How much does an Antarctica cruise cost in 2026?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 9 November 2026
These 12 expedition cruise lines publish a dated per-person price for an Antarctic voyage on their own websites, read 9 November 2026. Each card gives what the line says about it, with the ship, voyage, length, price or number where it names one, then why to choose it, what to ask for and the limits it publishes.
How much does an Antarctica cruise cost in 2026?
12 expedition cruise lines in the Uncompromised Travel table say on their own websites that they publish a dated per-person price for an Antarctic voyage; Aurora Expeditions, Atlas Ocean Voyages and Secret Atlas have the most Google reviews under the line's own name.
Antarctica21
- Best for
- Flying over the Drake to Antarctica
- Antarctic fare
- Sells the Magellan Discoverer Inaugural Air-Cruise, 10 days from Punta Arenas in December 2026, from $16,995 USD per person in a double cabin; the same page shows a second, lower starting price, so ask which applies.
- Why choose them
- Says it pioneered the Antarctica fly-cruise programme in 2003, flying with DAP Airlines. Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 75 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.0 out of 5 from 17 reviews, newest 5 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the Classic Antarctica Air-Cruise, its most popular itinerary, which flies from Punta Arenas to King George Island.
- Not the fit if
- travelling with children under 8: air-cruises take children aged 8 and above, sea voyages 12 and above.
- Enquiry
- antarctica21.com/book-a-call
Atlas Ocean Voyages
- Best for
- All-inclusive ice-class yachts, sailing year-round
- Antarctic fare
- Sells an 11-night Antarctica voyage from Ushuaia roundtrip on World Navigator departing 8 March 2027, from US$12,150 per guest, double occupancy.
- Why choose them
- Its three yachts, World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager, are Polar Category C and Ice Class 1B. Google: 4.0 out of 5 from 86 reviews. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Drake Express voyage, which includes a roundtrip private charter jet between Punta Arenas and King George Island.
- Not the fit if
- you use an electric wheelchair or scooter: only collapsible wheelchairs are accepted on board.
- Website
- atlasoceanvoyages.com
Aurora Expeditions
- Best for
- Small-ship polar voyages with solo cabins
- Antarctic fare
- Sells Spirit of Antarctica, 11 days, from USD $15,436 per person twin share, December 2026 departures.
- Why choose them
- Publishes an Expedition Team-to-expeditioner ratio of 1:7. Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 107 reviews. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for one of the 10 dedicated solo cabins with no single supplement on the Greg Mortimer or Sylvia Earle.
- Not the fit if
- you may need to cancel late: from 120 days before departure the cancellation fee is 100% of the full ticket price.
- Money protection
- Deposit Protection Program: all voyage deposits go into a separate trust account (Aurora Passenger Trust).
Bark Europa
- Best for
- Sailing a tall ship to Antarctica
- Antarctic fare
- Sails a 20-day Antarctic Peninsula voyage on Bark EUROPA, 3 to 22 December 2026, starting from €11,700 per person; it is marked as waiting list.
- Why choose them
- Bark EUROPA was built in 1911 as a light ship on the German river Elbe and has been a sail training vessel since 1986.
- Ask for
- Ask for a place on the waiting list for the 20-day Antarctic Peninsula voyage, 3 to 22 December 2026.
- Not the fit if
- you want a cabin to yourself as a solo traveller: solo guests are placed in a 4/6-person male or female cabin.
- Website
- barkeuropa.com
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
- Best for
- Bilingual PC6 expedition ships, pole to pole
- Antarctic fare
- Sails Expedition Antarctica: South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula on HANSEATIC inspiration, Ushuaia round trip, 07 to 21 January 2028, 14 days, from €13,640 per person with an early booking discount until 28 February 2027.
- Why choose them
- Its three HANSEATIC expedition ships, commissioned in May and October 2019 and May 2021, have PC6, which it says is the highest ice class for passenger ships.
- Ask for
- Ask for the cruises on its offers list where there is no or only a small surcharge for single occupancy of the cabin or suite.
- Not the fit if
- you use a wheelchair: guests who depend on one cannot travel in the Zodiacs.
- Money protection
- Insolvency cover with Deutscher Reisesicherungsfonds GmbH for European customers; ABTOT ATOL Franchise, ATOL number 12926, for UK customers.
- Website
- hl-cruises.com
Heritage Expeditions
- Best for
- Ross Sea and Subantarctic expeditions
- Antarctic fare
- Prices its Antarctic Peninsula Expedition Cruise incl. South Shetland Islands on Heritage Discoverer from $13,500 USD per person, reduced to $10,900, with departures from Ushuaia on 22 November 2027, 2 December 2027, 12 December 2027 and 10 January 2028.
