The ultimate Antarctic adventure

Book your Antarctic expedition today!

Experience the ultimate adventure on an Antarctica cruise

Are you ready for a real adventure? Then set out on one of our thrilling expedition cruises to Antarctica, where you’ll experience the ultimate in polar exploration.

Our Antarctica cruises fully immerse you in the otherworldly polar environment, introducing you to an exotic variety of Antarctic wildlife – whales, seals, penguins, and many other seabirds that can be seen in few other places on the planet.

Not only that, you’ll enjoy exhilarating outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, mountaineering, scuba diving, and even camping. On our Antarctica cruises, there is never a dull moment.

What you’ll do and see on your cruise to Antarctica

An Oceanwide Antarctica cruise takes you to another world. Enchanting icescapes, beautiful wildlife, and exhilarating shore landings will bring out your inner explorer.

Because you won’t just experience Antarctica from the decks of a vessel; you’ll explore it firsthand, either on foot or in one of our Zodiacs. Our cruises to Antarctica take you as close as possible to every glacier front, iceberg, and mountainous shoreline.

Not to mention all the humpback whales, gentoo penguins, fur seals, and wandering albatrosses you may encounter along the way. On an Antarctic cruise, epic is just the beginning.

Antarctica cruise destinations, activities, and options

Our cruises to Antarctica are as varied as the wildlife. Do you want to take a helicopter flight to a Weddell Sea emperor penguin colony? Do you want to walk the stunning shores of South Georgia, surrounded by elephant seals and king penguins? Or is an activity-filled Basecamp cruise more your speed?

Whatever expedition experience most appeals to you, we have the Antarctica cruise for it. Check out our current list of available cruises to Antarctica, and take the first step in an unforgettable adventure.

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Cruises to Antarctica

South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula
Up to $5099 OFF

South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula

25 Oct - 13 Nov, 2025

Tripcode: PLA21-25

  • EN

Experience the vibrant spring of South Georgia Island and the early season of the Antarctic Peninsula. Beneath the towering, snow-blanketed mountains of South Georgia Island, observe and photograph special wildlife behaviors seldom seen. The Antarctic...

Atlantic Odyssey incl. Antarctic Peninsula to Cape Verde
Up to $2885 OFF

Atlantic Odyssey incl. Antarctic Peninsula to Cape Verde

26 Mar - 7 May, 2027

Tripcode: PLA32D27

  • EN

The Atlantic Odyssey cruise visits some of the remotest islands in the world, crossing the migratory paths of Arctic Terns, Long-tailed Skuas, other birds, and a variety of whales as they make their annual expeditions north for the breeding season.

Atlantic Odyssey incl. Antarctic Peninsula to Cape Verde
Up to $2775 OFF

Atlantic Odyssey incl. Antarctic Peninsula to Cape Verde

23 Mar - 4 May, 2026

Tripcode: PLA31B26

  • EN

The Atlantic Odyssey cruise visits some of the remotest islands in the world, crossing the migratory paths of Arctic Terns, Long-tailed Skuas, other birds, and a variety of whales as they make their annual expeditions north for the breeding season.

Atlantic Odyssey incl. Antarctic Peninsula to St. Helena
Up to $2475 OFF

Atlantic Odyssey incl. Antarctic Peninsula to St. Helena

26 Mar - 27 Apr, 2027

Tripcode: PLA32C27

  • EN

The Atlantic Odyssey cruise visits some of the remotest islands in the world, crossing the migratory paths of Arctic Terns, Long-tailed Skuas, other birds, and a variety of whales as they make their annual expeditions north for the breeding season.

Atlantic Odyssey incl. Antarctic Peninsula to St. Helena
Up to $2380 OFF

Atlantic Odyssey incl. Antarctic Peninsula to St. Helena

23 Mar - 24 Apr, 2026

Tripcode: PLA31A26

  • EN

The Atlantic Odyssey cruise visits some of the remotest islands in the world, crossing the migratory paths of Arctic Terns, Long-tailed Skuas, other birds, and a variety of whales as they make their annual expeditions north for the breeding season.

Antarctica cruise video

Latest blog and customer story

Antarctica blog

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In partnership with the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT), Oceanwide Expeditions has successfully restored a historic aircraft hangar at Whalers Bay on Deception Island - just one month after an incident of graffiti.

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Antarctica cruise reviews

by Alec Hardiman
I can't say, just how amazing this trip was. It was truly incredible. The ship, the captain, the expedion staff, the expedition leader, the crew, the restaurant staff, the locations, the ice bergs and all the penguins, seals, birds and whales. I loved every minute of this expedition and it never disappointed. Sending a bunch of ordinary passengers down south to experience an environment so unique and rare that many years ago cost many people their lives to get here, is wild. I feel so lucky and blessed to have had this adventure, within the comfort of a warm remarkable vessel. The highlight, was an area called red rock Ridge, a place swarming with manic Adelie penguins and a rough zodiac trip, this felt like proper adventure. Many thanks, and I advise anyone who's thinking about going with oceanwide, to do it 😀
by Sylvia Vergeer
We had a great trip which gave us all that we were hoping for. Incredible number of whales and pinguins and beautiful weather after a very stormy drake passage. Crew and guides were amazing with all the interesting lectures and wonderful food and service. Also the other guests on the boat were great. I truly recommend this trip.
by Laurens Trenning
Since this was my second visit to Antarctica, I thought I knew what to expect. However this expedition far succeeded every expectation I had before I boarded Ortelius. Crossing the polar circle, seeing the Southern lights, visiting the Wilkins ice shelf, spotting Emperor/Gentoo/Adélie/Chinstrap penguins, having the most amazing encounters with humpback whales next to (and under) the zodiac boat.. There are just too many highlights to only pick one. Antarctica, the wonderful crew, the great fellow passengers. This was something extremely special which I'll never forget. Highly recommended to anyone ready to explore the most magical place, in a way that can be considered a true polar expedition. I'll absolutely visit again, and I will surely choose Oceanwide for that next adventure.
by Amit Rawat
Words will not do enough justice or explain how content and excited I am, even after the expedition ends. Everything from boarding the ship to the crew staff, the expedition team, and the activities worked perfectly, and the weather was just amazing throughout the trip. A huge thanks to Sara, our expedition leader, and her team for ensuring everyone gets to do all activities safely. Also, the lectures were so informative and interesting that even the long sailing days felt exciting. Highly Recommended!
by Ann Dewey

