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TRAVELLING TO Antarctica Cruises
Travelling to Antarctica on a cruise is an adventure like no other. On an Antarctic expedition cruise, you'll maximise your time off the ship and on the ice, with epic wildlife encounters, awe-inspiring beauty, and epic glaciers and icebergs. Sculptural icebergs, vast penguin colonies, and breaching orcas are just a few of the unforgettable experiences that your small ship Antarctic cruise might offer.
Your Antarctic voyage will be truly life-changing, showcasing a rarely visited part of our planet that's unlike any other. On your journey, you'll be constantly inspired by the stunning, rugged landscapes, the passion and enthusiasm of your crew and fellow travellers, and the unique landscapes, lit by seemingly endless sunlight.
To begin your adventure, travellers from Australia or New Zealand usually fly to South America first. Then, you'll board your Antarctic cruise in the town of Ushuaia, Argentina or Punta Arenas, Chile.
The cost to visit Antarctica from Australia varies depending on a number of factors, including the cruise duration, the style of ship, departure date, and your preferred cabin type, but a 10-12 day Antarctic Peninsula cruise may cost from $11,000 AUD and upwards.
We have incredible deals available across a wide range of small ship Antarctic expedition cruises for the 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 seasons. Search for your ideal trip in the search filter above or contact us and we'll help you get started.
LOOKING FOR THE BEST ANTARCTICA CRUISE FOR YOU?
Once you’ve decided to go to Antarctica, the next step is to determine which trip is best suited to you.
The key considerations are:
WHICH ANTARCTIC ITINERARY SHOULD I CHOOSE?
As experienced Antarctica specialists, we have the largest range of Antarctica cruises on offer, and Chimu staff have first-hand knowledge of the many ways to experience this incredible destination. Depending on your interests, availability, and budget, we can help you decide which Antarctica itinerary is right for you.
To help get you started, we have listed the four main itineraries that operate in Antarctica:
BEST ANTARCTIC CRUISE LOCATIONS
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
(10 - 12 days)
Due to its proximity to South America, the Antarctic Peninsula is the best value and most popular Antarctic destination. The Peninsula is renowned for its stunning scenery and abundant wildlife. View cruises
ANTARCTIC CIRCLE
(14 - 22 days)
Cross the fabled Antarctic Circle to the land of the midnight sun. Home to desolate, beautiful landscapes, continually shifting ice, and hardy Weddell seals. View cruises
SOUTH GEORGIA
(18 - 23 days)
One of the world’s truly great wildlife areas. South Georgia is home to over 30 million breeding birds, thousands of seals, four penguin species, including large colonies of King penguins and macaroni penguins rarely encountered elsewhere, plus many more amazing creatures. South Georgia is a must-see for many wildlife enthusiasts. View cruises
FALKLAND ISLANDS
(18 - 23 days)
Often visited alongside South Georgia, the Falklands Islands offers up plenty of natural beauty, wildlife, and intriguing history. View cruises
ANTARCTICA FLY CRUISES
(5-9 days)
For the time poor, or those not keen on a crossing of the famous Drake Passage, yet eager to visit the last frontier of Antarctica. Flying to King George Island to begin your journey to the Antarctic Peninsula is a fantastic option and we can help you plan the perfect fly cruise package. View cruises
EAST ANTARCTICA & ROSS SEA
(24+ days)
Perhaps the ultimate Antarctica cruise experience. Voyages to East Antarctica and the Ross Sea embrace an icy world of extreme weather, wildlife, scenery and fascinating history as you visit some of the most remote places on earth. View cruises
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HOW DO I GET TO ANTARCTICA FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND?
CRUISE FROM SOUTH AMERICA
Have you heard the phrase ‘getting to Antarctica is half the fun?’ If so, you can bet they were referring to crossing the infamous Drake Passage between South America and the South Shetland Islands. These expedition cruises departing from Ushuaia, at the southern tip of South America, are the most popular way to get to Antarctica for Southern Hemisphere travellers.
We also can create all-inclusive Antarctica trips, packaging together your international flights, expedition cruise, transfers, and any travel within South America that you may wish to do before or after Antarctica.
FLIGHT & CRUISE OPTIONS FROM SOUTH AMERICA
For those hesitant to cross the Drake Passage, there is an option to fly from Patagonia to the South Shetland Islands. From here you can join an expedition cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula.
EXPEDITION CRUISES FROM AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Antarctica cruises departing from Australia & New Zealand offer the most exclusive and unique journey to Antarctica of all. Departing from Hobart (Australia) and Bluff (New Zealand) these expeditions are usually longer and provide exceptional opportunities to see more remote regions of the peninsula.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL TO ANTARCTICA?
The best time to travel to Antarctica will depend on the type of experience you are after. Wildlife highlights, length of daylight hours, and the overall feel of your expedition will change dramatically throughout the cruising season (October to March).
EARLY SEASON ANTARCTIC CRUISES
(OCTOBER - NOVEMBER)
Getting ahead of the pack is a great way to experience the splendour of Antarctica. As an early-season visitor, be rewarded with pristine landing sites, dramatic ice formations, animal courtship routines, and excellent photographic opportunities courtesy of the lightly setting sun. You may see packs of elephant and fur seals marking their breeding territories in the sub-Antarctic islands, and if you’re lucky, you could witness the first major iceberg calvings of the year, a truly breathtaking event.
