Wild Earth Travel

Small Ship Cruising for Big Adventures

Antarctic Cruising

ANTARCTIC CRUISING - Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica

For most travellers, visiting the “White Continent” is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So, if you have the time, we recommend you optimise your Antarctic cruising expedition by including visits to South Georgia and the Falklands — our travellers never regret it. This Antarctic cruising voyage has it all: the impossible beauty of Antarctic ice, over 100,000 King Penguins on a single beach in South Georgia and the Falkland’s human history and amazing bird colonies. By choosing this Antarctic cruising option, you’ll see three distinct regions, each offering wonderful experiences and sights. The Falkland Islands are not only home to a resilient people with a long and fascinating history but also some great wildlife encounters. In one colony alone over 100,000 Black-browed Albatross breed annually, Rockhopper and Magellanic Penguins compete for attention. South Georgia is one of the world’s premier wildlife spectacles, all who visit are enthralled by the abundance of life – and who wouldn’t be as they are greeted upon landing by countless stately King Penguins. Steeped in Shackleton and whaling lore, covered mostly in glaciers, South Georgia explodes with life: five million pairs of macaroni penguins, a thriving fur seal population, and thousands of elephant seals breed here. Then there is the Antarctic, with its tabular icebergs yet more wildlife and a fascinating history of exploration and discovery. No matter which expedition you choose the wildlife will be abundant and the scenery spectacular. Generally November and December will have more snow and ice in South Georgia and Antarctica with the wildlife involved in courtship and raising their small chicks. January-March Antarctic cruising expeditions will have less snow and ice, with the wildlife fledging chicks and starting to moult, and higher chances of seeing whales.

ANTARCTIC CRUISING - Antarctic Peninsula

The classic Antarctic cruising expedition, the Antarctic Peninsula provides a multitude of landscapes and wildlife encounters. It delivers everything you could want in Antarctica: the huge tabular icebergs, hillsides covered with Gentoo, Adélie or Chinstrap penguins, whales and abundant marine life, a passage through the famed Lemaire Channel between towering blue icebergs, and more. Discover a world like no other, a world where wildlife abounds and is unafraid of humans while photographic opportunities await around every corner. Zodiac cruise between icebergs or on selected Antarctic Cruising expeditions paddle your own kayak on a magical personal discovery. Learn about the fascinating history of exploration and discovery from onboard experts and return a passionate advocate for the world’s last great wilderness. With a wide range of expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula there is something for everyone, longer expeditions allow more time for exploration and the chance to travel across the Antarctic Circle or deep into the Weddell Sea.

ANTARCTIC CRUISING - Ross Sea Region

The ultimate Antarctic cruising expedition, sail deep into the heart of the Antarctic in the footsteps of the heroic explorers and to a seldom visited land. These expeditions have it all from the soaring Albatross and abundant wildlife of the Sub Antarctic Islands to the towering icy landscapes of the Trans-Antarctic Mountains and the historic huts of Scott & Shackleton. Literally walk in the footsteps of Scott or Shackleton as you enter their beautifully preserved huts, see the food on the shelves and the dinner table ready for one final great gathering. Antarctic cruising to the Ross Sea also includes visiting the New Zealand and Australian Sub Antarctic Islands. Discover the rich biodiversity of the Auckland, Campbell and Macquarie Islands, walk through a flowering sea of megaherbs to the nests of albatross. Join the Captain on the bridge as you cross the Antarctic Circle, passing through the pack ice and entering the Ross Sea. Explore with your onboard expedition team as the Antarctic slowly reveals itself. Navigation in this part of Antarctica is limited to the peak of the short Antarctic summer from the start of January until the end of February when the ice allows access to the coast. By necessity the Antarctic cruising expeditions  to the Ross Sea are longer than to the Antarctic Peninsula but it is an experience you will never forget.

To explore Wild Earth Travel's range of small ship cruises and expeditions to Antarctica, use the search function above, or click on Antarctic under the main image to learn more about which Antarctic cruise is right for you.

Our Associates Include

Adventure Canada
Heritage Expeditions New Zealand
UnCruise Adventures
Hurtugruten
Ponant
Pandaw