Just a few decades ago, far-flung trips to Antarctica were mostly in the realm of scientific research teams, famed 20th-century explorers or a few lucky VIP travelers living the ultimate adventure. Today, though, more travelers check off the "White Continent" from their “bucket list” as they sail on a luxury Antarctica expedition cruise.
Luxury Travel Advisor sailed on Silversea’s 220-passenger Silver Endeavour on a recent Antarctica voyage. Heading to Paulet Island by Zodiac, we gazed in awe at wall-to-wall penguins waddling across the landscape with some leaping into the ocean. In fact, Paulet is home to 100,000 pairs of breeding Adelie Penguins. It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime moment—one of many—on our Antarctica cruise.
We journeyed to Antarctica on a Silversea “Antarctica Bridge” itinerary round-trip from King George Island, South Shetland Islands. We spent one night pre-cruise in Santiago, Chile, another night pre-cruise in Punta Arenas, Chile, and then boarded a Silversea-included charter flight to King George Island, which is just 75 miles off the Antarctica coastline. After a line-provided shuttle ride to the beach, and a quick Zodiac ride to Silver Endeavour, waiting just offshore, our Antarctica exploration began.
This “avoid-the-Drake” approach has become increasingly popular with more lines introducing new options. It offers two big benefits for travelers. First, it saves several days of ocean travel in both directions between South America and Antarctica. Second, it avoids the Drake Passage’s often choppy waters. Then after the cruise is over, guests board a Silversea-included charter air flight from King George Island back to Punta Arenas.
Silversea offers many of these “Antarctica Bridge” departures later this year through 2026. For instance, on November 7, 2025, Silver Endeavour will operate such a six-day voyage exploring the White Continent. Accompanied by an expert expedition team, guests will immediately head out for kayaking, polar hikes ashore and Zodiac rides and wet landings. During our cruise, we watched hikers step off the trail briefly to let penguins pass, and, per regulations, the waddling birds have the right of way.
At other times, guests riding in Zodiacs will get up close to an iceberg to view lounging seals. Silversea’s guests will also have opportunities to spot whales or catch speed-demon penguins leaping out of the water, sailing through the air, then diving back in—all in search of a meal.
In addition to Silver Endeavour, Silversea’s Silver Cloud and Silver Wind also operate Antarctica cruises; they typically carry 254 or 274 guests, respectively, but have reduced capacity in polar waters. Some travelers actually desire to cross the infamous Drake Passage as a “bucket list” adventure, so Silversea and other lines also offer other sailings from either Puerto Williams, Chile, or Ushuaia, Argentina; some cross the Drake in both directions, while others are a fly-one-way, take-the-Drake-the-other-way itinerary.
Antarctica continues to be a traveler magnet for Atlas Ocean Voyages. Owned by Mystic Invest Holdings, this small-ship expedition line plans 37 departures aboard its yacht fleet to Antarctica between October 2025 and March 2026. Guests can opt for seven- to 18-night voyages on the 196-passenger World Voyager, World Navigator or World Traveller.
Most voyages sail round-trip from Ushuaia, Argentina, but for a more immersive Antarctica experience without “the Drake,” guests can opt for Atlas’ seven-night “Drake Express” expeditions either round-trip or one-way from King George Island. Every voyage includes a pre-cruise hotel night stay in Buenos Aires or Punta Arenas. The Drake Express expeditions include private round-trip charter air flights. In addition, travelers will receive a complimentary pre-expedition cultural immersion experience to Tierra del Fuego or what the line terms, “A True Taste of Chile.”
During Atlas’ expeditions, guests will experience landings and Zodiac safaris to showcase the icy landscapes and spot wildlife and marine life. A full expedition team with knowledgeable naturalists, scientists and guides will escort guests and explain what they’re seeing. “Antarctic Discovery” expeditions sail a nine-night round-trip itinerary from Ushuaia, including up to four days at the Antarctic Peninsula. “Crossing the Antarctic Circle” expeditions sail 11 nights round-trip from Ushuaia and offer guests up to six days at the Antarctic Peninsula.
