antarctica cruise royal caribbean

Rio De Janeiro

Buenos Aires

Machu Picchu

Dec 10th - Feb 11th

Ultimate Americas Cruise

Depart on the Adventure of a Lifetime

Kick off your unique adventure in Miami, before setting sail on the Ultimate World Cruise’s debut segment aboard the Serenade of the Seas. During this 64-night vacation you’ll journey to balmy, Caribbean shores - getting to know life above and below the waves in the palm-fringed ABC islands, and relax on Barbados’ white sandy beaches before winding around Cape Horn to reach the glacier-filled Antarctic landscape. As you travel through the earth’s coldest continent, wonder at its otherworldly polar deserts, spotting penguins, seals and whales cutting gracefully through icy waters. Take in some of South America’s most magnificent landmarks; Christ the Redeemer, a man-made Art Deco-style icon which sits on the crest of Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro is undoubtably a must see. Experience a rush like no other at Argentina’s Iguazú Falls (all 275 of them) and get to know two ancient cities. Delve into Mayan history in Mexico at Chichén Itzá, and Inca heritage at Peru’s famed 15th-century citadel, Machu Picchu. Finally, you’ll sail north, stopping at a host of must-see Central American spots - from Costa Rica’s hummingbird-filled rainforests to fishing-village-turned-surf-hotspot San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua, before continuing through the glittering waters of the rugged Baja Peninsula. In acclaimed wine region Ensenada, feast in sprawling vineyards, and traditional fish taco stands, before docking in Los Angeles, where our second segment begins.

Amenities Included in your adventure

Wash & fold service

Deluxe beverage package

Voom Surf & stream

Jan 8th - Mar 10th

Tropical island

Embrace the rhythms of the Caribbean

Paradise, Found

Sprinkled in arching crescents across the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, some 7000 islands make up the Caribbean — though only ten percent of them are inhabited. Dreamy isles of cottonwool-soft white, honey-hued, and sometimes even pink sands have their luxurious beaches in common, however, each island has a distinct personality shaped by its past. Admire Georgian-Caribbean buildings with salmon pink and cobalt facades in Barbados’ capital Bridgetown, or take in the Dutch-influenced color-popping architecture lining the streets of Aruba. In Grenada, as you travel through the ‘Spice Island,’ inhale the heady scent of nutmeg and cinnamon whilst visiting historic plantation estates. Over on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, wonder at the ruins of Mayan city, Chichén Itzá, believed to date from 400 AD.

Creativity runs deep here, a place where African, European and Asian communities have left their mark, culture in the Caribbean is wonderfully diverse. Music and the arts play a huge part in people’s lives, and whether you’re listening to calypso, soca and reggae tunes in Grenada, watching an impressive steel drum performance in Barbados, or grooving to carnival-style Afro-Caribbean beats in the ABC islands - Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao - the upbeat rhythms of these tropical islands are irrepressibly joyful. As you cruise between these stunning islands on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, learn about Aruba’s Amerindian cultural heritage at the state-of-the-art National Archeological Museum in Oranjestad, which includes a preserved traditional cunucu house, and experience an art exhibition with a difference as you snorkel round the world’s first underwater sculpture park in the crystal-clear waters of Grenada.

Eating in the Caribbean is always an event. Here, you’ll feast on fusion cuisine at its best, packed with fresh seafood, a rainbow of vegetables, and unique sweet treats. In Barbados, seafood dishes which fuse Indian, African and British influences take centerstage; don’t miss flying fish and cou-cou, a mellow fish stew with cornmeal and okra. Living up to its nickname, Grenada is all about cleverly-spiced fare such as ‘oil down’, a one-pot coconut milk-infused stew, and scoops of cooling nutmeg ice cream. ABC island favorites include keri keri , a hearty fish soup on Aruba, goat stew with fried plantains in Bonaire, and comforting keshi yena in Curaçao - a spiced meat and cheese casserole served in a hollowed-out ball of Edam or Gouda. Got a sweet tooth? Grated coconut, vanilla and rose essence candy cocada in Bonaire, and arepa di pampuna - pumpkin pancakes - in Curaçao are must-tries. Expect to find lashings of locally-distilled rum in everything from zingy cocktails to sticky slabs of cake as you travel.

Whether it’s go-slow relaxation or thrilling adrenaline you’re after from your vacation, our Caribbean stop offs have it all. At Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s exclusive private island, whizz down a 1600-foot zip line, brave North America’s highest waterslide - Daredevil’s Peak in the waterpark - get sensational views of the Bahamas from a hot air balloon, or chill out in an over-water cabana at the Coco Beach Club. In Bridgetown laze on Carlisle Bay Beach, or head on a 4x4 adventure into the jungly interior to spot green monkeys at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve. Make for an open-air cafe in Grenada to sip top-notch coffee, learn about the spice trade at a nutmeg cooperative, and pick up an array of spiced souvenirs at the Esplanade Mall. In the wildlife-rich ABC islands, duck below the waves in Bonaire and snorkel through warm water where parrotfish dart through neon coral-filled reefs, and majestic manta rays glide, or spy flamingos at saltwater lagoon Gotomeer. Step back in time at Curaçao’s Hato Caves, a series of limestone caverns with 1500-year-old Arawak cave paintings and an underground lake.

Dec 23 2023 - Jan 30th 2024

South American thrills,

A thrilling journey through South America and Antarctica

Glacier-studded Antarctica

Aboard the second portion of this segment, prepare to be immersed in two unforgettable continents. Bookended by time in French Guiana, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru, you’ll travel to the heart of South America. Wander sun-kissed beaches, discover elegant columned residences in vibrant cities and rugged mountains and rushing waterfalls. Dynamic and full of life, you’ll find history at every turn. And, in the midst of the adventure comes Antartica, aka ‘The Ice,’ where shape-shifting white glaciers emerge from the ocean as far as the eye can see. One of the earth’s few remaining wildernesses, there’s nowhere quite like it. Feel your soul come alive as you follow the path taken by pioneering explorers of the past through this fragile, beautiful continent.

As you travel through South America, see first-hand how the history of this diverse continent, and its tribal, indigenous, African and European influences, come together in a compelling cultural mix. Music and dance sit at its cultural core, and whether it’s dancing the samba in Brazil, witnessing the drama of the tango in Argentina’s Buenos Aires, or the drumming candome rhythms in Uruguay, artistic expression is all around. In rural South America, get to know the traditional gaucho (cowboy) communities who live in harmony with the land, and cruise past Chilean's jagged fjords where the Andes crumble into the sea. Given that Antarctica’s only home to a handful of visiting research scientists, adventures here focus on getting to know its fascinating wildlife. Look out for minke and humpback whales in the waters of the Gerlache Strait, watch gentoo penguins scoot across the ice in Paradise Bay, and visit seal hotspot Elephant Island.

Ready your tastebuds, from just-caught fish to sizzling meat dishes, there’s masses to savor on a South American vacation. In Fortaleza, on Brazil’s northeastern coast, try carne de sol, salted, sun-dried beef served with fried cassava. From feijoada , a hearty black bean and pork affair, to moqueca , made with fish, onions, tomatoes and coriander, stews are popular across Brazil. Be sure to sip caipirinhas , a refreshing mix of cachaça (fermented sugarcane juice), lime juice and sugar, and nibble on brigadeiros , condensed milk and cocoa truffles too. Asado , Uruguayan-style barbecue sees meats, vegetables and cheese cooked to perfection on a parilla grill. While Argentina might be synonymous with steak and phenomenal red wine, don’t miss Puerto Madryn’s arroz con mariscos (seafood paella) or its torta negra galesa , a rum-laced fruitcake introduced by Welsh settlers. Chile does empanadas , pastries filled with ground beef, hard-boiled eggs, onions, olives and raisins with aplomb, while ceviche - raw fish with lime juice and chili - and Pisco sours a foamy, egg-white-topped cocktail made with Pisco (brandy) and lime are Peruvian specialities.

Travel along the Amazonian coast, sail to French Guiana and discover eerie former prison colony Devil’s Island, immortalized in Henri Charrière’s Papillion , the ruins of which have been reclaimed by dense jungle, monkeys, turtles and red parrots. In Fortaleza, visit St Joseph’s, an impressive Gothic Roman cathedral, shop at the central market or make for the swoony white sands of Cumbuco Beach. As well as getting to know the waterways of ‘The Venice of Brazil’ in Recife, ticking off Christ the Redeemer and Copacabana Beach in Rio, you’ll also experience the thundering Iguazú Falls in Argentina, travel to ‘the end of the world’ in Ushuaia, before seeing vivid blue glaciers, dolphins and albatross in the Straits of Magellan. Finally, marvel at archeological wonder Machu Picchu in the Andean Mountains before museum-hopping in Lima and visiting the birthplace of the Panama hat in Ecuador.

Feb 1st 2024 - Feb 10th 2024

rainforest wanders

Sensational beaches, fantastic creatures

Behold dramatic South America

Next, The Ultimate Cruise heads north up the Pacific coastline to Central America, an isthmus fringed by the cottonwool-soft playas and azure waters of the Pacific to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Witness soaring mountains, low, fertile valleys, still-smoking volcanoes, and swathes of biodiverse rainforest; Central America is about as rich in natural beauty as it gets. The region’s history - from pre-Columbian Mayan era, through the Spanish colonial period, to modern-day independence - is as compelling as its forested landscapes, where sloths, toucan and jaguar roam. At your first stop, Costa Rican port town Puntarenas, learn more about the rise of this coffee shipping hub, which is now a commercial fishing port at museum-meets-art-gallery La Casa de la Cultura. Alongside urban beaches, 1950s Art Deco buildings and a Gothic-style cathedral, it’s also the gateway to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Afterwards, soak up surf and fishing village feels in Nicaragua’s coastal San Juan del Sur.

Shaped by Mayan, Spanish, European and African influences, culture in Central America - and each of its seven countries - is fascinating and diverse. On your vacation, get to know two of them, Costa Rica and Nicaragua first-hand. Costa Rica remains heavily influenced by Spanish culture, and the local Tican communities are well known for their laid-back outlook, encapsulated by pura vida , or ‘the pure life.’ More than a mere expression, pura vida is a way of life, which encourages you to slow down, focus on what’s important, appreciate the now, and take time to relax as you travel through Costa Rica’s wonderful natural landscapes. In Nicaragua, known for its creative spirit, you can expect to hear rhythmic marimbas and poetry aplenty.

When it comes to gastronomy, Central America is flavor central. Its fertile landscape and tropical climate means that a range of crops - from corn to cassava, and black beans to bananas - flourish here. In Costa Rica, don’t miss national dish gallo pinto , a popular breakfast dish of rice and black beans with peppers, cilantro, onions and local condiment salsa lizano . Other traditional fare includes tamales - a corn dish with olives, pork and rice - olla de carne - a rich beef and vegetable stew, and arroz con leche - rice pudding made with condensed milk and cinnamon. Costa Rica’s coffee is legendary, and you can get to know its exceptional Arabica beans, sipping steaming cups of the stuff, and by visiting a local plantation. In Nicaragua, corn takes centrestage too; try nacatamales - maize dough stuffed with pork, potatoes, mint-like herb yerba buena - or Indio veijo , a shredded beef and onion soup, said to date back to pre-Columbian times.

The rainforests of Costa Rica are ripe for adventure; from Puntarenas make for the Montevideo cloud forest, to hurtle through the canopy by zipline or suspended bridges, and spot hummingbirds in San Luis Park. For the ultimate vacation caffeine fix, head to the mountains to explore the 640-acre Espiritu Santu Arabica coffee plantation and learn about the bean-to-cup journey. In Nicaragua’s San Juan del Sur hike up to Cristo De La Misericordia (the Christ of Mercy) statue. Not only can you wonder at the world’s second-largest statue of Jesus, but you’ll be rewarded with fantastic panoramas of the coastline and surrounding mountains too. Or, indulge your sporty side, braving swells at acclaimed surf beach Playa Madera, or travel to Wildlife Refuge La Flor, an important conservation site where sea turtles nest. Afterwards, enjoy watersports and seaside relaxation in Mexico’s Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, before docking in Los Angeles.

Bonaire’s turquoise shallows are home to some of the Caribbean’s most spectacular coral reefs; spot tarpons, octopus and sea turtles as you snorkel. Visiting Antarctica feels like stepping into a nature documentary; memories of its icy vistas, waddling penguins and leopard seals lounging on floes will stay with you for a lifetime. This segment features a plethora of World Wonders, and takes in four extraordinary landmarks. Discover stepped pyramids and sacred cenotes in Mexico’s Chichen Itza, built by the Mayans in pre-Columbian times. Wonder at the impressive masonry, agricultural terraces and temples of Inca citadel Machu Picchu - constructed in granite rocks using a technique called ashlar, its stones fit together perfectly, so mortar isn’t required. Gaze at the outstretched concrete arms - which span 28m - of Christ the Redeemer, the world’s largest Art Deco statue, which took some nine years to build. Plus there’s natural wonder Iguazú Falls, which offers a vacation rush like no other.

Segment 1 World Wonders

• 1/4 — Christ the Redeemer
• 2/4 — Iguazú Falls
• 3/4 — Machu Picchu
• 4/4 — Chichén-Itzá

Residing atop Corcovado mountain, the Christ the Redeemer statue towers protectively over Rio de Janeiro. Made of reinforced concrete and thousands of soapstone tiles, the statue is the largest Art Deco style sculpture in the world — visible from nearly every part of the city.

Iguazú Falls is the largest waterfall system on the planet, and nothing compares to seeing its awe-inspiring beauty in person. Nestled right at the border between Brazil and Argentina, this magnificent site stretches close to two miles and is made up of around 275 distinct cascades that cut through the dense emerald rainforest. The falls can be viewed from both Argentina and Brazil — each side offers its own unique perspective.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is one of the most majestic symbols of Peru’s ancient Inca heritage. It’s also the most famous archaeological site on the continent — and it lives up to every expectation. The sprawling citadel was built in the 15th century above Peru’s Sacred Valley and is home to well-preserved ruins of Inca temples, houses and palaces.

Once home to the great Maya empire, ChichénItzá is a complex of ruins believed to have been a religious, military, political and commercial center with up to 35,000 residents. Augmented Reality technology brings the ancient city to life as you explore 4 square miles encompassing several hundred buildings — including the massive step pyramid, Temple of Kukulcan, the Temple of Venus, The Temple of Warriors and a well-preserved ballpark.

