Antarctic Circle
Where the Antarctic Circle lies, which cruises cross it and what they cost, how many days the crossing adds, what you see south of 66°33′, and why no one publishes how often ships make it.
What is the Antarctic Circle, and which cruises cross it?
The Antarctic Circle is the line of latitude at 66°33′48.8″ South, beyond which the sun stays up for more than 24 hours around midsummer. Cruise ships cross it off the Antarctic Peninsula's west coast, near Crystal Sound, on named voyages that usually run 2 to 4 days longer than a standard trip and start from $11,000 per person. Ice can stop them; no operator publishes a success rate.
Facts checked October 15, 2026 against 31 sources.
Antarctic Circle at a glance
- July: no trips
- August: no trips
- September: no trips
- October: no trips
- November: in season
- December: in season
- January: best
- February: best
- March: in season
- April: no trips
- May: no trips
- June: no trips
Best Season
- Type
- Sea or passage
- Location
- 66°34′S, 66°42′W
- Season
- Circle voyages sail from mid-November to March. The sun stays up all night only around the December solstice; by mid-February it sets for about seven and a half hours.
- Best months
- January to February
- Getting there
- On a named Circle voyage, usually 12 to 16 days, from Ushuaia or Buenos Aires, or on Quark's 11-day fly-cruise from Punta Arenas via King George Island; ships cross at sea near Crystal Sound on the Peninsula's west coast.
- Wildlife
- Adélie penguins breeding on Detaille Island; Adélie penguins, Weddell seals and skuas at Stonington Island; humpback and minke whales in krill-rich water among the pack ice.
- Landings
- Three Treaty-guideline sites south of the line, all old bases: Detaille Island (50 ashore, 12 in the hut), Horseshoe and Stonington islands (100 ashore, 12 per building). They had 84 landings in total in 2025-26.
The Antarctic Circle is the line of latitude at 66°33′48.8″ South. Beyond it, around midsummer, the sun stays above the horizon for more than 24 hours.1 Cruise ships reach it on the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, a long way south of where most Peninsula voyages turn around,12 and operators sell the crossing as a named voyage that every one of them hedges with "conditions permitting".
Where exactly is the Antarctic Circle?
It runs at 66°33′48.8″ S, about 66.6° S, and it moves.12 The circle's position depends on how far Earth's axis is tilted, which is why the Tropic of Capricorn sits at 23°26′11.2″ S: the two latitudes add up to 90°.12 The tilt, now about 23.4°, has ranged from 22.1° to 24.5° over the last million years and is slowly falling, so the polar circles are creeping toward the poles.23 Its northern twin, the Arctic Circle, runs at the same latitude north of the equator.1
On a cruise you cross it at sea on the Peninsula's west side. Oceanwide's Polar Circle voyage sails south along the Argentine Islands into Crystal Sound, "this ice-packed body of water", and crosses the line from there in the morning.6 Quark's helicopter voyage also crosses in Crystal Sound, which it describes as steep mountains rising straight out of the sea.12 The UK gazetteer of Antarctic place names puts the middle of Crystal Sound at 66°28′S 66°39′W, just north of the line.5
What happens when you cross the Antarctic Circle?
Usually a toast, and then a change in the light and the ice. Quark says it will "toast the first explorers who ventured here",7 and Aurora says the moment "will be celebrated".9
The midnight sun only really happens around the December solstice. US Naval Observatory figures for a point on the line west of the Peninsula, 66.6°S 67°W:4
| Date | Daylight at 66.6°S 67°W |
|---|---|
| October 15, 2026 | 15 h 04 min |
| November 15, 2026 | 19 h 18 min |
| December 15 and 21, 2026 | The sun does not set |
| January 15, 2027 | 21 h 08 min |
| February 15, 2027 | 16 h 29 min |
| March 15, 2027 | 12 h 54 min |
On every sample date from November 15 to January 15, the sun never sank more than 6° below the horizon there, so the night never got fully dark.4 A crossing close to the solstice can get a sun that never sets. On a mid-February crossing the sun is down for about seven and a half hours. Aurora promises about 18 to 24 hours of daylight, which matches the range.9
Which Antarctica cruises cross the Antarctic Circle?