In response to overwhelming interest, Atlas also recently introduced two 18-night “Grand Antarctica & Beyond” expedition voyages, which call at the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the Falklands, and the South Orkney Islands; those are available December 18, 2025, and January 8, 2026, from Ushuaia.
New Antarctica Itineraries
For the first time on any Seabourn expedition vessel, the line will offer an 86-day “Across Three Continents: Oceania to Antarctica” voyage that touches Australia, South America and Antarctica. Departing from Broome, Australia to Ushuaia, Argentina on August 24, 2025, the 264-passenger Seabourn Pursuit will sail this robust itinerary, plus dozens of other new 2025 itineraries.
For guests who love lengthier vacations, the ultra-luxury ship will sail many other combination voyages too. For instance, guests might opt for a 75-day “New Guinea Islands to Patagonia and Antarctica” sailing, departing September 4, 2025, from Darwin, Australia to Ushuaia, Argentina. A 52-day “Fiji to the Chilean Coast and Antarctica” itinerary departs September 27, 2025, from Lautoka, Fiji, to Ushuaia, Argentina.
Between November 2025 through March 2026, Seabourn Pursuit and sister Seabourn Venture will also make 16 departures of 11- and 13-day voyages to Antarctica. Weather permitting, one possible spot guests will explore is Neko Harbour, a small cove that’s a place of cool winds, crackling sea ice and, at times, the distant thunder of glacial ice crashing into the sea to become icebergs.
On the Seabourn expedition ships, guests can expect eight dining experiences serving gourmet cuisine, and luxurious all-suite accommodations, including a pair of two-level Wintergarden suites. All the Antarctica winter season voyages that start in South America include a pre-cruise charter hotel stay in Buenos Aires and round-trip charter flights to Ushuaia, from where the ship will depart.
During Antarctica cruising, Seabourn’s guests will board Zodiacs to get close to icebergs and view marine life, such as whales and seals, plus they’ll observe penguin colonies up close. They’ll also join the ship’s expedition team members for walks, hikes and hillside climbs. Optional kayaking and submarine excursions will also be offered.
Small-ship Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic has also launched two new itineraries for Antarctica in 2025 aboard the recently refurbished National Geographic Explorer. One new eight-day “Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage” itinerary includes a round-trip charter air flight to/from King George Island across the Drake Passage, Antarctica cruising, and one night’s hotel stay on the way home in Puerto Natales, Chile.
The other itinerary is a 10-day “Antarctica Direct: Sail and Fly the Drake Passage” that includes embarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina, a two-day crossing of the Drake Passage, five days of exploring in Antarctica, and an included charter air return from King George Island. Recently revitalized, this expedition ship now has a sleek Scandinavian design with light oak wood, bronze features and textured aqua fabrics.
National Geographic Explorer’s suites now also include what the line calls a “command center” with technology and tools; those include a barometer, TV with ship navigation and entertainment, a National Geographic Atlas, multiple USB and other plugs, and an in-room espresso maker.
In total, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic will offer nearly 50 departures of seven unique Antarctica itineraries during the 2024-25 winter season. In addition to National Geographic Explorer, guests can opt for voyages on the 138-passenger National Geographic Endurance and sister National Geographic Resolution, both with an innovative X-Bow design that helps provide a smooth, comfortable ride.
New Expedition Ship
If guests are seeking a new ship for their vacation, Aurora Expeditions will set sail with the new 154-passenger Douglas Mawson (launching in 2025) for its new 2025-2026 Antarctica season, which also features Australia and New Zealand. Guests can also sail via Aurora to Antarctica on the Sylvia Earle and Greg Mortimer.
The line’s comprehensive Antarctica program will consist of 32 voyages that will visit the Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea, South Georgia, Ross Sea, East Antarctica, New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands and more. Four voyages will depart from two new departure ports—Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, or Dunedin, New Zealand.
