There was a time when touring to Antarctica meant roughing it a bit. Lots of the journey journey firms that pioneered vacationer journeys to the White Continent initially used comparatively spartan, generally repurposed ships to get individuals there.
However these days are lengthy gone.
Now you possibly can journey to the world’s most distant vacation spot in luxurious and magnificence — assuming you are prepared to pay the usually steep price of such journeys.
Two particular luxurious cruise firms — Silversea Cruises and Ponant Explorations — have carved out a distinct segment over the previous twenty years providing high-end voyages to Antarctica on upscale vessels the place you will sleep in cabins and dine in onboard eateries which might be each bit as spectacular because the Antarctic surroundings. A number of extra high-end cruise manufacturers have gotten into equally upscale cruising to Antarctica in simply the previous few years.
The newcomers embody luxurious purveyor Scenic Luxurious Cruises & Excursions, which launched two very upscale expedition ships since 2019 — a sort of cruise ship particularly designed for journey to distant, hard-to-reach locations.
Additionally comparatively new to upscale cruising to Antarctica are Atlas Ocean Voyages, which has supplied Antarctica sailings since late 2021 on purpose-built expedition vessels, and Viking, which launched voyages to the continent with new expedition ships in early 2022.
Associated: The best expedition ships for Antarctica cruises
Luxurious line Seabourn has been providing Antarctica cruises since late 2022 with its first luxurious expedition ships.
Right here, we check out these six cruise manufacturers which might be main the best way in luxurious journeys to Antarctica.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day publication
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
Silversea Cruises
Silversea has been the chief among the many major luxury cruise lines in increasing into expedition cruises to distant, hard-to-reach locations, and it is a huge participant in luxurious journeys to Antarctica.
The Miami-based line’s 18-year-old expedition cruise division at the moment operates high-end sailings to the White Continent on three vessels — the 220-passenger Silver Endeavour, the 254-passenger Silver Cloud and the 274-passenger Silver Wind.
Along with conventional sailings from South America that cross the Drake Passage, Silversea additionally provides its signature Fly Cruise program, permitting company to fly over the Drake with out sacrificing time spent in Antarctica. The journey will turn into much more seamless with the debut of The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, Chile, Silversea’s new lodge designed to streamline the Antarctic journey expertise, together with new constitution flights connecting immediately from Santiago to Puerto Williams.
Associated: This new luxury tour gets you to Antarctica faster than most
Whereas older than most of the luxurious ships crusing to Antarctica, Silver Cloud and Silver Wind supply a luxurious expertise with all-suite lodging, upscale delicacies and luxurious touches similar to butler service for each suite. Silver Endeavour is a more moderen vessel with much more superior choices.
The small print: Fares for 10-night Antarctica journeys begin at $10,920 per particular person, based mostly on double occupancy.
Ponant Explorations
A longtime chief in expedition cruises, Ponant is thought for its array of truly once-in-a-lifetime small-ship adventures to locations no different passenger ships go, together with epic voyages to the North Pole, the only winter expedition cruises to Canada and a variety of prolonged sailings to Antarctica.
A few of the most uncommon sailings the road provides to the White Continent happen on Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first and solely luxurious icebreaker. Unveiled in 2021, it is by far the hardest passenger vessel ever constructed, able to reaching ice-clogged components of Antarctica that no different ship can attain.
The road additionally takes well-heeled, intellectually curious vacationers to Antarctica on 4 different upscale expedition ships, all sister vessels, that had been purpose-built for such voyages: Le Boreal, Le Lyrial, L’Austral and Le Soleal.
Unveiled between 2010 and 2015, these 264-passenger ships are smooth and trendy, with up to date decor, giant rooms with balconies and a number of eating places. However additionally they function a sustainable design with ice-strengthened hulls and cutting-edge expertise, permitting them to securely entry harder-to-reach areas similar to Antarctica.
Whereas Ponant is a France-based line, its sailings are bilingual with bulletins in each French and English, and it attracts a world crowd along with many Individuals.
Associated: The ultimate guide to Ponant ships and itineraries
The small print: Fares for 12-night Antarctica journeys begin at $17,320 per particular person, based mostly on double occupancy. Fares embody a precruise lodge keep in Buenos Aires and round-trip flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia.
Scenic Luxurious Cruises & Excursions
Lengthy recognized for high-end river cruises, luxurious purveyor Scenic Luxurious Cruises & Excursions has made a giant transfer into high-end expedition journeys to Antarctica since 2019 with the debut of its first two expedition vessels, the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse and sister ship Scenic Eclipse II.
Billed as “discovery yachts,” the super-swanky vessels supply all-suite lodging (and we’re speaking actual suites with separate residing rooms), butler service for all and a variety of onboard eating choices together with a sushi restaurant. Additionally they have whiskey bars stocked with greater than 110 whiskies and different high-end liquors, plus a spa and a yoga studio.
The preliminary vessel on this collection, Scenic Eclipse, was notably the primary Antarctica-bound cruise vessel to boast helicopters to take passengers on epic (and expensive) Antarctica excursions. Scenic Eclipse II debuted with helicopters, too. Each vessels even have submarines for underwater exploration.