Eight operators sell a voyage named for the crossing: Oceanwide, HX, Atlas, Aurora, Quark, Lindblad and Viking in the table below, plus Ponant. The fares are the lowest open cabins we found on each operator's own site on October 14 and 15, 2026, per person, sharing.
| Operator | Voyage and ship | Days | Departure priced | Lowest open fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceanwide Expeditions | Polar Circle, Ortelius | 13 | March 6, 2027 | $11,000 for the last male berth in a shared quad; twin porthole $13,55015 |
| HX Expeditions | Antarctic Circle, Roald Amundsen | 16 | December 26, 2026 | $13,578 with HX's 130-year promotion, was $16,469; February 18, 2027 from $18,47616 |
| Atlas Ocean Voyages | Crossing the Antarctic Circle, World Navigator | 12 | February 14, 2027 | $17,899, Adventure Ocean Suite, including $605 of taxes and fees24 |
| Aurora Expeditions | Across the Antarctic Circle, Greg Mortimer | 13 | February 28, 2027 | $18,086 triple share after "save up to 10%", was $20,0959 |
| Quark Expeditions | Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle, Ocean Explorer | 11 | January 22, 2027 | $29,095 Triple Suite, marked "Please Call"; Veranda Suite $36,195 with 5+ cabins left (brochure fares before a 10% promo code)14 |
| Lindblad Expeditions | Quest for the Antarctic Circle, National Geographic Endurance | 16 | January 11, 2027 | $34,017, Category 4 triple; Category 1 at $29,900 sold out18 |
| Viking | Into the Antarctic Circle, Viking Polaris | 15 | December 4, 2027 | $18,699, Nordic Balcony N1, in a Fall Sale ending October 31, 2026; flights from the US $1,999 extra1920 |
Viking's sale ends October 31, 2026, and Lindblad's Quest departures carry an air credit of up to $2,000 that expires November 4, 2026; the HX and Aurora discounts and Quark's promo codes showed no end date.201816914 Viking has no Circle sailings in 2026-27; its first is Viking Octantis on November 27, 2027, from $18,999.20 Quark's 14-day sea version on World Voyager, January 14, 2027, was sold out in every cabin, and its 14-day helicopter voyage on Ultramarine had only a Balcony Suite at $28,490, brochure fare, marked "Please Call".14 Oceanwide also crosses on a 15-day Elephant Island, Weddell Sea and Polar Circle voyage on Plancius from March 12, 2027, from $11,700 in a quad.15 Ponant's 16-day Beyond the Antarctic Circle on Le Commandant Charcot, December 2 to 16, 2027, heads for Marguerite Bay, Charcot Island and Pourquoi Pas Island from $36,010, by quote only.25
How many days does crossing the Antarctic Circle add?
Usually two to four, compared with the same operator's standard Peninsula trip.
| Operator | Standard trip | Circle trip | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quark, by sea | Antarctic Explorer, 11 days14 | Antarctic Peninsula: Crossing the Circle, 14 days7 | 3 |
| Quark, by air | Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake, 8 days23 | Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle, 11 days8 | 3 |
| Aurora | Spirit of Antarctica, 11 days17 | Across the Antarctic Circle, 13 days9 | 2 |
| Oceanwide | Whale watching voyage on Ortelius, 11 days15 | Polar Circle, 13 days15 | 2 |
| Viking | Antarctic Explorer, 13 days21 | Into the Antarctic Circle, 15 days20 | 2 |
| HX | Highlights of Antarctica, 12 days22 | Antarctic Circle, 16 days10 | 4 |
| Lindblad | Voyage to Antarctica, 12 days18 | Quest for the Antarctic Circle, 16 days11 | 4 |
| Atlas | Exploring the Last Continent, 12 days13 | Crossing the Antarctic Circle, 12 days13 | 0 |
Atlas manages it without extra days. The crossing goes on day 4, straight after two days on the Drake Passage, inside the same 11-night round trip from Ushuaia. The schedule lists that day as "Captain's Choice".13
The extra days are cheaper than you might expect, though the premium varies by operator. Comparing like with like in the same season:9151617
- Aurora, triple share: Spirit of Antarctica on Douglas Mawson, February 27, 2027, is $17,096; Across the Antarctic Circle on Greg Mortimer the next day is $18,086. That is $990 for two more days.917
- HX on Roald Amundsen: Highlights of Antarctica, January 9, 2027, is from $9,736; the December 26, 2026 Circle voyage is from $13,578. That is $3,842 for four more days.16
- Oceanwide on Ortelius, twin porthole: the 11-day voyage from March 18, 2027, is $9,650; the 13-day Polar Circle voyage just before it is $13,550. That is $3,900 for two more days.15
That works out to roughly $495, $960 and $1,950 per extra day, by our arithmetic.91516 For what a whole trip costs, see how much an Antarctica trip costs and how many days you need.
