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Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 65 (from laksa012)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa065.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/best-antarctica-luxury-trips/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/best-antarctica-luxury-trips/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/best-antarctica-luxury-trips\/","crawl_time":1776153258,"first_indexed_time":1722637903,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,thepointsguy!\/cruise\/best-antarctica-luxury-trips\/ s443","src_root_hash":"1995432229485513265","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"6 ways to travel to Antarctica in style and luxury - The Points Guy","meta_descriptions":["There is a growing number of ways to travel to Antarctica in luxury, as long as you're willing to pay up for the privilege."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"There was a time when traveling to Antarctica meant roughing it a bit. Many of the adventure travel companies that pioneered tourist trips to the White Continent initially used relatively spartan, sometimes repurposed ships to get people there.\nBut those days are long gone.\nNow you can travel to the world's most remote destination in luxury and style — assuming you're willing to pay the often steep cost of such trips.\nTwo specific luxury cruise companies —\nSilversea Cruises\nand\nPonant Explorations\n— have carved out a niche over the past two decades offering high-end voyages to Antarctica on upscale vessels where you'll sleep in cabins and dine in onboard eateries that are every bit as spectacular as the Antarctic scenery. Several more high-end cruise brands have gotten into similarly upscale cruising to Antarctica in just the last few years.\nGet updates on cruise deals and top stories by subscribing to the\n.\nThe newcomers include luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, which launched two very upscale\nexpedition ships\nsince 2019 — a type of cruise ship specifically designed for travel to remote, hard-to-reach places.\nAlso relatively new to upscale cruising to Antarctica are Atlas Ocean Voyages, which has offered Antarctica sailings since late 2021 on purpose-built expedition vessels, and\nViking\n, which launched voyages to the continent with new expedition ships in early 2022.\nRelated:\nThe best expedition ships for Antarctica cruises\nLuxury line\nSeabourn\nhas been offering Antarctica cruises since late 2022 with its first luxury expedition ships.\nHere, we take a look at these six cruise brands that are leading the way in luxury trips to Antarctica.\nDaily Newsletter\nReward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter\nJoin over 1,000,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts\nEmail address\nBy signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our\nTerms of Use\nand acknowledge the data practices in our\nPrivacy Policy\n. You may unsubscribe at any time.\nSilversea Cruises\nSilver Endeavour. SILVERSEA CRUISES\nSilversea has been the leader among the\nmajor luxury cruise lines\nin expanding into expedition cruises to remote, hard-to-reach destinations, and it's a big player in luxury trips to Antarctica.\nThe Miami-based line's 18-year-old expedition cruise division currently operates high-end sailings to the White Continent on three vessels — the 220-passenger Silver Endeavour, the 254-passenger Silver Cloud and the 274-passenger Silver Wind.\nIn addition to traditional sailings from South America that cross the Drake Passage, Silversea also offers its signature\nFly Cruise program\n, allowing guests to fly over the Drake without sacrificing time spent in Antarctica. The journey will become even more seamless with the debut of The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, Chile, Silversea's new hotel designed to streamline the Antarctic travel experience, including new charter flights connecting directly from Santiago to Puerto Williams.\nRelated:\nThis new luxury tour gets you to Antarctica faster than most\nWhile older than many of the luxury ships sailing to Antarctica, Silver Cloud and Silver Wind offer a luxury experience with all-suite accommodations, upscale cuisine and luxury touches such as butler service for every suite. Silver Endeavour is a newer vessel with even more advanced offerings.\nThe details:\nFares for 10-night Antarctica trips start at $10,920 per person, based on double occupancy.\nPonant Explorations\nPonant's Le Commandant Charcot. OLIVIER BLAUD\/PONANT\nA longtime leader in expedition cruises, Ponant is known for its\narray of truly once-in-a-lifetime small-ship adventures\nto places no other passenger ships go, including\nepic voyages to the North Pole\n, the\nonly winter expedition cruises to Canada\nand a wide range of extended sailings to Antarctica.