Explore More

Bonaire’s turquoise shallows are home to some of the Caribbean’s most spectacular coral reefs; spot tarpons, octopus and sea turtles as you snorkel. Visiting Antarctica feels like stepping into a nature documentary; memories of its icy vistas, waddling penguins and leopard seals lounging on floes will stay with you for a lifetime. This segment features a plethora of World Wonders, and takes in four extraordinary landmarks.

Discover stepped pyramids and sacred cenotes in Mexico’s Chichen Itza, built by the Mayans in pre-Columbian times. Wonder at the impressive masonry, agricultural terraces and temples of Inca citadel Machu Picchu - constructed in granite rocks using a technique called ashlar, its stones fit together perfectly, so mortar isn’t required. Gaze at the outstretched concrete arms - which span 28m - of Christ the Redeemer, the world’s largest Art Deco statue, which took some nine years to build. Plus there’s natural wonder Iguazú Falls, which offers a rush like no other.

Insider tips Good to know in every situation

With the tropical climates and range of beautiful beaches and watersports activities in the Caribbean, South and Central America it’s well worth investing in a reef-friendly sunscreen, to protect yourself, and the natural environment as you travel.

To ensure your adventures are as comfortable as possible bring a range of clothing, as in the Caribbean and the Americas temperatures can soar, while Antarctica, the world’s coldest continent, warrants base layers, a fleecy jacket, waterproof/windproof gear and warm gloves (which work with touchscreens if you’re planning on smartphone photography).

Seasickness

Passage around the Cape Horn towards Antarctica can be choppy, so be proactive and visit the doctor before you set sail if needed you have seasickness medicines to hand.

Connecting with the locals can make your journey even more memorable. Learn a few phrases in Portuguese and Spanish before your vacation, and try your hand at simple conversation during your time in South and Central America.

Frequently asked questions

What is an Ultimate World Cruise segment?

The Ultimate World Cruise can be taken as a whole, or you can choose from the four available Ultimate Cruise segments to take a portion of the voyage instead. The names and dates of the four Ultimate Cruise segments that make up the Ultimate World Cruise are as follows:

Ultimate Americas Cruise: December 10, 2023 – February 11, 2024, 64 Nights, 36 destinations

Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise: February 11, 2024 – May 9, 2024, 87 Nights, 40 destinations

Ultimate Africa & Southern Europe: May 9, 2024 – July 10, 2024, 63 Nights, 39 destinations

Ultimate Europe & Beyond Cruise: July 10, 2024 – September 10, 2024, 63 Nights, 40 destinations

What is the starting price for the Ultimate World Cruise segments?

Considering all that’s included in your Ultimate Cruise segment fare, you’ll enjoy an incredible value. No matter which stateroom you choose, your fare includes Ultimate Cruise segment complimentary amenities like Deluxe Beverage Package, gratuities, VOOM internet package, and wash and fold laundry service.

Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise

Ultimate Middle East & Med Cruise

Ultimate Europe & Beyond Cruise

*Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional and are subject to change at any time. All starting prices listed are per person, in USD, cruise only, based on double occupancy and are subject to change at any time.

What benefits are included when booking the Ultimate World Cruise or one of the four segments?

Guests who join us for the entire Ultimate World Cruise will receive the following inclusions:

Embarkation Amenities

Round-trip business class airfare

Pre-cruise hotel and gala

Premium transfers between airport, hotel and ship

Onboard Amenities

Deluxe Beverage Package for entire voyage

VOOM Wi-Fi internet for entire voyage

Gratuities for entire voyage

Wash and fold laundry service

Our Crown & Anchor Society guests who hold Platinum status and above will also receive the exclusive benefit of included excursions to the New World Wonders.

Guests who join us for one of the four segments will receive the following inclusions:

Deluxe Beverage Package for entire segment

VOOM Wi-Fi for entire segment

Gratuities for entire segment

Wash and fold laundry service for entire segment

Ready for an adventure?

Segment 2 Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise

Protect Your Trip »

The 7 top antarctica cruises for 2024 + tips from an expert.

Plan your next epic adventure to the White Continent.

The Top Antarctica Cruises

Yuri Matisse Choufour | Courtesy of Hurtigruten Expeditions

Experience otherworldly beauty on an Antarctica cruise.

An expedition to Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for intrepid travelers who want to explore this remote destination at the bottom of the world. The landscapes are surreal, with eerily blue icebergs, towering ice-capped mountains, dramatic weather conditions that change within seconds and species of wildlife that exist nowhere else on Earth – it's hard to imagine until you've made the long journey yourself.

The fifth-largest continent is home to the largest ice sheet on the planet, the Antarctic Ice Sheet, as well as the Transantarctic Mountains, with peaks soaring more than 14,700 feet into the sky. West Antarctica has volcanoes that are part of a tectonically active area around the Pacific Ocean known as the "Ring of Fire." This incredibly diverse and magical part of the world also has the coldest temperature ever recorded at -135.8 degrees Fahrenheit in 2010.

U.S. News has compiled a selection of seven different Antarctic experiences to help you plan your bucket list adventure to the White Continent.

Book an Antarctica cruise on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Atlas Ocean Voyages: 11-night Ushuaia Roundtrip

Courtesy of Atlas Ocean Voyages

This 11-night expedition with Atlas is available on several dates in 2024. One highlight of the voyage is crossing the Antarctic Circle, along with four days exploring Antarctica and two days spent in the South Shetland Islands. You'll also have two days en route to Antarctica and two days on the return trip on the famed Drake Passage – also known as the "Drake Lake" (on smooth days) or the "Drake Shake" (when the seas are rough).

During your days at sea, take in all the onboard lectures and films about Antarctica, and head outside on the decks to see petrels and albatrosses soaring overhead. This is the perfect opportunity to practice your photography skills before reaching the Antarctic Peninsula, where you want to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints.

Atlas' Jan. 14 expedition is on the line's newest ship, World Voyager. The purpose-built yacht-style vessel features a hydro-jet propulsion system that's quieter and less disruptive to the fragile ecosystem. This feature also provides the opportunity for guests to see more wildlife during up-close encounters. Pricing is all-inclusive on board the ship with free open bars; all meals, wines, spirits and craft beers; a stocked in-room minibar; all landings, Zodiac excursions and lectures; the use of kayaks, walking sticks, knee boots and binoculars; and a souvenir Atlas jacket to take home. Fares also include a one-night pre-cruise stay and private charter jet service round-trip from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, Argentina.

Aurora Expeditions: Antarctic Peninsula in Depth

Tyson Mayr | Courtesy of Aurora Expeditions

Aurora offers a 14-night Antarctic intensive voyage sailing round-trip from Ushuaia on Nov. 6, 2024, aboard the 132-passenger purpose-built expedition ship Greg Mortimer. This vessel was the first passenger ship to utilize the state-of-the-art Ulstein X-BOW, which provides a smoother, quicker and more efficient transit across the ocean. The ship also incorporates many environmentally conscious features, including low energy consumption and virtual anchoring, which protects the sea floor and minimizes damage caused by traditional anchors.

Guests will find expansive observation decks and hydraulic viewing platforms for optimal wildlife viewing on board. Other highlights of the expedition are nine full days to explore the Antarctic Peninsula in nearly 24 hours of daylight at the peak of summer. During this time, you can expect to see whales arriving to feed on the plentiful krill, fur seal pups and many entertaining penguins.

Prices are mostly all-inclusive, with a one-night hotel stay before boarding the ship; all meals, snacks and complimentary nonalcoholic beverages; beer and house wine at lunch and dinner; the use of Muck Boots for the expedition; all shore excursions and Zodiac cruises; educational lectures; and more. Adventurous explorers can add on activities (at an additional cost) such as sea kayaking, snowshoeing, camping, and skiing or snowboarding. The line also offers longer 20- to 24-day expeditions that include South Georgia Island.

Read: Sustainable Cruises: The Top Lines Making Progress

Hurtigruten Expeditions: Antarctica, Patagonia and Chilean Fjords Expedition

Dan Avila | Courtesy of Hurtigruten Expeditions

For an extended adventure that includes crossing the Drake Passage twice, spending up to five days in Antarctica and then landing on Cape Horn in Chile (weather permitting), consider the 25-night grand expedition cruise aboard the Hutrigruten Expeditions' MS Roald Amundsen. Additional highlights are scenic cruising in Garibaldi Fjord in Alberto de Agostini National Park to see the Garibaldi Glacier; visiting the town of Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park ; and seeing the longest Southern Hemisphere glacier outside of Antarctica (which grows by as much as 150 feet a day), the Pio XI Glacier in Bernado O'Higgins National Park. This epic adventure begins March 9, 2024, in Buenos Aires and ends in Valparaíso, Chile.

The ship for the voyage, MS Roald Amundsen, is a hybrid vessel that reduces CO2 emissions by using electrical propulsion – and it's designed specifically for use in polar waters. The vessel carries just 500 guests (to adhere to regulations for visiting Antarctica) and features all exterior cabins with Scandinavian inspired decor. Guests will also find an Explorer lounge and bar, three dining venues, the Science Center, a sauna and spa, and other amenities. Fares are mostly all-inclusive, covering a complimentary expedition jacket; the use of expedition equipment like boots and trekking poles; landing activities; most dining options; and wine, beer and soft drinks at meals.

Lindblad Expeditions – National Geographic: Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent

Ralph Lee Hopkins | Courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions

Lindblad Expeditions was the first company to bring citizen explorers to Antarctica in 1966, pioneering travel to this remote destination. The line's 13-night expedition to Antarctica is offered nearly 20 times throughout the summer season in 2024 on one of three ships. Depending on the ship, guests will have one evening in either Buenos Aires or Santiago, Chile , before flying to Ushuaia the next morning to embark the vessel.

With about five days to explore Antarctica, you'll have time to take in the awe-inspiring landscapes and look for seals and blue-eyed shags up close from Zodiacs. On land, watch thousands of Adélie and gentoo penguins as they playfully slide down the snow-covered hills on their bellies – one right after the other – diving headfirst into the icy waters. After the adventure, a private charter flight will return you to either Buenos Aires or Santiago before your return flight home.

The line's newest expedition vessel, National Geographic Resolution, accommodates just 138 guests – and there are two new cabins for solo cruisers . Guests on the Polar Class 5 vessel will have a National Geographic photographer and a Lindblad-National Geographic-certified photo instructor and video chronicler documenting the trip. Onboard amenities include a yoga studio, a wellness specialist, infinity-style hot tubs, two restaurants and a chef's table, and plenty of indoor and outdoor viewing areas. This ship also carries an ROV (a remotely operated vehicle) for underwater exploration and other high-tech video gear.

You can even book an overnight stay in an igloo (on a first-come, first-served basis) and spend the evening under the polar sky. Fares are mostly all-inclusive and include all onboard meals and most meals ashore; nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages; transfers; excursions; a complimentary jacket; and more.

Silversea: King George Island to King George Island (Antarctica Bridge)

Courtesy of Silversea

Silversea's six-night Antarctica Bridge expedition takes guests round-trip by a business class flight directly to the Antarctica Peninsula, flying into King George Island from Punta Arenas, Chile. This itinerary is offered several times throughout the season for guests who don't have extensive time to travel – or are nervous about sailing the Drake Passage. Silversea 's pricing is all-inclusive, and guests can choose between door-to-door or port-to-port fares.

While the weather determines the specific itinerary in Antarctica, guests can expect to have several excursions in the Antarctic Sound and as many as nine excursions on the Antarctic Peninsula that include hiking, kayaking and scenic Zodiac cruises with the expedition team. There's also one excursion in the South Shetland Islands, where you can look for massive elephant seals. There will be an abundance of bird and animal viewing on wildlife-rich King George Island, the largest of the South Shetland Islands, which is home to Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins as well as Weddell and leopard seals.

Oceanwide Expeditions and Swoop Antarctica: Quest for the Emperor Penguins of Snow Hill Island

Getty Images

Swoop Antarctica's 10-night adventure-filled journey takes wildlife and history enthusiasts into the ice-choked waters of the Weddell Sea, past towering tabular icebergs, in search of the emperor penguin's rookery on Snow Hill: one of the most remote penguin rookeries on the planet. The incredible itinerary also sails through the same waters where famed Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship, the Endurance, sank in 1915 – and to the rarely seen west slopes of the Antarctic Sound.

Other highlights include Zodiac and helicopter landings (weather permitting) to additional remote locales, including Seymour Island, where the Swedish Antarctic Expedition of 1901 to 1904 spent a winter season; Brown Bluff, one of the most scenic places on the northern tip of the Antarctic Continent and home to a large Adélie penguin rookery; and the volcanic crater of Deception Island.

There are two sailings in November 2024 on board the 1A-class, ice-strengthened Oceanwide Expeditions' Ortelius: a 108-passenger former Russian research vessel. Fares includes all meals and nonalcoholic beverages, all Zodiac and shore excursions, educational lectures, helicopter transfers, and group transfers. Optional adventure activities, alcoholic beverages and other personal expenses are at an additional cost.

The onboard helicopter pad is one of the features of the vessel and is used on select expeditions in the Weddell and Ross seas. It's important to note that very few companies offer expeditions to the Weddell Sea that include Snow Hill Island. While Ortelius is not a luxury vessel like other ships mentioned in this list, it is a stable expedition-style ship built for these icy – and at times treacherous – waters and weather conditions.

Viking: Antarctica & South Georgia Island

Courtesy of Viking

Viking's 18-night Antarctica and South Georgia Island expedition begins with an overnight stay in Buenos Aires followed by a flight the next morning to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. The first two stops on the expedition are in the Falkland Islands, where you'll find beautiful scenery with imposing cliffs, many types of marine birds and five species of penguins. In South Georgia, watch for king penguins and seals. Then, it's on to Antarctica for days 12 through 16. Guests will have the option to reserve a spot on the Viking DNV-classed submarine for a thrilling journey into the depths of the frigid waters in Antarctica. The return sailing, by way of the Drake Passage, disembarks in Ushuaia.

In 2024, this itinerary is available Jan. 31 and again Dec. 15 on Viking Octantis. The purpose-built Polar Class 6 vessel accommodates up to 378 guests and offers many of the same venues found on Viking's ocean ships, including the Explorers' Lounge, World Café, Mamsen's, Manfredi's Italian Restaurant and the Nordic Spa. There are also expedition-specific features, such as Expedition Central, the Science Lab and – for educational lectures and briefings – the Aula theater. Viking's fares are mostly all-inclusive, with all meals and wine and beer served with lunch and dinner; 24-hour specialty teas, coffees and nonalcoholic beverages; a keepsake Viking jacket; complimentary use of the excursion gear; and more.

Find an Antarctica cruise on GoToSea.