What do you see south of the Antarctic Circle?
More sea ice, Adélie penguins and old British research huts, with far fewer people. Aurora describes "great swathes of pack-ice", with subtle changes in landscape and wildlife as you cross, and hopes for humpback and minke whales in water rich with krill.9 Quark calls it the home of Weddell seals and "your best chances of encountering sea ice".7 HX steers for Marguerite Bay, looking for Adélie penguins and "remote historical stations".10 Charcot's French expedition roughly charted Marguerite Bay in January 1909 and named it after his wife, Marguerite.29
All three landing sites south of the line with Antarctic Treaty guidelines are old bases:
| Site | Where | What is there | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detaille Island | 66°52′S, Lallemand Fjord | Base W, Historic Site and Monument 83, built 1956 and closed in 1959 because it was hard to reach; breeding Adélie penguins26 | 50 ashore, 12 inside the hut26 |
| Horseshoe Island | 67°49′S, Bourgeois Fjord, Marguerite Bay | Base Y, Historic Site and Monument 63, occupied March 1955 to August 196027 | 100 ashore, 12 inside27 |
| Stonington Island | 68°11′S, Marguerite Bay | US East Base (Monument 55), from Byrd's 1939 to 1941 expedition, and British Base E (Monument 64); Adélie penguins, Weddell seals, skuas28 | 100 ashore, 12 per building28 |
Stonington is where Edith Ronne and Jenny Darlington, of the 1947 to 1948 Ronne expedition, became the first two women to overwinter in Antarctica.28 Base E closed in 1950 "as sea ice conditions prevented access" and did not reopen until 1960.28 Detaille's landing is "challenging", with rocks on the approach and loose scree. Its southern Adélie colony can only be seen from a boat.26
The penguins alone are not a reason to go this far. Oceanwide's route looks for Adélies at Pléneau and Petermann islands, north of the line, on the way south.6 What the Circle adds is the ice, the light and these rarely visited huts.
How likely is a cruise to cross the Antarctic Circle?
No one can tell you: no operator, and not IAATO, publishes how often Circle voyages actually cross 66°33′ S, so there is no success rate to quote, and we do not estimate one. Every itinerary hedges instead: "if conditions allow" (Quark), "conditions permitting" (Aurora), "subject to weather and ice conditions" (HX) and "as conditions allow" (Lindblad).791011 What decides it is the ice and weather in the ship's path that week; Aurora says its team plans each day on "the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities".9
The only related public figures are IAATO's season counts of landings at the three Treaty sites south of the line. They show that ships get there every season, but they are not a crossing rate. They count landings, not voyages; a ship can cross at sea without landing anywhere, and Atlas schedules its crossing as a day at sea; and IAATO does not say which landings came from voyages sold as Circle trips.3013
| Season | Landings at Detaille, Horseshoe and Stonington30 | February sea ice, all Antarctica31 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 24 | 0.85 million sq mi (2.21 million km²) |
| 2022-23 | 92 | 0.76 million sq mi (1.98 million km²), the lowest since at least 1991 |
| 2023-24 | 91 | 0.85 million sq mi (2.19 million km²) |
| 2024-25 | 76 | 0.86 million sq mi (2.22 million km²) |
| 2025-26 | 84 | 1.12 million sq mi (2.91 million km²) |
- Landings this far south are rare. In 2025-26, Neko Harbour alone had 210, two and a half times the three southern sites put together.
- 2021-22 was a COVID season. IAATO reports fewer travelers and a season cut short by Omicron.
- Ice across the whole continent says little about any one trip. The record-low summer of 2023 brought the most southern landings, and 2026, with the most February ice of the five years, still had 84.
