Polar Expedition Cruises

Challenge. Desolation. Unlimited wonder. It’s not difficult to grasp what attracted the great explorers to Antarctica. Get a personal appreciation for the struggle to tame the bottom of the world on this 22-day adventure to the land that entranced Ernest Shackleton and countless others since. Down here, you’ll explore the Falkland Islands, encounter abandoned whaling stations on South Georgia Island, and pay your respects at Shackleton’s grave. Elsewhere, you’ll catch up with penguins (king, chinstrap, gentoo, and Adélie varieties), learn all about them through daily lectures, get close to whales and cavorting seals from a Zodiac boat, and keep an eye peeled for towering icebergs and massive glaciers. Prepare to be astonished.

Experience vast penguin rookeries and seal colonies on this awe-inspiring voyage to Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands. This 21-day voyage illuminates Ernest Shackleton’s legend and recounts his courageous exploration of Antarctica. You’ll visit historical sites of past explorers, as well as Shackleton’s final resting place — the wildlife-rich island of South Georgia. Antarctica is beyond comprehension and sure to amaze any traveller seeking a true adventure to the world’s most remote wilderness.

A massive rookery of penguins shuffles across a frozen shore; a pod of whales glides through frigid waters; dramatic landscapes float off in the distance — welcome to Antarctica. Join us on a voyage of discovery to our planet’s last frontier — a mysterious and virtually pristine paradise. Our ice-strengthened expedition ship is ideally suited to cruising this icy wilderness, and her expert staff are on hand to ensure you’ll fully appreciate all the majesty you encounter. Sail the Drake Passage past the South Shetland Islands, then really explore the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Prepare yourself for an adventure like no other — more like a private expedition than a traditional cruise.

Like our "Antarctica Classic" tour, this 13-day expedition introduces you to the magic of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, but adds on two additional days to better explore its majesty. Part of the reward of arriving in Antarctica is the challenge of negotiating the Drake Passage — and the G Expedition will bring you there safely. Encounter leopard seals lazing on ice floes and immense rookeries of penguins surrounded by towering glaciers. The G Expedition’s expert guides and lecturers offer knowledge and insight that really bring the nature and history of the region to life, creating the adventure of a lifetime.

The Antarctic Peninsula is anything but a world of white desolation. Join us on a true adventure to a world of immense scale and visual splendour. Passing huge icebergs in the flat calm of a polar morning will reshape the way you look at your world. Encounter huge whales, enormous rookeries of penguins, and stunning landscapes few have ever witnessed.

Black-browed Albatross colonies next to Rockhopper Penguins and Blue-eyed Shag colonies, its recent history and the British flair make the Falkland Islands special. Antarctica offers spectacular icebergs and calving glaciers, as well as the possibility of up-close encounters with penguins ashore, seals sunbathing on slow-moving ice floes, and humpback or minke whales surfacing close to the ship. Weather depending, we will take daily Zodiac departures in Antarctica and cruise amidst colorful icebergs, or step ashore to visit a variety of penguin rookeries on excursions led by our team of natural history experts. Go kayaking in Antarctica under the guidance of certified instructors, and cross the incredible Drake Passage to look for pelagic birds, including petrels and prions. Throughout the voyage, learn about the geology, wildlife and history of this spectacular area from lecture presentations offered by your knowledgeable onboard Expedition Team.

It’s a journey that every traveler has dreamed of making – taking the Strait of Magellan from Patagonia’s Punta Arenas to step foot on the Antarctic Peninsula. But first get to grips with South Georgia – said to have more wildlife per square foot than any other destination on the planet. Continue your epic voyage by crossing the Drake Passage for seabird spotting opportunities extraordinaire before arriving in Antarctica proper.

Join us for a journey to the last untouched continent. Antarctica offers spectacular icebergs and calving glaciers, as well as the possibility of up-close encounters with penguins ashore, seals sunbathing on slow-moving ice floes, and humpback or minke whales surfacing close to the ship. Weather depending, we will take daily Zodiac departures in Antarctica and cruise amidst colorful icebergs, or step ashore to visit a variety of penguin rookeries on excursions led by our team of natural history experts. Go kayaking in Antarctica under the guidance of certified instructors, and cross the incredible Drake Passage to look for pelagic birds, including petrels and prions. Throughout the voyage, learn about the geology, wildlife and history of this spectacular area from lecture presentations offered by your knowledgeable onboard Expedition Team.

