Antarctica Cruise Comparison
87 upcoming sailings from 10 cruise lines
Antarctica cruise port photos
Created by the Waterways Cruise content team and reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard, Sr. Cruise Travel Agent and Founder of Waterways Cruise. Published · Last updated · About this page
At a glance: Antarctica cruises on Waterways Cruise: 87 upcoming sailings from 10 cruise lines (8 ocean, 2 river). Lowest starting fares run from $3,009 per person (Norwegian Cruise Line) to $17,999 (Atlas Ocean Voyages). Silversea Cruises lists the most sailings (17). 15 sailings start and 16 end in Antarctica.
Which cruise lines sail to Antarctica, and how do they compare? This guide sorts the 10 lines with upcoming Antarctica sailings by kind of cruise, then into ultra-luxury, luxury, premium and contemporary, and shows what each costs to start, how long their sailings run and which ships you would sail on. Every figure comes from the sailings we list today, so it moves as sailings are added and sold.
What counts as an Antarctica cruise?
A sailing counts as an Antarctica cruise if it will call at least once at an Antarctica ship port. That covers ocean, river and expedition sailings, whether Antarctica is where the cruise begins, where it ends, or one stop on a longer route.
Of 87 upcoming sailings, 15 start in Antarctica, 16 end in Antarctica and 7 begin and end there. The other 63 (72%) visit Antarctica as a port of call on a longer route, often alongside Chile, Argentina, Falkland Islands and other countries. Ocean and expedition sailings call at King George Island Antarctica, Elephant Island Antarctica, Paradise Harbor, South Orkney Islands Antarctica and Snow Hill Island Antarctica.
- Antarctica cruise
- A sailing that will call at least once at an Antarctica ship port.
- Starts in Antarctica
- The first stop is an Antarctica ship port: 15 sailings.
- Ends in Antarctica
- The last stop is an Antarctica ship port: 16 sailings, 7 of which also start there.
- Visits only
- Antarctica is a port of call on a longer route: 63 sailings.
Ocean cruise lines in Antarctica (8)
8 ocean and expedition cruise lines have upcoming sailings that call at Antarctica: 77 in all. These sailings often call elsewhere too, most commonly Chile, Argentina and Falkland Islands. The busiest ship ports are King George Island Antarctica, Elephant Island Antarctica, Paradise Harbor, South Orkney Islands Antarctica and Snow Hill Island Antarctica.
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Ultra-luxury ocean cruise lines (1)
Ultra-luxury lines sit at the top of the market. One ultra-luxury ocean line sails to Antarctica, with 17 upcoming sailings. Starting fares begin at $13,070 per person with Silversea Cruises.
| Cruise line | Upcoming sailings | Lowest starting fare | Typical length | Ships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silversea Cruises | 17 | $13,070 | 8–15 nights (typically 9) | 3 · Silver Cloud, Silver Endeavour and Silver Wind |
Luxury ocean cruise lines (1)
Luxury lines sit just below ultra-luxury. One luxury ocean line sails to Antarctica, with 16 upcoming sailings. Starting fares begin at $14,276 per person with Aurora Expeditions.
| Cruise line | Upcoming sailings | Lowest starting fare | Typical length | Ships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Expeditions | 16 | $14,276 | 8–19 nights (typically 19) | 3 · Douglas Mawson, Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle |
Premium ocean cruise lines (5)
Premium lines sit in the middle of the market. Five premium ocean lines sail to Antarctica, with 41 upcoming sailings between them. Lindblad Expeditions has the most (14). Starting fares begin at $4,109 per person with Azamara Cruises.
| Cruise line | Upcoming sailings | Lowest starting fare | Typical length | Ships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lindblad Expeditions | 14 | $12,400 | 6–10 nights (typically 7) | 2 · National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Orion |
| Azamara Cruises | 10 | $4,109 | 20–74 nights (typically 12) | 2 · Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest |
| Hapag-Lloyd Cruises | 8 | $14,377 | 20–22 nights (typically 22) | 2 · Hanseatic Inspiration and Hanseatic Spirit |
| Quark Expeditions | 5 | $16,826 | 7–13 nights (typically 7) | 2 · Ocean Explorer and Quark Ultramarine |
| Atlas Ocean Voyages | 4 | $17,999 | 7–9 nights (typically 7) | 2 · World Navigator and World Traveller |
Contemporary ocean cruise lines (1)
Contemporary lines are the most accessible tier. One contemporary ocean line sails to Antarctica, with 3 upcoming sailings. Starting fares begin at $3,009 per person with Norwegian Cruise Line.
| Cruise line | Upcoming sailings | Lowest starting fare | Typical length | Ships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Cruise Line | 3 | $3,009 | 15–16 nights (typically 15) | 1 · Norwegian Star |
River cruise lines in Antarctica (2)
2 river cruise lines have upcoming sailings that call at Antarctica: 10 in all.