If the crossing is the point of your trip, give it room. Longer voyages leave the team more spare days, and Lindblad's has nine days on the continent.11 Before you book, ask the operator how many of its recent Circle departures crossed; it is the one figure that would tell you something, and none publishes it. For the months with the most daylight, see the best time to visit Antarctica.
Can you fly to Antarctica and still cross the Circle?
Yes. Quark's 11-day Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle does it. You fly about two hours from Punta Arenas to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands and board by Zodiac. Days 6 and 7 are set aside for the Circle, and you fly back from King George Island on day 10.8 That skips both Drake crossings, but it costs more: $29,095 brochure fare for its cheapest cabin, against $13,578 for HX's 16-day sea voyage.1416 The trade-offs are covered in fly or sail the Drake Passage, and the wider choice in how to choose an Antarctica cruise.
Voyages that visit Antarctic Circle
Landings depend on weather and ice, so no operator can promise a specific site.
Antarctica: Polar Circle, Deep South Discovery Voyage (Ortelius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Ortelius · 13 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · March
Fare details
Lowest published fare, one berth in a shared quadruple porthole cabin on Ortelius, Mar 6, 2027 (only male berths offered when read); a twin porthole is $13,550 per person; flights to Ushuaia not included; read Oct 14, 2026
from $11,000about $846 a day
ViewExtended Antarctic Circle Crossing (Ocean Nova)
Intrepid Travel · 14 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · February
Fare details
Lowest fare with space, per person sharing an Explorer Twin, Feb 26, 2027, on request, shown discounted from $15,365 with no end date; the $9,333.75 Quad had no places; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; operated by Polar Latitudes; read Oct 15, 2026
from $11,524about $823 a day
ViewQuest for the Antarctic Circle (Expedition)
G Adventures · 14 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · December, February
Fare details
Lowest fare open to book, per person sharing an Upper Deck Obstructed View Triple, Dec 21, 2026: $11,634.35, 35% off in G's October Expedition Sale until Oct 31, 2026 (regular $17,899); includes one Ushuaia hotel night, transfers and a parka, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $11,634about $831 a day
ViewAntarctica: Elephant Island, Weddell Sea and Polar Circle (Plancius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Plancius · 15 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · March
Fare details
Lowest published fare, one berth in a shared quadruple porthole cabin on Plancius, Mar 12, 2027 (one cabin showing when read); twin porthole berths at $14,350 were waitlisted and a twin window is $15,000 per person; flights to Ushuaia not included; read Oct 15, 2026
from $11,700about $780 a day
ViewAntarctic Circle Expedition
HX Expeditions · Roald Amundsen · 16 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · December, February
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person with two sharing, on Roald Amundsen, Dec 26, 2026, after HX 130th anniversary discounts (was $16,469; the extra anniversary discount applies only to bookings made by Nov 9, 2026); the Feb 18, 2027 departure starts at $18,476; includes a Buenos Aires hotel night and economy flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia.
from $13,578about $849 a day
ViewCrossing the Antarctic Circle (Ocean Victory)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · Ocean Victory · 13 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · February
Fare details
Lowest fare open to any guest, per person with three sharing a porthole Triple Stateroom, Feb 12, 2027; the only other cabins for sale were one man's porthole berth at $16,695, a Junior Suite at $22,895 and the Premium Suite at $26,695; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $14,295about $1,100 a day
ViewCruise to the Antarctic Circle (SH Diana)
Swan Hellenic · SH Diana · 14 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (Buenos Aires hotel night and charter flight included) to Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight to Buenos Aires included) · Sail both ways · February
Fare details
Oceanview stateroom on SH Diana, Feb 24, 2027: $14,850 per person, two sharing (solo travelers pay a single supplement), Cruise Plus fare; read Oct 15, 2026. Includes a Buenos Aires hotel night on Feb 23, charter flights both ways, drinks, gratuities and port taxes. Eight days are planned along the Antarctic Peninsula, aiming to sail beyond the Antarctic Circle at 66°33′S. SH Diana's only Antarctic Circle departure in 2026-27.