\nSome of the most unusual sailings the line offers to the White Continent take place on\nLe Commandant Charcot\n, the world's first and only luxury icebreaker. Unveiled in 2021, it's by far the toughest passenger vessel ever built, capable of reaching ice-clogged parts of Antarctica that no other ship can reach.\nThe line also takes well-heeled, intellectually curious travelers to Antarctica on four other upscale expedition ships, all sister vessels, that were purpose-built for such voyages: Le Boreal, Le Lyrial, L'Austral and Le Soleal.\nUnveiled between 2010 and 2015, these 264-passenger ships are sleek and stylish, with contemporary decor, large rooms with balconies and multiple restaurants. But they also feature a sustainable design with ice-strengthened hulls and cutting-edge technology, allowing them to safely access harder-to-reach regions such as Antarctica.\nWhile Ponant is a France-based line, its sailings are bilingual with announcements in both French and English, and it draws an international crowd in addition to many Americans.\nRelated:\nThe ultimate guide to Ponant ships and itineraries\nThe details:\nFares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at $17,320 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a precruise hotel stay in Buenos Aires and round-trip flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia.\nScenic Luxury Cruises & Tours\nScenic Eclipse. SCENIC LUXURY CRUISES\nLong known for high-end river cruises, luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has made a big move into high-end expedition trips to Antarctica since 2019 with the debut of its first two expedition vessels, the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse and sister ship Scenic Eclipse II.\nBilled as \"discovery yachts,\" the super-swanky vessels offer all-suite accommodations (and we're talking real suites with separate living rooms), butler service for all and a wide range of onboard dining options including a sushi restaurant. They also have whiskey bars stocked with more than 110 whiskies and other high-end liquors, plus a spa and a yoga studio.\nThe initial vessel in this series, Scenic Eclipse, was notably the first Antarctica-bound cruise vessel to boast helicopters to take passengers on epic (and pricey) Antarctica excursions. Scenic Eclipse II debuted with helicopters, too. Both vessels also have submarines for underwater exploration.\nHaving experienced a helicopter excursion from one of these vessels, I can say that it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. On the downside, the helicopter pads and hangars on these ships eat up a lot of space on their top decks, as do the suites along the vessel's sharply sloping front. The combination leaves less available room for observation areas. The result is a ship with less outdoor space for viewing scenery than is typical for small vessels operating polar trips.\nThe details:\nFares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at $17,868 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a precruise, one-night hotel stay in Buenos Aires; round-trip flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia; drinks, including spirits and fine wines; and prepaid gratuities.\nRelated:\nThese books are must-reads before an Antarctica trip\nAtlas Ocean Voyages\nThe Atlas World Traveller. ATLAS\nLaunched in 2021,\nAtlas Ocean Voyages\nis a relatively new brand that specializes in luxury sailings on small, yacht-like vessels to some of the world's most off-the-beaten-path destinations, such as Antarctica and the Arctic. They also operate in more mainstream cruise destinations such as Europe and Asia.\nThe brand currently fields three nearly identical, 184-passenger ships (World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager), all of which spend at least part of their time in Antarctica.\nBuilt tough for polar exploring (they each have a PC 6 ice class rating), these three ships are designed to be upscale with elegant, 1940s-influenced decor, and pampering touches such as L'Occitane-branded spas (the first at sea) and butler service in top cabins.\nThe vessels, which I have\ngiven high marks\nafter past sailings, are also loaded with indoor and outdoor observation areas, including innovative, close-to-the-waterline outside deck areas with heated seating called The Water's Edge. High-tech touches include GPS systems that let them hover in sensitive areas without dropping anchor.\nRelated:\nI just spent the night in an igloo in Antarctica — here's how you can, too\nThe details:\nNine-night voyages to Antarctica start at $11,748 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares cover drinks, including spirits and fine wines; shipboard Wi-Fi; prepaid gratuities; and emergency medical evacuation insurance for every passenger (the latter being a rare offering among companies cruising to Antarctica).