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Expert tips on Antarctica expeditions

There are many factors to consider when planning an Antarctica expedition, including where you want to travel to, the length of the trip and whether you want to sail the famed Drake Passage twice.

To provide helpful insights and information to plan your trip, U.S. News reached out to an expert in the region, Aurora Expeditions' expedition leader, Ashley Perrin , for tips on planning your adventure to the White Continent. Perrin has degrees in both geography and oceanography from the University of Southampton. She was appointed as the first woman boating officer in Antarctica by the British Antarctic Survey in 2009, and has led multiple expeditions to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands.

Which month is best (in your opinion) to travel to Antarctica and why? 

Perrin: "My favorite time to travel to Antarctica is the end of December or beginning of January, because the penguin chicks are starting to come out and you get the most wildlife spotting opportunities, with marine mammals, penguins and albatross – on top of the spectacular scenery."

What length of trip do you recommend for first-time visitors?

Perrin: "The 10- to 12-day Spirit of Antarctica or Antarctic Explorer (with Aurora Expeditions) is a fantastic introduction to the Antarctic Peninsula. If you had the additional time and opportunity, ideally you would also opt for a voyage that visits South Georgia. For many travelers, this is really the jewel in the crown of the Antarctic experience because of the incredible wildlife opportunities here."

What should you look for in an expedition ship/tour when planning a trip to Antarctica?

Perrin: "Travelers should look for a high-quality educational experience, including lectures and opportunities for Citizen Science. This is such a fascinating and important destination, and you want to ensure you can learn and take as much in as you can. A pivotal factor in this is also choosing a company that offers low passenger numbers.

"Travelers don't have enough of an understanding of the impact of this on their voyage. In the Antarctic Peninsula only 100 people are allowed on land at one time, while at some sites it is 30 to 50 people. Having smaller groups enables passengers to have more time off ship exploring and connecting with nature, and this has such a significant impact on your experience.

"If you like to be a little more active, I would also highly recommend an operator that offers activities, such as kayaking in Antarctica. This allows you to see Antarctica from a different viewpoint and the silence is amazing. You still have opportunities to do landings as well, so I think it's the best of both worlds."

Do you prefer the combination fly/sail for the Drake Passage or sailing the Drake Passage both ways?

Perrin: "I prefer to sail both ways as it's how you earn your right to get to Antarctica! You also get more opportunities to see wildlife like seabirds, and it gives you extra time to prepare for the Antarctic experience through pre-lectures and education. Travelers arrive with more of an understanding of what to expect."

Any other tips, advice or comments you'd like to share?

Perrin: "Do your research into the operator you are choosing and their different offerings – things like passenger numbers, expedition team experience and off ship activities – as these can all have a significant impact on the travel experience. There is also a big difference between traditional cruise operators and expedition operators and what travelers can expect. We ensure that our passengers are exploring and getting off the ship as much as possible.

"I would also add that it's important to do your research into the areas that you're most interested in. For example, it could be history, exploration and walking in someone's footsteps (such as Sir Ernest Shackleton), or the types of wildlife you might see. Having a deeper understanding of the history and the region really does enhance the experience once you are there."

Frequently Asked Questions

An expedition where you get off the ship and make landings on the Antarctic peninsula typically costs about $10,000 per person for a 10-night voyage. However, depending on the cruise line, the ship and dates of travel – and whether you sail or fly the Drake Passage – you could spend as much as $29,000 per person for a 12-night expedition or more. There are slightly lower prices for some expeditions, such as a few with Hurtigruten Expeditions, and you can find reduced fares and deals with lines like Atlas Ocean Voyages and Quark Expeditions. In addition, there are extended polar expeditions that range from a 14-night trip to the 94-night Pole-to-Pole Ultimate Bucket List Expedition Cruise with Hurtigruten Expeditions, which is priced at close to $48,000.

If you're not interested in getting off the ship in Antarctica to see penguins and seals up close (but no closer than 15 feet, according to the Antarctic Treaty), you can opt for a voyage on a large cruise ship that sails around the continent for a much lower cost. Just know that you won't be able to disembark at any point in Antarctica. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line has a 14-night Antarctica and South America voyage that makes a round trip from Buenos Aires, Argentina, for as low as $999 per person. You may be able to find even cheaper fares from lines such as Celebrity Cruises or Princess Cruises.

It's important to note that by the rules set forth in the Antarctic Treaty, only ships carrying 500 or less passengers are permitted to make landings on the Antarctica peninsula. The Antarctic Treaty, along with the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, has strict conservation protocols and regulates that no more than 100 passengers are allowed to go ashore at one time. The IAATO works with more than 100 Antarctica outfitters to create the guidelines and safety procedures to protect the fragile environment and wildlife in this remote part of the world.

The following cruise lines offer small ship expeditions in Antarctica with no more than 500 passengers. You can also look at tour companies – such as Abercrombie & Kent, G Adventures, Adventure Life and Swoop Antarctica – that exclusively charter ships or help navigate the decision-making process for their clients and book individual expeditions with the cruise lines.

• Atlas Ocean Voyages
• Aurora Expeditions
• Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
• Hurtigruten Expeditions
• Lindblad Expeditions – National Geographic
• Quark Expeditions
• Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
• Seabourn Cruise Line

These larger cruise lines offer sailings around the Antarctic Peninsula, which may include scenic cruising in and around the Gerlache Strait, Elephant Island, Paradise Bay and Schollart Channel.

• Celebrity Cruises
• Holland America Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Oceania Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Royal Caribbean International

The answer depends on the expedition. The majority of passengers will depart from South America in either Ushuaia, Argentina – which is also known as the "End of the World" – or Punta Arenas, Chile. Then it will take approximately two days to cross the Drake Passage to reach the Antarctic Peninsula. Some lines also offer chartered flights from Punta Arenas to Antarctica, which only take about two hours. Some passengers who have taken the flight say it can be as unnerving as sailing the Drake Passage, since weather conditions can delay the flight for up to several days where you could potentially miss the trip.

Cruises on larger ships that only sail around the Antarctic Peninsula may embark in Buenos Aires; Santiago, Chile; Puerto Williams, Chile; Rio de Janeiro; ports in Florida or New Zealand; or even the South Shetland Islands.

The expedition and cruise season to Antarctica extends from November to March, which is during the austral summer in the Southern Hemisphere. But Antarctica is still the windiest, coldest and driest continent on Earth, so weather conditions are unpredictable and can change quickly – even during the summertime. One minute the sun may be out, and the next minute it can be snowing and extremely windy and cloudy.

Visitors in November can expect temperatures between a low of 25 degrees to a high of 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmest temperatures are typically in January, when you'll find days ranging between 33 to 36 degrees before they start to drop again in February.

Most expedition companies provide jackets that you can take home, so you won't need to bring a heavy parka if it's given to you on board. They may also provide waterproof boots that you'll need to use for wet landings. It's best to check with your expedition line to see what's available on the ship, what you can rent or buy, and what you'll need to pack and bring with you. Due to the unpredictable weather, it's advisable to bring different types of layers.

Here are some of the items you'll want to pack:

Layers: Pack at least two top and two bottom quick-drying base layers (or more, depending on the length of your expedition) that wick moisture, such as those made of silk, wool or bamboo. It does get toasty when you're layered up and moving around ashore, so choose lightweight options that will layer easily under the rest of your clothing and keep you warm and dry. For your mid-layer top, go with a lightweight polar fleece or vest; for the bottom, quick-drying warm tights or fleece pants are a good option.

You'll also want to layer what's on your feet, starting with a wicking pair of socks made from silk or synthetic polypropylene, followed by a good pair of merino wool socks from a brand like Smartwool. Glove liners are another must, especially if your hands tend to get cold. If you can, buy insulated waterproof gloves with removable liners to save packing an extra item. You may also want to toss a few hand and foot warmers in the suitcase in case you need extra warmth. Bring a lighter pair of insulated gloves for warmer days off the ship.

And don't forget a lined wool beanie, a set of earmuffs, and a balaclava or fleece neck gaiter to keep your ears and face warm and your nose and mouth protected from the cold air and wind.

Waterproof gear: The parka and tall waterproof boots may be provided on the ship, but if they're not, you'll need to bring your own. You'll also need wind- and waterproof pants to go over your base layer and mid-layers. If they're tapered at the bottom, you should be able to tuck them into your boots. Perrin says this is one of the most important items you should purchase and pack for your expedition.

Comfy clothes ­and shoes for around the ship: Most people dress casual on Antarctica cruises, so bring clothes that will be comfortable for days and evenings around the ship. It can get rough when crossing the Drake Passage, so you'll want flat or low-heeled shoes for those days at sea.

Other items you'll want to pack:

• Waterproof dry pack
• Sea-Bands and medications for motion sickness
• Camera and accessories with a waterproof cover
• Hiking poles (unless the ship has them available)
• Swimsuit (you may want to take the polar plunge!)
• Other necessary medications
• Hydrating lip balm and a good protective moisturizer
• Polarized sunglasses
• Books on the history of early exploration in Antarctica and the incredible wildlife

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has sailed on nearly every type of cruise ship built, including the newest megaships, paddle-wheelers on the Mississippi River, and an 18-stateroom river ship on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. She has also cruised on a traditional masted sailing ship and on a small luxury expedition vessel in Antarctica crossing the notorious Drake Passage twice. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications including U.S. News & World Report.

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Want to Take a Cruise to Antarctica? Here's What You Should Know Before You Book

Here's everything you need to know before you book a cruise to Antarctica.

Picking the Best Antarctica Cruise

Expedition companies and cruise lines, best time to go to antarctica, choosing an itinerary, getting there, what to pack, health and safety considerations, life on board an antarctic cruise, exploring antarctica, environmental considerations, antarctica tips to know before you go.

Wolfgang Kaehler/Avalon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Traveling to the elusive seventh continent has never been easier, thanks to the rapid growth of the expedition cruise industry. But why travel to Antarctica? Visiting the White Continent is far more than just checking a box. It's an opportunity to see a part of Earth that's radically different than anywhere else — and radically removed from everywhere else — reminding you just how extraordinary our planet is. Plus, there are penguins. Lots of penguins.

If you're hoping to visit Antarctica, the process of planning can feel overwhelming. With so many cruise lines and expedition operators in the game, and so many variables to consider when booking a trip, making decisions about your voyage isn't easy. But it's crucial that you pick the right cruise for you, particularly since this might be a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. (Unless you're like me and become hooked, returning time and time again…) To that end, we're here to help you build the foundation for your trip with this ultimate guide to Antarctica cruises, covering everything you need to know before you book.

Antarctica cruises are not created equal. Though the scenery will be stunning no matter which operator you see it with, you need to ensure you're choosing the cruise that best suits your style of travel and your interests. Here are some factors to consider before you book:

goinyk/Getty Images

This might be the most important detail to focus on when selecting an Antarctic cruise. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) limits a ship's operations based on passenger capacity, so your vessel's capacity has a direct impact on the experience you'll have in Antarctica. Choose your ship wisely with these IAATO criteria in mind.

• Small ships (200 passengers or fewer): These ships can visit all landing sites.
• Medium ships (201 to 500 passengers): These ships are limited to specific landing sites that can handle higher capacity.
• Large ships (500+ passengers): Ships with more than 500 passengers are not allowed to make landings at all, so you'll only be doing scenic cruising in Antarctica, not setting foot on the continent.

Luxury Level

The ships sailing to Antarctica run the gamut from bare-bones former research vessels to ultra-luxe purpose-built vessels. Naturally, cruises on the more luxurious vessels tend to cost more. Think about what's most important to you on a cruise — do you want butler service and a spa, or would you prefer to save a few thousand dollars for an older ship with fewer amenities?

I've journeyed to Antarctica five times — each with a different operator — and would happily go back time and time again. Here's what you can expect from the operators I've traveled with.

oversnap/Getty Images

Lindblad Expeditions

Lindblad has been taking guests to Antarctica since 1966, and the company remains one of the preeminent operators in the region. Its fleet of Antarctic vessels — including its new luxury ships National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution  — carry a maximum of 148 guests, ensuring an intimate experience with plenty of time ashore. Education is a key pillar of the company, and its expedition staff and their lectures are second to none.

Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II are ultra-luxury ships that look more like sleek yachts than they do expedition vessels, not only on the outside, but on the inside, too. Standouts on these ships include helicopters and submersibles, nearly a dozen dining options, and a relaxing spa. Even with all these amenities, the ships only carry 200 passengers in Antarctica, allowing them to take advantage of the small ship–only landing sites.

Atlas Ocean Voyages

A newcomer to the game, Atlas Ocean Voyages debuted in 2021, and its fleet of new-build expedition ships each have a different design personality. For instance, World Traveller , the ship I sailed on, is inspired by "la dolce vita" and features retro nautical decor. Atlas Ocean Voyages' niche in the market is somewhere between an expedition and a classic cruise — the roughly 200-passenger ships are no doubt expedition vessels, but the programming has some traditional cruise-like elements, such as musical performances at night.

Viking's two expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, carry a maximum of 378 passengers, so they fall into the medium-size category. As such, landings are generally limited to one site per day, which creates a more laid-back Antarctica experience — there's plenty of time to enjoy the out-of-this-world spa (my favorite feature is the open-air badestamp , a wooden hot tub) as well as hands-on science demonstrations. But there's a lot to do off the ships, too, as they carry quite a few toys: notably, submersibles. 

Aurora Expeditions

Adventure is in Aurora Expeditions' DNA. This Australian operator is perfect for those seeking as much action as they can get. I found landings with Aurora to be far more active than my experiences with other carriers — for example, I covered more than five miles on Deception Island, climbing up hills to get to scenic overlooks. Plus, for an extra fee, you can choose one activity group to join: snorkeling and paddling were offered on my sailing, while skiing is an option earlier in the season. Aurora's ships may skew a touch more utilitarian than high-design, but these are expedition powerhouses. 

Other Cruise Lines and Operators in Antarctica to Consider

Of course, there are many other operators in Antarctica, too. Quark Expeditions, Abercrombie & Kent, Natural Habitat Adventures (NatHab), Silversea, Seabourn, HX (Hurtigruten), Ponant, Adventures by Disney, Albatros Expeditions, Princess Cruises, Antarctica21, Oceanwide Expeditions, and Swan Hellenic are all worth a look.

Once you've chosen a cruise operator, though, what comes next? It's time to narrow down your itinerary options, then book your flight.