from $14,850about $1,061 a day
ViewCruise to the Antarctic Circle (SH Vega)
Swan Hellenic · SH Vega · 14 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (Buenos Aires hotel night and charter flight included) to Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight to Buenos Aires included) · Sail both ways · December, March
Fare details
Balcony stateroom on SH Vega, Mar 12, 2027: $14,950 per person, two sharing (solo travelers pay a single supplement), Cruise Plus fare; Oceanview showed Price on request; read Oct 15, 2026. The Dec 22, 2026 departure, which returns on Jan 4, shows from $20,000. Includes a Buenos Aires hotel night, charter flights both ways, drinks, gratuities and port taxes. Eight Peninsula days are planned, aiming to sail beyond the Antarctic Circle at 66°33′S.
from $14,950about $1,068 a day
ViewExtended Antarctic Circle Crossing (Discoverer)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · 14 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · December
Fare details
Lowest fare, per person sharing a two-bed Ocean Stateroom, Dec 28, 2026, sale price (regular $21,695); includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $15,187about $1,085 a day
ViewCrossing 66º South, Antarctic Circle (Sea Spirit)
Poseidon Expeditions · Sea Spirit · 15 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · January
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person in a Triple Suite shared by three, Jan 26, 2027 (shown as request availability); program days include a hotel night in Ushuaia; drinks package and parka included; flights not included; read Oct 15, 2026
from $15,295about $1,020 a day
ViewUltimate Antarctic Circle Crossing (Discoverer)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · 15 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · January to February
Fare details
Lowest fare open to any guest, per person in an Ocean Stateroom, Feb 19, 2027, sale price (regular $20,795); Jan 27, 2027 had a men's shared Porthole berth at $16,231 and Ocean Staterooms from $18,611; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $17,676about $1,178 a day
ViewCrossing the Antarctic Circle (World Navigator)
Atlas Ocean Voyages · World Navigator · 12 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (Buenos Aires hotel night and charter flight to Ushuaia included) to Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight to Buenos Aires included) · Sail both ways · December, February
Fare details
Adventure Ocean Suite (183 sq ft, deck 3) on World Navigator, Feb 14, 2027: $17,899 per guest, two sharing, with $605 in government taxes and fees included; read Oct 15, 2026. The Dec 16, 2026 departure showed Call for Fares. The route adds a planned crossing of the Antarctic Circle to six Peninsula days, conditions permitting. Includes a Buenos Aires hotel night, charter flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, a Tierra del Fuego National Park coach tour with lunch, and a parka and vest to keep.
from $17,899about $1,492 a day
ViewAcross the Antarctic Circle
Aurora Expeditions · Sylvia Earle · 13 days · Ushuaia, Argentina to Ushuaia, Argentina (Feb 13, 2027 departure ends in Punta Arenas, Chile) · Sail both ways · November to December, February
Fare details
Lowest published fare, Aurora Stateroom Triple, one berth, on Greg Mortimer, Feb 28, 2027, after a save up to 10% offer (was $20,095), available when read on Oct 14, 2026. Sylvia Earle departures Nov 13 and Dec 18, 2026 and Feb 13, 2027 start at $18,695, $19,076 and $22,095 (triples, all sold out). Includes drinks and one pre-voyage hotel night; flights not included.
from $18,086about $1,391 a day
ViewInto the Antarctic Circle
Viking Expeditions · Viking Polaris · 15 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina to Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · December
Fare details
Lowest fare on sale on Viking Polaris, Dec 4 to Dec 18, 2027: Nordic Balcony (N1), per person, two sharing; the advertised $18,499 N2 fare was sold out; read Oct 15, 2026, in Viking's Fall Sale for bookings made by Oct 31, 2026. Flights from the US $1,999 extra. Viking Octantis sails the same itinerary from Nov 27, 2027, advertised from $18,999.
from $18,699about $1,247 a day
ViewCrossing the Antarctic Circle (World Traveller)
Atlas Ocean Voyages · World Traveller · 12 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (Buenos Aires hotel night and charter flight to Ushuaia included) to Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight to Buenos Aires included) · Sail both ways · December to January
Fare details
Horizon Suite (H2) on World Traveller, Dec 23, 2026, a sailing over Christmas and New Year: $19,499 per guest, two sharing, with $605 in government taxes and fees included; read Oct 15, 2026. The Jan 21, 2027 departure showed Call for Fares. Includes a Buenos Aires hotel night, charter flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, a Tierra del Fuego National Park coach tour with lunch, and a parka and vest to keep.
