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An overcrowded ship...
or an intimate small ship?
Not all expeditions to Antartica and the Arctic are created equal
Our travel designers have scouted the best expedition ships to help you avoid common pitfalls while maximizing your time in Antarctica and the Arctic. Which expedition experience would you prefer?
Tight quarters...
or a touch of luxury?
Wildlife through binoculars...
or wildlife up close and personal?
Antartica Expedition Cruises
No place on earth compares to this vast white wilderness: snow, ice, water, rock. Antarctica is simply stunning. The enormity of its ice shelves and mountain ranges invariably heightens feelings of nature’s grandeur. The terrain is about 98% ice and 2% barren rock, but beneath its thick ice sheets, Antarctica is a dynamic and diverse continent with mountains, volcanoes, deserts, meteorites, dinosaur fossils and some of the Earth’s most ancient crust. It’s the coldest, windiest continent on Earth, and with so little precipitation (roughly two inches per year), it’s also the driest place on earth. Because the continent has never had a native population – scientists at research stations are only temporary residents – Antarctic wildlife is still unafraid of people.
Don't wait. The best options disappear quickly.
Travel is an investment in yourself, and it’s not worth the gamble to compromise the experience you’ve always wanted. Every day you wait, means another traveler is taking an option off the table. The best expedition cruises are offered by small cruise lines which get you closer to nature. However, the advantages of a small ship cruise mean the limited number of cabins quickly sell out.
When To Book?
Dec-Mar: 12-14 months prior
Apr & Nov: 10 months prior
When To Go?
Peak Season
Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
Off-Peak Season:
Apr, Nov
Average Cost of a Trip to Antarctica
Starting at Pricing:
Good: $650 per day, per person*
Better: $950 per day, per person*
Best: $2,500 per day, per person*
*Ballpark pricing is based on an annual analysis of industry costs including transfers, tours, meal allowances and lodging
Arctic Expedition Cruises
Luminous under the midnight sun, abundant wildlife and dramatic landscapes create memories and emotions you won’t soon forget on an expedition to the Arctic. Follow in the wake of the Vikings to Greenland and Iceland. Hike and Zodiac amid icebergs and spectacular tundra. Vast colonies of birds pocket the rugged cliffs while seals and walrus haul out on rocky outcrops. Whales spout and breach before your eyes. Explore Svalbard, where the polar bear roams freely. This wondrous archipelago is a land of dramatic snow-drowned peaks, glaciers of vast icefields and forbidding icebergs. One of Europe’s last great wildernesses, this is the domain of more polar bears than people. Delve into the wonder of one of the planet’s most inspiring places by expedition cruise or land tundra buggie.
When To Book?
Jun-Aug: 9-12 months prior
Sep-Nov: 6-9 months prior
When To Go?
Peak Season
Jun, Jul, Aug
Off-Peak Season:
Sep, Oct, Nov
Average Cost of a Trip to the Arctic
Starting at Pricing:
Good: $620 per day, per person*
Better: $700 per day, per person*
Best: $1,600 per day, per person*
*Ballpark pricing is based on an annual analysis of industry costs including transfers, tours, meal allowances and lodging
North Pole Expedition Cruises
Imagine standing at the top of the Earth, glass of champagne in hand – and everywhere you look is south. That is the essence of the ultimate Arctic adventure aboard 50 Years of Victory, the most powerful nuclear icebreaker in the world. Crush through multiyear ice on the Arctic Ocean, sightsee by helicopter on the lookout for walruses, seals, whales, and polar bears, or take a tethered hot-air balloon ride at 90º N, weather permitting. Possible stops at the island of Franz Josef Land will have you in awe of the flora and fauna as you visit seabird colonies and retrace the footsteps of early explorers.
When To Book?
12-18 months prior
When To Go?
Peak Season
Jun, Jul
Average Cost of a Trip to the
North Pole
Starting at Pricing:
$30,000 per person*
*Ballpark pricing is based on an annual analysis of industry costs including transfers, tours, meal allowances and lodging
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