Elizabeth Rhodes/Travel + Leisure

The Antarctic cruising season runs in austral summer (that is, Southern Hemisphere summer), from November through March. "Within that time frame, there’s truly no bad time to travel," says Trey Byus, Lindblad Expeditions' chief expedition officer. "Summer temperatures usually range from a crisp and cool 32° F to 65° F, and while specific conditions and wildlife events occur during specific months, interesting and exciting activity occurs throughout the season." Here's what you might experience at each different time.

November–early December : Experience Antarctica at its most pristine, with thick snow blanketing much of the landscape. "Guests on early-season Antarctica expeditions are likely to see penguins building their nests and seal pups still being weaned by their mothers," says Byus. "In the early season, when ice conditions are just right, our captain is more likely to be able to 'park' the ship in the sea ice so that our expedition team can lead a walk among penguins ... Early November departures also offer the possibility to cross-country ski or snowshoe across the frozen sea ice, conditions permitting."

Late December–January: This is peak season in Antarctica, particularly for penguin sightings. Penguin chicks start to hatch in late December, and they'll be running around by mid-January. "You will also experience nearly a full 24 hours of daylight," says Aaron Lawton, Viking's head of expedition operations.

February-March: Later in the season, there may be less snow, but there will be more whales. "As the region transforms from summer to autumn, March is an ideal time for those interested in captivating photography against softer lighting as the angle of the sun reduces harsh shadows," notes Colby Brokvist, an expedition leader for Natural Habitat Adventures, a certified senior polar guide with the Polar Tourism Guides Association, and author of "The Professional Guide's Handbook."

“I have had the privilege to visit Antarctica more than 100 times over the last 25 years, and I can tell you that every trip is unique and special — no matter what time of year you experience it," adds Lawton.

While some travelers choose to visit just Antarctica, many cruise lines offer extended itineraries that also include the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia. Both destinations are rife with wildlife — South Georgia notably has massive colonies of king penguins — as well as human history. If you can swing the time commitment, which usually spans a minimum of three weeks, visit all three destinations!

Most Antarctica cruises explore the Antarctic Peninsula, departing from Ushuaia, Argentina; Punta Arenas, Chile; or Puerto Williams, Chile. While some operators will have you book flights to these cities, most will have you fly to either Buenos Aires or Santiago for a night before catching a chartered group flight to your embarkation city. 

Traditional cruises have you sail the infamous Drake Passage, but you can also choose a fly-fly cruise or a fly-sail cruise that has you skip the Drake (in one or both directions) by flying between Punta Arenas and King George Island. These flights can save you time, but there are a lot of ifs, ands, or buts — on my fly-fly cruise, our flight was delayed three days due to poor conditions. If it had been delayed any further, our cruise would have been canceled. Be sure to read the fine print when booking a cruise that includes flights to and/or from Antarctica.

There are also a few Antarctica cruises that depart from New Zealand, which explore the Ross Sea side of Antarctica.

There are two questions everyone asks about Antarctica: what should I pack, and will I get seasick? Your expedition company or cruise line will provide you with a packing list — and Travel + Leisure has created an Antarctica packing list of our own — but some of the basics you'll definitely need include base layers, mid layers (like fleeces), waterproof outer layers (including pants!), and knee-high waterproof boots, plus general cold-weather gear like warm hats and waterproof gloves. Many luxury operators will give you a waterproof parka you can take home, as well as provide you with loaner waterproof pants and waterproof boots. You'll also want to take a bathing suit for the polar plunge, if you dare.

As for onboard apparel, many expedition cruise lines take a laid-back approach. "One of the main things we prioritize on our Antarctic voyages is comfort, as we promote a relaxed atmosphere on every journey," says Byus of Lindblad Expeditions' onboard experience. "We always recommend dressing for comfort, practicality, and the conditions in the region you're exploring." Other cruise operators might have you dress in resort casual attire in the evenings.

Seasickness

When you're crossing the Drake Passage, conditions can be calm (Drake Lake) or chaotic (Drake Shake). "No amount of technology can keep these seas from being rough, though there are ways to mitigate the impact the weather has on the guest experience, and there are certainly plenty of crossings where the seas are relatively calm," says Byus. "Our team works hard — analyzing weather forecasts to pick a window through storms and deploying stabilizers that minimize side-to-side rolling motion. But even then, every person handles motion differently."

So it's very possible you'll get seasick on the Drake — or even in open seas down in Antarctica. "Seasickness is possible, and we recommend adopting practices like focusing on the horizon, staying hydrated, and choosing a centrally located cabin for greater stability," says Brokvist. "For some travelers, additional measures can be taken such as over-the-counter medications, wristbands, or prescription options." Ships will also have an onboard doctor who can provide seasickness medication if you've forgotten yours at home or if you've run out.

Visiting Antarctica is not like cruising the Mediterranean or the Caribbean — there are no piers for easy access, nor are there sheltered tenders that protect you from the elements. You will be expected to board heavy-duty inflatable vessels called Zodiacs to go ashore, and getting in and out of them requires a fair bit of mobility (though expedition staff will, of course, be on hand to help you). Then, when you're ashore, the terrain may be uneven and difficult to traverse — expect wobbly rocks, deep snow, and slippery penguin guano. "Being careful is essential given the remoteness of the location and the limited access to medical facilities," says Brokvist.

If mobility isn't your strong suit, you can always stay onboard the ship. Or, in the case of Viking, you can leave the ship via a "Special Operations Boat," which may be easier to get into and out of for some travelers. "Guests who have a more limited range of mobility might enjoy viewing the White Continent from one of Viking’s two Special Operation Boats, fitted with comfortable seats offering excellent viewing opportunities," says Lawton. Just note that these boats will not make landings ashore like the Zodiacs.

While you might know what to expect on a traditional ocean cruise, an expedition cruise is an entirely different experience. 

Accommodations

Accommodations very much depend on the luxury level of the ship. On older expedition ships, you might be sleeping in twin-size beds (or potentially even bunks) with a small porthole for a window. On newer luxury ships, you might have a full suite with a soaking tub, balcony, and butler service. If you're traveling solo, read the fine print for your carrier: some ships have specific cabins dedicated to solo travelers, while others may pair you with a roommate. Though a cabin of one's own may sound ideal, choosing the roommate option can be a good way to save money, as many operators charge a single supplement for solo travelers who book their own cabins.

Smaller expedition ships typically only have one or two restaurants onboard, with special dining opportunities like an on-deck barbecue or a chef's table on certain nights. But some ships have multiple restaurants to cater to diverse palates, serving various cuisines. As for beverages, what's included in your cruise fare depends on your operator. Some are all-inclusive, and others are à la carte.

Entertainment

Again, entertainment varies per operator and ship, but the typical program always includes lectures about Antarctica from expedition staff — all experts in various fields, from glaciology to marine biology to history.  Some ships might offer hands-on science experiments, while others might include nightly musical performances.

Your experience in Antarctica will be shaped by whether you've chosen an expedition cruise where you'll make landings or a scenic cruise. In either case, every day will be different. Though expedition leaders and captains have a general plan for the itinerary, day-to-day operations will be based on the weather and ice conditions.

Expedition Cruises

On small ships with 200 passengers or fewer, your day typically starts early, as you'll have both a morning and an afternoon excursion. On larger ships, you'll probably only get off the ship once per day. That's because IAATO only allows 100 guests per ship ashore at a time — on higher-capacity ships, you'll have to wait your turn. 

Mint Images - David Schultz/Getty Images

Excursions almost always include one of two options: a landing or Zodiac cruising. Landings take place at designated sites across Antarctica, and experiences usually include short walks, wildlife viewing (like penguins, other seabirds, and seals if you're lucky), and occasional visits to historic structures, such as a hut at Damoy Point built as an "airport terminal" of sorts in the 1970s. Another popular landing site is Port Lockroy, a staffed facility operated by the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust that includes a museum and an operational post office.

Some operators offer a variety of other excursions — some paid, some included — such as kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, skiing, camping, helicopter flights, and submersible dives. It all depends on the capabilities of the operator and the ship.

Scenic Cruises

If you're on a larger ship that's only doing scenic cruising, your days will be filled with lectures, wildlife watching, and landscape viewing. "On an Antarctic expedition with Holland America Line, travelers not only cross the Drake Passage but sail through the bays and islands of the Palmer Archipelago," says Ryan Baird, manager of destination communications on Holland America Line. "Along the way, the ship's naturalists will point out an abundance of wildlife: terns, petrels, and gulls found on the coast and small islets like Dallmann Bay; the largest colony of gentoo penguins in the world while passing the dark, rocky Cuverville Island; and leopard and elephant seals swimming near country-sized glaciers." You can also enjoy other Antarctica-themed programming. "Beyond on-board experiential education, we’ll mix in some fun and games, like snowball fights, Antarctica-themed movies, and Antarctica trivia," says Baird.

Antarctica is a sensitive environment, and it's reasonable to be concerned about your environmental impact on the destination as a visitor. To minimize their effects on Antarctica, visitors must adhere to strict biosecurity protocols ranging from using biocide to kill any organisms on their boots to avoiding bringing food and drink on land.

"When traveling, I am always of the mindset of our mission — you should leave a place better than how you found it, whether that is being applied to a hotel, a friend’s house, or an entire continent," says Byus. "We want guests to be thoughtful visitors, along with enjoying a spirit of adventure and exploration. Just as importantly, our captains and expedition leaders have significant training in how to conduct our voyages with the greatest care towards sustainability and respect for the ecosystems we visit."

As for ships, they're improving over time. "Since my early voyages to Antarctica more than two decades ago, the industry has made significant improvements to the expedition ships sailing to the region with notable advancements in environmentally considerate ship design," says Lawton. These days, ships use dynamic positioning rather than anchors to stay in place, reducing the impact on the seafloor; special treatment systems to prevent contaminating Antarctica with biological organisms; and quieter technology to reduce noise pollution.

Furthermore, cruises to Antarctica provide scientists the opportunity to conduct research in the region — many operators host researchers from around the world on their sailings, often for free. "It is important when visiting remote places that we not only avoid doing harm, but we are also looking to do good through scientific research," says Lawton. Viking, for instance, partners with the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), among other nonprofits. On my sailing with Lindblad, we hosted renowned "penguinologist" Dr. Tom Hart — "hitchhiking" on expedition ships, he told me, is a far more affordable way to travel to his penguin colony observation sites than chartering his own vessel.

Go with the flow.

"Flexibility is the key to unlocking the magic of Antarctica for first-time visitors. Weather conditions can shift rapidly and impact plans, and the appearance of wildlife can be a welcome opportunity that derails an existing plan," says Brokvist. "So it’s imperative to embrace the unpredictable nature of the White Continent, stay flexible, and savor the unique adventure that each moment brings."

Embrace the Drake.

While I'm fortunate that seasickness doesn't affect me very strongly, I thoroughly enjoyed sailing the Drake Passage — it's what introduced me to birding, since there's not much else to see out there! "In my experience, it does vary in degrees of smooth and rough waters, but no matter which you experience, traveling the Drake Passage is part of the journey and a memorable passage," says Lawton. I also find that crossing the Drake builds anticipation on the inbound journey and helps you decompress on the return.

Know your limits.

A trip to Antarctica can be exhausting. Though it's hard to say no to any activities, you do need to listen to your body. If you need a break, it's okay to pass on a landing or Zodiac cruise — you don't want to have any accidents because you pushed yourself too hard.

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Antarctica Cruises

Are you ready for an adventure to the Antarctic Circle? Cruise to Antarctica and find an ice-laden wonderland with quirky creatures and more.

It may not be the first place you’d consider for a cruise, but Antarctica cruises are the naturalist’s dream and the adventurer’s delight. Experience the cold-weather wildlife many can only read about, including penguins, seals and more. Set foot on icy terrain that few can claim to have walked upon. The brisk weather, the gorgeous glacial formations, the excellent excursions.

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Things to Do on a Cruise to Antarctica

The rugged landscape of Antarctica lends itself to amazing adventures. On a cruise you can truly discover this frozen continent and all the wildlife that calls Antarctica home. Featured below are some of our top recommendations for how to make the most of your cruise to Antarctica:

• Prepare your camera to capture the epic sights of the blue glaciers that line the waters of Antarctica. These majestic icebergs will take your breath away, especially if you're lucky enough to witness glacial calving.  
• Learn about the recent and little known Falkland War between the British and the Argentineans. Take a tour of the island to see battle grounds and learn about Margaret Thatcher’s role in this obscure conflict.  

• Snuggle up to a penguin. Several different kinds of penguins have rookeries all over Antarctica. Your guides will tell you all about these sharply dressed creatures as you explore their natural habitat.  
• Visit a former whaling station in South Georgia Island. Not only can you learn about whaling techniques but the history of the island including an exhibit on the explorer and famous survivor Ernest Shackleton.  

• Explore a caldera on Deception Island. You can actually sail inside this collapsed volcano. Some have even been known to bath in the volcano’s hot spring.  
• In Ushuaia, Argentina ,travel to the Tierra del Fuego Forest in the Carbajal Valley. This impressive area is covered with moss and surrounded by large mountains.  

They’re all part of this extra special vacation, an Antarctic cruise.

Map of Antarctica:

Top 10 antarctica cruises.

• World Navigator 8-Night Reykjavik to Amsterdam Departing From Reykjavik, Iceland (Sep 2024)
• Silver Endeavour 18 NIGHT Antarctica CRUISE Departing From Puerto Williams, Chile (Oct 2024 - Feb 2026)
• World Traveller 9-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip Departing From Ushuaia, Argentina (Oct 2024 - Mar 2026)
• World Traveller 11-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip Departing From Ushuaia, Argentina (Nov 2024 - Feb 2026)
• World Navigator 9-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip Departing From Ushuaia, Argentina (Nov 2024 - Mar 2025)
• Silver Wind 20 NIGHT Antarctica CRUISE Departing From Valparaiso (Santiago), Chile (Nov 2024)
• Silver Cloud 10 NIGHT Antarctica CRUISE Departing From Puerto Williams, Chile (Nov 2024 - Mar 2026)
• Viking Polaris 12 Night Antarctic Explorer Departing From Buenos Aires, Argentina (Nov 2024 - Feb 2026)
• Silver Endeavour 6 NIGHT Antarctica CRUISE Departing From King George Island, Antartica (Nov 2024 - Nov 2025)
• World Navigator 13-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip Departing From Ushuaia, Argentina (Nov 2024 - Mar 2025)

Antarctica: Cruise Lines

A visit to the frozen continent is an adventure. When you cruise on one of the luxury lines your days will be filled exploring glaciers, penguins and other interesting aspects of this seemingly barren continent, but your nights are warm, with delightful dinners and the best sleep you’ve had in years. 

