How to Find the Best Antarctica Cruise Operators

Antarctica is a dream destination for many travellers, drawn to its wildlife, remote beauty, and spectacular glaciers and ice. However, once you start researching Antarctica travel options, you may realise that narrowing down the best Antarctica cruise operators can be challenging.

Whether you’re searching for a top deal on a last-minute Antarctica cruise or you’re planning on a luxurious cruise to South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, here’s how to find the best Antarctica cruise operators.

How to book an Antarctic cruise

Most Chimu travellers either book directly through Chimu or with their valued travel agent. Both are great options; it just comes down to whether you prefer to organise everything or if you’d rather that be done on your behalf by your travel advisor. Chimu Adventures is a specialist Polar expedition operator and aggregator with access to a wide range of Antarctica ships, booking not just your cruise but also international flights, transfers, and any travel in South America before or after your cruise.

Either way, start by considering when you’d like to travel, your budget, and the areas you’d like to visit on your cruise. The Antarctic cruise season runs from late October through March.

Most ships depart from the southernmost tip of South America, so in addition to booking your cruise, you’ll also need to fly to either Argentina or Chile. However, it’s easy to extend your trip with extra time in South America before or after your cruise.

Best Antarctic cruise companies

You’ll find many Antarctic cruise operators out there in the market, but we recommend focusing on companies that operate small-ship expeditions of fewer than 200 travellers. This is important in Antarctica as there are strict environmental guidelines in place, limiting up to 100 visitors per landing site at a time. 

With small ships, everyone can be off the ship at the same time. This creates a more immersive experience with lots of time for shore landings and zodiac cruises and less time waiting around!

One of the best companies for expedition cruising to Antarctica (and the Arctic) is Polar Latitudes Expeditions (PLX). They offer a range of Antarctica voyages on modern, luxurious ships, including the Ocean Albatros and Ocean Victory.

Both ships are only a few years old and feature the latest in X-Bow technology, a design feature that allows for smoother crossings and increased stability when crossing the Drake Passage. Each was also built with sustainability in mind, with diesel and electric engines that are electronically controlled to optimise speed and minimise fuel consumption.

We’re proud to partner with PLX, as they have a long history of operating in the Polar regions. Each voyage features industry-leading experts in expedition cruising, offers citizen science programs on every voyage, and is ideal for travellers seeking the perfect blend of adventure and comfort.

Affordable Antarctica cruise operators

A Polar cruise is a big investment, however, there are also some fantastic operators that cater to budget Antarctic travellers, including Oceanwide Expeditions, G Adventures, and PolarQuest.

A few of the best affordable Antarctica cruise ships include the Ocean Nova and the MV Ushuaia, each taking fewer than 100 passengers. This allows for a traditional expedition experience, with a high ratio of crew to passengers and the opportunity for long shore landings and zodiac cruises.

Budget Antarctica expedition cruises still feature small ships, but often operate on older vessels, sometimes repurposed ferries. While these ships may not offer some of the luxurious amenities found on other vessels, like an onboard spa or purpose-built lecture theatre, the expedition experience is still just the same!

This type of cruise offers great value for money and appeals to Antarctic travellers looking to have a fantastic expedition, just on a smaller budget.

Luxury Antarctica cruise operators

On the flipside, you can also definitely combine the expedition experience with a modern, luxury vessel. Some of the top-rated luxury Antarctica operators include Ponant, Quark, and Aurora Expeditions.

Luxury Antarctica cruise ships are usually new, purpose-built for Polar travel. They offer facilities you’d find in five-star hotels, such as a spa, wine bars, modern citizen science laboratories, and stylish cabins and suites, many with balconies.

Some of the best luxury Antarctic ships include Le Commandant Charcot, the Ultramarine, and the Douglas Mawson. Many of these ships also have special extras such as scenic helicopter flights, butler service, or multiple fine dining restaurants.

Popular activities on Antarctic expedition cruises

At Chimu, we’re often asked about what guests can see and do on their cruise. Expedition cruises to Antarctica are all about making the most of your time off the ship and on the ice. Each day, your expedition crew will plan for two (weather permitting) excursions per day.

Each may be up to several hours and include zodiac cruises, shore landings, guided naturalist walks, and wildlife viewing. All of these activities are included in your cruise fare.

Some ships also offer optional activities, such as kayaking, ice camping, and immersive photography programs. These are best to pre-book before you travel, as there are a limited number of places on each voyage and they often sell out.

How can I find the top-rated Antarctic cruise operators?

First, ensure that your Antarctic operator is a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), the peak body for ethical tourism on the continent. Membership indicates that the operator is committed to safe and sustainable operations in and around Antarctic waters.

It’s also helpful to read reputable review sites to learn more about your potential operator and ask friends and family who have visited for recommendations.

Chimu only works with IAATO members who have high standards of ethics, safety, and traveller satisfaction. When booking through us, all of our ships and itineraries have been thoroughly reviewed and tested to ensure you have the best possible experience.

If you’re ready to start planning your Polar adventure, you can start your search for the best Antarctica cruises or contact our team of Destination Specialists.