Classic Expeditions
Antarctic Peninsula
The awe-inspiring introduction to the frozen continent, the Antarctic Peninsula, is reached in two days from the southern tip of South America
HIGHLIGHTS
What makes the Antarctic Peninsula unforgettable
What sets the Antarctic Peninsula apart from other polar expedition destinations is the sheer volume of wildlife, the monumental landscape and the unpredictability of both. No two days down here are the same. Ice conditions, weather, and wildlife determine each day of your cruise’s program. On the Antarctic Peninsula, itineraries are merely guidelines; the expedition team reads the conditions and adjusts. But, each day is guaranteed to impress.
Gentoo and chinstrap penguins by the thousand
Humpback whales breaching next to Zodiacs
Leopard seals lounging on ice floes
Breathtakingly white and pristine landscapes
Signature locations
Extraordinary destinations on the Antarctic Peninsula
From natural hot springs and black-sand beaches, ice-bound landscapes to gentoo and chinstrap penguin colonies, the Antarctic Peninsula offers all of the essentials of a polar expedition.
Deception Island
An ancient, volcanic caldera in the South Shetland Islands, Deception Island is reached through a narrow passage called Neptune's Bellows. Ships anchor inside the caldera itself, where the waters and black-sand beaches are home to chinstrap penguin colonies and the ruins of a 20th-century whaling station. The geothermal activity warms the shallows near shore, offering natural hot pools if you’re brave enough to bear them.
Deception Island
An ancient, volcanic caldera in the South Shetland Islands, Deception Island is reached through a narrow passage called Neptune's Bellows. Ships anchor inside the caldera itself, where the waters and black-sand beaches are home to chinstrap penguin colonies and the ruins of a 20th-century whaling station. The geothermal activity warms the shallows near shore, offering natural hot pools if you’re brave enough to bear them.
When to go
Each season reveals something different
The Antarctic Peninsula's expedition cruise season runs from November to March, with each month unveiling something different in the southern seas.
As spring approaches summer on the Antarctic Peninsula, penguin colonies are just becoming active for the warmer months. Courtship displays are well and truly visible as it reaches the peak of season and nests are being built. As it’s still early in the Antarctic cruise season, expect cooler weather in exchange for fewer ships operating, quieter landing sites and lower prices.
Things to do
Breathtaking ways to experience the Antarctic Peninsula
Experiencing Antarctica is beyond seeing it from the decks of an expedition cruise. It’s about hearing the snow crunch below your feet, feeling the paddle of your kayak through the icy ocean waters and rushing past icebergs on Zodiacs while making your way to shore.
Join Zodiac landings and cruising
Kayak through icy seas
Feel the crunch of snow beneath your feet
Questions we hear most
FAQs about the Antarctic Peninsula
If your question is not listed here, please allow us to assist you personally by contacting our team.
It truly depends on the conditions. The Drake can be calm for a full crossing or rough enough to affect most passengers. There is no way to predict it in advance. Most experienced expedition travellers see the crossing as part of the journey, not a disadvantage. There are preventative measures you can take to avoid illness while crossing. The Antarctic Peninsula’s incredible landscapes and wildlife do make the journey worth it.
Yes. To avoid crossing the Drake Passage, fly-cruise options depart from Punta Arenas, Chile, and land on King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, bypassing the Drake entirely. You’ll then join your expedition cruise. The voyage time in the peninsula zone is similar; it’s just that the approach is different. Fly-cruise departures do cost more and are limited to certain ships and operators.
No. Most Antarctic expedition ships are built for first-time expedition travellers and offer many of the same luxuries as traditional cruise lines. It’s just the landscapes and excursions that are very different. The crew and naturalist team manage all Zodiac operations, run daily briefings, and guide every landing. Similar to any active, land-based expeditions on cruises elsewhere in the world, it is recommended to have some physical fitness for short walks on uneven terrain, which is more relevant than experience.
Sitting below the tip of South America, the Antarctic Peninsula sits between 63° S and 75° S. Part of it does sit below the Antarctic Circle, so expect long days during December and January sailings. In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the equivalent of the entire country of Iceland, along with parts of Alaska, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Unlike its northern latitude counterparts, Antarctica's temperatures rarely reach double digits even in the height of summer, and snow cover sticks around all year. Expect temperatures to be hovering around the freezing mark most days, with cooler nights. While the Antarctica cruise season runs from November to March, the warmest temperatures are generally in December and January.
Talk with a specialist
A conversation, not a commitment
We help match you with the expedition style, comfort level and itinerary that suits you.
A Fantastic Experience
This bucket list of mine has well and truly been ticked off…thanks to the great work of Alicia James and her team for making it possible. It didn’t matter what time of the day or night, if I had a problem or question Alicia would handle it with professionalism and good humour. Thanks for all your support…it was a fantastic experience for me to step on my 7th continent…let us all preserve this wonderland.
William H
I would definitely recommend Antarctica Cruise.
My trip to the Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula via Argentina on the Ponant ship Le Boreal was an amazing experience. Alicia James and the team at Antarctica Cruise did a great job of organizing the air travel, accommodation and the cruise itself. Alicia was also very good at communicating with me as to the various permits that had to be obtained and getting me started on Travel Key which I used quite a lot to keep up with what was going to happen next. I would definitely recommend Antarctica Cruise.
Tim and Jane M
A Fantastic Experience
This bucket list of mine has well and truly been ticked off…thanks to the great work of Alicia James and her team for making it possible. It didn’t matter what time of the day or night, if I had a problem or question Alicia would handle it with professionalism and good humour. Thanks for all your support…it was a fantastic experience for me to step on my 7th continent…let us all preserve this wonderland.
William H
I would definitely recommend Antarctica Cruise.
My trip to the Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula via Argentina on the Ponant ship Le Boreal was an amazing experience. Alicia James and the team at Antarctica Cruise did a great job of organizing the air travel, accommodation and the cruise itself. Alicia was also very good at communicating with me as to the various permits that had to be obtained and getting me started on Travel Key which I used quite a lot to keep up with what was going to happen next. I would definitely recommend Antarctica Cruise.
Tim and Jane M