Discover the world in the subtle luxurious comfort of an Atlas Ocean Voyages ship, from the Arctic to Antarctica, and everywhere in between!

Best known for the Pacific Princess on the Love Boat, Princess Cruises has been a leading name in cruising and visits a wide range of destinations.

Silversea's luxurious small-ship cruises and expedition voyages sail the world for unique and in-depth experiences in remote locales. 

Push the limits of destination discovery with Viking Expeditions as you immerse yourself in shoreside adventures and onboard luxury.

Antarctica: Departure Ports

If you are an adventure seeker a trip to Antarctica is a must. The best way to go there is by ship. More and more cruise lines are offering expeditions to this nearly barren landscape. Cruises leave mostly from the major cities in South America like Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina. These cruises give you an opportunity to explore some of that fiery Latin culture before cooling down with views of glaciers, penguins and seals in Antarctica. Another popular embarkation port for Antarctica is Ushuaia, which is at the tip of Tierra del Fuego. 

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is a charming European style city with the perfect combination of new world characteristics mixed with old world history and culture.

King George Island, Antartica

Mostly known as a site for remote research, King George Island in Antarctica is a popular destination for cruisers looking to explore the outskirts of the world.

Puerto Williams, Chile

Hailed as the southernmost city in the world, Puerto Williams often appears on expedition itineraries exploring the ice continent, Antarctica.

Reykjavik was just a small village until seeing a major expansion after World War II, but this popular cruise destination still offers a small town feel different than any other European capital.

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, one of the most visited cities in the southern hemisphere, has numerous activities for every desire. Cruise to Rio for the Carnival celebrations, natural environment, beautiful beaches and famous landmarks.

Ushuaia, Argentina

The unique location and beauty of Ushuaia is unmatched by many other destinations as the Andes Mountains meet the Southern Ocean. Cruise to Ushuaia for many incredible outdoor adventures.

Valparaiso (Santiago), Chile

Valparaiso, the oldest city in Chile, is a beautiful urban town full of old Victorian homes and cobbled stone streets bordered by the Pacific Ocean and steep hills.

Photo Gallery for Antarctica Cruises

Glimpse into the remarkable beauty of the southernmost continent in our Antarctica cruising photo gallery. You’ll see everything from penguins and whales to ice bergs and rugged mountains.

Gentoo penguins

Cruising past a huge blue iceberg

Humpback whale in Antarctica

Humpback whale showing off its tail in the waves

Iceberg in Andord Bay on Graham Land, Antarctica

A King Penguin in Antarctica

Penguin protecting her cub

Seals swimming underwater

A winking seal on Livingston Island

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Antarctica Cruises

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Cruises to Antarctica

Journey to one of the most fascinating travel destinations on earth on cruises to Antarctica with Celebrity. Antarctica is a land of extremes, home to towering mountains, vast glaciers, and an abundance of wildlife. Gaze at Antarctica’s dramatic landscapes in the company of expert naturalists as you glide slowly through iceberg-strewn waters in search of penguins, seals, and whales.

You'll sail to Elephant Island, where Shackleton's men waited out a brutal Antarctic winter, and learn about the continent's rich history as you explore its vast wild expanse. Cruise through the Schollaert Channel to spot penguin colonies on the ice, and witness dazzling views of Rojas Peak as you sail through Paradise Bay. Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Antarctica on a cruise with Celebrity and discover a world like no other.

Antarctica Cruise Highlights

Majestic mountains.

From your ship, you’ll see some of Antarctica’s most dramatic mountain peaks, including Rojas Peak and Bryde Peak, cloaked in snow and ice. An Antarctica cruise will also take you in view of the mighty, blue-white Petzval Glacier. Get a sense of the sheer raw magnitude of these mighty natural wonders as your ship navigates through the Antarctic Sound surrounded by nature at its most extreme.

Whales and Wildlife

During an Antarctica cruise, you’ll have the chance to look out for some of the world’s most incredible marine mammals. Marvel at humpback and minke whales gliding gracefully through the water. Spot elephant seals lounging on pristine rocks, and watch waddling penguins as they go about their day, tending their young, and diving off the ice into the water to feed.

Icebergs and Bays

One of the most enthralling aspects of Antarctica is the fact that it’s virtually untouched by humans. The bays you’ll visit during your Antarctica cruise are a startling shade of blue and remarkably clear, making for some of the most beautiful unspoiled views you’ll get anywhere on the planet. Admire towering icebergs as your ship navigates slowly through the icy waters. You’ll see icebergs in mesmerizing shapes and sizes, and colors from brilliant white to sapphire blue.

Antarctica Cruise Ports

Elephant Island, Antarctica

Paradise Bay, Antarctica

Schollaert Channel Antarctica

Gerlache Strait, Antarctica

Antarctica Cruise Itineraries

Antarctica cruises embark in Buenos Aires, Argentina and sail for 14 days with six days at sea. These cruises visit a number of locations on and around the Antarctic Peninsula including Elephant Island, the Gerlache Strait, Schollart Channel, and Paradise Bay. You will also call at popular South American ports including Montevideo, Uruguay, Puerto Madryn and Ushuaia in Argentina, as well as Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Cruises depart during the Southern Hemisphere summer months of January and February.

Itineraries

Why cruise to antarctica with celebrity cruises.

As a leader in cruises, including these incredible journeys to Antarctica, Celebrity offers a cruising experience like no other. Enjoy a luxurious suite and an exclusive lounge and restaurant when you stay at The Retreat. Head to Sky Lounge to listen to soothing live music as you enjoy a glass of wine with the perfect ocean view. Take in the views from the alfresco Rooftop Terrace, or enjoy a peaceful moment at the pool in the adults-only Solarium.

On an Antarctic cruise adventure, you'll sail through some of the world's most remote and beautiful locations untouched by modern civilization. You'll be able to explore Antarctica's stunning landscapes and wildlife up close with expert guides and naturalists while enjoying world-class dining, entertainment, and accommodations on board. Don't miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime to explore Antarctica in comfort and style on a cruise with Celebrity.

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9 Things to Know About a Cruise to Antarctica: Cost & Tips Guide

Antarctica is one of the most remote and pristine places on Earth, and an Antarctica cruise to this icy, polar continent is an adventure like no other.

But there are some things you should know before you sail to this incredible place.

Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, an explorer who loves rugged landscapes and towering mountains, or just seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a cruise to Antarctica is an incredible journey that requires careful planning and preparation.

A continent shrouded in mystery and intrigue, Antarctica is one of the most isolated regions in the world. As such, one of the best ways to visit Antarctica is on a cruise, where you can have an awe-inspiring and unforgettable experience with the comfort and ease of a luxury ship.

However, before embarking on such an adventure, there are a number of things you should be aware of to ensure that your trip is both safe and enjoyable.

A cruise to Antarctica is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it can also be a significant financial investment, so it is important to consider the cost and logistical implications to ensure that you are able to fully enjoy the experience.

Below we will discuss 9 things you should know so you can have the best Antarctica cruise imaginable.

1. The best time to go to Antarctica

Antarctica has a short cruising season that runs from late October to March, with the peak season being December to February. During this time, the ice has melted enough to allow ships to navigate around the continent, and the weather is mild enough to make it possible to disembark and explore.

Fortunately, cruises run during Antarctica’s summer months, so the conditions are as calm (and warm!) as possible. During this time, the weather is relatively mild and the days are longer, which allows for more time to explore the region.

Regardless, Antarctica is a harsh and unforgiving environment, and the weather can be incredibly unpredictable. It is important to plan your trip carefully to ensure that you are traveling during the best possible weather conditions.

The cost of a cruise to Antarctica can also vary depending on the time of year you choose to travel. The peak season, December to February, is often the most expensive time to travel, while the shoulder seasons, October to November and March, may offer more affordable options.

You also may want to consider your preferred wildlife sightings when choosing the best time to travel. One of the perks of traveling to Antarctica in October is that you get to see the start of the penguins’ mating season, although you will have to push your way past some sea ice near the Antarctic Peninsula.

In November, the ice breaks up, forming gorgeous icebergs and sculptures. Wildflowers in the Falklands are in bloom, and seals begin their breeding season.

December is also an excellent time to visit because it’s the peak of the breeding season for penguins, and there’s plenty of activity on the beaches. December is also the busiest time for cruise travel, so if you want to visit at this time, be sure to book well in advance.

February to March is the best time to see humpback whales, sperm whales, and orca whales fill the Antarctic seas and can be easily spotted from aboard cruise ships.

2. Choosing the right cruise

Choosing the right cruise is crucial when it comes to a trip to Antarctica. There are various types of ships that sail to Antarctica, ranging from small expedition ships with expedition teams to larger, more luxurious vessels. Small ships are better for exploring more remote locations, while larger ships can offer more amenities and comfort.

When planning your trip to Antarctica, it is important to choose a reputable tour operator. Look for operators that have experience in the region, and that prioritize safety and environmental responsibility.

While a more reputable operator may charge a higher price, it can be worth the extra expense for the added peace of mind and quality of service. It is also important to read reviews and seek recommendations from other travelers before making a decision.

Below is a brief description of 12 major reputable tour operators and their Antarctic offerings for 2023 and beyond:

• Azamara Cruises : Offers an Antarctic cruise leaving from Buenos Aires, Argentina, that takes guests on a 21-day journey, including visits to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula. The itinerary includes activities such as wildlife viewing, kayaking, and zodiac tours.
• Celebrity Cruises : Offers two different 14-day Antarctic cruise itineraries, both leaving from Buenos Aires, that take guests on an immersive journey through the region. Both cruises include visits to popular South American ports and the Antarctic Peninsula, as well as opportunities for wildlife viewing and exploring the glaciers.
• Holland America Line : Offers a 22-day Antarctic cruise that takes guests on a comprehensive tour of the region, including visits to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula. The itinerary includes activities such as wildlife viewing, kayaking, and zodiac tours, as well as overnight stays in each port.
• Hurtigruten : Offers a 21-day Antarctic cruise that takes guests on a journey through the region, including visits to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. The itinerary is geared towards the adventurous cruiser, including activities such as hiking, camping, and lectures on wildlife.
• Lindblad Expeditions : Offers six Antarctic cruise itineraries that range from 14 to 35 days on these National Geographic Expeditions. These cruises take guests on an in-depth exploration of the region, including visits to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Depending on your cruise choice, the itinerary includes adventurous activities such capturing photos with National Geographic Photography Experts and cross-country skiing.
• Norwegian Cruise Lines: Offers a 20-day Antarctic cruise that takes guests on a journey through the region, including visits to Deception Island, Elephant Island, and the Falkland Islands.
• Oceania Cruises : Offers a 24-day cruise that takes guests on a journey largely around South America, but with a stop in Antarctica. This cruise is a great choice for passengers who are not yet sure if they would enjoy Antarctic antics.
• Princess Cruises : Offers a 16-day and 34-day Antarctic cruise that takes guests on a journey through the region, including visits to Elephant Island, the Antarctic Sound, and Gerlache strait. The 16-day cruise leaves from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the 34-day cruise leaves from Los Angeles, California, each with a slightly different itinerary of South America.
• Regent Seven Seas : Offers a 24-day Antarctic luxury cruise that leaves from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and ends in Santiago, Chile, taking guests on an immersive journey through Antarctica and South America, including visits to Argentina, Uruguay, and the Antarctic Peninsula.
• Seabourn : Offers 21, 47, 53, and 80-day Antarctic cruises that take guests on a comprehensive tour of the region, including visits to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula. The itinerary includes activities such as wildlife viewing, digital photography workshops, and zodiac tours.
• Silversea : Offers an 18-day Antarctic cruise that takes guests on a journey through the region, including visits to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Silversea also offers an Antarctica Bridge Package, which allows passengers to fly to the heart of Antarctica rather than sailing the notoriously rough Drake Passage.
• Viking : Offers expedition cruises to Antarctica ranging from 13 to 71 days that take guests on a journey through the region, including visits to the South Shetland Islands, Cape Horn, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Viking also offers complimentary flights to the cruise port. The itinerary includes activities such as wildlife viewing, kayaking, and zodiac tours.

3. The cost

A trip to Antarctica is undoubtedly a significant investment, and it’s essential to factor in all the costs when planning your trip. You’ll need to consider the cost of the cruise itself, as well as flights, travel insurance, visas, and any additional activities you plan to do on the trip.

The cost of a cruise to Antarctica can vary greatly, depending on the length of the trip, the size of the ship, and the level of luxury offered.

The cost of the cruise itself is likely to be the most significant expense associated with a trip to Antarctica. The price of the cruise can vary widely depending on the operator, the length of the cruise, and the level of luxury and amenities provided.

On average, you can expect to pay between $5,000 and $15,000 per person for a 10 to 14-day cruise to Antarctica. However, it is possible to find cheaper or more expensive options depending on your preferences and budget.

In addition to the cost of the cruise itself, there may be additional expenses to consider. This can include flights to and from the embarkation port, travel insurance, visa fees, and any pre- or post-cruise accommodation.

Some cruise lines offer discounted rates or free flights to your cruise port, but this may come with a more expensive per-passenger cruise rate. Therefore, it is important to factor in these additional costs to ensure that you have a realistic understanding of the total cost of the trip.

4. The weather

Antarctica is known for its extreme weather conditions, and it’s essential to be prepared for all types of weather. The temperature can range from below freezing to just above freezing, so it’s important to bring warm, waterproof clothing, including gloves, hats, and jackets.

The weather can change quickly, so it’s essential to be prepared for sudden changes in conditions.

However, almost all Antarctic voyages leave from tropical areas in South America in the heat of summer. This can make a trip to Antarctica difficult to pack for, so be prepared to dress for a range of temperatures and activities.

Additionally, you’ll want to consider what on-board activities your selected cruise line offers (e.g., formal nights, exercise classes, etc.) and pack for those, too.

5. Wildlife and the environment

Antarctica is a unique environment, and it is important to travel in a responsible and sustainable manner. This includes adhering to all environmental regulations, avoiding disturbing wildlife, and minimizing your impact on the environment.

Antarctica is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including penguins, seals, elephant seals, orcas, humpback whales, and seabirds. If you’re a wildlife enthusiast, a trip to Antarctica is an incredible opportunity to see these animals in their natural habitat.

There are several types of penguins that can be found in Antarctica, including Emperor penguins and King Penguins. Rockhopper penguins are easily recognized by the unique “hairstyle” that waves in the breeze.

It’s important to remember that these animals are wild and should be treated with respect. It’s essential to follow the guidelines set by your cruise guides to avoid disturbing the wildlife.

