Antarctica Small Ship Cruise Tours & Trip Packages

Antarctica Small Ship Cruise Tours & Trips

130 Antarctica trips. Tours from 62 tour companies. 83 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

76 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Small Ship Cruise
Journey to Antarctica
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3.5/5 Great
30 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • View magnificent mountains, towering icebergs, and ice formations that make up the dramatic Antarctic landscape.
  • Cruise aboard sturdy Zodiac landing craft in search of leopard seals.
  • Kayak in protected waters, paddling around icebergs as penguins swim nearby.
  • Walk on shore amid thousands of penguins, including gentoo, Adélie, and chinstrap.
  • Explore the world's last great wilderness in the company of a team of top naturalists.

Themes

50 plus, High Adventure, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We booked a National Geographic expedition Holland and Belgium by River. The promotional literature promised a 14-day deposit refund window. The “invoice” was marked “non-refundable” deposit. We completed the National Geographic Traveler Information. About 8 days later we received the “Travel Agreement” to be signed. We both approved and signed the National Geographic documents. A Cruise Line Travel agreement was enclosed but had no signature line. This document contained language which was unacceptable. We submitted the signed NatGeo documents. The following day we canceled the trip due to the unacceptable Cruise Line language. Cancellation was made 12 days after booking and no deposit was returned. We were told on the phone that the refund deadline was triggered by the 14 day window OR signatures on the Travel Agreement which ever came first. This was NEW information. To date, we have received NO refund of our $1000. We cancelled our trip within the advertised 14 day window."

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Antarctic Peninsula
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4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, Ushuaia

Highlights

  • Explore Ushuaia
  • Opportunity to Cruise along beautiful Antarctic Peninsula
  • Visit the Ukrainian Vernadsky Station
  • Enjoy sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pléneau Island and You will have a chance to encounter Humpback Whales, minke whales and fin whales.
  • Experience the joy of cruising by zodiac between the icebergs in the inner parts of the bay
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Themes

Birding, Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We particularly wanted to do this trip because of the abundance of wildlife we expected to encounter and selected this ship because they offered the kayaking experience. Overall, the weather was very good. Most people seemed like minded and were there for the adventurous experience. Accommodations Review They upgraded our cabin and we were very pleased with the amount of space and the amenities in the room. We appreciated the twin windows and being able to see humpbacks diving from our cabin. It was kept very clean and it was a treat to have our bed turned down with chocolates on the pillow each night. Meals Review We liked the variety and the quality of the food. There was always something new to try. The dining room staff was very professional and personable. Crew & Guides Review Solon was our Principal Trip Leader. He was incredibly professional and it seemed like he was constantly working to maximize the encounters with wildlife and scenery, taking advantage of all the weather opportunities and going to places that they don't often go. He worked very closely with the captain who was very accommodating and caring about us having a memorable voyage. Aymie and Andrew were our kayak guides. We went out to kayak 10 different times and were able to get to know both of them well. They worked hard to keep us safe and well informed. They made sure that we didn't miss out on any land excursions. We've had quite a few kayak guides over the years that we've paddled and we loved these two. Marla was the marine biologist aboard the ship. She was very enthusiastic and had a passion for marine mammals that was infectious. We loved listening to her presentations and looked forward to hearing her voice on the PA saying that there was another whale sighting. Colin, the geologist aboard the ship, was very knowledgeable and able to make difficult subjects understandable to the passengers. Itinerary Review The trip far, far, far, far, far, far exceeded our expectations. I had one "far" in the sentence when we left South Georgia Island after seeing 250,000 King Penguins at St. Andrews Point and added the second when we saw blue whales on two different days. The third "far" was added when we saw hundreds of whales for 6 hours along the iceberg, A68a. I added another "far" when we kayaked for over an hour with humpbacks all around and another "far" when minke whales were all around the kayaks the next day. The last "far" was added the day we didn't paddle since a leopard seal was all around the kayaks and then an orca came close. We had so many incredible experiences that we could never experience all of them in the same trip again. The guides told us that the close encounters that we had didn't happen very often and that we were very lucky that they all happened on our trip. The only thing that we didn't like was portions of the Drake Passage when it was a tad rough, but that experience gives us something to talk about. Transportation Review We made our transportation arrangements through another travel agency. Traveler Advice Make sure that you take sea sickness meds. Take advantage of every opportunity to see wildlife."

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Antarctica Express
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, Punta Arenas, South Shetland Islands, Ushuaia

Highlights

  • Cruise the Beagle Channel and weather permitting and step foot on Cape Horn
  • View stunning bird-life while crossing the Drake Passage
  • Marvel at the abundant wildlife on the Antarctic Peninsula including sea birds, penguins & seals
  • Cruise past towering icebergs
  • Spend time whale spotting
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Themes

National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Singles Travel, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"everything is perfect from start to finish just back from Baltic cruise on Braemar , it was amazing."