Join us for a journey to the last untouched continent including a visit to several of the Falkland Islands. Enjoy the beautiful Falkland Islands where Black-browed Albatross colonies are found next to Rockhopper Penguins and Imperial Shag colonies. Its recent history and the British flair make the Falkland Islands special. Antarctica offers spectacular icebergs and calving glaciers, as well as the possibility of up-close encounters with penguins ashore, seals sunbathing on slow-moving ice floes, and humpback or minke whales surfacing close to the ship. Adventure in Antarctica where weather depending, we will take daily Zodiac departures and cruise amidst colorful icebergs, or step ashore to visit a variety of penguin rookeries on excursions led by our team of natural history experts. Go kayaking in Antarctica under the guidance of certified instructors, and cross the incredible Drake Passage to look for pelagic birds, including petrels and prions. Throughout the voyage, learn about the geology, wildlife and history of this spectacular area from lecture presentations offered by your knowledgeable onboard Expedition Team.

Go from blindly white to opaque black, and experience total darkness on the 4th December 2021. Silver Cloud will navigate the path to the point of the greatest eclipse, so take advantage of being in the right place at the time on a journey that propels an already extraordinary destination into the realms of the exceptional. This Total Solar Eclipse can only be seen from Antarctica. We will travel across the Drake Passage to reach an area north of the South Orkney Islands to hopefully observe the eclipse during the early morning.

Join us for a journey to the last untouched continent including a visit to several of the Falkland Islands. Enjoy the beautiful Falkland Islands where Black-browed Albatross colonies are found next to Rockhopper Penguins and Imperial Shag colonies. Its recent history and the British flair make the Falkland Islands special. Antarctica offers spectacular icebergs and calving glaciers, as well as the possibility of up-close encounters with penguins ashore, seals sunbathing on slow-moving ice floes, and humpback or minke whales surfacing close to the ship. Adventure in Antarctica where weather depending, we will take daily Zodiac departures and cruise amidst colorful icebergs, or step ashore to visit a variety of penguin rookeries on excursions led by our team of natural history experts. Go kayaking in Antarctica under the guidance of certified instructors, and cross the incredible Drake Passage to look for pelagic birds, including petrels and prions. Throughout the voyage, learn about the geology, wildlife and history of this spectacular area from lecture presentations offered by your knowledgeable onboard Expedition Team.

Join us for a journey to the last untouched continent. Antarctica offers spectacular icebergs and calving glaciers, as well as the possibility of up-close encounters with penguins ashore, seals sunbathing on slow-moving ice floes, and humpback or minke whales surfacing close to the ship. Weather depending, we will take daily Zodiac departures in Antarctica and cruise amidst colorful icebergs, or step ashore to visit a variety of penguin rookeries on excursions led by our team of natural history experts. Go kayaking in Antarctica under the guidance of certified instructors, and cross the incredible Drake Passage to look for pelagic birds, including petrels and prions. Throughout the voyage, learn about the geology, wildlife and history of this spectacular area from lecture presentations offered by your knowledgeable onboard Expedition Team.

The frozen continent at the end of the earth is well worth the wait. The coldest, highest and driest of all seven continents, Antarctica begs discovery. Be humbled by the solitude and emptiness, as pods of seals lazily bask on floes, waddles of penguins dive (and thrive) in the icy waters and humpbacks – the most magnificent of all maritime beasts; breach gracefully before your very eyes.

Join us for a journey to the last untouched continent. Antarctica offers spectacular icebergs and calving glaciers, as well as the possibility of up-close encounters with penguins ashore, seals sunbathing on slow-moving ice floes, and humpback or minke whales surfacing close to the ship. Weather depending, we will take daily Zodiac departures in Antarctica and cruise amidst colorful icebergs, or step ashore to visit a variety of penguin rookeries on excursions led by our team of natural history experts. Go kayaking in Antarctica under the guidance of certified instructors, and cross the incredible Drake Passage to look for pelagic birds, including petrels and prions. Throughout the voyage, learn about the geology, wildlife and history of this spectacular area from lecture presentations offered by your knowledgeable onboard Expedition Team.

oin us for a journey to the last untouched continent including a visit to several of the Falkland Islands. Enjoy the beautiful Falkland Islands where Black-browed Albatross colonies are found next to Rockhopper Penguins and Imperial Shag colonies. Its recent history and the British flair make the Falkland Islands special. Antarctica offers spectacular icebergs and calving glaciers, as well as the possibility of up-close encounters with penguins ashore, seals sunbathing on slow-moving ice floes, and humpback or minke whales surfacing close to the ship. Adventure in Antarctica where weather depending, we will take daily Zodiac departures and cruise amidst colorful icebergs, or step ashore to visit a variety of penguin rookeries on excursions led by our team of natural history experts. Go kayaking in Antarctica under the guidance of certified instructors, and cross the incredible Drake Passage to look for pelagic birds, including petrels and prions. Throughout the voyage, learn about the geology, wildlife and history of this spectacular area from lecture presentations offered by your knowledgeable onboard Expedition Team.