\nViking\nViking Octantis in Antarctica. VIKING\nViking is a relative newcomer to expedition cruising in Antarctica — it's only been operating in the region since 2022. But it's gotten a lot of attention from cruise-industry watchers.\nThat's because the two new expedition ships the line has built for Antarctica sailings — the 378-passenger Viking Octantis and sister ship Viking Polaris — have several unusual features.\nMost notable is The Hangar, an enclosed marina on each of the vessels that allows passengers to transfer to a special touring boat while still in the protected interior of the ship. A first for expedition ships, it's something that makes it easier for travelers with mobility issues to experience the region.\nIn another first for polar expedition cruise vessels, every cabin on the two vessels has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel.\nLike all Viking ships, the public areas and cabins on Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris boast an elegant Scandinavian design. Their restaurants include a version of Viking's signature Italian spot, Manfredi's, and the Scandinavian-inspired Mamsen's outlet. Also familiar are top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers' Lounges promising stunning views of passing scenery.\nAnother standout public space is The Aula, a dramatic panoramic auditorium designed for lectures, daily briefings and other events that features a screen that retracts to reveal floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping 270-degree views. Also notable is The Science Lab, a working wet and dry research facility where guest scientists carry out real research throughout voyages. Passengers are invited to observe, ask questions and gain a deeper insight about scientific work related to the places the ship sails.\nRelated:\nThe ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries\nAs is typical for expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are tough vessels, with reinforced bows that let them bump through ice in polar regions and extra tanks for fuel and food. In addition to landing craft on board to bring people ashore, they carry kayaks and even submersibles for exploring (the latter being something that is relatively rare on cruise vessels of any type).\nThe details:\nFares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at $14,995 per person.\nSeabourn\nSeabourn Venture. SEABOURN\nLike Viking, Seabourn has only recently added its first expedition cruise ships for expedition cruising to Antarctica.\nThe two vessels — Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit — both carry 264 passengers at maximum occupancy and are ice-rated vessels with all the luxury touches that Seabourn fans have come to know, including restaurants serving elegant cuisine.\nEvery room on both of the ships, notably, is a suite with its own balcony — something that isn't often the case with expedition ships.\nIn addition, the ships offer a lot of high-end adventure. Outdoor equipment for off-ship exploring includes kayaks as well as Zodiac boats. But perhaps their standout adventure features are two, six-person submarines that allow passengers to explore the world under the water in polar regions as well as what's above the waterline.\nRelated:\nI just went kayaking in Antarctica — if I can do it, so can you\nAmong other unusual features of the ships that make a difference in polar regions is a high-definition Cineplex camera that can pick up wildlife up to 5 miles away and streams the footage into an onboard \"discovery center\" while leaving the wildlife undisturbed. The ships sail with 23 expedition guides, including scientists, historians and naturalists who lecture regularly on board and lead guided tours on land.\nThe details:\nFares for Antarctic sailings start at $11,899 per person, including flights in Argentina to reach the ship.\nPlanning an Antarctica cruise expedition? Start with these stories:\nDreaming of Antarctica: How to book the trip of a lifetime\nSkip the Drake Passage: What it's like flying to Antarctica on a chartered plane\nThe ultimate packing list for an Antarctica trip","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to content](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/best-antarctica-luxury-trips\/#main)\n\nMenu\n\n[Go to Home Page](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/)\n\n- [Subscribe](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/mailing-list\/?utm_placement=nav)\n  ***\n- - [News](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/)\n  - Credit Cards\n    \n    - ### Card Type\n      - [Best Overall Credit Cards](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/best\/)\n      - [Best Travel Credit Cards](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/travel\/)\n      - [Best Airline Credit Cards](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/airline\/)\n      - [Best Rewards Credit