Pack your thermals for a trip into the world's last great wilderness, a continent submerged beneath metres of ice, and where bergs the size of cities drift across a glassy sea. Visitors to Antarctica will never forget the extraordinary wildlife they encounter here: the seething mass of penguins, the sealions and the fur seals, all making the most of the all-too-short summer months.
Antarctica Small Ship Cruises
When to go
November to MarchDuration
From 12 nightsHow to get there
Direct flight to Buenos Aires, for onwards connection to Ushuaia (or Santiago de Chile is an alternative gateway)Find a cruise
Our top picks
Seabourn Cruises
59-Day Labrador Coast, Caribbean, South America & Scotia Arc
From Reykjavik to Ushuaia
20 Sep - 19 Nov 2026 (60 Nights)
From £28,813 per guest
Seabourn Cruises
45-Day Caribbean, South America & Scotia Arc Expedition
From Halifax to Buenos Aires
5 Oct - 19 Nov 2026 (45 Nights)
From £21,997 per guest
Seabourn Cruises
37-Day From The Caribbean To The Antarctic
From Bridgetown to Buenos Aires
13 Oct - 23 Nov 2026 (41 Nights)
From £18,897 per guest
Silversea Cruises
King George Island to King George Island
From King George Island to King George Island
20 Oct - 26 Oct 2026 (6 Nights)
From £14,400 per guest
Our Insight
What to expect on an Antarctica cruise
Antarctica, the white continent at the bottom of the world, is a truly breathtaking place. From the icebergs with their glowing colours and extraordinary sculpted shapes, to the snow-covered mountains, it's all quite alien, and all quite amazingly beautiful.
Layers of thermal clothing are essential, with plenty of pairs of dry socks, gloves and mittens, as well as waterproofs and rubber boots (many ships supply these, and brightly coloured parkas - check in advance what will be supplied by the ship). Counter-intuitively, plenty of suncream is essential, and take all the camera equipment you could possibly need with you - remember, there is nowhere to buy anything locally!
Antarctica cruises leave from Ushuaia, at the southernmost tip of South America, but UK visitors should fly into Buenos Aires for at least one night. The shorter flight to Ushuaia lands in time for an afternoon embarkation, and the start of your voyage across the Drake Passage. This can be calm, but the likelihood is that you will experience rough weather in at least one direction. Poor sailors should simply take to their beds - the destination is worth it.
There is an option to fly the passage, thereby avoiding the crossing. Returning visitors might want to access the other side of Antarctica, flying to New Zealand and cruising to the Ross Sea.
The season runs from November to March and what you'll see through this period varies. For stunning, pristine snowy and icy landscapes visit between November and mid-December, before the summer thaw has truly taken effect. On the longer itineraries in December to January, you will see penguin chicks and also seal pups in South Georgia and February and March are the best months to spot a wide variety of whales.
What our clients say
“I've been using Mundy for years and their service has always been exemplary. The team are knowledgeable, helpful and responsive. Unlike most other travel these days, working with a travel agent to book a cruise is pretty much essential, as the knowledge is so valuable. Mundy focuses only on cruises and this is key!”Mr Hodgkinson
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