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Luxury river cruise lines (1)
Luxury lines sit just below ultra-luxury. One luxury river line sails to Antarctica, with 7 upcoming sailings. Fares are available on request.
| Cruise line | Upcoming sailings | Lowest starting fare | Typical length | Ships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uniworld | 7 | On request | 10–18 nights (typically 10) | 1 · SS La Venezia |
Premium river cruise lines (1)
Premium lines sit in the middle of the market. One premium river line sails to Antarctica, with 3 upcoming sailings. Starting fares begin at $5,450 per person with Avalon Waterways.
| Cruise line | Upcoming sailings | Lowest starting fare | Typical length | Ships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalon Waterways | 3 | $5,450 | 7–11 nights (typically 7) | 1 · Avalon Poetry II |
Antarctica cruise ports
Every Antarctica ship port with upcoming sailings has its own guide. The number beside each port is how many upcoming sailings call there (sailings, not individual port visits).
Coastal and island ports (5)
- King George Island Antarctica 59
- Elephant Island Antarctica 13
- Paradise Harbor 13
- South Orkney Islands Antarctica 8
- Snow Hill Island Antarctica 1
See them all in the Antarctica cruise port guide, or browse every sailing on the Antarctica cruises page.
How to choose an Antarctica cruise line
- Most listed sailings: Silversea Cruises lists the most upcoming Antarctica sailings (17).
- Lowest starting fare: Norwegian Cruise Line, from $3,009 per person.
- Style: sort by category first. Ultra-luxury lines: 1 line, 17 sailings, from $13,070. Luxury lines: 2 lines, 23 sailings, from $14,276. Premium lines: 6 lines, 44 sailings, from $4,109. Contemporary lines: 1 line, 3 sailings, from $3,009.
- Kind of cruise: ocean ships cover the coast and islands; river ships sail the rivers.
- Where you start: if you want Antarctica as your first or last port, filter the sailings by Starting in or Ending in Antarctica on the Antarctica cruises page.
How we calculated these figures
- Upcoming sailing: an itinerary with at least one departure date from today onward, counted once however many departure dates it has. Sailings that have passed drop out each day.
- Antarctica cruise: a sailing that calls at least once at an Antarctica ship port. A sailing "starts" or "ends" in Antarctica when its first or last stop is an Antarctica ship port.
- Lowest starting fare: the lowest "from" price among that line's upcoming Antarctica sailings, per person based on double occupancy, in US dollars. Under our Cruise Disclosure, prices include all applicable taxes and fees. Fares still depend on cabin category and date, so treat them as a starting point for comparison, not a quote.
- Typical length: the range covers the middle 80% of that line's sailings (the shortest and longest tenth are left out), and "typically" is the most common length.
- Kinds of cruise: A sailing is in exactly one kind, so the totals by kind add up to the 87 sailings above. Ocean: sailings on ocean-going ships, including expedition ships and ferries. River: sailings on rivers, canals and lakes. A river itinerary that also includes a coastal leg counts as river. A line that sails more than one kind appears in each list, with its sailings split by kind. Totals by kind count each sailing once.
- Style categories: Ultra-luxury, Luxury, Premium and Contemporary are Waterways Cruise's own groupings of cruise lines, not an industry standard.
- Freshness: the sailing data is refreshed daily from the sailings we list; figures here were calculated on .
Frequently asked questions about Antarctica cruises
Which cruise lines sail to Antarctica?
10 cruise lines have upcoming Antarctica sailings on Waterways Cruise: 8 sail ocean or expedition itineraries and 2 sail river itineraries. Silversea Cruises lists the most sailings (17).
How much does a Antarctica cruise cost?
Starting fares begin at $3,009 per person, double occupancy, with Norwegian Cruise Line. Fares depend on the line, the cabin and the sailing date, so the best way to see current rates is to request exclusive rates for the dates you want.
Which cruise lines are ultra-luxury and luxury in Antarctica?
Ultra-luxury ocean lines: Silversea Cruises. Luxury ocean lines: Aurora Expeditions. Luxury river lines: Uniworld.
Can you start or end a cruise in Antarctica?
Yes. 15 of 87 upcoming sailings start in Antarctica and 16 end there; 7 do both. The other 63 (72%) visit Antarctica as a port of call on a longer route.
Want help choosing?
Our advisors compare sailings, cabins and fares across all of these lines.
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Antarctica cruise port guide
Cruise ports, what to see, history and practical advice.
Antarctica cruise port guide →Created by the Waterways Cruise content team and reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard, Sr. Cruise Travel Agent and Founder of Waterways Cruise.
Published September 9, 2026 · Last updated October 30, 2026
Fares, availability and itineraries change often. Confirm current details with your cruise line or a Waterways Cruise agent before you book.
Cruise Disclosure
Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.
We work hard to make sure everything on this website is accurate and up to date. However, some information may be incomplete or inaccurate, including details supplied by third parties or otherwise outside our control, and we cannot be held responsible for such errors. We work with 41 cruise line operators, that are providing cruises on 585 ships visiting 1,731 ports across 7,194 unique cruises, creating 13,822 itineraries. This is a great deal of data to continually update daily from our suppliers. If a pricing error, misrepresentation, or omission occurs, we reserve the right to adjust the pricing, correct the information, or cancel or decline any booking made in error, with notice to you. Thank you for your understanding!