Having skilled a helicopter tour from one in every of these vessels, I can say that it is actually a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. On the draw back, the helicopter pads and hangars on these ships eat up loads of area on their high decks, as do the suites alongside the vessel’s sharply sloping entrance. The mix leaves much less obtainable room for commentary areas. The result’s a ship with much less outside area for viewing surroundings than is typical for small vessels working polar journeys.
The small print: Fares for 12-night Antarctica journeys begin at $17,868 per particular person, based mostly on double occupancy. Fares embody a precruise, one-night lodge keep in Buenos Aires; round-trip flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia; drinks, together with spirits and superb wines; and pay as you go gratuities.
Associated: These books are must-reads before an Antarctica trip
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Launched in 2021, Atlas Ocean Voyages is a comparatively new model that makes a speciality of luxurious sailings on small, yacht-like vessels to a few of the world’s most off-the-beaten-path locations, similar to Antarctica and the Arctic. Additionally they function in additional mainstream cruise locations similar to Europe and Asia.
The model at the moment fields three almost equivalent, 184-passenger ships (World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager), all of which spend no less than a part of their time in Antarctica.
Constructed robust for polar exploring (they every have a PC 6 ice class score), these three ships are designed to be upscale with elegant, Nineteen Forties-influenced decor, and pampering touches similar to L’Occitane-branded spas (the primary at sea) and butler service in high cabins.
The vessels, which I’ve given high marks after previous sailings, are additionally loaded with indoor and outside commentary areas, together with modern, close-to-the-waterline exterior deck areas with heated seating known as The Water’s Edge. Excessive-tech touches embody GPS techniques that permit them hover in delicate areas with out dropping anchor.
Associated: I just spent the night in an igloo in Antarctica — here’s how you can, too
The small print: 9-night voyages to Antarctica begin at $11,748 per particular person, based mostly on double occupancy. Fares cowl drinks, together with spirits and superb wines; shipboard Wi-Fi; pay as you go gratuities; and emergency medical evacuation insurance coverage for each passenger (the latter being a uncommon providing amongst firms cruising to Antarctica).
Viking
Viking is a relative newcomer to expedition cruising in Antarctica — it is solely been working within the area since 2022. But it surely’s gotten loads of consideration from cruise-industry watchers.
That is as a result of the 2 new expedition ships the road has constructed for Antarctica sailings — the 378-passenger Viking Octantis and sister ship Viking Polaris — have a number of uncommon options.
Most notable is The Hangar, an enclosed marina on every of the vessels that enables passengers to switch to a particular touring boat whereas nonetheless within the protected inside of the ship. A primary for expedition ships, it is one thing that makes it simpler for vacationers with mobility points to expertise the area.
In one other first for polar expedition cruise vessels, each cabin on the 2 vessels has floor-to-ceiling glass partitions that slide partially open from the highest to create a balcony-like really feel.
Like all Viking ships, the general public areas and cabins on Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris boast a chic Scandinavian design. Their eating places embody a model of Viking’s signature Italian spot, Manfredi’s, and the Scandinavian-inspired Mamsen’s outlet. Additionally acquainted are top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers’ Lounges promising beautiful views of passing surroundings.
One other standout public area is The Aula, a dramatic panoramic auditorium designed for lectures, every day briefings and different occasions that incorporates a display screen that retracts to disclose floor-to-ceiling home windows and sweeping 270-degree views. Additionally notable is The Science Lab, a working moist and dry analysis facility the place visitor scientists perform actual analysis all through voyages. Passengers are invited to look at, ask questions and acquire a deeper perception about scientific work associated to the locations the ship sails.
Associated: The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries
As is typical for expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are robust vessels, with strengthened bows that permit them bump by means of ice in polar areas and additional tanks for gas and meals. Along with touchdown craft on board to deliver individuals ashore, they carry kayaks and even submersibles for exploring (the latter being one thing that’s comparatively uncommon on cruise vessels of any kind).
The small print: Fares for 12-night Antarctica journeys begin at $14,995 per particular person.
Seabourn
Like Viking, Seabourn has solely just lately added its first expedition cruise ships for expedition cruising to Antarctica.
The 2 vessels — Seabourn Enterprise and Seabourn Pursuit — each carry 264 passengers at most occupancy and are ice-rated vessels with all the posh touches that Seabourn followers have come to know, together with eating places serving elegant delicacies.
Each room on each of the ships, notably, is a set with its personal balcony — one thing that is not usually the case with expedition ships.
As well as, the ships supply loads of high-end journey. Outside tools for off-ship exploring consists of kayaks in addition to Zodiac boats. However maybe their standout journey options are two, six-person submarines that permit passengers to discover the world underneath the water in polar areas in addition to what’s above the waterline.
Associated: I just went kayaking in Antarctica — if I can do it, so can you
Amongst different uncommon options of the ships that make a distinction in polar areas is a high-definition Cineplex digicam that may choose up wildlife as much as 5 miles away and streams the footage into an onboard “discovery middle” whereas leaving the wildlife undisturbed. The ships sail with 23 expedition guides, together with scientists, historians and naturalists who lecture repeatedly on board and lead guided excursions on land.
The small print: Fares for Antarctic sailings begin at $11,899 per particular person, together with flights in Argentina to succeed in the ship.
Planning an Antarctica cruise expedition? Begin with these tales:
Trending Merchandise