from $19,499about $1,625 a day
ViewBellingshausen Sea, Peter I Island and Ellsworth Land, incl. helicopters (Ortelius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Ortelius · 25 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · January
Fare details
Lowest published fare, one berth in a shared quadruple porthole cabin on Ortelius, Jan 14, 2027, shown discounted from $24,600 with no end date (one cabin showing when read); a twin porthole is $24,500 per person (was $30,650); ship-to-shore helicopter transfers included, with no helicopter time guaranteed; crosses the Antarctic Circle; flights to Ushuaia not included; read Oct 15, 2026
from $19,700about $788 a day
ViewAntarctica by Helicopter: Crossing the Circle and the Peninsula
Quark Expeditions · Ultramarine · 14 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (charter flight to Ushuaia) to Buenos Aires, Argentina · Sail both ways · February
Fare details
Lowest published brochure fare, Explorer Triple on Ultramarine, Feb 16, 2027 (sold out when read); includes Buenos Aires hotel night, charter flights to and from Ushuaia, two flightseeing flights and one heli-landing
from $22,290about $1,592 a day
ViewPolar Circle Air-Cruise (10 days, Magellan Explorer)
Antarctica21 · Magellan Explorer · 10 days · Punta Arenas, Chile (flight to King George Island included) to Punta Arenas, Chile (flight from King George Island included) · Fly both ways · February
Fare details
Magellan Explorer, Feb 13 to 22, 2027: $24,995 per person, Porthole Cabin, two sharing; one Porthole Cabin and two shared Porthole berths (one for men, one for women) were open when read. Veranda $29,795, Deluxe Veranda $31,995 (11 open), Penthouse Suite $38,995. Includes the flights between Punta Arenas and King George Island, two Punta Arenas hotel nights with breakfast, the welcome dinner, transfers, and meals and drinks on board. Flight attempts continue until 2 PM on day 5, then the cruise fare is refunded. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from $24,995about $2,500 a day
ViewAntarctic Peninsula: Crossing the Circle (World Voyager)
Quark Expeditions · World Voyager · 14 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (hotel night and group flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (group flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · January
Fare details
Lowest published brochure fare: Infinity Suite on World Voyager, Jan 14, 2027, the only 2026-27 departure, $25,890 per person; every cabin category was sold out when read on Oct 14, 2026. Includes Quark's $1,295 charter flight and hotel package. Two days are set aside for reaching the Antarctic Circle (66°33'S) if conditions allow.
from $25,890about $1,849 a day
ViewExpedition semi-circumnavigation of Antarctica
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises · 31 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight from Buenos Aires included) to Lyttelton (Christchurch), New Zealand · Sail both ways · January
Fare details
Outside Cabin, Category 1 (22 m²), on HANSEATIC spirit, Jan 23, 2028, US$33,201 in the booking engine; €30,470 before an early-booking discount that ends Feb 28, 2027. PLATINUM fare, per person with two sharing; includes full board, selected soft drinks, Zodiac landings, gratuities, harbour fees and a loaned parka and boots. Route: the South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula across the Antarctic Circle, then the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas to Ross Island, Terra Nova Bay and Victoria Land, and New Zealand's sub-Antarctic islands. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from €28,870about €931 a day
ViewUltimate Explorer: Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctic Circle (Ocean Nova)
Intrepid Travel · 24 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · January
Fare details
Lowest fare with space, per person in a shared Triple, Jan 4, 2027, one place on request; the $26,075 Quad had no places; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; operated by Polar Latitudes; read Oct 15, 2026
from $28,975about $1,207 a day
ViewAntarctic Express: Crossing the Circle (Ocean Explorer)
Quark Expeditions · Ocean Explorer · 11 days · Punta Arenas, Chile (charter flight to King George Island) to Punta Arenas, Chile · Fly both ways · January
Fare details
Lowest published brochure fare, Triple Suite on Ocean Explorer, Jan 22, 2027 (marked Please Call when read; the lowest cabin bookable online was a Veranda Suite at $36,195); includes flights to and from King George Island and a Punta Arenas hotel night before and after; read Oct 15, 2026
from $29,095about $2,645 a day
