Antarctica and the Arctic, planned properly.
Independent guides to Antarctica and the Arctic: where the ships land, which month suits you, how each ship and operator compares, and what a trip really costs. Every fact links to its source.
Start planning
What is the cheapest way to get to Antarctica?
The lowest 2026-27 fares on eight expedition lines, what triple and quad cabins and shoulder dates save, what last-minute deals really exist, and what the cheapest trips leave out.
Should you fly or sail across the Drake Passage?
Flying over the Drake Passage saves about three days but costs more per day and hangs on the weather at King George Island. Fares, delay records, refund rules and who should pick which.
How to choose an Antarctica cruise
How to pick an Antarctica cruise: ship size and landings first, then route, the Drake crossing, activities, comfort and price, with eight expedition ships compared and a pick for each traveler.
When is the best time to visit Antarctica?
Antarctica month by month, October to March: temperatures, daylight, sea ice, penguin and whale timing, fares and crowds, with the best month for each kind of traveler.
Is a balcony worth it on an Antarctica cruise?
What a balcony costs on eight real Antarctic ships, which ships include one in every cabin, and the sea days, scenic passages and cruise-only trips where it pays off.
How much does an Antarctica trip cost?
Published 2026-27 fares from eight Antarctic expedition lines, cabin by cabin, plus the flights, hotel nights, insurance, tips and gear around them, with a worked budget for a couple.
Where to go
6 places, from the gateway ports to the landing sites.
Antarctic Peninsula
Planning an Antarctic Peninsula cruise: how long trips last, where ships land, the best month by temperature and wildlife, landing rules, ship sizes and starting fares.
Svalbard
How to visit Svalbard: flights to Longyearbyen, entry for US citizens, the cruise season month by month, your chances of seeing a polar bear, the wildlife rules and what cruises cost.
Ushuaia
Ushuaia, Argentina, the port where most Antarctic cruises start: flights in, how many days to arrive early, what to do before and after, the port and last-minute deals.
South Georgia
Where South Georgia is and how to visit it: which voyages go and what they cost, whether the extra week is worth it, the best months, the wildlife and the government's rules.
Drake Passage
How rough the Drake Passage really is, month by month, from 16 years of wave data, plus its weather, crossing times, seasickness remedies, flying over it and whether ships sink.
Ships, side by side
Size decides how much time you get ashore. Compare passengers, ice class and price on one page.
Viking Octantis
Viking's 378-guest Polar Class 6 expedition ship: specs, all nine stateroom grades with room counts and 2026-27 fares, how landings work at its size, what is on board, and the Polaris window findings.
Le Commandant Charcot
Specs, polar class, LNG power, cabins and fares for Le Commandant Charcot, Ponant's icebreaker for the North Pole and the Weddell Sea, plus what you can book in 2026-27 and who it suits.
Fridtjof Nansen
MS Fridtjof Nansen, HX's 490-guest hybrid expedition ship: specs, cabin grades, what 490 guests means for Antarctic landings, her 2026-27 and 2027 voyages with prices, and the ships to compare.
National Geographic Endurance
Lindblad's PC5 polar ship National Geographic Endurance: specs, every cabin category and its fare, landings with 138 guests, included activities, and her 2026-27 Antarctic and 2027 Svalbard trips.
Hondius
Specs, cabins, fares and activities for Hondius, Oceanwide Expeditions' 170-passenger Polar Class 6 ship, plus what happened in the 2026 hantavirus outbreak and who should pick it.
Sylvia Earle
Aurora Expeditions' 130-guest X-BOW ship: specs, all 11 cabin types with 2026-27 prices, landing limits, included and paid activities, where it sails, and how it compares.
What you will see
Emperor penguin
Where and how to see emperor penguins in the wild: why Antarctic Peninsula cruises miss them, which helicopter voyages and fly-in trips go to a colony and for how much, plus size, lifespan and conservation status.
Polar bear
Where polar bears live and where to see them: Churchill in October and November, Svalbard by ship in summer, Kaktovik in Alaska, with odds, prices, the Svalbard distance and firearm rules, and why none live in Antarctica.
Penguin species
All 18 penguin species in one table, with scientific names, where each breeds, size and IUCN status, plus which ones you can see on an Antarctic, South Georgia, Falklands or Ross Sea trip.
Independent
No operator owns us, pays for placement or sees a page before you do.
Sourced
Facts link to the operator, government or science body we took them from, with the date we checked.
Kept current
Prices and dates are rechecked every 90 days and pages show when.