Small Ship
Ushuaia - Ushuaia
Dec 19 - Dec 29 2025
10 Nights
Price from per person
£8,974
See the largest selection of Antarctica cruises over at PolarEscapes.com
An Antarctica cruise is a unique and immersive experience that allows travelers to explore the pristine beauty and raw power of the frozen continent. Antarctica small ship cruises take place on ships that take between 12 and 150 guests, which we think gives the best experience. These cruises typically range from 6 to 30 days in duration and offer a range of activities, including Zodiac excursions, wildlife watching, and visits to historic sites. Led by expert expedition teams, these cruises provide insights into the region’s geology, wildlife, and history, making it a truly enriching journey. Whether you’re navigating through towering icebergs or observing a colony of penguins, an Antarctica cruise promises an adventure like no other.
Our carefully selected Antarctic small ship cruises have the smallest group sizes, with ships carrying 48 to 130 like-minded passengers per voyage. These cruises allow you to explore Antarctica in the smallest of groups. When choosing your Antarctic cruise, choosing the itinerary, ship, and activities is important for your perfect trip.
Exploring the polar regions, including both the Arctic and Antarctic, presents unique travel challenges and requires careful preparation.
One significant advantage of Antarctica small ship cruises is spending time outdoors. Each ship has enough Zodiacs to simultaneously take all passengers ashore or on a Zodiac cruise. Antarctica small ship cruises are perfect for guests who want to maximise the expedition experience and are ideal for wildlife watchers, photographers, and those who wish to do optional activities such as kayaking or polar snorkelling.
A new range of purpose-built Antarctica small expedition ships offers never-before-seen levels of comfort, adventure, and sustainability. The X Bow design on the latest ships is a game changer. It improves the ship’s stability and speed, so you spend more time exploring and less time at sea.
As an Antarctic explorer, you will encounter wildlife and stunning scenery daily.
Antarctica’s small ships have comfortable cabins with private balconies, unique bow lounges, spacious interiors, on-deck hot tubs, and great dining.
Are we looking for something other than an Antarctica Small-ship cruise? See our Antarctica cruises.
Price from per person
Price from per person
Price from per person
Antarctica small ship cruises are perfect for wildlife enthusiasts who want to do an Antarctic expedition. They offer detailed itineraries, prices, and unique wildlife encounters with penguin rookeries, seals, and seabirds in a smaller group. The polar regions are home to unique wildlife, making these encounters even more special for nature enthusiasts.
Each small expedition ship has a fleet of Zodiacs that can take all passengers and are used for shore landings and Zodiac cruises led by the guide team of polar experts.
Antarctica is a photographer's paradise from the ship, shore and Zodiac. Wildlife, glaciers and icebergs are top favourites.
More personal experience with fewer guests, more interaction with guides, and a sense of community and adventure.
With small group sizes, Antarctica expedition cruises offer more than just a standard cruise; they include additional adventure activities such as kayaking and polar snorkelling. Antarctic cruises offer a range of adventure activities, ensuring that every traveler finds something exciting to do.
Each expedition is led by a team of experts who will take you on the journey. Antarctica small ship cruises have the best guide-to-guest ratio for a more personal experience.
Cruise on a new generation of purpose-built specialist small polar expedition ships designed around guest comfort, sustainability and the expedition experience.
Most Antarctica small ship cruises depart from Ushuaia, Argentina and sail south across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea. With more small ships cruising Antarctica, Ushuaia has become a central departure point, with many different vessels and itineraries. Ushuaia has daily flights to Buenos Aires and international connections to the rest of the world. Flights to Ushuaia from Buenos Aires are often included in the itinerary. Antarctic cruises often include flights to Ushuaia from Buenos Aires, making the journey more convenient for travelers.
For those who want to fly the Drake Passage, Antarctica, small ship flights and cruises offer the option to fly from Punta Arenas, Chile, to join a small ship in Antarctica. Punta Arenas is connected by air to Santiago, and the itinerary often includes flights to Punta Arenas from Santiago.
Our Travel Experience Team can help you with your journey. Contact us if you have any questions. Below are all the ways to get to Antarctica, including flying.
Go to Antarctica between November and March for the best trip. This is the best time for wildlife watching and the warmest temperatures. We offer a range of Antarctica small ship cruises each season, with different ships and itineraries to suit any explorer. Traveling to the polar regions during this time ensures the best conditions for wildlife watching and exploration.
Antarctica Small Ship flies and cruise expeditions have a shorter season and operate between late November and the end of February; this is the optimal time for landing in Antarctica.
To see what an Antarctica Small ship cruise offers each month, including wildlife sightings, see below.
We have over 30 years of experience exploring Antarctica on small ships.
All of our team has firsthand experience visiting Antarctica and can offer you outstanding advice on choosing your small ship and voyage.
Our portfolio has the best selection of small ships in Antarctica from 12 - 150 guests per voyage.
All reservations include 100% financial protection for your peace of mind.
he cost of an Antarctica Small Ship Cruise depends on the ship, cabin type, activities, time of year and length of voyage.
In 2024, a 15-day in-depth small ship exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula on the Greg Mortimer starts from $17,095 per person twin share and goes up to $34,195 per person for the Captain’s Suite.
Small ship fly-and-cruise Antarctica in December 2024 on Magellan Explorer for an eight-day, seven-night Antarctica Classic Air Cruise from $15,995 per person for a porthole cabin and up to $26,995 per person for the penthouse suite.
Contact us to book, and we’ll send you free advice on your obligation to help you choose a ship and itinerary that suits you. We’ll also get you the best price for your Antarctica small ship cruise.
Yes, we have no single supplement on some Antarctica small ship cruises, but these are limited due to the number of cabins. Contact our Travel Experience Team for the best solo offers if you’re a solo traveller.
Antarctica small ship cruises offer the most activities of any ship in Antarctica. Your cruise includes zodiac rides, shore landings, hikes with the expedition team, onboard lectures, and a polar plunge if conditions allow.
Some optional activities are available on certain departures, including camping, kayaking, trekking and paddleboarding.
If you have a particular activity in mind, please get in touch with our Travel Experience Team. They will recommend ships and itineraries for you.
We want our clients to have financial security, so all bookings made with North Pole Cruises include 100% financial protection. We also include supplier failure insurance free of charge for extra peace of mind, giving you the best protection on your booking.
Payment terms will be advised when you book.
Typically, a 30% deposit is required when booking to secure your cabin and the balance 90 days before departure.
Credit card or bank transfer.
Subscribe to be the first to know about new voyages, exclusive offers and insider travel tips.
North Pole Cruises – a brand by the Expedition Collective Limited
A valuable opportunity to discuss your travel interests, ask questions, and receive impartial guidance on the different ship options and itineraries.
Do you have a question for our knowledgeable Travel Experience Team? We’re all ears! Just fill out this form, and we will be in touch shortly to answer your question.
Subscribe to be the first to know about new voyages, exclusive offers and insider travel tips.