Beautiful frozen scenery
Less penguin mess
Affordable pricing
Ice can sometimes restrict
MID SEASON ANTARCTICA CRUISES
(DECEMBER - JANUARY)
Mid-summer is the most popular time to visit Antarctica. Temperatures are at their warmest, and longer days means there are more opportunities for landings. Expect to see sunbathing seals, adorable penguin hatchlings, and increasing numbers of whales arriving for the summer. Coupled with calmer seas and less sea ice to prevent you from reaching the shore, you can see why many people choose to travel at this time of year. As the mid-season is the busiest time, booking early is highly recommended.
Wildlife at its prime
20 hours of sunlight
Peak season pricing
More ships/tourists
LATE SEASON ANTARCTICA CRUISES
(FEBRUARY - MARCH)
The weather may be getting colder, but there are plenty of wildlife highlights during late season Antarctic cruises. February is peak whale spotting season, seal numbers are up on the Peninsula, and penguin rookeries are bursting at the seams on South Georgia. The shorter days provide sensational sunsets, awesome night-time sky gazing and some of the best value-for-money expeditions of all. February is also the busiest month for cruises departing from Australia and New Zealand headed for East Antarctica.
Peak season for whales
Baby penguin & seal pups
Snow melting - can be slushy on landing sites
Penguin mess
WHAT ANTARCTIC SHIP IS BEST FOR ME?
Your choice of expedition vessel will play an essential role in your overall Antarctic cruise. For many people setting off on an Antarctic expedition, this is one of the most critical questions. As genuine Antarctica specialists, we have the knowledge and experience to help you get this decision just right.
SIZE
Arguably, the most crucial consideration for any Antarctic expedition. In our opinion, ships carrying 200 guests and under are ideal! There are many restrictions placed on Antarctic expeditions, and the number of passengers on your ship will impact when, where, and how often you can make landfall.
For example, vessels carrying more than 500 guests are prevented from landing at all. Being able to get off the ship and experience Antarctica up close and personal offers the most immersive and memorable experience.
SMALL SHIPS (200 guests and under)
- MORE ACCESS TO REMOTE LOCATIONS
- LESS TIME QUEUEING MORE TIME EXPLORING
- MORE INTIMATE
- BETTER SELECTION OF UNIQUE SHORE TOURS
- LESS ENTERTAINMENT ONBOARD
LARGE SHIPS (more than 200 guests)
- MORE STABILITY IN ROUGH SEAS
- MORE FEATURES
- RESTRICTED ON-SHORE TIME
- RESTRICTED ACCESS
- CAN BE CROWDED
Want a deeper look? This video explains your ship options in more detail.
POPULAR ANTARCTICA SHIPS
Ocean Albatros
First sailing in 2023, this vessel features modern X-Bow hull technology and is one of the most popular expedition vessel choices in the polar regions.
Ocean Victory
The luxury MV Ocean Victory is a modern polar ship built with comfort in mind.
Ocean Nova
The Ocean Nova offers a classic Antarctic expedition experience. This nimble and sturdy ship accommodates just 80 guests, with its compact size allowing access to remote bays, bringing you closer to Antarctica’s stunning landscapes.
Ultramarine
The ship has been purpose-built to meet the specific demands of the polar regions and is well appointed to let guests explore The Arctic and Antarctica safely and comfortably.
Douglas Mawson
The Douglas Mawson is an Antarctic vessel built in 2025. Honouring the famed Australian geologist and explorer, this purpose-built ship epitomises Mawson’s pioneering ethos, dedicated to discovery.
Discoverer
The Discoverer brings together everything we value in a small expedition ship – intimate scale, strong ice capability, and a true focus on exploration, all enhanced by refined interiors, expanded comfort, and a more contemporary onboard experience.
Top blogs for Antarctica Travel
Whether you are looking for advice on when to travel to Antarctica or the Arctic, which ship to travel on or which itinerary will suit you best, Chimu blogs are likely to have it covered. There is ship information, guides about the activities you can do in the Polar regions, what to pack and what not to pack, and lots of insider tips to help you get started.
Benefits of Small Ship Cruising in Antarctica
If you’re planning a cruise to Antarctica, our top piece of advice is to book a small ship cruise! Here’s everything you need to know about small ship cruising to Antarctica, helping you plan your dream voyage to one of the world’s most remote and inspiring landscapes.
10 Questions to Ask Before Booking an Antarctica Cruise
With so many Antarctic cruise operators out there, it’s vital to do plenty of research as selecting the right ship can make all the difference when it comes to maximising your experience. To help, here are 10 questions to ask before booking an Antarctica cruise.
The Drake Passage - The World's Most Unforgettable Sea Crossing
Whether you experience a Drake Shake or Drake Lake, you can trust a Drake Passage cruise to be one of the highlights of your cruise to Antarctica. The chances for spectacular wildlife watching along the Drake are high, with hourglass dolphins, humpback whales and migrating albatross all making regular appearances.
Best Time to Travel to Antarctica
The Antarctic season runs from late October through late March, within the Antarctic summer season. However, the best time to travel to Antarctica will depend on what it is you want to experience in the White Continent, with wildlife highlights and the overall expedition feel changing dramatically throughout the cruising season.
FEATURED Antarctica TRIPS & DEALS
Antarctica CRUISES
Antarctica REVIEWS
All Chimu Adventures' clients are given the opportunity to review their trip once they return home. These reviews are administered by a third party and as such are unfiltered by Chimu Adventures.