Antarctica & Polar Expeditions
I've sailed to Antarctica myself, on Seabourn Venture, so I recommend from experience, not a brochure. There are so many ways to do Antarctica — sail or fly the Drake, 10 days or 3 weeks, expedition ship, full luxury, or something in between, and at more price points than most people expect. Tell me what you like, and we'll find the right trip for you. Then I'll plan the hotels, the tours, and the rest of the trip around it.
And the cruise is just the beginning. The ships leave from the far end of South America, so there's the getting there, where you stay before you sail, and the days on either side.
Just click Start Planning below. I'll be in touch within a day to schedule a call.
Blog Posts From My Trip to Antarctica on Seabourn Venture
Why Work with Me?
Antarctica takes more sorting out than most cruises. Ship size decides how much time you get ashore. The month decides what you see. The itinerary decides everything else. I book the luxury and expedition lines that go there. Tell me what you like, and we'll find the right trip for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Booking an Antarctica Cruise with a Cruise Travel Advisor
I book Antarctica on luxury lines like Seabourn and Silversea, and expedition lines like Aurora, Quark, and Scenic: classic Peninsula voyages, and longer trips that add South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.
What Antarctica trips does a cruise travel advisor like you plan?
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Peninsula voyages, fly-cruises that skip the Drake, and longer expeditions that add South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, on luxury ships and expedition ships, at more price points than most people expect.
Why use a cruise travel advisor to book Antarctica instead of booking it myself?
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Antarctica has more ways to get it wrong than most cruises: the wrong ship size, the wrong month, flights that do not line up with the sailing. I sort those out, match you to the right ship and itinerary, and on Virtuoso partner lines the booking often comes with an added amenity.
Does it cost more to book through you?
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No. You pay the same or less than booking direct. The cruise lines pay me, so my planning is included whenever a cruise is part of your trip. Trips without a cruise carry a planning fee.
What happens after I reach out?
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We start with a short call. I get to know you, not just what you want from the trip: who's traveling, how you like to travel, what you like. Then I bring recommendations, you react, and we refine until it's right.
What does full-service planning mean for an Antarctica cruise?
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I book the whole trip, not just the ship: getting to South America, a hotel buffer of a day or two before you sail, because a delayed flight shouldn't cost you the ship, and everything on the way home.
Does ship size matter for an Antarctica cruise?
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More than almost anything else. Landing rules allow 100 passengers ashore at a time, so a smaller ship gets everyone off faster and ashore longer. Ships carrying more than 500 passengers can't land anyone at all. I match the ship to your budget and how much time you want on land.
When is the best time to go to Antarctica?
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The season runs from late October to late March, and each month is different. Early season brings snow, sea ice, and penguins courting and building nests. December and January have the longest days and hatching chicks. February brings the warmest water and the most whales. Tell me what you most want to see, and I'll match the month.
How far ahead should I book an Antarctica cruise?
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As soon as you have an idea. Smaller ships have fewer cabins, and people book a year or two out. If your fare drops after you book, we can usually reprice it, so you are not stuck with the higher fare.
How rough is the Drake Passage, and can I skip it?
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The Drake Passage is about 500 miles of open ocean, and the crossing takes roughly two days each way. Conditions vary from calm to rough. If you'd rather skip it, fly-cruise itineraries fly you over it. Silversea's leave from Puerto Williams, where the line just opened its own hotel, The Cormorant at 55 South: you overnight there, then fly to King George Island, where the ship is waiting.
Or skip the ship entirely. White Desert flies you from Cape Town to a heated pod on the ice. I'll book that too, but I think the crossing is part of the fun.
What if something goes wrong or the weather changes our plans?
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Expedition itineraries flex with the weather; that's normal down there. If a change affects your flights or hotels, I rebook what it touches and pursue any refund or credit you're owed. You call me, not a hold queue.
How fit do I need to be for Antarctica?
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You need moderate mobility, not athletic fitness. All levels of fitness are possible: someone on my sailing used a walker. The main demands are stepping in and out of the zodiacs, and walking over uneven, rocky, or snowy terrain. What matters more is how comfortable you are being very far from emergency medical services. If mobility is a concern, get in touch, and I'll match you to a ship and itinerary that fit.
Ready to plan your adventure to Antarctica?
Get in touch for a no fee, no commitment consultation. Tell me when you want to go, and I'll be in touch within a day to schedule a call.
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