- Why choose them
- Aims to keep a guide-to-client ratio of 1:12 on its expeditions.
- Ask for
- Ask for the 17 December 2026 Galapagos of the Southern Ocean voyage, which has a wildlife photography workshop with Nikon Ambassador Rachel Bigsby.
- Not the fit if
- you need a refundable deposit: the 25% deposit is non-refundable and on Antarctica voyages the full fare is lost within 120 days of departure.
- Money protection
- Deposits held by Heritage Security Ltd on behalf of Heritage Expeditions (2018) Ltd under a customer deposit agreement.
Oceanwide Expeditions
- Best for
- Activity-focused polar voyages on ice-class ships
- Antarctic fare
- Sells Antarctica Discovery and Learning on m/v Hondius, 10 nights from Ushuaia, 27 December 2026 to 6 January 2027, from 9,650 USD per person, based on twin occupancy rates.
- Why choose them
- Says Ortelius and Hondius have the highest ice-class notation among its ships, UL1 and Polar Class 6, which it gives as equal to 1A-Super. Google: 4.5 out of 5 from 66 reviews. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for an Antarctica Basecamp voyage, where camping, kayaking, snowshoeing, mountaineering and a photo workshop come free with no pre-booking.
- Not the fit if
- you want a cabin alone at little extra cost: single occupancy costs 1.7 times the Twin or Superior rate.
- Website
- oceanwide-expeditions.com
Polar Latitudes
- Best for
- Small polar ships with citizen science
- Antarctic fare
- Sails Antarctic Peninsula: The Classic Voyage on Ocean Albatros, 22 November to 3 December 2026, 10 nights on board, from $11,395 per person in U.S. dollars; The Pure Expedition, 4 to 13 February 2027, is from $8,817.
- Why choose them
- Publishes a passenger-to-staff ratio of 7:1 to 8:1 on every voyage. Google: 4.1 out of 5 from 7 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.7 out of 5 from 189 reviews, newest 8 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Solo Vista Stateroom on MV Discoverer, designed for solo travellers with no single supplement.
- Not the fit if
- you want to sail without travel insurance: it is mandatory at booking, with at least $150,000 USD cover for medical expenses and evacuation.
- Website
- polar-latitudes.com
Ponant
- Best for
- Polar expeditions with French-style service
- Antarctic fare
- Prices Expédition sur les traces de Scott et Shackleton, 21 nights on Le Soléal from Dunedin to the Ross Sea, 25 January to 15 February 2027, from 26,770 € per person, double occupancy.
- Why choose them
- Le Commandant Charcot is a hybrid electric ship running on LNG, which it says cuts CO2 by 25%, nitrogen oxides by 85% and fine particles by 95%. Google (whole company): 4.8 out of 5 from 699 reviews; Trustpilot (whole company): 4.6 out of 5 from 644 reviews, newest 7 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a departure with the single supplement waived, marked 'Voyageur Solo 0%', for a double cabin to yourself at no extra price.
- Not the fit if
- you travel with children under 6, who are not accepted on expedition cruises (under 8 on Le Commandant Charcot).
- Website
- ponant.com
Poseidon Expeditions
- Best for
- One small ship in both polar regions
- Antarctic fare
- Sells Antarctic Circle Crossing 66º South Latitude on Sea Spirit, 15 days, 26 January to 9 February 2027, from US$15,295 per person. Classic Antarctica, 12 days from Ushuaia, sails 8 to 19 December 2026 from US$10,616 per person.
- Why choose them
- Founded in the UK in 1999, it now sails one ship, the 114-passenger Sea Spirit. Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 36 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.5 out of 5 from 595 reviews, newest 3 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the Request-Share programme if travelling solo: if no cabin-mate is found, the single supplement is waived.
- Not the fit if
- you require walking assistance: it advises such guests to strongly consider not joining.
- Website
- poseidonexpeditions.com
Scenic
- Best for
- All-inclusive polar yachts with helicopters
- Antarctic fare
- Prices Antarctica in Depth, 13 days from Buenos Aires, 2028/2029 season, from £16,573 per person, two sharing the lowest priced cabin.
- Why choose them
- Scenic Eclipse takes a maximum of 228 adult-only guests, 200 in Antarctica and the High Arctic, with an almost 1:1 crew to guest ratio.
- Ask for
- Ask for the fare on select voyages that includes a 30-minute helicopter flightseeing experience in Antarctica.
- Not the fit if
- you travel with children: Scenic Eclipse sails with adult-only guests.
- Money protection
- ATOL 9294 on flight-inclusive holidays where indicated at booking; ABTA member.