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Antarctica Expedition Cruise Emperors And Kings
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Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, Patagonia, Punta Arenas, South Shetland Islands

Highlights

  • Discover South Shetland Islands
  • Visit Deception Island with its sizeable chinstrap penguin rookery at Baily Head
  • Enjoy your days by exploring Gerlache Strait and Antarctic Peninsula
  • Visit Penguin Rookeries at Cuverville Island
  • Explore Nordenskjöld Lake and Weddell Sea

Themes

National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

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Antarctic Whale Journey
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands

Highlights

  • Unspoiled wilderness, uninhabited by man, where the penguins, seals, whales and seabirds are the true rulers.
  • Experience the White Continent and encounter an incredible variety of wildlife.
  • Take in the Sub-Antarctic South Shetland Islands and the spectacular Antarctic Peninsula.
  • Admire breathtaking scenery such as icebergs, glaciated mountains and volcanoes.
  • Enjoy daily zodiac excursions and on-shore landings.
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Themes

High Adventure, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Everything organised by Karen at Chimu Went as planned which we were very grateful for. The only drama was the tight scheduling of some of our flights and having to run to get to next gate on time. Latam airline did very well and all our luggage arrived on time . The cruise on OceanEndeavour was truly amazing; the ice, the wildlife and the professional enthusiastic crew made our experience very memorable. Thanks Chimu"

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Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Odyssey
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula

Highlights

  • Take part on an unforgettable journey with legendary and iconic singer-songwriter, Paul Kelly, as you venture together to the magnificent beauty of the Frozen White Continent.
  • Marvel at the incredible scenery and enormous king penguin colonies of South Georgia
  • Visit the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleon and the historic whaling stations of Grytviken and Stromness
  • Explore the penguin colonies, famous sites and glaciers of the Antarctic Peninsula"

Themes

High Adventure, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Everything organised by Karen at Chimu Went as planned which we were very grateful for. The only drama was the tight scheduling of some of our flights and having to run to get to next gate on time. Latam airline did very well and all our luggage arrived on time . The cruise on OceanEndeavour was truly amazing; the ice, the wildlife and the professional enthusiastic crew made our experience very memorable. Thanks Chimu"

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Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Explorer
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, Shetland Islands, Ushuaia

Highlights

  • Unspoiled wilderness, uninhabited by man, where the penguins, seals, whales and seabirds are the true rulers.
  • Take in the Sub-Antarctic South Shetland Islands and the spectacular Antarctic Peninsula.
  • Discover the top wildlife destination in the world where you can see penguins, seals, whales and albatrosses.
  • Admire breathtaking scenery such as icebergs, glaciated mountains and volcanoes.
  • Enjoy daily zodiac excursions and on-shore landings.
Show more

Themes

High Adventure, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Everything organised by Karen at Chimu Went as planned which we were very grateful for. The only drama was the tight scheduling of some of our flights and having to run to get to next gate on time. Latam airline did very well and all our luggage arrived on time . The cruise on OceanEndeavour was truly amazing; the ice, the wildlife and the professional enthusiastic crew made our experience very memorable. Thanks Chimu"

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety

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Antarctic Express Air-Cruise
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

South Shetland Islands

Highlights

  • Experience sail through the Drake Passage en route to King George Island
  • Opportunity to sail South Shetland Islands , while enjoying the company of sea birds
  • Explore King George Island

Themes

50 plus, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Overland Journeys, Small Ship Cruise, Sailing

What travelers are saying

"Andrew stole our money ($22,000) that we paid for a luxury Ecuador / Peru vacation. He also stole $8,000 from our friend that was meeting us in South America. He first took our calls in 2020-2021, then disconnected all numbers. We went to the credit card company, and were unable to get a refund. He is a scammer. Beware! The trip was in April 2020, but I finished with the credit card company in May 2022."

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76 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Small Ship Cruise

Antarctica Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
83  Reviews
See all Antarctica tour reviews
Excellent
45
Great
7
Average
1
Disappointing
1
Terrible
0
A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

ANTARCTIC EXPLORER

Exodus and Quark had the perfect recipe for the adventure of a lifetime. Helpful and efficient pre-trip planning. The Vavilov, a great vessel for th...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

ANTARCTIC EXPLORER

What can I say?! The most amazing trip, far exceeding the expectations that I had held for a lifetime! Each experience seemed to surpass the last , and I hold...

A

Anonymous

Jul 2017

Provided byExodus Travels

ANTARCTIC EXPLORER

WE had a wonderful experience in the Antarctic and also spending a few days in Ushuaia before our departure on the Clipper Adventurer.    ...

A

Anonymous

Jul 2017

Provided byExodus Travels

ANTARCTIC EXPLORER

Wonderful trip.  Well worth the effort despite some stressful moments in the beginning.  Antarctica is a very special place.  Cannot be compared to ...

A

Anonymous

Jul 2017

Provided byExodus Travels

ANTARCTIC EXPLORER

Our trip to the Antarctic Peninsula was simply 'mind-blowing' Any description of Antarctica is always full of 'expletives'. Quite honestly where do you start? ...