It is important to consider the environmental impact of your Antarctica trip, and whether the operator you choose prioritizes sustainability and responsible tourism.

6. The activities

A trip to Antarctica offers a wide range of activities, including wildlife watching, hiking, kayaking, and even camping. It’s essential to consider which activities you’re most interested in and to choose a cruise that offers compatible excursions.

Some activities require a higher level of fitness than others, so it’s important to be realistic about your abilities to avoid potential injury. Potential Antarctic activities include:

• Zodiac tours : These inflatable boats take passengers on excursions to explore the coastline and nearby islands, and provide opportunities to see wildlife such as penguins, seals, and whales up close.
• Kayaking : Many cruises offer guided kayak tours to explore the Antarctic waters and get a closer look at the icebergs, glaciers, and wildlife.
• Hiking : Guided hikes are a popular activity for those who want to explore the rugged Antarctic terrain, including walks to glaciers, ice fields, and scenic overlooks.
• Wildlife viewing : Visitors can expect to see a variety of animals on an Antarctic cruise, including penguins, seals, whales, and seabirds.
• Lectures and educational programs : Many cruises offer onboard lectures and educational programs to provide a deeper understanding of the region’s history, geology, and wildlife.
• Photography : Antarctic cruises offer breathtaking photo opportunities, with stunning landscapes, wildlife, and dramatic lighting.
• Camping : Some cruises offer the opportunity to camp on the continent itself, providing a truly unique and unforgettable experience.

Many cruises to Antarctica offer a range of excursions and activities, such as kayaking, snowshoeing, and wildlife watching. While these activities can enhance your experience, they can also add to the overall cost of the trip. It is important to consider which activities you are most interested in, and whether they are worth the additional expense.

7. Health and safety

A trip to Antarctica is an adventure, but it’s important to remember that it can also be dangerous. It’s essential to follow the guidelines set by your cruise line and to be aware of the risks associated with the activities you plan to do. Before sailing, be sure that you have adequate travel insurance and have brought all of your necessary medications on board.

Antarctica is a remote and isolated region, and as such, it is important to be in good health before embarking on a cruise. You should consult with your doctor before traveling to ensure that you are fit to travel and be aware of the risks associated with the harsh environment.

Safety is of the utmost importance when traveling to Antarctica. It is important to be aware of the risks and take all necessary safety precautions while on your voyage. This includes wearing appropriate clothing, carrying emergency supplies, and following the advice of your cruise operator and expedition leader.

8. Tips on Packing for an Antarctica Cruise

Packing for an Antarctica cruise is different than for other types of cruises.  You will be traveling to one of the harshest and coldest environments on the planet.  Being properly prepared will ensure that you have a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable trip. Antarctica’s climate can be extremely harsh, with temperatures ranging from -20°C to 5°C, and strong winds, snow, and ice.

It is crucial to have appropriate clothing and gear to keep you warm, dry, and protected from the elements. Packing the right clothing, such as layers, waterproof jackets and pants, warm hats, gloves, and scarfs, will help keep you warm and dry while you explore the region.

Also, it’s important to have the right equipment for activities such as hiking, camping, and kayaking. Waterproof boots, backpacks, and camera cases will help protect your gear from the harsh weather conditions.

In addition, packing the right medication, such as seasickness tablets and any prescription medicines, is important to ensure your health and safety during the trip.

Here are some packing items  and ideas in greater detail that will help you know what to throw into your suitcase.

Layers : Dress in layers as the temperature can change rapidly in Antarctica. Bring thermal underwear, fleece jackets, waterproof pants, and a windproof jacket.

Accessories : Bring a warm hat, gloves, and a scarf to protect yourself from the cold. Also, pack sunglasses, sunscreen, and lip balm with SPF to protect against the intense sun rays.

Waterproof gear : A waterproof backpack, camera case, and dry bags are essential to keep your belongings dry while on shore or while taking a Zodiac ride.

Footwear : Bring waterproof boots that are suitable for walking on snow and ice. You can also rent boots on the ship if you don’t have your own.

Medications : Pack medications for seasickness, as the Drake Passage can be rough. Also, bring any other necessary medications you might need.

Camera equipment : Antarctica offers fantastic opportunities for photography. Bring a good camera with a zoom lens, spare batteries, and memory cards.

Other items : A water bottle, travel adapter, and a power bank can be useful during your trip.

9.  Most common ports of departure for Antarctica cruises

• Ushuaia, Argentina : Often referred to as the “Gateway to Antarctica,” Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world and the most popular starting point for Antarctica cruises. It’s located in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, and has a small port with frequent departures to Antarctica.
• Punta Arenas, Chile : Another popular starting point for Antarctica cruises, Punta Arenas is located in the southernmost part of Chile and offers easy access to the Drake Passage, which is the main route to Antarctica.
• Puerto Williams, Chile : Located on Isla Navarino in southern Chile, Puerto Williams is the southernmost town in the world and offers access to Antarctica via the Beagle Channel.
• Buenos Aires, Argentina :  Buenos Aires is another popular starting point for some Antarctica cruises, particularly for those departing from South America. While it’s not as common as Ushuaia or Punta Arenas, Buenos Aires has a large port with many international cruise operators offering departures to Antarctica during the summer months.

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The wonders of Antarctica can be fully appreciated by taking an Antarctica cruise. Discover the white wilderness of Antarctica, the earth?s last unspoiled frontier. During the austral summer, you?ll see Antarctica blossom into life. Antarctica is the land of the great whales, of cathedral-sized icebergs and stunning hanging glaciers, of the legendary Wandering Albatross and the comical penguin. The awesome scenery and wildlife of Antarctica make it the ultimate cruise destination for adventurous souls.

Visiting Antarctica without taking an Antarctica cruise is missing an important part of the Antarctic experience. For Antarctica cruise discounts use our Online Search which contains hundreds of Antarctica cruise deals.

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Royal Caribbean Ship Returns to Miami After 274-Night World Cruise

• September 10, 2024

The Serenade of the Seas returned to Miami today to wrap up Royal Caribbean International’s Ultimate World Cruise.

As the first-ever world cruise offered by the company, the 274-night journey sailed from the same port on Dec. 10, 2023 .

Sailing to the Caribbean, South America, Asia, and the Mediterranean, the cruise was also the longest ever offered by Royal Caribbean International.

The itinerary featured visits to approximately 150 ports in roughly 60 countries across seven continents, including Antarctica.

Debuting in the company’s portfolio, the latter was one of the highlights of the cruise, with the Serenade offering scenic cruising around the Antarctic Peninsula in January.

Now ending in PortMiami, the fourth and final segment of the global journey sailed from Spain on July 10, 2024 .

The 63-night itinerary sailed to several destinations on the European coast before crossing the Atlantic for North America, the Bahamas and Bermuda.

A total of 40 ports of call were visited during the segment, with overnight stays in Reykjavik and New York City, as well as Le Havre, a port near France’s capital city, Paris.

The itinerary was highlighted by ports of call in Morocco and Western Europe, as well as visits to various Norwegian Fjords, the Baltic Sea and Greenland.

The Serenade of the Seas started Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise in Miami.

The first segment of the voyage sailed to South America and Antarctica before passing Cape Horn and sailing to destinations in Central America, the Mexican Riviera, the U.S. West Coast, Australia and the South Pacific.

The itinerary also included ports of call in Southeast Asia and the Far East before arriving in the Indian Ocean and Africa.

Marking Royal Caribbean’s debut in the region, the Serenade visited destinations in the Seychelles, Madagascar, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Ghana and more.

The 2003-built ship then visited the Canary Islands before arriving in the Mediterranean for the cruise’s final segment.

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• Royal Caribbean Completes 274-Day Ultimate World Cruise

Andrea Santillan

• September 10, 2024

Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas has taken guests to 160 destinations in the last nine months. For 274 days, it documented various events, from itinerary changes to whale sightings, Amsterdam protesters to food reviews, and icebergs in Antarctica.

The 2,476-passenger ship left Miami on December 20, 2023, and ended its voyage this morning. Since its departure, the cruise has gone viral as many passengers have uploaded their daily experiences onboard. People began referring to it as a “reality show” while #ultimateworldcruise amassed over 340 million views as of January 22.

Reality Show at Sea

Royal Caribbean Vice President of Sales, Trade Support, and Service Vicki Freed informed Travel Weekly that the cruise had taken on “a life of its own.” “The response has been amazing,” she added.

Several influencers onboard contributed to its virality, including Jenny Hunnicut (@drjennytravels ), who uploaded around 200 videos from the ship.

Meanwhile, ordinary passengers enjoyed newfound popularity. Sixty-seven-year-old Joe Martucci from Florida casually posted videos for his children but soon hit 1.5 million views.

“I was sending videos to my children, and they said, ‘Hey, Dad, put these on TikTok so we can let our friends see them too.’ I didn’t know ‘their friends’ were 90,000 people,” he said in surprise.

Diversions, Deaths, and Drama

Online audiences followed the postponement of the passengers’ visit to Devil’s Island in French Guiana, the protesters who prevented the vessel from calling on Amsterdam, the minor flooding on deck 12, and the countless dramas happening onboard. 

The 22-year-old ship was also forced to change its route due to ongoing attacks in the Red Sea. Guests voted on two different itineraries , while those who preferred not to continue received compensation and assistance with their travel arrangements.

A death also occurred onboard last February. The cruise line didn’t reveal the passenger’s identity or cause of death to protect the family’s privacy. Though a few guests tried to post details about her passing, they were soon taken down.

@brooklyntravelstheworld BREAKING NEWS ON THE ULTIMATE WORLD CRUISE!🚨👀🚢🌎 #ultimateworldcruise #royalcaribbean #serenadeoftheseas #royalcaribbeancruise #royalcaribbeaninternationalcruise #worldcruise2023 #cruisetok #worldcruise #royalcaribbeanultimateworldcruise #royalcaribbeaninternational #familyworldcruise #travellife #traveltok #travelbucketlist #cruiseshiplife #worldtraveler #alaska #alaskacruise ♬ original sound – brooklyntravelstheworld

Cruisers even captured Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley announcing a second world cruise.

“Yes, we are gonna do another Ultimate World Cruise,”   said Bayley  to a cheering audience. The CEO added that the cruise line will hold a reunion event for passengers, at which the details of the second cruise will be revealed.

The concept of a round-the-world cruise isn’t new, but Royal Caribbean is the first mainstream cruise line to offer the longest global cruise. 

Villa Vie Residences also hopes to launch its 3.5-year sailing any day now. After months of delays, the Villa Vie Odyssey began sea trials last week.

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What it was really like onboard Royal Caribbean's viral nine-month world cruise

By CNN staff | 17 hours ago

Within weeks of Royal Caribbean 's nine-month-long world cruise setting sail in December 2023, the voyage unexpectedly became the centre of a social media storm.

The prospect of nine months on a two-decades-old ship, sailing to more than 60 destinations with hundreds of strangers, captured the public's imagination as passengers began posting on TikTok. It sounded more like the premise for a reality show than the trip of a lifetime.

For a moment it felt like everyone – even if they were previously oblivious to world cruises – was talking about the nine-month cruise and its "real life reality show" potential.

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Social media followers waited to see how this social-experiment-at-sea unfurled. Would there be romance, conflict, drama, twists and turns? "Anything can happen," is how one social media user ND, who was following along from land, put it to CNN Travel back in January.

Nine months later, the voyage – dubbed the Ultimate World Cruise by Royal Caribbean – is finally wrapping up, reaching its last port, Miami, on September 10. To mark the voyage's end, CNN Travel caught up with those on board to find out what it was like to spend nine months living at sea with the world watching along at home.

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Passengers' perspective

The passengers chronicling the nine-month cruise on TikTok ranged from a fifty-something widowed solo traveller named Anthony McWilliams – who aimed to inspire followers to live life to its fullest, to a 26-year-old South African influencer called Amike Oosthuizen – who could always be relied on for a glamorous take on life at sea.

Also in the mix was lovable boomer couple Joe and Audrey Martucci, new to social media and posting under the handle @spendingourkidsmoney (this is a joke, Joe Martucci stresses to CNN Travel, there's still plenty of money left for the kids). Forty-something sisters Brandee Lake and Shannon Marie Lake demonstrated how to live with an adult sibling and not go stir crazy, while a Gen Z traveller known as Little Rat Brain posted chaotic, wry dispatches from sea.

Former NASA employee Bobbi Waterman and her partner Tam, posting @tam.and.bobbi, gained fans for candidly talking about travelling as an LGBTQ+ couple and Bobbi's experiences as a trans woman. American traveller Angie Linderman garnered attention after she spoke movingly about her path to the Ultimate World Cruise, which included the untimely death of her parents and the discovery that Linderman lives with the BRCA gene, making her more susceptible to breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

For those looking for a behind the scenes glimpse at life onboard, Royal Caribbean crewmember Julian Mendoza AKA @cooljul1 produced "day in the life" videos onboard, while performer Daniele Salvatore Arbisi once managed to get the ship's captain to came on his account @singing.sailor.

Each person offered a different perspective on the cruise. These multiple points of view perhaps partly explains the voyage's virality – there was someone for everyone to relate to, and there was potential for clashing personalities.

"You're putting all of these people on a ship for nine months and when they're on the ocean, when they're sailing, there's no escape," says British social media user Beth Anne Fletcher, who chronicled the cruise – largely from land – on her own TikTok account, @livingmy_bethlife.

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'What drama is going to happen?'

Fletcher wasn't surprised by the viral appeal of the cruise.

"If you're interested in travel and you're also interested in psychology and people, what more could you want?" Fletcher tells CNN Travel.

"They're all there together, but they're going to see the world as well. It's almost like (reality TV show) "Below Deck," but a nine-month episode."

Still, for many of the passengers, the early social media furore was surreal and unexpected. Joe Martucci didn't know how to spell TikTok before he posted his first video, spurred on by his kids. Even travellers like Oosthuizen, who had a pre-established TikTok presence, were shocked.

"I honestly did not think it would explode as much," Oosthuizen told CNN Travel back in January.

Over the first month at sea, the viral fame reverberated through the ship.

"Soon, we had billions of people watching us and saying, 'What drama is going to happen?'" recalls the passenger known as Little Rat Brain – or LRB for short – a 24-year-old American who has asked for her real name not to be included in this article for privacy reasons.

LRB, speaking to CNN Travel on the eve of the cruise's end, says she understands it seemed like the "perfect setup for a reality TV show."

