Antarctica

One reason to go to Antarctica is for the splendour of its scenery; endless ranges of snow-coated mountains and the majesty of icebergs sculpted by sun, wind, and waves. Experience the tranquillity of the vast landscapes; the starkness of monochromatic white everywhere you look; and the way the light plays off shades and hues in the ice, sea and sky.

The krill-rich waters of the Southern Ocean are a beacon for abundant wildlife: whales, seals, seabirds and of course, penguins. The Antarctic Peninsula is home to an estimated population of 12 million penguins across several species. Depending on when during the Antarctic summer you visit, you’ll witness their courting rituals first hand, see newly hatched chicks, or the moulting period.

You won’t simply wave at Antarctica from the ship as you sail past it. Instead, you’ll join our experienced Expedition Team to go on landings ashore, on small boat cruises in the area, and on optional activities like kayaking, snowshoeing, camping, and maybe even a polar plunge if you’re feeling brave enough! No matter your activity level or interests, you can explore Antarctica in the way that best suits you.

Our Expedition Team are there to guide and enhance everything you see and experience in Antarctica, sharing their insights on geology, climate change, polar history, and wildlife. We also offer photography tutorials, Citizen Science projects, and access to the ship’s onboard Science Center, a fully-equipped learning zone with a library, microscopes and other advanced tech.

Some of our expeditions will attempt landings south of the Antarctic Circle in Marguerite Bay, Crystal Sound and the Weddell Sea. Much like the great explorers before you, your expedition will be determined by the weather and sea conditions, where plans sometimes change and adventure presents itself in unexpected ways… which is exactly what you’d expect from a polar expedition.

Antarctica is a pure and fragile environment. We work hard to ensure we leave nothing but sterilised boot prints and take nothing but precious memories. Our ice-class expedition ships combine state-of-the-art hybrid technology, helping us have the lowest possible CO2-footprint of all expedition cruises to Antarctica. We’ve also sailed these polar waters for over 20 years.

Due to their thick layer of blubber and fur, Antarctic seals are extremely well-adapted to the freezing conditions. They actually even find the climate too hot, often having to take plunges into the icy water to cool down.

By far the most abundant and therefore the most commonly seen seal in Antarctica is the crabeater, so named for their ability to devour krill, which could in turn be described as tiny crabs. The adorable Weddell seals spend most of their time below the surface but can be found on the ice during their breeding season (November – December).

Antarctica is one of the world’s top whale-spotting places. During the Antarctic summer (October to March), there are about 10 species of whales that migrate south to Antarctica to breed and feed. February and March are generally considered the best months for whale watching, often having a greater variety of species and larger numbers to wow at.

From the moment we start crossing the Drake Passage, it is not uncommon to spot blue, fin, humpback, minke, orcas, and southern right and sperm whales close to the ship. And once we’re in the Antarctic Peninsula, they can appear out of nowhere and may even pop up right next to you when you are out on smaller explorer boats or kayaking.

The continent’s signature animal is the penguin. The most common penguin species are Adélie, chinstrap, gentoos and emperor. With our Expedition Team guiding the way during your landings ashore, you are more than likely to meet these adorable, tuxedoed creatures. 

There are vast amounts of seabirds breeding along the coast and offshore islands of Antarctica. From the deck, you might spot albatrosses, petrels, cormorants, fulmars, gulls, terns and skuas, among others.

Whenever weather and sea conditions allow, we’ll attempt landings via small explorer boat. Sites might include a scenic harbour, ruins from the whaling era, or penguin rookeries. Once ashore, the Expedition Team will guide you on where to go and what to see. You are free to walk around on your own, keeping a safe distance from any wildlife you encounter.

Even though your expedition ship is specially designed for sailing in Antarctica, there are limits on where it can go. This is where our small explorer boats come in. Enjoy gliding through the water as you take in views of the surrounding white landscape and floating icebergs. You might spot seals, penguins or whales feeding on krill.

Enjoy the feeling of gliding through Antarctic waters in serene silence and admiring the sight of glaciers, icebergs and snow-covered mountains around you. You might even meet seals, birds, penguins and perhaps whales along the way.

In the true style of the early explorers, we venture out at night for a once in a lifetime experience as we go camping in the Antarctic night.

Although Amundsen, Scott and Nordenskjold had different equipment, they used the best gear available at the time. So do we. This activity features top of the line camping equipment that meets Antarctic standards for camping on snow.

This activity is only possible when snow conditions are right, which is usually late spring or early in the Antarctic summer. Equipped with modern snowshoes, you’ll easily walk on the soft snow and reach places that are normally difficult to get to just on foot.

Join the Expedition Team on hikes handpicked by them and based on their deep and extensive knowledge of exploring the Antarctic Peninsula. Reaching the best viewpoints may involve some effort, making it all the more satisfying when you do.

You can also get involved in a variety of projects that ask you to document wildlife or aspects of the environment. Your photos are then uploaded to scientific organisations around the world. Not only do you engage with nature, but you’ll contribute to important research too!

Your expert Expedition Team will be delivering lectures on a range of topics, such as geology, marine biology, history, photography, and ornithology. This will be in the ship’s onboard Science Center, out on deck, ashore during a landing, or when cruising in small boats.