operates any more.

Anyway, this old TR may be informative or of some interest: Pushing uphill in Patagonia and chilling in Antarctica

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Thank you all for the generous feedback!

Arctic cruises, also?

Patience, grasshopper. Maybe next year!

I did SilverSea as a solo and it was great. TR here.

I cruise on Ponant a lot, as there are lots of cruises with no single supplement (you pay 1 fare for a cabin) but for Antarctica I think anyone should aspire for a better experience, like SilverSea or Seabourn. You will probably pay a single supplement on SS or Seabourn (I paid 25% with SS and that was a good deal).

I went with Seabourn as a solo traveller and loved it

I went with Silversea and would recommend them. The solo supplement with them though could be a disadvantage.

Did you find the extra cost justified the additional luxuries - nicer meals, better service and larger room? Or would you have loved it as much without these? That ultimately seems to be the biggest decision I have to make.

The French/Anglo thing on Ponant has drawbacks.

And I think @love_the_life did a Ponant cruise to Antarctica

@love_the_life did you find the French influence distracted from the overall experience?

The longer itineraries generally include South Georgia and the Falkland Islands which you should definitely try to include.

Recc itineraries Definitely do the Falklands and especially South Georgia. The latter arguably a better experience than the Antarctic continent. Two weeks, then the longer the better!

South Georgia was on our itinerary, but the weather wasn’t on our side so you do have to be a bit pragmatic about what will happen

100% go to South Georgia. Unlike anything else on earth. Go to Antarctica for ice, but to SG for wildlife.

HX Hurtigruten Expeditions

Regardless of when you go in the season I'm sure you will enjoy the experience.

Best time to go - early in the season (before, or at Christmas), before the penguin cough is everywhere.

Early in the season appears to be best for landscapes and wildlife (excl whales). Is October too early? October/November are best from a leave perspective too.

Best way to book. With a cruise specialist Travel Agent. They can advise on the various lines, prices etc and if its a Virtuoso agent, there are on board credits and other stuff. Not to sway you one way or another, but nice if it comes in. Check out the various lines - and see the 'Solo travellers' thread VPS started recently

Thread 'Solo traveller deals'

Jan 1, 2026

I know there are few solo travellers on this site so thought it might be worth having a dedicated thread for deals with no or reduced single supplement

I found this site that might help

Solo Travel Tips, Destinations & Deals for Those Who Travel Alone

Solo travel tips and advice from experts and real travelers. For over 10 years, Solo Traveler has been THE source for those who travel alone.

solotravelerworld.com

• VPS
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Cheap Flights & Travel Deals

• 

... then talk to a TA. I can put you in touch with a very good 'bricks and mortar' TA who is a cruise specialist and has booked me all round the place. DM me, if you like.

Travel agents can get you perks - I tend to DIY but I use an agent for these things and she got me all sorts of freebies and discounts.

I would love some assistance with this, as I'm new to cruises. I reached out to a local travel agent specialising in cruises, Swoop Antarctica, explained my broad requirements around timing (Oct/Nov), itinerary (South Georgia Island and the Falklands) and that I am a solo traveller, with a flexible budget although looking to start around the $25K USD mark. They came back with the following 3 options:

1. HX Hurtigruten Expeditions - Life Returns | Springtime Expedition Cruise to Antarctica at $23K on MS Fram with an Outside Cabin view room.
   • 23 days all up, starting in Buenos Aires and finishing in Punta Arenas with a flight to Santiago.
   • 3 days in Falklands, 3 days in South Georgia & 5 days in Antarctica
   • Outside cabin located on decks 5/6, includes a window, no balcony.
   • Departing October 16th - is this too early?
   • Guest capacity up to 200
2. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions - Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falklands at $30K on NG Explorer with a single room on the main deck.
   • 22 days all up, starting and finishing in Ushuaia with flights to/from Buenos Aires.
   • 5 days in Antarctica, 3 days South Georgia & 3 days Falklands
   • Single cabin located on main deck, includes a window or 2 portholes.
   • Departing October 30th
   • Guest capacity 128
3. Oceanwide Expeditions - Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula at $28K on Hondius with a twin bed room.
   • 21 days all up, starting in Puerto Madryn and finishing in Ushuaia. No flights included.
   • 2 days in Falklands, 4 days in South Georgia and 4 days in Antarctica
   • Twin porthole room on deck 3
   • Departing November 3rd
   • Guest capacity 170

Agent acknowledged the third option is somewhat of a wildcard. It seems like it's between HX/Ponant as cheaper options vs looking at National Geographic and pricing on SS/Seabourn.

Would love a connection to your TA @RooFlyer, as long as they're happy to work with me living in the US. I'll DM you.

One of the fun things was spending a night sleeping in swags on the ice, listening to the cracking and rumbling.

Funnily enough, the agent I spoke to today said camping on the ice is still possible - certainly piqued my interest.

 

[VPS]

I must admit I liked the little bit extra luxury but I'm much older than you. I also have a number of people that say get the cheapest cabin but I do like to be able to have room service breakfast and retreat to my room when I am peopled out. Seabourn were great with solo travellers with regard to putting you on a table with one of the staff each night until you get to meet a few people.

Happy to answer any other questions

Here is the link to another TR Pursuing pingu the penguin

 

[RooFlyer]

Did you find the extra cost justified the additional luxuries - nicer meals, better service and larger room? Or would you have loved it as much without these? That ultimately seems to be the biggest decision I have to make.

Antarctica is all about the scenery and animals. I could do without the additional frills, but I took the position since there was a bit of extra money available to me at the time, and once-in-a-lifetime, do it in some comfort.

With SilverSea, the main benefit was a bigger cabin (over Ponant) which on a long-ish cruise can make a difference, and a wider choice of restaurants on board; that was def less important for me. The SilverSea charter down to the departure port was better than Ponant's from CDG to Spitzbergen as another example.

Other Qs prob best put to the TA I'll DM you.

 

[Princess Pia]

I just came back from a trip in Nov this year. We went with Polar Latitudes on the Ocean Albatros and had a fantastic experience. Our trip was a 13 day itinerary, with 6 days in Antartica. I would have loved to do South Georgia /falklands but unfortunately it just wasn’t in the budget for me. We booked through Polar Tracks expeditions…all of the agents are either current or former Antartica / Artic guides so they have brilliant knowledge of all the ships and really work at matching what you want to do/see with what is available. There was no pressure either which was different to experiences with other companies I made enquiries with.