ViewPolar Circle Air-Cruise (10 days, Magellan Discoverer)
Antarctica21 · 10 days · Punta Arenas, Chile (flight to King George Island included) to Punta Arenas, Chile (flight from King George Island included) · Fly both ways · February
Fare details
Magellan Discoverer, Feb 5 to 14, 2027: $29,795 per person in a Triple Veranda Suite shared by three (reserved when read); Deluxe Veranda $34,995 per person, two sharing (ten open, plus one women's shared berth); Grand Veranda Suite $42,995. Includes the flights between Punta Arenas and King George Island, two Punta Arenas hotel nights with breakfast, the welcome dinner, transfers, and meals and drinks on board. Flight attempts continue until 2 PM on day 5, then the cruise fare is refunded. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from $29,795about $2,980 a day
ViewQuest for the Antarctic Circle
Lindblad Expeditions · National Geographic Endurance · 16 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (hotel night included; ship boards in Ushuaia) to Ushuaia, Argentina, then on to Buenos Aires · Sail both ways · January
Fare details
Lowest published fare: $29,900 per person, Category 1 window cabin, two sharing, on National Geographic Endurance, Jan 11 and Jan 25, 2027. That category was sold out when read Oct 14, 2026; the cheapest open cabin was a Category 4 balcony at $40,820 (three sharing, $34,017 each). Includes a Buenos Aires hotel night, meals, drinks, crew gratuities and kayaking; the group flight between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia is extra. Both dates carried an air credit of up to $2,000 for US and Canadian residents booking by Nov 4, 2026. The 2027-28 season starts at $19,700.
from $29,900about $1,869 a day
ViewUltimate Antarctica: Ushuaia to Dunedin via the Ross Sea (SH Minerva)
Swan Hellenic · SH Minerva · 33 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (Buenos Aires hotel night and charter flight to Ushuaia included) to Dunedin, New Zealand · Sail both ways · February
Fare details
Oceanview stateroom on SH Minerva, Feb 3, 2027: $30,725 per person, two sharing (solo travelers pay a single supplement), Cruise Plus fare; read Oct 15, 2026. Includes a Buenos Aires hotel night on Feb 2, the charter flight to Ushuaia, drinks, gratuities and port taxes; no flight from Dunedin is listed. Calls in the South Shetlands, including Deception Island, and on the Peninsula, then Peter I Island, Shepard Island, the Bay of Whales, eight days in the Ross Sea, the Balleny Islands and New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands. Listed as 33 nights (Feb 3 to Mar 8); the itinerary runs 33 days because the ship loses a day crossing the International Date Line. Swan Hellenic's longest Antarctic voyage in 2026-27.
from $30,725about $931 a day
ViewRoss Sea Odyssey
Aurora Expeditions · Greg Mortimer · 26 days · Hobart, Australia (hotel night included) to Dunedin, New Zealand · No Drake · December
Fare details
Lowest published fare: Aurora Stateroom Triple (porthole), $31,946 per person with three sharing, after a save up to 10% offer (was $35,495), on Greg Mortimer, Dec 14, 2026, the only departure. It was sold out when read Oct 15, 2026; the cheapest cabin still for sale was a Balcony Stateroom Category A at $40,406 per person, two sharing (was $44,895), limited availability. Aurora's Stop Saying Someday offer (savings vary by departure) applies to bookings made and deposited by Dec 22, 2026. Includes a Hobart hotel night, meals, drinks and landing fees; flights not included. Route: Macquarie Island, the Victoria Land coast and Ross Sea, then New Zealand's subantarctic islands.
from $31,946about $1,229 a day
ViewAntarctica Complete
Aurora Expeditions · Greg Mortimer · 23 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (hotel night included) to Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · December, February
Fare details
Lowest published fare: Aurora Stateroom Triple (porthole), $32,486 per person with three sharing, after a save up to 10% offer (was $36,095), on both 2026-27 departures: Douglas Mawson, Dec 17, 2026 (sold out) and Greg Mortimer, Feb 7, 2027 (available when read Oct 15, 2026). Cheapest two-sharing cabins for sale: Aurora Stateroom Superior (French balcony) at $35,366 on Douglas Mawson, limited availability, and Balcony Stateroom Category B at $38,246 on Greg Mortimer. Aurora's Stop Saying Someday offer (savings vary by departure) applies to bookings made and deposited by Dec 22, 2026. Peninsula with an Antarctic Circle attempt, then South Georgia and the Falklands. Includes an Ushuaia hotel night, meals, drinks and landing fees; flights not included.