Secret Atlas
- Best for
- 12 to 36 guest polar micro cruises
- Antarctic fare
- Sails the Antarctic Peninsula Expedition Micro Cruise by Air & Sea on the 36-guest Aureum, 6 to 15 December 2027, 10 days, from £13,500 per person in a Classic Twin.
- Why choose them
- Publishes a 1:6 guide ratio in the Arctic and in Antarctica and South Georgia. Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 82 reviews. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the Antarctic Circle by Air departure, which replaces the Drake Passage crossing with a two-hour charter flight from Puerto Natales to King George Island.
- Not the fit if
- you might cancel late: the initial 30% deposit is never refunded and nothing is refunded less than 3 months before departure.
- Website
- secretatlas.com
Which of these show a dated price on this page?
12 of the 12 cards show a price for a voyage, with its currency and a date or season. Ask every line for a written quote with the departure date and what it includes.
- Antarctica21
- Atlas Ocean Voyages
- Aurora Expeditions
- Bark Europa
- Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
- Heritage Expeditions
- Oceanwide Expeditions
- Polar Latitudes
- Ponant
- Poseidon Expeditions
- Scenic
- Secret Atlas
Which of these lines name a scheme that protects your money?
4 of the 12 lines name a scheme, bond, licence or account that protects payments for some or all bookings; check the number with the scheme before you pay.
- Aurora Expeditions: Deposit Protection Program: all voyage deposits go into a separate trust account (Aurora Passenger Trust)
- Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: Insolvency cover with Deutscher Reisesicherungsfonds GmbH for European customers; ABTOT ATOL Franchise, ATOL number 12926, for UK customers
- Heritage Expeditions: Deposits held by Heritage Security Ltd on behalf of Heritage Expeditions (2018) Ltd under a customer deposit agreement
- Scenic: ATOL 9294 on flight-inclusive holidays where indicated at booking; ABTA member
Who to contact first
Start with the 5 lines on this page that publish both a voyage price and their cancellation terms on their own websites, then add any other card that fits your dates and the voyage you want.
What to ask each one to set out in writing:
- What the fare includes, line by line: flights, hotel nights before and after, drinks, gratuities, excursions, kayaking or camping, parka and boots.
- The ship: passengers on board, ice class where it matters, the cabin and whether anything on board costs extra.
- The deposit, when the balance is due, what you lose if you cancel and what happens if ice or weather changes the route.
- Which scheme or licence protects your money, the travel insurance you need and the medical cover it must include.
Antarctica cruise prices: the questions people ask
What should I ask an expedition cruise line before booking?
What the fare includes, line by line; how many passengers the ship carries and how many go ashore at once; the deposit and what you lose if you cancel; the travel insurance and medical cover it requires; and which scheme protects your money.
Can I book with these lines directly?
Yes. Each card links the line's own website or enquiry page; ask for a written quote that lists what the fare includes and the cancellation scale.
Do these lines all sell the same kind of voyage?
No. Each card names the voyage, ship or offer the line's own website gives; ship sizes, lengths, routes and prices differ, so compare the cards before you ask for quotes.
Do I need travel insurance for an expedition cruise?
10 of the 12 lines set out on their own websites what insurance they ask for; many polar voyages require cover for medical evacuation. Ask each line for the cover it requires before you buy a policy.
Which of these have the most Google reviews?
Aurora Expeditions, Atlas Ocean Voyages and Secret Atlas, in that order. A count says how many people reviewed a line, not whether it fits your voyage; each card gives the rating and count, read 9 November 2026.
Which of these have Trustpilot profiles?
4 of the 12: Antarctica21, Polar Latitudes, Ponant and Poseidon Expeditions. Each card gives the TrustScore, the review count and the newest review date, read 9 November 2026.
Which of these publish their cancellation terms?
5 of the 12: Atlas Ocean Voyages, Aurora Expeditions, Heritage Expeditions, Polar Latitudes and Secret Atlas. Ask each for the full scale in writing before you pay a deposit.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Each card links the pages of the line's own website its lines were read from, with the date they were read.
How were these lines chosen?
Each one is in the Uncompromised Travel expedition cruise lines table, built from the expedition cruise lines ChatGPT names most often. On its own website it publishes a dated per-person price for an Antarctic voyage. A line is on the page because its published facts fit the question, never because it paid.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
- Which expedition cruise lines are best for Svalbard?
- The Best Antarctica Expedition Operators in 2026: 11 Scored on Time Ashore, Price and Terms
- Which expedition cruise lines have the best reviews?
- Expedition Cruise Operator Index 2026: 12 Operators Scored on Published Fares, Ice Class and How Many Guests Can Actually Land
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each line published on its own website, read on 9 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the line's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel expedition cruise lines table. Cards are in alphabetical order. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.