Your bucket list just got bigger. Enter the ranks of the elite traveler and sail south of the polar circle. Set your compass to latitude of 66° 33’ south, grab your parkas and get set for a frozen landscape that will impress even the most jaded traveler. This is a voyage of massive intentions: massive icebergs will be seen, massive colonies of penguin will be heard, massive expanses of water will be crossed meaning massive bragging rights will be assured.

West Point Island, Falkland Islands – Look for Commerson’s and Peale’s dolphins while approaching the settlement of West Point Island, where just one family lives. Hike to a Black-browed Albatross colony next to Rockhopper Penguins and Imperial Cormorants. Visit the home of the owners for some tea and home-baked cakes and cookies. Stanley, Falkland Islands – Explore Stanley, the Falkland Islands’ capital. See the whalebone arch in front of the Anglican Cathedral, or walk the streets and have a beer at one of the charming local pubs. The Historic Dockside Museum is also worth a visit, covering the natural and cultural history of the region. South Georgia – In South Georgia we will land at old whaling stations, depending on landing conditions hope to visit a huge King Penguin colony, see the Museum at Grytviken, and do Zodiac cruises looking for wildlife. Total Eclipse – This Total Solar Eclipse can only be seen from Antarctica. We will sail from South Georgia to reach an area north of the South Orkney Islands to hopefully observe the eclipse during the early morning. Elephant Island, Antarctica – If conditions cooperate, you might take a Zodiac cruise to see where Sir Ernest Shackleton’s men were stranded for more than four months. A bust here commemorates the Chilean captain who finally helped Shackleton rescue the men in mid-winter. Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica – We will explore the Antarctic Peninsula from the Silver Wind, on Zodiac cruises and via landings to see seals and penguin colonies. These activities will be expertly selected by your Captain and Expedition Leader while working with the weather and ice conditions. This promontory of land is the furthest-north extension of the Antarctic mainland. South Shetland Islands, Antarctica – Several landing sites and remains of whaling stations can be found in the South Shetland Islands. This grouping of islands is 75 miles north of the Antarctic Peninsula and holds many research stations run by Argentina, the US, Chile, Spain and other countries. Sites to be seen will be selected based on weather and ice conditions. Kayaking – Weather depending, Silver Wind offers the opportunity to kayak in a small group under the guidance of certified kayak instructors. These special expeditionary excursions are a chance to appreciate the wilds of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica in a peaceful silence. Cultural Highlights: Meet the residents of West Point Island and see the capital of the Falkland Islands at Stanley Port. Learn about the cultural and natural history of the region at the Historic Dockside Museum.

Isn’t it time you fell in love with Antarctica? That you ticked off the final continent on your bucket list. Well, now is the time to do it. But not only does this voyage offer an in depth visit to the peninsula, but it takes you to the islands of Argentina and the Falklands as well. From spotting rare and diverse wildlife to cruising through glaciers and icebergs, an otherworldly experience is guaranteed.

Landing at penguin colonies and research stations and observing various different species of whales, seals, penguins and seabirds.

Expedition cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, & endeavor to cross the Polar Circle.

Expedition cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula, the South Shetland Islands & the Weddell Sea.

Not only will you join the ranks of the (very) well-travelled by crossing the Drake Passage (twice!) on this voyage, but you will also step foot on the mysterious and enigmatic Antarctic Peninsula. Yet the real joy of this cruise lies in the deep exploration of the frozen continent’s waters; seven consecutive days at sea take you to see parts of Antarctica that are previously uncharted. Join us as we embark on our first ever Deep South Expedition.

The Classic Antarctica air-cruise is our most popular itinerary. Once arriving by flight to Antarctica, you will sail between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Enjoy seeing ice-filled fjords and spectacular icebergs, while spotting penguins, seals, and whales that call the White Continent home. The Classic Antarctica air-cruise is available on all three of our expedition ships.

The Polar Circle air-cruise is one of the most adventurous expeditions that we offer. Our main objective on this air-cruise expedition is to try and reach the Antarctic Polar Circle located at approximately 66° south of the equator. The Expedition Team handcrafts every voyage depending on the Antarctic weather and each day of the Polar Circle air-cruise is filled with ample opportunities to explore.

Our Antarctica Express Air-Cruise was designed for travelers looking for a quick and affordable visit to the White Continent. This expedition offers you the chance to visit Cape Horn, cruise the Drake Passage, land in Antarctica, and fly back.