from $32,486about $1,412 a day
ViewEpic Antarctica: Crossing the 7th Continent
Aurora Expeditions · Greg Mortimer · 34 days · Dunedin, New Zealand (hotel night included) to Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · January
Fare details
Lowest published fare: Aurora Stateroom Triple (porthole), $41,306 per person with three sharing, after a save up to 10% offer (was $45,895), on Greg Mortimer, Jan 7, 2027, the only departure; limited availability when read Oct 15, 2026. Cheapest two-sharing cabin for sale: Balcony Stateroom Category A at $52,286 per person (was $58,095). Aurora's Stop Saying Someday offer (savings vary by departure) applies to bookings made and deposited by Dec 22, 2026. Aurora's header lists 33 days but the itinerary runs to Day 34. Crosses from New Zealand's subantarctic islands and Macquarie Island to the Ross Sea, then to the Antarctic Peninsula, with one Drake Passage crossing, northbound, at the end. Includes a Dunedin hotel night, meals, drinks and landing fees; flights not included.
from $41,306about $1,215 a day
ViewEpic Antarctica: The Falklands, South Georgia and Crossing the Circle
Quark Expeditions · Ultramarine · 23 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (charter flight to Ushuaia) to Buenos Aires, Argentina · Sail both ways · January
Fare details
Lowest published brochure fare, Explorer Triple on Ultramarine, Jan 16, 2027 (sold out when read); includes Buenos Aires hotel night and charter flights to and from Ushuaia
from $43,590about $1,895 a day
ViewExtended Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Circle (Ocean Albatros)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · Ocean Albatros · 23 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · December
Fare details
Only two suites were for sale on the Dec 22, 2026 departure: the Premium Suite at $43,856 per person for two sharing and the Family Suite at $53,291 per person for four, both sale prices (regular $51,595 and $62,695) under an early booking discount with no end date shown; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $43,856about $1,907 a day
ViewUnexplored Western Antarctica between Two Continents
Ponant · Le Commandant Charcot · 31 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (Santiago hotel night and flight to Ushuaia included) to Hobart, Tasmania, Australia · Sail both ways · January
Fare details
Lower deck balcony stateroom on Le Commandant Charcot, Jan 11, 2028, per person with two sharing, on sale when read on Oct 15, 2026; the page shows no offer or discount. Includes 29 nights on board, crossing the Drake Passage once and continuing by sea past Marie Byrd Land and the Ross Sea region to Hobart, plus a Santiago hotel night and an economy flight from Santiago to Ushuaia; no flight from Hobart is included. Booked by quote, not online.
from $75,490about $2,435 a day
ViewExpedition Antarctica: Antarctic Circle (intensive)
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises · Hanseatic Inspiration · 20 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight from Buenos Aires included) to Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight to Buenos Aires included) · Sail both ways · February
Fare details
Booked up: Hapag-Lloyd's page showed 'Booked up!' and no fare when read on Oct 15, 2026. Feb 13 to Mar 5, 2027, on HANSEATIC inspiration, bilingual German and English. Route: the Falklands, South Georgia, South Orkneys, South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula, crossing the Antarctic Circle to Marguerite Bay.
Price on request
ViewExpedition semi-circumnavigation of Antarctica
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises · 31 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight from Buenos Aires included) to Christchurch, New Zealand · Sail both ways · February
Fare details
Booked up: Hapag-Lloyd's page showed 'Booked up!' and no fare when read on Oct 15, 2026. Feb 1 to Mar 5, 2027, on HANSEATIC spirit. Route: the South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula across the Antarctic Circle to Marguerite Bay, then the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas to Ross Island, Terra Nova Bay and Victoria Land in the Ross Sea, and New Zealand's sub-Antarctic islands.
Price on request
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Lowest published price per person in the operator's currency, checked October 15, 2026. Taxes, flights and single supplements vary.
Plan the trip
Sources
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