"It's a lot of people in a small area where pretty much everything is free," she says. (Technically nothing was free – the nine month cruise cost anywhere from $US59,999 to $US117,599 ($90,000 - $180,000) per person – but unlimited onboard food and drinks was included in that sum)

"Any food you want… All the alcohol you could possibly want… You really have no responsibilities…" LRB continues.

In the end, those at home waiting for shocking dispatches from the Ultimate World Cruise were largely left wanting.

Headlines announced at least one onboard death, but elderly passengers passing away from natural causes is somewhat expected on a months-long voyage. The ship also rerouted from time to time due to world events, protests and extreme weather events – but it's not unusual for itineraries planned years in advance to shift.

While those onboard were occasionally irritated by one another, the people who predicted, as LRB recalls, "that there's definitely going to be divorces, someone's going to get thrown overboard," were seemingly wrong (although divorce rumours were rife throughout the nine months).

Inevitably, social media interest in the cruise diminished as the weeks rolled on – after all, nothing stays viral for nine months.

"We definitely did see the interest die off," says passenger Anthony McWilliams, adding that some travellers "took a hit emotionally" when their engagement dropped.

There was TikTok-based drama too – Amike Oosthuizen says her account was banned and then deleted.

"They said I was selling counterfeit goods, which I was not selling at all," she tells CNN Travel. Oosthuizen set up another account, which never quite reached the dizzying heights of the six million-plus people who watched her early video chronicling the Serenade of the Seas crossing the treacherous Drake Passage.

For many travellers, the decline in online scrutiny was a relief.

"The attention sort of evened out as the trip went on, which I think was good as it allowed some of the pressure or energy around the trip to normalise, and allowed me to focus more on this experience," passenger Angie Linderman tells CNN Travel.

Still, even nine months in, Linderman still saw people discover her social media for the first time.

"I still have people who are finding my page and reaching out because they also have BRCA or have also lost a parent and want to connect with someone else who has that shared experience," she says.

While some TikTok users dropped off, others tracked the nine-month cruise to its end, living vicariously through the passengers as they explored the globe.

"We had people messaging us to say, 'Thank you so much for taking me along on this journey,'" says Audrey Martucci, of @spendingourkidsmoney, who recalls a surreal moment when she and her husband were recognised by fans in Halifax, Canada.

"I have people that have been along for the whole nine months," says McWilliams. "But then there's also some people that are like, 'Oh, we thought y'all were dead.'"

Forming connections

Fletcher, following along on land, responded to the ebbing public interest by posting fewer recaps as the months went on.

But, as she switched to posting about actual reality television shows, Fletcher continued to stay up to date with those on board, gradually building relationships with passengers, realising "these people are just on their vacation, having a nice time."

When the Serenade of the Seas docked in Southampton, in the UK, some of the passengers and crew invited Fletcher on board.

"It was such a surreal day, because we have been talking about these people for this long, and then to actually spend time with them, it was like being with old friends," says Fletcher.

She particularly bonded with Joe and Audrey Martucci, dubbed "Cruise Mom and Dad" by their followers. The couple lived up to their moniker, welcoming Fletcher wholeheartedly.

"It was like meeting one of our kids," says Joe, of their day together in Southampton.

"Beth Anne's one of those people we will keep in touch with, probably forever," says Audrey. "She's such a special person, and we're glad to be her friend."

For Joe and Audrey, befriending a British TikToker some 20 years their junior – who wasn't even onboard the ship – was one of many unexpected, special connections they made over the past nine months.

Many of the passengers cite the friendships and community as integral to their experience onboard the Serenade of the Seas. McWilliams calls fellow passengers Brandee and Shannon Lake his "sisters" and says he also bonded with Fletcher, as well social media user ND – who went from following the cruise from afar on her account @nchimad to joining the voyage for a week.

"The older you get, the less likely you are to make these kinds of friendships," McWilliams says. "We're really fortunate."

Little Rat Brain says it's been fun to be part of a "supportive, creative community on board" – even if she jokes the cacophony of camera phones occasionally gave "Truman Show" vibes.

Brandee Lake says she connected with different people onboard in different ways – from shared love of adventure excursions or art, to the older travellers she sees as her "ship aunties and uncles."

What unites everyone onboard, Lake says, is "the underlying thread of this awesome experience."

It's an experience Lake suggests will "be hard to talk about to people when we get off the ship."

The group also helped one another through trickier times together too. While living a permanent vacation might sound appealing, the travellers say it wasn't always easy.

Joe and Audrey Martucci stress that while they "couldn't ask for a better trip and a better opportunity" they did "get a little tired being on vacation." They missed their kids and struggled being far away as major life events played out on land.

"Nine months is a long time," says Joe. "I wouldn't do a nine-month straight cruise again. It's just way too long away from family, away from everyone and we started to feel burned out."

"We couldn't really catch up with sleep," says Audrey, of the nonstop nature of the itinerary, before adding: "We do realise how first world problems this sounds."

The couple says they eventually regained a sense of balance by taking time off and slower days when needed. Sometimes they'd skip Royal Caribbean-run excursions to "just wander in the wild" around a destination.

Preparing for the end

Many of the passengers were predicting a culture shock after stepping off the Serenade of the Seas for the final time.

"It was liberating to give up everything before I came," says Lake, who abandoned her California rental lease to live out of a suitcase for nine months. "Now I'm like, 'Oh, shoot.'"

Passengers were able to maintain connections with loved ones on land via regular video calls and even the occasional ship visit, but say long-distance relationships were tricky to maintain.

"These kinds of experiences, I think, sometimes prune your friendships at home," says Lake. "Some will stay strong and maintain after – some might fall away."

"At some points it was kind of difficult," agrees LRB. "Because friends would be texting, 'Oh, I had a sucky day at work,' and meanwhile you're like, 'I saw the Great Wall of China, or I snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef.' Sometimes it did feel like a bit of a disconnect."

Passengers also adopted different approaches to staying on top of world news and current events.

For Oosthuizen, as the months unfurled and she saw more and more of the globe, she felt like she developed "a world perspective."

"It was so educational, seeing different cultures, seeing how different people get by," says Oosthuizen. "I wouldn't say I felt removed on the cruise."

Joe Martucci adds: "You can't go away for nine months and stick your head in the sand like an ostrich and say, 'Yeah, I'll worry about it when I get home.' Because the world keeps changing so fast.'"

But Brandee Lake says she made a conscious choice to disengage and stay in a "bubble." Consequently, she found a recent cruise stop off in New York City a bit of a shock.

"We haven't been in the US since February, since we stopped in LA," she says. "It's much different now, because it's high election season."

Some of the American travellers on board say the atmosphere onboard has become more tense as the US election approaches.

"I'm waking up to realising that a couple of the people that I genuinely care about have different political views than me, and that has been something to navigate, a challenge to navigate," says McWilliams.

And while there's a sense of fellowship onboard, naturally not everyone gets on.

"There is of course a small group of people that I will be completely fine never interacting with again," says Linderman. "But that is how it goes, sometimes you don't connect or click with everyone."

Travellers living in close quarters with family members also developed conflict coping mechanisms over the past nine months.

"With families, you all know when you push each other's buttons sometimes," says Lake, who travelled with her parents as well as her sister. "You just have to walk away and then come back."

Little Rat Brain, who shared a windowless interior cabin with her mother, insists this wasn't the recipe for disaster it might sound. LRB just took time to herself when she needed it.

Many of the travellers emphasise that more than anything, they were grateful to experience this trip with their loved ones.

"Especially with my parents," says Lake. "You just think how lucky that they're here."

There were also constant new faces in the mix, as some passengers joined the trip for shorter voyages.

Among the short haulers was American TikTok influencer Marc Sebastian, who got sponsored to join the cruise for a short stint, promising to "cause chaos" onboard.

This chaos never seemed to particularly materialise. Instead, McWilliams spotted Sebastian getting emotional as he admired the icebergs of Antarctica.

"That makes sense that he gets it. He understands," McWilliams recalls thinking.

A trip of a lifetime

As the cruise comes to an end, the travellers are reflecting on everything they've seen and trying to process the past nine months.

Lake says picking just one highlight is almost impossible, but the ship's period in Antarctica was particularly special. Her pick is echoed by Little Rat Brain:

"The water was perfectly flat, and it was a mirrored reflection of these gigantic icebergs and there were just so many different shades of white, and it was absolutely incredible," LRB recalls.

Meanwhile Angie Linderman speaks fondly of catching a train across India, as well as a stop off in Portofino, Italy, where she went "swimming in the water all day on this small little beach with the colourful houses above us clinging to the hills."

Linderman says she will hold onto the feeling of watching "the sunrise over the falls at Iguazu Falls" or marvelling at "the Great Wall of China at night with only my fellow cruisers around."

Sea days were also special, Linderman says, especially "the countless nights dancing in the Vortex Lounge or at a silent disco or movie night with friends."

The TikTok-famous passengers are now considering how to pivot their online presences. Some have income coming in from social media ("Not enough to live on, by any means," stresses Little Rat Brain. "But it's enough to go out to dinner with friends when I get back.") But they suggest their main motivation to continue posting is to connect with now-loyal followers.

Many of the passengers have future travels planned, which they intend to chronicle on TikTok. Meanwhile Linderman has upcoming surgery to remove her ovaries and says she will be "sharing that journey online" with her supportive social media community.

There's also talk of a reunion cruise, albeit for a much shorter stint, which will likely be chronicled online.

While there are upcoming world cruises on the horizon – such as four-month voyages run by MSC Cruises and Princess Cruises – there's nothing quite as long as the Ultimate World Cruise on the horizon right now for the major cruise lines.

Royal Caribbean hasn't responded to CNN's request for comment about any plans for future nine-month cruises.

As for Beth Anne Fletcher, her interest's been piqued by the prospective three-year cruise that's currently stuck in Belfast, Northern Ireland , operated by start-up Villa Vie Cruises – but she's not seen much social media content stem from that ship so far.

"I don't think anything's ever going to have the virality of the nine-month cruise," Fletcher says.

"I'm not really sure if it will ever occur again," agrees Little Rat Brain. "We just kind of just had a perfect storm situation, while, luckily, we haven't sailed through any perfect storms. So I'll take it."

"Everything's been as well as you can expect, for nine months living on a very tiny ship with the same people," LRB says. "Incredible memories that will last a lifetime."

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9-Month World Cruise Ends Today as Passengers Admit They're 'Exhausted' and Grateful for ‘Beautiful’ Voyage

Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise officially ended on Tuesday, Sept. 10 after it sailed for 274 nights and visited more than 65 countries

Natalia Senanayake is an Editorial Assistant, Lifestyle at PEOPLE. She covers all things travel and home, from celebrities' luxury mansions to breaking travel news.

Ultimate World Cruise passengers are officially saying goodbye to the Serenade of the Seas after an epic nine-month journey.

For almost a year, the cruise’s famous passengers have documented the highs and lows of the lengthy sailing, from the moment it departed from Miami on Dec. 10, 2023. Nine months later, the passengers are finally back on solid land Tuesday, September 10, and having mixed feelings.

Some revealed to USA Today that they were “exhausted” at certain points of the voyage, but are still grateful for the experience. The sailing consisted of four legs, stopped in over 65 countries and made its way to all seven continents, so it’s understandable that some cruisers felt drained during the long trip.

“It’s a blur,” one of the ship's Tiktok famous passengers, Adita Larson , said of the journey, especially the cruise’s Europe leg. “We don’t know where we were yesterday; we don’t know where we’re going tomorrow," she added.

Some cruisers recall their friends being so wiped out from all the ports of call that they decided to sit out certain shore excursions and rest on the ship. Others recalled changing their minds about the once-dreaded "sea days" and instead looking forward to a relaxing day on the open ocean. 

Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty

Despite the 274-night adventure tiring cruisers like Larson out, it brought them to destinations that were absolutely “beautiful,”  she notes — especially the icebergs in Antarctica. 

“You can't video and you can’t photograph how beautiful it is to stand in front of those icebergs and see them right in front of your eyes so close,” she told the outlet.

She also noted the sense of community that formed among passengers, as there were about 650 longterm Ultimate World Cruisers in addition to new passengers coming in and out with every leg.

The social media-savvy cruiser says she plans to continue documenting her life, “especially after we get home, the adjustment after nine months of being away from home, and sleeping on a bed that's not rocking anymore."

Royal Caribbean

While Royal Caribbean gave travelers a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the cruise line did face some unexpected challenges regarding itinerary changes due to political unrest and unsafe conditions in some regions, and when they confirmed the death of a passenger in February. 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

In January, cruiser Brandee Lake opened up about the updates that were made to the original voyage .

"The itinerary has changed a bit a couple of times. Because when we first signed up, Russia and Ukraine were on it," Lake told PEOPLE at the time. " Israel was also on [the itinerary], and now it's not."

Courtesy Brandee Lake

Royal Caribbean confirmed to PEOPLE in January that it was going to cancel the original itinerary through the Red Sea and Suez Canal in May to keep its passengers and crew members safe. Cruisers ended up voting on a more “scenic route” that would navigate around Africa and add many new ports of call.

Passengers began preparing to re-enter land-lover life last week.

Another famous passenger, Dr. Jenny, who goes by drjennytravels on TikTok, has been documenting the ups and down of the entire journey. Last week, as she counted down the final days, she opened up about how “bizarre” it is to see the voyage come to an end.

Dr Jenny Travels/TikTok

“Look at this,” she said in a  TikTok  shared on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Pointing to a sign on a cabin door, she continues, “Seven days left. This is in my hall for the World Cruise and as you can see — look at all the luggage out here.”

“This is just bizarre. We have watched people put their luggage out here as they’ve come and gone, but now this is us. This is World Cruisers,” she says of the last people on board, adding that it was a “sad day" for her.

According to various Tiktokers, rumors of a second world cruise are already swirling on board, but Royal Caribbean has not yet made any announcements about another voyage.

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Ultimate World Cruise has finally ended, and passengers are ‘exhausted’

It’s the nine month cruise that went viral for its length of time at sea, now — passengers are revealing what they really thought of the mammoth voyage.

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Royal Caribbean’s nine-month Ultimate World Cruise that quickly went viral is finally coming back to port after what was the adventure of a lifetime for some 650 travellers who paid between AU$90,000 to AU$175,000.

“Nothing can prepare you for nine months,” Joe Martucci, 67, told USA Today of the grand voyage to 60 countries that hopped across South America, Antarctica, China, Madagascar and many more far-flung destinations. The extended excursion was set to end on Tuesday.

“It’s always been a dream of my family to travel the world,” 26-year-old South African cruise passenger Amike Oosthuizen previously told The Sun.

Even dreams can be tiring, though. Houston voyager Adita Larson described the time at sea as “exhausting”.

