Terra Nova Expeditions vs Antarctica21: which is better for Antarctica?

No score and no verdict of ours: what Terra Nova Expeditions and Antarctica21 each publish on their own websites, read 9 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.

Terra Nova Expeditions vs Antarctica21: which is better for Antarctica?

Neither is better for everyone: Terra Nova Expeditions sails from Ushuaia with at most 98 guests and prices Classic Antarctica, December 2026, from US$6,490 per person, while Antarctica21 flies guests over the Drake Passage with up to 88 on its air-cruises and prices its December 2026 Inaugural Air-Cruise from US$16,995.

What is each line?

Terra Nova Expeditions runs small-ship Antarctic expeditions under its own name from Ushuaia on a ship it operates under a long-term charter; says it is a new operator, with first departures in December 2026. Source

Antarctica21 runs air-cruises that fly guests over the Drake Passage to Antarctica, plus sea voyages to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia and Patagonia; it says it pioneered the Antarctica fly-cruise in 2003. Source

Which ships does each line sail?

Terra Nova Expeditions charters the St Helena, which it sails as Terra Nova Adventurer, under a long-term charter from the 2026/27 season. Source

Antarctica21 sails Magellan Explorer (launched in 2019) and Magellan Discoverer, which is being built at the ASENAV shipyard in Valdivia, Chile, for service from the 2026-27 season. Ocean Nova has left its fleet. Source

How many guests are on board?

Terra Nova Expeditions carries at most 98 guests on Terra Nova Adventurer and says it keeps expeditions to fewer than 100. Source

Antarctica21 takes up to 88 guests on air-cruises and 96 on sea voyages on each ship, Magellan Explorer and Magellan Discoverer. Source

Where does each line sail?

Terra Nova Expeditions sells named voyages only in Antarctica, all from Ushuaia: Classic Antarctica, Spirit of Terra Nova, the Ultimate Antarctic Adventure and Polar Circle Quest, which crosses the Antarctic Circle. Source

Antarctica21 sells the Classic Antarctica Air-Cruise and Antarctica Express to the Antarctic Peninsula, the Polar Circle Air-Cruise to the Antarctic Circle, Falklands and South Georgia voyages plus a Patagonia & Chilean Fjords sea voyage from Puerto Montt to Ushuaia. Source

What ice class are the ships?

Terra Nova Expeditions calls Terra Nova Adventurer ice-strengthened and gives no ice class or Polar Class. Source

Antarctica21's Magellan Explorer is ice class LR PC6 and Magellan Discoverer is ice class PC6. Source

Who leads the landings?

Terra Nova Expeditions' expedition team has 12 to 14 guides, among them expedition leaders, a glaciologist, a geologist, naturalists, a Citizen Science Coordinator and a cinematographer. Source

Antarctica21 says each expedition is led by at least 12 polar guides, including expedition leaders, lecturers in natural and human history, a polar historian and glaciologists. Source

How much time ashore?

Terra Nova Expeditions says everyone lands together with no split rotations, because it carries an average of 98 against the IAATO cap of 100 per site; it has twelve Zodiacs and offers one or two shore excursions a day. Source

Antarctica21 says only 100 tourists may be ashore at a time and its ships carry fewer than 100 guests, so all guests can land at once; a second excursion of the day follows in the late afternoon. Source

What can you do off the ship?

Terra Nova Expeditions includes kayaking (pre-booking required), open-air camping for up to 30 guests per departure, snowshoeing, trekking, a photography workshop, a polar plunge and yoga at no extra charge; the only paid add-on is the Icebird day sailing at USD 1,295 for 2026/27, on a yacht owned and run by the independent Icebird Expeditions. Source

Antarctica21 includes Zodiac cruises and guided landings; sea kayaking is an optional extra for a maximum of 20 guests per expedition in two groups of 10; hiking and snowshoeing are extras with a minimum age of 15. Source

What does a voyage cost?

Terra Nova Expeditions prices Classic Antarctica, 10 days on Terra Nova Adventurer from Ushuaia, next departure December 2026, from US$6,490 per person; it names no cabin grade. Source

Antarctica21 prices the Magellan Discoverer Inaugural Air-Cruise, 10 days from Punta Arenas in December 2026, from $16,995 USD per person in a double cabin. Source

What does the fare include?

Terra Nova Expeditions' fares include accommodation and all meals, house beer, wine and soft drinks at dinner, all landings and Zodiac cruises, the activity programme, a parka to keep, loaned boots, the onboard doctor, port fees, basic Wi-Fi and crew gratuities; flights to and from Ushuaia, hotels before and after, travel insurance, bar charges, premium Wi-Fi and the Icebird day sailing are extra. Source

Antarctica21's air-cruise fares include group transfers, a welcome dinner, hotel nights in Punta Arenas, the Antarctic flight and cruise, guided landings and Zodiac excursions, meals with wine, beer and soft drinks, loan of waterproof boots and the IAATO passenger fee; sea kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing and international flights are extra. Source

What do solo travellers pay?

Terra Nova Expeditions charges no single supplement in Odyssey Single Cabins or for sharing a Discovery Triple or Quad with same-gender travellers; a solo Odyssey Twin costs 1.5 times the published rate, a Superior 1.75 times and a Deluxe or Premium 2 times. Source

Antarctica21 charges no supplement in its dedicated Single Cabins, 85% in a limited number of Porthole and Veranda cabins on Magellan Explorer and Deluxe Veranda cabins on Magellan Discoverer; 100% in other categories. On Magellan Explorer solo travellers can share a Porthole or Veranda cabin with a guest of the same gender. Source

How much is the deposit?

Terra Nova Expeditions asks a non-refundable deposit of 25% of the contract price at booking, with the balance due 120 days before departure. Source

Antarctica21 does not publish this on the pages read.

What happens if you cancel?

Terra Nova Expeditions keeps the 25% deposit for cancellations more than 120 days before departure and the full cost from the 120th day before departure. Source

Antarctica21 does not publish this on the pages read.

What insurance do you need?

Terra Nova Expeditions requires comprehensive travel insurance covering medical, accident, repatriation and evacuation, with medical evacuation cover of at least $250,000 USD. Source

Antarctica21 requires medical insurance that includes aero-medical evacuation from Antarctica; it names no minimum amount. Source

Can children come?

Terra Nova Expeditions welcomes families with a minimum age of 8; children 11 and over may join shore landings and Zodiac excursions under adult supervision, with no childcare or children's facilities on board. Source

Antarctica21 takes children from age 8 on air-cruises and from age 12 on sea voyages, if at least 1.20 m tall and 30 kg with a responsible adult who signs a waiver; children under 12 get 5% off the rate per person. Source

When is each not the fit?

The limits below are published by each line on their own websites.

• Terra Nova Expeditions: not the fit if you want to fly over the Drake Passage: every voyage leaves from Ushuaia and crosses it by sea, about two to two-and-a-half days each way. Source
• Antarctica21: not the fit if you travel with children under 12 on a sea voyage: it welcomes children aged 12 and above on sea voyages. Source

How do their reviews compare?

Their figures per platform, read 9 November 2026, each from a listing under the line's own name; a whole-company profile is marked. Figures are never added together.

• Antarctica21: 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.

The lines at a glance

One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel expedition page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 9 November 2026 · updated 9 November 2026