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Antarctica Tour Selection Trips

  • The shortest (and most popular) sea crossing to Antarctica goes from Ushaia, Argentina, to the Antarctic Peninsula, via the often (but not always) tumultuous Drake’s Passage.
  • The Drake’s Passage crossing may take from 24 to 48 hours, and seasickness is common -- though waters in Antarctica itself are generally calm.
  • Some Antarctica tours leave from AustraliaNew Zealand or South Africa and visit the Ross Sea area, on the other side of the continent from the Antarctic Peninsula.
  • While most Antarctica tours go by ship, you can also fly in and/or out via the South Shetland Islands to shorten your trip and/or avoid Drake’s Passage.
  • Antarctica tours can be as short as a few days or as long as three weeks or more. Figure at least 10 to 12 days to complete a typical tour by ship.
  • Some Antarctica tours – primarily those that fly into the interior -- offer adventurous options such as camping, skiing, mountaineering, and trekking.
  • Other adventurous options include visits to emperor penguin colonies and the geographic South Pole. Kayaking and SCUBA diving may be available along the coasts.
  • While any trip to Antarctica is an adventurous trip, you don’t have to rough it. Some ships come with five-star amenities, while some land-tour operators offer luxury tent camping.
  • Cruise ships that carry more than 500 passengers are not allowed to make landings, so to set foot on Antarctica itself, you need to take a smaller vessel.
  • Generally speaking, the smaller your ship’s passenger load, the less time you’ll have to wait to go ashore, because ships are limited to landing 100 passengers at a time.
  • Some tours offer visits to the scientific research stations that are run by a number of different countries, including the United StatesGreat Britain, and Canada.
  • There are no “cheap” trips to Antarctica, but look for value such as included airfare, helicopter flights into the interior, and gratuities for the crew.
  • Prices vary considerably by length of trip, cabin, ship amenities, month of travel and other factors.

Additional details

Traveling to Antarctica is nothing like anything you will have experienced before, and is not for every traveler. The journey can be long, cold, and there are some restrictions that you will have to take into account. However, if you are brave enough to travel to the White Continent, it will make for an amazing dinner conversation. 

What to Expect from an Antarctica Tour

An Antarctica tour will largely be like a lot of other cruise trips. You’ll be on the ship making stops in harbors and exploring. Where Antarctica is vastly different than other cruises is that you’ll be docked longer in some places as there aren’t many harbors and you’ll be on small cruise ships, not large ones. 

You can expect to be in port on the continent of Antarctica for many days trips offered such kayaking, hiking, penguin watching, or Zodiac tours. You are able to get close to the wildlife on the island and kayaking right next to whales. 

You won’t be visiting any major cities on an Antarctica cruise. The only major city you’ll be in is Ushuaia, and that city isn’t large compared to most. Most inhabitants of Antarctica and surrounding islands are penguins and seagulls.

There are some smaller research stations and tourist towns, but the human population you will be interacting with will predominantly be your fellow travelers. Most of the ships are capped at around 100 people. 

Some activities unique to Antarctica tours are polar plunges into the polar waters, whale watching from the deck with the captain, and hear lectures from onboard scientists explaining about the beautiful and different world that is Antarctica.


Packing List for Antarctica

When researching which tour company you will be going with, double-check to see if they provide weather-proofed clothing. There are some cruises that provide waterproof boots, jackets, and pants for free (others you can rent). If you want to save some room in your suitcase, this may be something to consider when packing and planning your trip. 

Layers, layers, layers. The most important word to remember when starting your packing list for Antarctica. Layers mean taking along multiple fleeces, jackets, thermal clothing, and socks. If you weren’t aware, Antarctica gets cold, very cold. On the ship, you won’t need as many layers, but when you are on a Zodiac cruise or kayaking around Paradise Bay, these will come in handy. 

Hats, jackets, and scarves will also be very helpful. Comfortable clothes you can easily move around in will make your trip more comfortable. You don’t have to overpack as you will have multiple layers, but bringing some of these key items is essential. 

A note on electronics. Many of the activities on Antarctica cruises are in and around water. Make sure to pack a dry bag to keep your cameras and phones dry and safe from the cold. 

To Fly or Not to Fly the Drake? 

This will largely depend on how long your trip is and whether you want to see the Drake up close.

The Drake Passage is the stretch of water between South America and the Antarctica Islands. It is a vast body of water teeming with sea life and also one of the roughest waters in the world. This is why the Drake can be considered a double-edged sword for travelers, no matter how adventurous you feel. 

Flying the Drake offers you the chance to reach Antarctica in a few short hours and avoid the tumultuous waters of the Drake. You’ll be able to see the water and Antarctica from above before meeting a small cruise ship in Antarctica. However, when flying you won’t be able to see the whales or penguins swimming just off the side of your boat when you are in the air. Antarctica cruises that are shorter in duration often fly the Drake to save time. 

Sailing the Drake does take longer and can be rougher than flying. However, on the Drake, you get to experience the waters that Sir Francis Drake sailed in the 1600s and really feel what these waters are truly like, along with amazing sites off of the bow. Longer Antarctica tours typically include sailing the Drake.

The Drake Passage is infamous for rough waters, so if you are even slighly worried about getting seasick, the safest recommendation is to fly. 

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