9 Things to Know About a Cruise to Antarctica: Cost & Tips Guide
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In November, the ice breaks up, forming gorgeous icebergs and sculptures. Wildflowers in the Falklands are in bloom, and seals begin their breeding season. 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. Review our Antarctica destination overview for full details on seasonality, routes, ship selection, pricing, expedition inclusions and how North South Voyages can help make your Antarctica dream become reality.
What factors affect Antarctica travel costs?
One of the best ways to experience the wildlife is to sit amongst the hungry, fuzzy chicks running around you looking for their parents! It is a true privilege to have time to do so without the constraint of hurried departures. Due to the overall lack of human interference, the wildlife does not perceive us as a threat and, instead, are genuinely curious about our presence. Wildlife is of course entirely unpredictable and a larger window of time allows for more opportunity to have rare encounters.
Antarctic Basecamp Adventure
Their itineraries are fantastic and the service for guests is excellent. In 2025 Aurora Expeditions will also be welcoming the brand new, 154pax X-BOW vessel, the Douglas Mawson, to their fleet, which will prove to be one of the most capable, luxury ships in the industry. EXCLUSIVE – We have partnered with the world’s top polar tour operator, Quark Expeditions, to offer readers of NOMADasaurus a very special deal on any trip to Antarctica or the Arctic! Contact us () if you’d like to learn more about this exclusive Quark Expeditions discount.
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Less expensive tickets often leave out key items such as required gear which can be costly. Just bear in mind that, despite how expensive you may perceive a polar adventure to be, we’ve never had anyone return from Antarctica who didn’t think that it was well worth the investment. Can you put a price on a trip to Antarctica, one of the most profound and authentic experiential adventures you’ll have in your entire life?
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. 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. Visiting Antarctica is expensive because the Antarctic continent is so remote. There’s also very little infrastructure to support tourism in the Antarctic.
THE 5 BEST Cruises from Buenos Aires to Antarctica (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 5 BEST Cruises from Buenos Aires to Antarctica (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
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Whether you’re ready to book, doing more research or simply interested in the idea of visiting Antarctica, there’s some very important things you need to know before dropping your hard-earned money on an expedition to the 7th continent. We've teamed up with some of the best cruise operators so that you can choose from over 80 cruise itineraries based on your dates, budget and appetite for adventure. New small ship cruises, adventure trips, ships & the best deals at your fingertips.
What's included in the price?
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. The weather can change quickly, so it’s essential to be prepared for sudden changes in conditions. Regardless, Antarctica is a harsh and unforgiving environment, and the weather can be incredibly unpredictable.
South Georgia
Those travelers coming from Oceania will find far fewer operators and vessels to choose from, and getting to Antarctica will take much longer, with crossings of typically around a week or more, depending on the weather. Note that not all ships offer an early booking incentive, and these offers always have strict deadlines. The rewards for booking in advance aren’t just limited to cost savings though.
What our customers think of Antarctic Cruise Costs Explained
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Camping is one of the least expensive adventure options available, setting you back a mere USD$150 – USD$300. Cheaper still, snowshoeing can cost up to USD$200 per person, although it is typically included. At a similar price point, paddle-boarding costs around USD$200 – USD$300, however, not every operator offers this option. Just remember that many argue the time savings (2 hours versus 2 days) and avoidance of getting seasick afforded by flying more than justify the added investment. As mentioned above, any flights to Antarctica bring with them additional cost due to their private charter nature. Fly-cruise itineraries are no exception, despite the shorter flight time (2 hours) and distance between Punta Arenas and King George Island.
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. North South Voyages, sister brand of Travel Just 4U, provides expert knowledge and advice on all things Antarctica. Refurbished as part of the Norwegian Edge program in 2018, Norwegian Star shines with upgrades. The extensive enhancements include upgrades to staterooms, public spaces, restaurants, bars and lounges.
Your choice of vessel—specifically its size, level of comfort, and its operator—is certainly one of the most important considerations in terms of your desired cruise experience, and also one of key determinants in the overall price you’ll pay. With the Antarctic cruising season during the austral summer being so short, you might be forgiven for assuming a flat cruise rate applies irrespective of when you travel. When you travel can affect the cost of your Antarctica cruise by anywhere between 10% – 25%. While most ships have an expedition photographer onboard whose job it is to document the entire trip, providing the images and videos to the guests at the end, most companies don’t have dedicated photography workshops.
But what if you want to go even farther South, to the fabled South Pole itself? That’s when things get really expensive, as cruising isn’t an option to this most landlocked of landmarks. Your only option is to do a fly-in, a flight that takes around 10 hours from Punta Arenas (with stop-over). While almost all Antarctic cruises offer shore landings and Zodiac cruises as standard, there’s a whole bunch of optional activities for those eager to try something different down in the continent. Either way, it’s paramount to really look into what’s included in your package. Some voyages may seem very cheap upfront but then charge extra for essentials like shore excursions, gear rentals, or even certain onboard facilities.
In addition to the cruise price, there are additional expenses travelers should account for to calculate the full Antarctica travel cost. These include the cost of flights, pre- or post-cruise hotel overnights, added optional adventure activities and gear. On the other end of the price scale, vessels that double as yacht-like cruise ships offer oversized cabins or suites, onboard spas, numerous lounges, attentive service and lavish dining. These cruise expeditions offer many inclusions, such as airfare from your home city to the embarkation port, complimentary alcohol and gratuities. Note that, while there are a few “budget-friendly” tour operators that offer relatively low prices on single berths in shared cabins, these tend to sell out quickly. Additionally, the cost of a luxury cruise can be much higher than our estimate depending on your tour operator and the type of cabin you choose.
Newly designed, next-generation ships are taking technology and luxury to a whole new level. There are Antarctica trips and ships to fit every budget and style. The simpler the expedition ship and the fewer the inclusions, such as chartered flights or expedition gear, the less an Antarctica cruise costs. Vessels with the least frills -- such as those offering tiny cabins (possibly inside) with twin or triple beds, and basic but substantial meals -- cost the least.
Another water-based activity, snorkeling, is priced at around USD$600 per person, but if you wish to head deeper into Antarctica’s icy waters, scuba diving will cost between USD$500 – USD$,1000 per person. If there are only twin cabins available, and you want your own cabin you will need to pay a substantial single supplement, typically 50-70% of the cost of the second berth. Single berth cabins do exist, but they are rare and in high demand, so be sure to book early. This option is still more expensive than sharing but significantly less expensive than paying a supplement for a twin cabin. Luxury ships may have even more exclusive and costly cabin categories available, offering upscale amenities such as heated bathroom floors, in-room WiFi, entertainment systems or even butler and room service. Given the previous point, as you’d expect, the farther south you sail the more expensive your cruise will be, given the vessel will have to come back on itself, effectively doubling the distance sailed.
More extreme activities such as ski/snowboard touring, mountaineering or scuba diving can run as high as $2,200. If not included in your cruise cost, the round-trip flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia can set you back an additional $300 to $1,000. Some cruises will offer an optional charter flight package to Ushuaia while for others it may be required but not included.
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