For example, the 34-day “Epic Antarctica: Crossing the Seventh Continent” voyage by the Douglas Mawson will set sail from Dunedin to Ushuaia, Argentina on February 8, 2026. Guests can feel akin to such explorers as James Clark Ross, Roald Amundsen or Ernest Shackleton as they sail beyond the Antarctic Circle, uncover the wonders of the Ross Sea, explore the Antarctic Peninsula and see many sights in between.
After exploring, guests on the Douglas Mawson can head to the new ship’s back deck to swim in the heated outdoor swimming pool or soak in one of two whirlpools. The ship’s public spaces also include a gym, sauna, Citizen Science Centre, relaxation and wellness areas, a library, two restaurants and multiple observation areas. The ship’s design also features the Ulstein X-BOW and many enhanced sustainability features.
The top accommodation category on the new expedition ship is the 487-square-foot Captain’s Suite, but the ship also offers the line’s largest ever range of accommodations categories. One big plus for single travelers? The new Douglas Mawson will also offer 36 single berths (with no single supplement) throughout the 2025-2026 Antarctica season. In addition, two of Aurora’s voyages are “all-inclusive activity” cruises so snorkeling, paddling, camping, snowshoeing and other activities in Antarctica are included as part of the cruise fare.
Under the Sea
Guests on certain ships can explore not only via Zodiac or on foot ashore, but also in the air via a helicopter ride or underwater within a submersible. That’s the case on Scenic, which offers a full range of Antarctica expeditions, and recently added a new, custom-designed Triton 660/9 AVA submersible and four state-of-the-art SEABOBs to Scenic Eclipse II for that Discovery Yacht’s first season in the South Pacific, Australia and East Antarctica. The vessel accommodates 228 guests, fewer in polar regions.
Delivering 360-degree scenic views, this new Triton submersible accommodates eight passengers and one pilot. What’s unique? Fully certified (so assessed for safety by regulators), the submersible is the world’s first with a free-form, acrylic pressure hull design. It can carry guests to a depth of 656 feet under the ocean’s surface.
With a modular interior, the submersible can be re-configured in minutes, allowing for multiple underwater uses. It’s equipped with generous seating, integrated lighting, a high-fidelity surround audio system and air-conditioning. Triton also reports that Scenic has signed an LOI (letter of intent) with Triton to possibly provide two more submersibles of this model.
Separately, sister vessel Scenic Eclipse also sails Antarctica cruises including, for instance, a robust 22-day “Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands” itinerary on November 27, 2024, and February 28, 2025; that operates round-trip from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Scenic Eclipse also recently emerged from a drydock update. Among the enhancements? The Senses Spa has been updated to elevate the onboard wellness experiences and match what guests now experience on Scenic Eclipse II.
More Options
Swan Hellenic, which has a hefty cultural expedition emphasis for its three-ship fleet, reports that nearly 3,000 guests, most from the U.S. and the U.K. with some from Brazil and China, explored Antarctica during its most recent winter season. The line reports that bookings for the 2024-2025 Antarctic season are already equally strong. For its 2025-2026 winter season, both the 152-passengers Vega and the newly christened, 192-passenger Diana will offer nine- to 20-night itineraries.
As with the line’s other ships, Diana features a state-of-the-art gym, spa, panoramic sauna, club room and swimming pool with poolside grill. But Diana also has some key enhancements. Most notable is the dedicated presentation and lecture theater overlooking the lounge, as well as onboard tender boats to take guests ashore (in addition to the Zodiacs).
In addition, Viking, Ponant, HX and other expedition lines also sail to Antarctica. Given strong traveler demand for this “bucket list” travel experience at the end of the Earth, choices are on the rise, year after year. If travelers are eco-enthusiasts and love icy, snowy, serene natural scenery and wildlife, an Antarctica voyage is simply priceless.
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