+1 (323) 800 6001Antarctica Cruise Packages
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An Antarctica cruise package from Fond Travels includes an expedition voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula, international flights from the US to Buenos Aires or Santiago, the onward flight to Ushuaia or Punta Arenas, and a hotel night before embarkation. Call +1 (323) 800 6001 24/7 and a real travel expert will price the entire journey together on your dates.
The seventh continent is the trip people plan for years: icebergs the size of buildings, penguin colonies by the thousand, whales surfacing beside your inflatable boat, and a silence you will not find anywhere else on earth.
Why an Antarctica cruise
There is no other practical way to visit Antarctica. Expedition ships sail from the southern tip of South America across the Drake Passage to the Peninsula, then spend four to six days making two landings or cruises a day among glaciers, research stations and wildlife colonies. Every landing is led by a team of naturalists, glaciologists and historians, and strict visitor rules keep sites pristine, with no more than 100 guests ashore at a time. Fly-cruise options skip the Drake by flying from Punta Arenas to King George Island, where you board the ship. Longer voyages add the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, home to king penguin colonies numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Between landings the ship itself becomes the viewing platform, with the bridge often open to guests and naturalists on deck calling out whales, seals and seabirds as they appear.
What's included in an Antarctica cruise package
- Your expedition voyage in the cabin category you select, with all meals, guided landings, inflatable boat excursions, lectures and loaned expedition boots on most ships.
- International flights on major airlines from your US city to Buenos Aires or Santiago.
- The domestic flight to Ushuaia or Punta Arenas, timed to embarkation.
- A pre-cruise hotel night in the gateway city, with transfers between airport, hotel and ship.
- Optional kayaking, camping and photography programs, Patagonia extensions, and travel insurance with evacuation cover on request.
Call for current pricing on your dates; inclusions vary by operator and your expert will list them precisely.
Best time to sail
The season runs from November through March, the Antarctic summer, when sea ice retreats enough for ships to reach landing sites. November brings pristine snow, dramatic ice and penguins courting and nesting. December and January have the longest daylight, nearly 20 hours, the mildest temperatures hovering around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and penguin chicks hatching across the colonies. February and March are prime for whale watching as humpbacks and orcas feed in the Peninsula's bays, and chicks are fledging; late season also has more open water for exploring further south. Temperatures on the Peninsula typically range from the 20s to high 30s Fahrenheit, with wind the main factor. Peak holiday departures sell out a year or more ahead.
Ships, cabins and itineraries
Classic Peninsula voyages run 10 to 12 nights round-trip from Ushuaia, including two days each way across the Drake Passage. Fly-cruise itineraries of 6 to 8 nights cut the crossing entirely. Voyages of 18 to 23 nights add the Falklands and South Georgia. Expedition ships carry roughly 100 to 200 guests, which keeps everyone eligible for landings; larger cruise ships sail scenic routes without landings. Ship styles range from sturdy ice-strengthened vessels to new purpose-built expedition ships with stabilizers, spas and glass-walled lounges.
Cabin categories mirror ocean ships: interior and porthole cabins on older vessels, oceanview cabins with windows, balcony cabins on modern ships for private iceberg watching, and suites with separate living areas. Lower, midship cabins are the steadiest choice for the Drake.
Ports and shore days
- Antarctic Peninsula: Paradise Harbour, Neko Harbour, Cuverville Island and the Lemaire Channel.
- South Shetland Islands: Deception Island's volcanic caldera and Half Moon Island's chinstrap penguins.
- Historic sites: Port Lockroy's restored British base and post office.
- Falkland Islands: Stanley and albatross colonies on longer voyages.
- South Georgia: king penguins at St. Andrews Bay and Shackleton's grave at Grytviken.
There are no shops or currency ashore beyond a small post office; onboard accounts are usually settled in US dollars. Ushuaia is on Argentina time, two hours ahead of US Eastern Time, and ships typically keep that time throughout.
Departure ports and getting to the ship
Nearly all voyages depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, reached by a domestic flight from Buenos Aires; fly-cruise programs depart from Punta Arenas, Chile, via Santiago. We fly you from the US on an overnight flight, include a hotel night in the gateway city, then connect you to the domestic flight on embarkation day or the day before, depending on the operator's schedule. Many expedition operators require guests to be in the gateway city the night before and include a charter flight; your expert will match everything to those rules. A post-cruise night before the long flight home is a comfortable addition.
Who this cruise suits
- Bucket-list travelers and photographers: the trip of a lifetime.
- Seniors: active retirees are the largest group aboard; ships offer lifts and gentle landings. See senior travel reservations.
- Couples: balcony cabins and champagne toasts at the Antarctic Circle.
- Families: teens and older children on selected departures; minimum ages apply.
- Groups and clubs: alumni and science groups on group travel flights.
- Long-haul comfort: ask about business class for the overnight flights.
How booking by phone works
- Call +1 (323) 800 6001 with your month, home airport, cabin preference and whether you want to sail or fly the Drake.
- Your expert checks expedition availability, international and domestic flights, and quotes the complete package.
- Confirm names as they appear on your passport, add insurance with evacuation cover and any extensions, and pay securely by card.
- Receive cruise, flight and hotel confirmations by email with a packing and medical-form checklist.
Plan it online
Start with our vacation request form and an expert will call you back. You can also browse flights and hotels for extra days in Buenos Aires, Santiago or Patagonia.
Why book by phone with Fond Travels
Fond Travels is an independent US travel agency in Woodbridge, Virginia. Real travel experts answer 24/7, coordinate the multiple flights and strict timings an expedition demands, and stay reachable throughout. We are rated 4.8 of 5 with 2,200+ Google reviews, and we work with leading expedition operators and major airlines so one call covers the whole journey.
