Chimu Blog UPDATED JUNE 2023
Antarctica may be just one continent but it offers avid explorers a nearly endless array of experiences. To narrow down the choices we have compiled a list of the 10 best departures for the upcoming seasons. From the classic cruising experience to the highest concentration of wildlife, best whale-watching experience and over to the most overwhelming icebergs of all – we’ve got a cruise that’s just right for you.
The 10 Best Cruises to Antarctica – here in all their freezing glory!
1. The classic Antarctica cruise
2. The short & sweet flyover Antarctica cruise
3. The wildlife bonanza Antarctica cruise
4. The furthest south Antarctica cruise
5. The wildest and longest Antarctica cruise
6. The most affordable Antarctica cruise
7. The Christmas Antarctica cruise
8. The solar eclipse Antarctica cruise
9. The first Antarctica cruise of the year
10. The best whale-watching Antarctica cruise
1. The Classic Antarctica Cruise
11-day Classic Antarctica
For a titillating introduction to the splendours of the continent, a classic Antarctica cruise is an unrivalled choice. Set sail aboard the comfortable and spacious polar expedition vessel, the Ocean Endeavour to give you the best of the stunning South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula in 11 days. Embark in Ushuaia at the southern tip of South America and conquer the famed Drake Passage to bring you to the spectacular frozen wilderness of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Explore the natural environment and close-up encounters with wildlife via forward-facing zodiac’s and on foot. For the adventurous, take a kayak and drift among the sea ice and sculptured icebergs, spend a night on the 7th continent under the stars or snowshoe in the footsteps of past explorers. Walk among enormous penguin rookeries, encounter basking seals and their playful pups and search for humpback, minke and orca whales. Onboard, enjoy talks on regional history, zoology and geology by experts. Pamper yourself with a spa treatment or simply relax with a yoga class. A voyage like this will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
2. The Short & Sweet (one way) Flyover Antarctica Cruise
6-day Antarctica Express Air Cruise
If you’ve heard about that pesky Drake Passage – simultaneously the most exciting and dreaded Antarctica cruising portion for so many – then the Antarctica Express Air Cruise option will tickle your fancy. Likewise, if you have but 6 days to dedicate to your Antarctica expedition – this cruise just gets the job done in less time.
The idea behind this option is that you do cross the Drake from Ushuaia but only once, flying back from King George Island on the South Shetlands on the return trip (a reverse option is also available). And, if you really can’t face crossing the Drake Passage by ship at all, we also have a few flyover cruises departing from Punta Arenas, whereby you can soak up all the superlative Antarctica cruising experiences but can save time (and potential seasickness) by flying in and out of King George.
3. The Wildlife Bonanza Antarctica Cruise
21-day Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands
Let’s be clear about one aspect of all Antarctica cruises: aside from magnificent wilderness journeys, they are all unparalleled wildlife-watching adventures. Yet some cruises manage to add a crazy injection of extra animal encounters by visiting the remote Falkland and South Georgia islands, the latter home to one of the largest king penguin colonies on our planet.
This is a spectacle that’s absolutely worth seeing. Naturally, itineraries that include stop-overs on South Georgia are longer and more expensive (unless you bag a super special deal early) so expect to set aside about three weeks for a Falklands & South Georgia Antarctica cruise.
See more South Georgia cruise options
4. The Furthest South Antarctica Cruise
14-day Quest for the Antarctic Circle
If you’re an avid explorer who prefers heading off on a ‘quest’ rather than a ‘cruise’ than an Antarctic Circle expedition has your name all over it. On a 14-day itinerary, you’ll sail further south than on any other cruise from Ushuaia, crossing the legendary Antarctic Circle line, exploring little-visited bays and joining the illustrious company of the select few who have ever managed to explore this far. The Quest for the Antarctic Circle expedition sets off at the heart of the southern summer and runs through until March. Plan your journey to Antarctica from mid-December onwards and come see a side of Antarctica not many people ever get to experience.
Click HERE for more Antarctic Circle cruise options
5. The Wildest and Longest Antarctica Cruise
30-days In the Wake of Scott and Shackleton
Lovers of superlatives will do no better than epic Antarctica cruises departing from Australian and New Zealand. These are very special journeys: they not only last longer given the extra distance from the blinding white peninsula but they visit the least-known region of the continent – East Antarctica – which also happens to be the most historic and wildest of all. Follow in the footsteps of 20th-century exploratory giants and you’ll be in for the absolute adventure of a lifetime.