Other travelers, like 47-year-old Brandee Lake, said there weren’t too many lulls in the water. She described the three-quarters of a year as rapidly moving.

“It’s a blur,” Lake told USA Today. “We don’t know where we were yesterday; we don’t know where we’re going tomorrow.”

Packing-wise, she even said her three large suitcases plus carry-ons were too much.

“I pared it down, and it’s still just too much,” Lake said. “It’s kind of like your own closet: you really only wear about 10-20 per cent of it.”

“We had people messaging us to say, ‘Thank you so much for taking me along on this journey’,” Audrey told CNN, recalling that fans greeted them during a stop in Halifax, Canada.

Even those who kept up with the happenings from dry land amassed their own TikTok following, like Beth Anne Fletcher of the United Kingdom.

“If you’re interested in travel and you’re also interested in psychology and people, what more could you want?” she told CNN, mentioning that folks on the cruise went out of their way to meet her while in Southampton, England.

“It was such a surreal day because we have been talking about these people for this long, and then to actually spend time with them, it was like being with old friends,” Fletcher said.

Lake agreed that making friends was a bit of a natural process, too. “I mean, obviously, it’s just like any other community,” she said.

“You have the people that you are really close to, some of them are acquaintances, maybe some that are not your people, but nothing wrong. It’s just, you have your group that you naturally gel with.”

Even if things weren’t so hunky-dory and people wanted alone time, “there’s lots of spaces on the ship that you can go and hide,” Audrey Martucci told CNN. Plus, a person’s cabin always got the job done.

More Coverage

The trial cruise — which endured some hardships and hijinks from Hurricane Beryl, a passenger death, rumours of swinging couples and rerouting due to military fighting in the Red Sea — was enough of a hit for Royal Caribbean to announce a new journey, according to RoyalCarribeanBlog.org.

Not only that, but they are preparing for a reunion cruise next summer in Alaska on the same vessel from the global voyage, the Serenade of the Seas.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and has been republished with permission

Raygun has made an unexpected appearance after her Olympic breaking routine went viral, busting out dance moves with an unlikely collaborator.

To join, you have to be nominated by an existing member, pass a criminal record check, undergo a trial – and part with millions for a buy-in.

The chance to experience the “world’s biggest weekend”, including a crazy feature in the middle of the sea, left me astonished.

Jessica Durrant Illustration

Antarctica cruise with royal caribbean.

2024 has been off to a refreshingly surprising start! For those who don’t follow me on Instagram, I had the opportunity to teach watercolor classes on board Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise for a couple weeks in January. And wow…what a treat it was. We boarded on January 4th in Buenos Aires, Argentina and left on the 5th. That meant we had a couple of days in Summer weather in a beautiful city before heading to the South Pole and with it, the major shifts in temperatures. I will do a full post on BA and the other excursions…but I want to focus on Antarctica for this post, she deserves our full attention.

I am lucky enough to have been able to work with Royal Caribbean, and I was asked to be apart of this cruise segment back in September 2023. I was thrilled to say yes, but I also knew that the trip to Antarctica was going to be long and comes with its own set of challenges…namely, the Drake Passage. (You can google and watch video clips if you dare!)

This cruise also went viral on Tiktok & many news media outlets before I got on board. It went viral for the fact that it is The Ultimate World Cruise and around 600 passengers on board will stay on the Serenade of the Seas ship until September, making their voyage to all 7 continents 9 months in total. When we boarded it had already been about a month departed from their starting point of Miami. It was so cool to talk to guests about why they chose to do a 9 month cruise. Can you imagine??

If you’ve never been on a cruise, you have “sea days” meaning not every day brings you to a port. Sea Days are full of activities! So a day at sea can be whatever you want to make it. As I tell people about cruising, “You can do everything or nothing.” You can super social or anti-social and stay in your cozy room and read all day.

My job on board is to teach painting classes on those sea days. And on longer cruises like this one, I can maximize the amount of classes I can teach, and therefore have a greater reach. What I love about teaching classes on cruises is that I get to teach people and meet people I probably would have never crossed paths with. I get to teach people while we are visiting some of the most beautiful and inspiring spots around the world. I get to enjoy the ports and excursions, just like the passengers which gives me a hybrid experience. I get to see the ship from both the customers perspective, and an employees. And I also get to adapt to the constant changes at sea. I have always felt that one of my greatest strengths in life is I am highly adaptable. It’s a Sagittarius thing haha. Or perhaps since it’s because I have spent the first 3 decades of my life moving across the country and always feeling a wave of constant change. But my art has always brought to me new friends and experiences, and has always given me a sense of security.

All that to say….the entire experience was an A+! It is very very hard to put into words what Antarctica is like. After crossing the Drake Passage (and yes…we got the Drake Shake with over 20ft waves!!!!) and the adventure that that was, we arrived to the South Pole! Now close your eyes and pretend you’ve gone to another universe…filled with icebergs, hump back whales, penguins and lands that no human inhabits…and you’ll start to feel it. I will be forever grateful that Brandon and I were able to see this part of the world. The moment when we saw a humpback whale jump out of the water, I teared up. One of the best moments was when we sailed to Paradise Bay Antarctica and sat there watching families of whales make their cute noises, wave their tales while we were surrounded by 360 views of majestic mountains. It is all so surreal.

Some of the students after Day 1 of painting classes!

When I taught classes the next day, I showed them how to use watercolors to paint icebergs and penguins. I loved that we had this shared experience. I told them, “We will all live the rest of our lives with the gift of what we saw yesterday….and how lucky are we.” To share that joy and paint with everyone was the cherry on top.

I hope you will enjoy some photos from the trip. And sending you best wishes as we start 2024! xo

Eating hot miso soup at the Sushi spot on the ship….with this view outside our window!

South Pole Chills! It was in the 30’s but it’s typical to have a lot of wind in this region…so it feels a little cooler than that. We also got snow the first morning which was so magical!

Our ship had 2 Ice Captains from Chile, to keep us safe and monitor all the ice bergs we navigate through. They along with our Captain said they had never seen an iceberg like this before-and we all marveled over it. He spun the ship around it a few times, and it was the first start to our day in Antarctica after a wild ride thru Drake Passage.

Julie was super talented, and is on the ship for 9 months-and brought her own supplies for the trip.

Painting at the pub!

Carolyn was another 9 month cruiser with her Mom-and she also is a budding artist and a joy to have in class!

The bluer the iceberg, the older it is. The water is more purer when it’s blue, and also makes it a more dangerous iceberg because it would be like colliding with steel. Luckily the ship has radars to know the location and depth of each piece of ice.

Our final port…the Southern most town in the world, Ushuaia!!! What I love about cruising….you wake up and you’re in a new location. I love getting a cup of coffee, going up to the top deck and taking in the amazing vantage, one that you would not get from land. When you travel by sea…it is an entirely different feeling.

So many wonderful students, making their own post card watercolor momentos!

Did you know Antarctica is home to 90% of all the worlds ice??

Drake Passage…I’m lucky I don’t get sea sick!

Brandee & Shannon are from ATL! how cool, right? And were wonderful students. Cheers to another adventure in the books!

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Frugal Traveler

Thinking About a Solo Cruise? Here’s What to Know.

As solo cruising becomes more popular, pricing and cabin types are changing. Deals can be found, especially with advance planning, but it takes a little know-how.

By Elaine Glusac

Elaine Glusac is the Frugal Traveler columnist, focusing on budget-friendly tips and journeys.

When cruising resumed after Covid-era travel restrictions were lifted, cruise lines wanted to fill ships fast. Some, like Windstar Cruises , which operates small ships carrying 148 to 342 passengers, pursued solo travelers with discounts on the penalties singles usually pay to occupy a cabin alone.

“To fill a lot of capacity in a short time, who do you go after? Those who don’t have to ask permission or arrange schedules for two,” said Janet Bava, the chief commercial officer for Windstar, which reduced its single occupancy fares to 120 percent of the standard fare a person sharing a double cabin would pay. Previously those solo cruisers were paying up to double the fare to have a cabin to themselves.

But the cruise industry has since recovered — Carnival Corporation recently announced 2025 bookings are pacing higher than 2024 in both price and occupancy — and many solo deals are disappearing. Windstar, for one, is snapping back to 2019 prepandemic pricing models.

“Now there’s less space,” said Ms. Bava, noting that the goal of every cruise line is “to maximize revenue at double occupancy at 100 percent.”

Still, even with increasing prices, travel advisers at the Virtuoso network say solo cruising is one of the top cruise trends for 2025. Solo travel in general has been on the upswing in the past few years. In a survey on 2024 travel intentions, Booking.com found that 59 percent of respondents planned to travel alone.

Savvy cruisers know that deals always exist in the dynamic world of cruise pricing for those who book early and otherwise game its unique economics. Here’s what you need to know about going solo affordably.

Why it costs more to go solo

Unlike hotels, where the price of a room is generally the same whether there is one person or two people staying in it, cruise lines advertise their lowest rates as per person prices in cabins built for two, which can be misleading to first-time cruisers.

Cruise lines don’t want to sell cabins at half price or miss out on the extra shipboard charges for things like drinks and excursions that a companion might buy, so they try to recover that income by charging a single supplement, which can run 25 to 100 percent above the per person double occupancy rate. That means, for example, a cruise that costs $1,000 a person in a double cabin could cost a single passenger $1,250 to $2,000 to have the cabin to themselves.

“We saw a change after the pandemic,” said Shelby Frenette, who runs the agency TravelFun.Biz , based in Boca Raton, Fla., which specializes in group solo travel. To get travelers back on ships, she said, “cruise lines were waiving the single supplements in a big way.”

Now, she said, prices are again rising as interest in cruising grows. Passenger volume in 2023 was 31.7 million, according to the Cruise Lines International Association , exceeding 2019 levels by seven percent.

“It’s so busy, we are back to pre-Covid times when there’s a lot less opportunity for singles to save money,” Ms. Frenette said.

In managing occupancy, cruise lines use single supplements like “a lever that can be pulled depending on their needs,” said Theresa Scalzitti, the chief operations officer of CruisePlanners , a travel agency based in Coral Springs, Fla.

That’s why travelers might see more sales on shoulder- or off-season sailings across the cruise spectrum. But, Ms. Scalzitti added, “Business has been so good I don’t think a lot have had to use this.”

The rise of the solo cabin

One solution to the solo supplement rub is to offer staterooms designed for one passenger. Norwegian Cruise Line became the first major cruise company to adopt solo cabins with the debut of the Norwegian Epic in 2010.

It now has nearly 1,000 solo staterooms — ranging from inside cabins to those with balconies — across its 19 ships, most of which include access to private lounges for passengers in solo cabins. A solo cabin on a weeklong sailing in Alaska in October aboard the Norwegian Encore was recently priced at $1,200, compared to $1,749 a person in a double occupancy room.

Other companies followed its lead. Holland America Line added solo cabins on its Pinnacle-class ships that debuted in 2016. Demand for single accommodations on the three ships — the Rotterdam, Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam — is high, according to the company. A seven-day sailing in November between San Diego and Mexico’s Baja Peninsula was recently priced at $1,948 in a single cabin compared to $2,268 a person in a double.

But solo cabins can be elusive — according to Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic , they are often the first to sell out — and they aren’t necessarily cheap.

“A lot of solo cabins are on newer or larger ships, which tend to have higher pricing,” said Cheryl Cooper, who is based near Atlanta and vlogs as SIG Cruiser about solo cruising, among other topics.

On some ships, they are a premium offering. American Cruise Lines , which operates on waterways in the United States, offers single staterooms on each of its ships, many at 250 square feet with private balconies. A nine-day trip next May on the Columbia and Snake Rivers was recently priced at $7,620 for a private balcony solo stateroom; doubles started at $5,715 a person.

“When people see ‘no single supplement,’ they automatically think 75 to 50 percent off and that’s not the case,” Ms. Cooper said.

Seeking singles on river and expedition cruises

Besides Windstar, other small-ship lines, including those in river and expedition cruising — which tend to be more expensive than trips on large ships — have seen a jump in solo travelers and are pursuing them with incentives.

HX , formerly known as Hurtigruten Expeditions, says one in four bookings among American passengers are solo travelers and the line experienced more than 50 percent growth in single sailors between 2022 and 2023.

In 2024, about half of its single passengers traveled without paying a supplement while the other half received discounts of varying levels (HX is currently selling supplement-free cabins to solo travelers on 10-day sailings in the Galápagos Islands, from $8,634 through March 2026).

Aqua Expeditions , which operates small ships on the Amazon and Mekong Rivers, and in the Galápagos and Indonesia, saw its solo business grow 50 percent between 2019 and 2023. It waives the single supplement on select sailings. Three-night itineraries on the Amazon start around $3,450 a person.

Among river cruise operators, Tauck waives the single supplement on its European sailings in Category 1 cabins, which are 150 square feet and on a lower level with a pair of small windows, compared to the French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows in other categories. (An eight-day cruise on the Danube River next summer starts at $4,990 in a single, the same price as a person sharing a double room)

In Europe, Riviera River Cruises is offering 40 sailings in 2024 and 2025 — about six percent of departures — without single supplements across all cabins (six-day sailings on the Danube start at $2,099 in a solo cabin). On other itineraries, Riviera offers four to five cabins on each sailing with a 25 percent single supplement; the fee goes to 100 percent once those are sold out.

How to get the best solo fare

Most cruise experts suggest making reservations early for the best price and cabin availability on ships. Avalon Waterways waives single supplements on a few cabins on most European sailings; booking early gives you the best chance of getting one.

If you book and a fare later drops, many lines will honor that lower rate.

Before the final payment is due, “if the price goes down, get it repriced so you’re not at risk by booking early,” said Ms. Scalzitti of CruisePlanners, which monitors bookings for price drops.

The annual “ wave season ” cruise sales, which normally take place January to March, often yield deals in the form of rate cuts, amenities or discounts on companions.

Those deals are increasingly showing up earlier on the calendar.

When families gather to celebrate over the holidays, “they tend to plan travel for the following year,” said Ms. Bava of Windstar. “We expect to have amazing pre-wave offers starting in December.”

Companies that specialize in solo travel may offer roommate matching, allowing a pair of strangers to split the cost of a double cabin. Aurora Expeditions , which operates a pair of 130-passenger ships in places like the Arctic and Antarctica, will assign solo travelers with another single of the same gender in a shared cabin if available. Ms. Frenette of TravelFun.Biz said about 80 percent of travelers with her groups take advantage of doubling up when it’s offered.

“There have been very, very few major problems,” she said. “The biggest is snoring.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

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