Which expedition cruise ships have the highest ice class?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 9 November 2026
These 10 expedition cruise lines give the ice class or Polar Class of their ships 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.
Which expedition cruise ships have the highest ice class?
10 expedition cruise lines in the Uncompromised Travel table say on their own websites that they give the ice class or Polar Class of their ships; Atlas Ocean Voyages, Lindblad Expeditions and Antarctica21 have the most Google reviews under the line's own name.
Antarctica21
- Best for
- Flying over the Drake to Antarctica
- Ice class
- Magellan Explorer is ice class LR PC6 and Magellan Discoverer is ice class PC6.
- 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.
- Published price
- From $15,995 USD per person in a double cabin on Magellan Explorer, Classic Antarctica Air-Cruise, 8 days, late November to early March. Read 9 November 2026.
- Enquiry
- antarctica21.com/book-a-call
Atlas Ocean Voyages
- Best for
- All-inclusive ice-class yachts, sailing year-round
- Ice class
- Says its yachts World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager are Polar Category C and Ice Class 1B.
- 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.
- Published price
- From US$12,150 per guest, double occupancy, 11-night Antarctica voyage on World Navigator roundtrip from Ushuaia, 8 March 2027. Read 9 November 2026.
- Website
- atlasoceanvoyages.com
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
- Best for
- Bilingual PC6 expedition ships, pole to pole
- Ice class
- Says its three expedition ships, HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit, have the highest ice class for passenger ships, PC6.
- 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.
- Published price
- From €13,640 per person, South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula, 14 days from Ushuaia on HANSEATIC inspiration, 07 Jan 2028 (early booking discount until 28 Feb 2027). Read 9 November 2026.
- 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
- Ice class
- Says Heritage Discoverer has a 1A ice-class rating.
- 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.
- Published price
- From US$10,900 per person (reduced from US$13,500), Antarctic Peninsula Expedition Cruise incl. South Shetland Islands on Heritage Discoverer, departures from 22 November 2027. Read 9 November 2026.
- Money protection
- Deposits held by Heritage Security Ltd on behalf of Heritage Expeditions (2018) Ltd under a customer deposit agreement.
Lindblad Expeditions
- Best for
- Expedition cruises with National Geographic experts
- Ice class
- Says National Geographic Endurance is a fully stabilised vessel 'of the highest ice class (PC5 Category A)'.
- Why choose them
- Says its staff-to-guest ratio is no more than 1-to-16. Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 84 reviews; Trustpilot: 3.2 out of 5 from 6 reviews, newest 4 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the Share Guarantee, which matches solo guests willing to share with another solo guest of the same gender at the double-occupancy rate.
- Not the fit if
- your plans may change: cancelling 119 to 90 days before departure costs 50% of the trip cost and 89 days or less costs 100%.
- Money protection
- US Federal Maritime Commission passenger vessel financial responsibility rule (46 C.F.R. Part 540); California Seller of Travel #2151120; Washington Seller of Travel #601134845 001 0001.
- Website
- expeditions.com
Oceanwide Expeditions
- Best for
- Activity-focused polar voyages on ice-class ships
- Ice class
- Gives m/v Hondius as Polar Class 6, equivalent to 1A-Super; m/v Ortelius as UL1, equivalent to 1A-Super; m/v Plancius has an ice-class notation of 1D.
- 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.
- Published price
- From 9,650 USD per person, Antarctica Discovery and Learning Voyage, 10 nights on m/v Hondius roundtrip from Ushuaia, 27 December 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Website
- oceanwide-expeditions.com
Scenic
- Best for
- All-inclusive polar yachts with helicopters
- Ice class
- Says its Scenic Discovery Yachts are built to Polar Class 6 standards for operations in polar waters.
- 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.
- Published price
- From £16,573 per person, two sharing the lowest priced cabin, Antarctica in Depth, 13 days from Buenos Aires, 2028/2029 season. Read 9 November 2026.