In the Wake of Scott and Shackleton retraces the waves of some of history’s most revered explorers, crossing the marine life-enriched Ross Sea, visiting sites of prime historical value and encountering gargantuan icebergs the likes of which you simply won’t see in the west. Astonishing, jaw-dropping landscapes coupled with an epic sea voyage that’s not for the faint of heart – this exclusive experience is simply life-changing.
Do note that this kind of voyage is made only twice a year so bookings ahead are essential. Hop aboard the Spirit of Enderby, a superbly ice-strengthened expedition that is in a class all her own.
6. The Most Affordable Antarctica Cruise
11-day Discover Antarctica
A little while back we announced our exclusive affordable Antarctica charters aimed at anyone whose icy southern dreams are kept at bay by pricier expeditions – we’ve got you covered@ For the next two years, Chimu Adventures is teaming up with the exceptional Ocean Endeavour to offer the most affordable Antarctica cruises on the market. You need not worry that you’ll be comprising on quality, inclusions or safety: The Ocean Endeavour is one of the most respected ice-strengthened vessels in Antarctica.
We’ve simply gone and made it the best value-for-money expedition cruise of all. Why? Because the way we see it, our planet’s last remaining truly pristine continent should be within everyone’s reach. Everyone needs to grasp the kind of natural treasures we all need to protect and one will never understand if one will never experience.
See the full range of Ocean Endeavour expeditions on offer.
7. The Christmas Antarctica Cruise
11-day Christmas in Antarctica
Christmas is a wonderful time of year to spend with our loved ones but, truth be told, it is also the most stressful week of the year for so many people. Need an excuse to escape the rigmarole? Join us for an incomparable white Christmas expedition you’ll never forget aboard our chartered ship, the Ocean Endeavour. This classic Antarctica journey with a difference will see your end-of-year-holidays brimming with penguins, whales, seals and iceberg visual feasting. Choose this 11-day Christmas cruise to Antarctica and you could spend the most magical time of year in the most magical place on earth.
8. The First Antarctica Cruise of the Year
FALKLANDS, SOUTH GEORGIA & ANTARCTIC ISLANDS
Challenge. Desolation. Unlimited wonder. It’s not difficult to grasp what attracted the great explorers to Antarctica. Get a personal appreciation for the struggle to tame the bottom of the world on this 22-day adventure to the land that entranced Ernest Shackleton and countless others since. Down here, you’ll explore the Falkland Islands, discover abandoned whaling stations on South Georgia Island, and pay your respects at Shackleton’s grave. Encounter penguins (king, chinstrap, and gentoo varieties) learning all about them through daily lectures, get close to whales and cavorting seals from a Zodiac boat and keep an eye peeled for towering icebergs and massive glaciers. Prepare to be astonished.
9. The Best Whale-Watching Antarctica Cruise
11-day Antarctic Whale Journey
Late season cruises boast a similar advantage to early-season cruises as far as bargain prices are concerned yet they also offer an additional benefit. Whales. Lots and lots of whales. And a crazy concentration of other wildlife too.
February is considered the best Antarctica cruising month if whale-watching is your main priority as, by then, the southern seas are brimming with the colossal beasts, either lingering in the nutrient-enriched waters or starting their migration north already. Travel to Antarctica in February and you’ll also encounter all those penguin chicks that hatched a couple of months ago, except they’re bigger now, fluffier and much more active.
The same goes for those blubbery seal pups, all too curious and eager for close-up human encounters. Sure, you won’t encounter ‘pristine’ landing sites (by this time of year they will have been trodden on innumerable times) yet the wildlife benefits, the sunsets and the greater value-for-money can more than make up for a few muddy beaches. Because, at the end of the day, a muddy beach in Antarctica is still better than a non-trodden beach anywhere else!
We love to say that there’s a side to Antarctic expeditions that sings to the soul of every adventurer and it’s certainly true that there’s a best cruise to Antarctica for every explorer. See our full range of Antarctica expeditions and contact us to know even more about the many Antarctic experiences available.