Cards](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/rewards\/)\n      - [Best Business Credit Cards](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/business\/)\n      - 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Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best.](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/calculator\/)\n    - [CardMatch Get personalized card recommendations to help match your rewards to your spending.](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cardmatch\/)\n\nSubscribe\n\n## Sign up for the TPG Daily for breaking news, game-changing tips and exclusive deals from TPG partners\nClose close newsletter modal\n\nAdvertiser disclosure\n\nSearch The Points Guy\n\nAdvertiser disclosure\n\nADVERTISEMENT\n\n[Guides](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guides\/)\n\n# 6 ways to travel to Antarctica in style and luxury\nGene Sloan\n\n![Gene Sloan](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/02\/zodiac-ice-scaled.jpg?width=96&crop=1%3A1%2Coffset-x50%2Coffset-y50)\n\n[Gene Sloan](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/author\/genesloan\/)\n\nCruise team lead\n\nAs TPG's cruise team lead, Gene Sloan oversees the site's cruise content and also writes many of TPG's main cruise guides. He has spent nearly 30 years writing about cruise ships and cruising, and he is one of the world's best-known authorities on the topic.\n\nFeb. 19, 2026\n\n•\n\n10 min read\n\n![Cruising Antarctica](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2021\/12\/Antartica_David-Merron-Photography-3.jpg?width=2000&crop=16%3A9%2Coffset-x50%2Coffset-y50)\n\nJump to section\n\n- Facebook\n- Twitter\n- LinkedIn\n- Copy URL\n- [Email](<mailto:?body=https%3A%2F%2Fthepointsguy.com%2Fcruise%2Fbest-antarctica-luxury-trips%2F&subject=The Points Guy: 6 ways to travel to Antarctica in style and luxury>)\n\nThe cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our [advertising policy](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/advertising-policy\/) and [product review methodology](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/review-methodology\/) for more information.\n\nNew\n\n### Quick summary\n- Luxury cruises to Antarctica have evolved, now offering upscale accommodations, gourmet dining and unique amenities on purpose-built expedition ships.\n- Six leading cruise brands provide high-end Antarctic voyages, each with distinct features such as helicopters, submarines, advanced observation areas and scientific research labs.\n- Options range from small, intimate vessels to larger ships, with experiences designed for comfort, adventure and educational enrichment.\n- Fares for these luxury expeditions are significant, often including extras like precruise hotel stays, flights within South America, drinks and gratuities.\n\n#### What to consider\n- Expedition cruise fares typically cover more than just the voyage, often bundling flights, hotel stays, drinks and gratuities, but inclusions vary by operator.\n- Some ships offer rare amenities like helicopters, submarines or research labs, while others prioritize outdoor observation space or sustainable design.\n- Travelers should review ship-specific features, accessibility options and the level of included adventure activities when selecting a cruise.\n\n### What you'll miss from the article\n- A detailed comparison of each cruise line's standout offerings, ship amenities and the unique experiences available on luxury Antarctic expeditions.\n\nGenerated by AI with support from our editorial team.\n\nShow summary\n\nThere was a time when traveling to Antarctica meant roughing it a bit. Many of the adventure travel companies that pioneered tourist trips to the White Continent initially used relatively spartan, sometimes repurposed ships to get people there.\n\nBut those days are long gone.\n\nNow you can travel to the world's most remote destination in luxury and style — assuming you're willing to pay the often steep cost of such trips.\n\nADVERTISEMENT\n\nTwo specific luxury cruise companies — [Silversea Cruises](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/silversea\/) and [Ponant Explorations](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/ponant-explorations\/) — have carved out a niche over the past two decades offering high-end voyages to Antarctica on upscale vessels where you'll sleep in cabins and dine in onboard eateries that are every bit as spectacular as the Antarctic scenery. Several more high-end cruise brands have gotten into similarly upscale cruising to Antarctica in just the last few years.\n\nGet updates on cruise deals and top stories by subscribing to the TPG Cruiseletter.\n\nThe newcomers include luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, which launched two very upscale [expedition ships](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/expedition-cruises-ultimate-guide\/) since 2019 — a type of cruise ship specifically designed for travel to remote, hard-to-reach places.