- Money protection
- ATOL 9294 on flight-inclusive holidays where indicated at booking; ABTA member.
Seabourn
- Best for
- Expedition ships with all-veranda suites
- Ice class
- Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit are designed and built to PC6 Polar Class standards.
- Why choose them
- Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit are built to PC6 Polar Class standards and each carries 24 Zodiacs. Trustpilot (whole company): 1.8 out of 5 from 32 reviews, newest 2 October 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the SBNSOLO offer, which cuts the single supplement to as low as 125% on select sailings.
- Not the fit if
- you cannot sit unassisted on a Zodiac pontoon: Zodiacs have no wheelchair tie-downs and such guests cannot use them.
Swan Hellenic
- Best for
- Cultural expedition cruises on three ships
- Ice class
- Says its ships feature a PC5 ice-strengthened hull and extra-large stabilisers.
- Why choose them
- SH Minerva and SH Vega carry 152 guests each and SH Diana 192. Trustpilot: 4.6 out of 5 from 179 reviews, newest 28 October 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask which departures waive the single supplement for solo travellers.
- Not the fit if
- you might cancel within 60 days of departure: 100% of the cruise package price is charged.
- Money protection
- Insolvency bonding with ACTA (Cyprus) for cruise-only and flight-inclusive bookings.
- Website
- swanhellenic.com
Viking
- Best for
- Large Polar Class ships with submarines
- Ice class
- Viking Octantis is listed as Polar Class 6; it says Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris both have ice-strengthened Polar Class hulls.
- Why choose them
- Its expedition ships Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, launched in 2022, carry 378 guests each. Trustpilot (whole company): 1.7 out of 5 from 382 reviews, newest 8 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a submarine dive: each submarine takes 6 guests and a pilot.
- Not the fit if
- you travel with children: it lists no children under 18 on its ocean voyages; the pages read give no age rule for its expedition ships.
What ice class does each line give?
10 of the 10 lines give the ice class or Polar Class of their ships, as each writes it; names are in alphabetical order. A lower Polar Class number means a stronger hull: PC5 is stronger than PC6.
- Antarctica21: LR PC6
- Atlas Ocean Voyages: Polar Category C and Ice Class 1B
- Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: PC6
- Heritage Expeditions: 1A ice-class rating
- Lindblad Expeditions: PC5 Category A
- Oceanwide Expeditions: Polar Class 6, equivalent to 1A-Super (Hondius)
- Scenic: Polar Class 6
- Seabourn: PC6 Polar Class
- Swan Hellenic: PC5
- Viking: Polar Class 6
Which of these show a dated price on this page?
6 of the 10 cards show a price for a voyage, with its currency and a date or season. Lindblad Expeditions, Seabourn and Viking publish fares on their own websites without a date or currency on the pages read, so no figure is shown for them. Ask every line for a written quote with the departure date and what it includes.
Which of these lines name a scheme that protects your money?
5 of the 10 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.
- 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
- Lindblad Expeditions: US Federal Maritime Commission passenger vessel financial responsibility rule (46 C.F.R. Part 540); California Seller of Travel #2151120; Washington Seller of Travel #601134845 001 0001
- Scenic: ATOL 9294 on flight-inclusive holidays where indicated at booking; ABTA member
- Swan Hellenic: Insolvency bonding with ACTA (Cyprus) for cruise-only and flight-inclusive bookings
Who to contact first
Start with the 2 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.
Expedition ship ice classes: 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?
8 of the 10 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?
Atlas Ocean Voyages, Lindblad Expeditions and Antarctica21, 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?
5 of the 10: Antarctica21, Lindblad Expeditions, Seabourn, Swan Hellenic and Viking. 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 10: Atlas Ocean Voyages, Heritage Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions, Seabourn and Swan Hellenic. 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 gives the ice class or Polar Class of its ship. 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
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.