Superlatives are thrown sound in society today, greatest, biggest, richest,coldest, highest, applied often to things that do not merit them This trip however deserves the use of every single one that comes to mind and many that don’t A breathtaking and likely life changing holiday location and means of journey decision this seasoned traveler will never regret Do not hesitate to visit whilst its pristine beauty and terrifying extremes remain accessible

by Hanneke Kouwenberg
Way more than we expected! In terms of the ship, the crew and staff, the service, the wildlife, the surroundings, the food. Everything was in one word excellent. We were really pleased to be on a real adventure, an expedition. Thanks for having us. We so much enjoyed it.

FAQ's about Antarctica cruises

Antarctica is the fifth largest of the seven continents. Antarctica has two large indentations which are the Ross Sea and the Weddell Sea. The nearest continent is South America. The total surface of Antarctica is 14.2 Million square kilometres (about 5.5 million square miles) in summer.

The time zone in Antarctica is the same as the time zone in New Zealand:  GMT + 12 hours. On regular Antarctic trips we operate in the same time zone as Ushuaia, Argentina: GMT – 3 hours. 

No, the remote location, frozen landscape, and unpredictable weather can make tourism operations in Antarctica tricky, but Oceanwide Expeditions has the right experience, knowledge, and expertise to stay safe in the Antarctic. 

Antarctica is the coldest and also the windiest continent in the world. The lowest temperature on Earth was recorded in Antarctica. There are three climatic regions in Antarctica:

The interior of the continent: This is the extremely cold area of Antarctica. The coastal areas: These areas have milder temperatures and much higher precipitation rates. The Antarctic Peninsula: This is the region which has a warmer and also wetter climate; above freezing temperatures are common in the summer months.

During the summer months temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula range between -2°C - +5 °C. In the Ross Sea it can get significantly colder with temperatures down to -20°C. 

Yes, but only if the expedition leader considers local conditions safe. In that event, we may offer this swimming activity from shore under the supervision of our guides. For safety reasons, we do not do the polar from our vessels or Zodiac boats.

We follow the protocol advised by IAATO. Before leaving for your voyage, please make sure anything you bring that may come into contact with the environment (clothes, equipment, etc.) is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. We ask that you do not sit, kneel, or lay down during our landings. Please also do not place anything on the ground. You will receive a document with further information after booking.

On this page you find all information you need to know about the avian influenza outbreaks, including biosecurity protocols.

About Antarctica cruises

Weather you can expect on your cruise to Antarctica

Your Antarctica cruise will show you some of Earth’s most beautiful scenery in one of its least hospitable environments: Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, and driest of all the continents, though it grants travelers access to some of the most dazzling sights the planet has to offer.

Grey peaks stab out of the wind-carved snow, passing icebergs dot the dark blue waters, and wildlife that can be seen nowhere else reminds you that you’re truly in another world when you are on an Antarctica cruise.

Along the Antarctic coastline, temperatures can reach as high as 10°C (50°F) during a hot summer day. On a regular day, it can plummet to barely above freezing. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be uncomfortable. Our vessels are designed to make your cruise to Antarctica as pleasant as possible, and we’ll give you all the packing info you need to stay warm and dry from beginning to end.

Fun facts to prepare you for your Antarctica cruise

  • Antarctica is larger than Europe
  • Because Antarctica experiences so little precipitation, it is technically a desert
  • The name “Antarctica” comes from a Greek phrase meaning “opposite to north”
  • Almost 62% of the freshwater ice on Earth exists in Antarctica, enough to raise the oceans by about 60 meters (197 feet) if it melted today
  • The coldest temperature ever recorded was at the Antarctic research station Vostok, on July 21, 1983, when the thermometer dropped to -89.2°C (-128.6°F), cold enough to shatter steel
  • Despite the cold, the biggest documented mass of living creatures — a 10,000,000-ton school of krill — was spotted in the Antarctic
  • The first confirmed sighting of Antarctica was in 1820, though it would take almost a century — until 1911, to be exact — before a human being set foot on the continent

Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise to Antarctica

An Antarctica cruise introduces you to a seldom-seen side of our planet. It means visiting a part of Earth that has remained largely unchanged since Aristotle first wrote of Terra Australis, or the “Land of the South,” centuries before Antarctica would be seen by human eyes.

Taking a cruise to Antarctica also means acquainting yourself with the real survivalists of the Antarctic: the seals, whales, penguins, and other seabirds who call the region home.

Our Antarctica cruises offer you an experience unlike any you have ever had. Whether you’re kayaking among towering icebergs, hiking near inquisitive penguins, or camping beneath the wild polar skies, your cruise to Antarctica will redefine your notion of adventure.

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