\n\nAlso relatively new to upscale cruising to Antarctica are Atlas Ocean Voyages, which has offered Antarctica sailings since late 2021 on purpose-built expedition vessels, and [Viking](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/viking\/), which launched voyages to the continent with new expedition ships in early 2022.\n\nADVERTISEMENT\n\n**Related: [The best expedition ships for Antarctica cruises](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/best-antarctica-cruise-ships\/)**\n\nLuxury line [Seabourn](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/seabourn\/) has been offering Antarctica cruises since late 2022 with its first luxury expedition ships.\n\nHere, we take a look at these six cruise brands that are leading the way in luxury trips to Antarctica.\n\n![](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/images\/EmailSignUp\/daily-dt.svg)\n\nDaily Newsletter\n\nReward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter\n\nJoin over 1,000,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts\n## Silversea Cruises\n![The Silversea expedition ship Silver Endeavour](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/03\/Silver-Endeavour-scaled.jpg?width=3840)\n\nSilver Endeavour. SILVERSEA CRUISES\n\nSilversea has been the leader among the [major luxury cruise lines](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/best-luxury-cruise-lines\/) in expanding into expedition cruises to remote, hard-to-reach destinations, and it's a big player in luxury trips to Antarctica.\n\nThe Miami-based line's 18-year-old expedition cruise division currently operates high-end sailings to the White Continent on three vessels — the 220-passenger Silver Endeavour, the 254-passenger Silver Cloud and the 274-passenger Silver Wind.\n\nIn addition to traditional sailings from South America that cross the Drake Passage, Silversea also offers its signature [Fly Cruise program](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/silversea-antarctica-flight-experience\/), allowing guests to fly over the Drake without sacrificing time spent in Antarctica. The journey will become even more seamless with the debut of The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, Chile, Silversea's new hotel designed to streamline the Antarctic travel experience, including new charter flights connecting directly from Santiago to Puerto Williams.\n\n![Card Illustration](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)\n\n![Person using CardMatch](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/_next\/image\/?url=%2Fimages%2FCM2%2Finline-widget%2Fhappy-customer.png&w=3840&q=75)\n\nCardMatch\n\nLet us help find the best card for you\n\nGet personalized card matches to maximize your earning potential. Let's get started.   \n  \n How do you want to redeem your rewards?\n\nBooking travel and travel experiences\n\nCash back and statement credits\n\nTake me to CardMatch\n\n**Related: [This new luxury tour gets you to Antarctica faster than most](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/silversea-antarctica-bridge-fly-cruise\/)**\n\nWhile older than many of the luxury ships sailing to Antarctica, Silver Cloud and Silver Wind offer a luxury experience with all-suite accommodations, upscale cuisine and luxury touches such as butler service for every suite. Silver Endeavour is a newer vessel with even more advanced offerings.\n\n**The details:** Fares for 10-night Antarctica trips start at \\$10,920 per person, based on double occupancy.\n\n## Ponant Explorations\n![The expedition cruise ship Le Commandant Charcot](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/09\/20230928_LE-COMMANDANT-CHARCOT_PONANT_16_Activite-Kayak-CDT-Charcot%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BDStudioPONANT-Olivier-Blaud_6.jpg?width=3840)\n\nPonant's Le Commandant Charcot. OLIVIER BLAUD\/PONANT\n\nA longtime leader in expedition cruises, Ponant is known for its [array of truly once-in-a-lifetime small-ship adventures](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/best-ponant-cruise-itineraries\/) to places no other passenger ships go, including [epic voyages to the North Pole](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/north-pole-cruise-ponant\/), the [only winter expedition cruises to Canada](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/winter-canada-cruise-ponant\/) and a wide range of extended sailings to Antarctica.\n\nSome of the most unusual sailings the line offers to the White Continent take place on [Le Commandant Charcot](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/ponant-le-commandant-charcot-cruise-ship\/), the world's first and only luxury icebreaker. Unveiled in 2021, it's by far the toughest passenger vessel ever built, capable of reaching ice-clogged parts of Antarctica that no other ship can reach.\n\nThe line also takes well-heeled, intellectually curious travelers to Antarctica on four other upscale expedition ships, all sister vessels, that were purpose-built for such voyages: Le Boreal, Le Lyrial, L'Austral and Le Soleal.\n\nADVERTISEMENT\n\nUnveiled between 2010 and 2015, these 264-passenger ships are sleek and stylish, with contemporary decor, large rooms with balconies and multiple restaurants. But they also feature a sustainable design with ice-strengthened hulls and cutting-edge technology, allowing them to safely access harder-to-reach regions such as Antarctica.\n\nWhile Ponant is a France-based line, its sailings are bilingual with announcements in both French and English, and it draws an international crowd in addition to many Americans.\n\n**Related: [The ultimate guide to Ponant ships and itineraries](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/ponant-cruise-guide\/)**\n\n**The details:** Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at \\$17,320 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a precruise hotel stay in Buenos Aires and round-trip flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia.\n\n## Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours\n![](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/02\/Scenic-Luxury-Cruises-Tours-Eclipse_SCENIC.png?width=3840)\n\nScenic Eclipse. SCENIC LUXURY CRUISES\n\nLong known for high-end river cruises, luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has made a big move into high-end expedition trips to Antarctica since 2019 with the debut of its first two expedition vessels, the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse and sister ship Scenic Eclipse II.\n\nBilled as \"discovery yachts,\" the super-swanky vessels offer all-suite accommodations (and we're talking real suites with separate living rooms), butler service for all and a wide range of onboard dining options including a sushi restaurant. They also have whiskey bars stocked with more than 110 whiskies and other high-end liquors, plus a spa and a yoga studio.\n\nThe initial vessel in this series, Scenic Eclipse, was notably the first Antarctica-bound cruise vessel to boast helicopters to take passengers on epic (and pricey) Antarctica excursions. Scenic Eclipse II debuted with helicopters, too. Both vessels also have submarines for underwater exploration.\n\nHaving experienced a helicopter excursion from one of these vessels, I can say that it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. On the downside, the helicopter pads and hangars on these ships eat up a lot of space on their top decks, as do the suites along the vessel's sharply sloping front. The combination leaves less available room for observation areas. The result is a ship with less outdoor space for viewing scenery than is typical for small vessels operating polar trips.\n\n**The details:** Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at \\$17,868 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a precruise, one-night hotel stay in Buenos Aires; round-trip flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia; drinks, including spirits and fine wines; and prepaid gratuities.\n\n**Related: [These books are must-reads before an Antarctica trip](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/antarctica-book-reading-list\/)**\n\n## Atlas Ocean Voyages\n![](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/02\/Atlas-Ocean-Voyages-World-Traveller_ATLAS.png?width=3840)\n\nThe Atlas World Traveller. ATLAS\n\nLaunched in 2021, [Atlas Ocean Voyages](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/atlas-ocean-voyages-cruise-guide\/) is a relatively new brand that specializes in luxury sailings on small, yacht-like vessels to some of the world's most off-the-beaten-path destinations, such as Antarctica and the Arctic. They also operate in more mainstream cruise destinations such as Europe and Asia.\n\nThe brand currently fields three nearly identical, 184-passenger ships (World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager), all of which spend at least part of their time in Antarctica.\n\nBuilt tough for polar exploring (they each have a PC 6 ice class rating), these three ships are designed to be upscale with elegant, 1940s-influenced decor, and pampering touches such as L'Occitane-branded spas (the first at sea) and butler service in top cabins.\n\nThe vessels, which I have [given high marks](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/atlas-ocean-voyages-cruise\/) after past sailings, are also loaded with indoor and outdoor observation areas, including innovative, close-to-the-waterline outside deck areas with heated seating called The Water's Edge. High-tech touches include GPS systems that let them hover in sensitive areas without dropping anchor.\n\n**Related: [I just spent the night in an igloo in Antarctica — here's how you can, too](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/antarctica-igloo-experience-lindblad-expeditions\/)**\n\n**The details:** Nine-night voyages to Antarctica start at \\$11,748 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares cover drinks, including spirits and fine wines; shipboard Wi-Fi; prepaid gratuities; and emergency medical evacuation insurance for every passenger (the latter being a rare offering among companies cruising to Antarctica).\n\n## Viking\n![Viking Octantis](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/03\/Viking-Cruises_Cruise-Stock_Viking-Octantis-Antartica-Snowy-Coastline.jpg?width=3840)\n\nViking Octantis in Antarctica. VIKING\n\nViking is a relative newcomer to expedition cruising in Antarctica — it's only been operating in the region since 2022. But it's gotten a lot of attention from cruise-industry watchers.\n\nThat's because the two new expedition ships the line has built for Antarctica sailings — the 378-passenger Viking Octantis and sister ship Viking Polaris — have several unusual features.\n\nMost notable is The Hangar, an enclosed marina on each of the vessels that allows passengers to transfer to a special touring boat while still in the protected interior of the ship. A first for expedition ships, it's something that makes it easier for travelers with mobility issues to experience the region.\n\nIn another first for polar expedition cruise vessels, every cabin on the two vessels has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel.\n\nLike all Viking ships, the public areas and cabins on Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris boast an elegant Scandinavian design. Their restaurants include a version of Viking's signature Italian spot, Manfredi's, and the Scandinavian-inspired Mamsen's outlet. Also familiar are top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers' Lounges promising stunning views of passing scenery.\n\nAnother standout public space is The Aula, a dramatic panoramic auditorium designed for lectures, daily briefings and other events that features a screen that retracts to reveal floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping 270-degree views. Also notable is The Science Lab, a working wet and dry research facility where guest scientists carry out real research throughout voyages. Passengers are invited to observe, ask questions and gain a deeper insight about scientific work related to the places the ship sails.\n\n**Related: [The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/viking-cruise-guide\/)**\n\nAs is typical for expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are tough vessels, with reinforced bows that let them bump through ice in polar regions and extra tanks for fuel and food. In addition to landing craft on board to bring people ashore, they carry kayaks and even submersibles for exploring (the latter being something that is relatively rare on cruise vessels of any type).\n\n**The details:** Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at \\$14,995 per person.\n\n## Seabourn\n![](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/02\/Seabourn-Venture_SEABOURN.png?width=3840)\n\nSeabourn Venture. SEABOURN\n\nLike Viking, Seabourn has only recently added its first expedition cruise ships for expedition cruising to Antarctica.\n\nThe two vessels — Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit — both carry 264 passengers at maximum occupancy and are ice-rated vessels with all the luxury touches that Seabourn fans have come to know, including restaurants serving elegant cuisine.\n\nEvery room on both of the ships, notably, is a suite with its own balcony — something that isn't often the case with expedition ships.\n\nIn addition, the ships offer a lot of high-end adventure. Outdoor equipment for off-ship exploring includes kayaks as well as Zodiac boats. But perhaps their standout adventure features are two, six-person submarines that allow passengers to explore the world under the water in polar regions as well as what's above the waterline.\n\n**Related: [I just went kayaking in Antarctica — if I can do it, so can you](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/antarctica-kayak-expedition-lindblad-cruise\/)**\n\nAmong other unusual features of the ships that make a difference in polar regions is a high-definition Cineplex camera that can pick up wildlife up to 5 miles away and streams the footage into an onboard \"discovery center\" while leaving the wildlife undisturbed. The ships sail with 23 expedition guides, including scientists, historians and naturalists who lecture regularly on board and lead guided tours on land.\n\n**The details:** Fares for Antarctic sailings start at \\$11,899 per person, including flights in Argentina to reach the ship.\n\n**Planning an Antarctica cruise expedition? Start with these stories:**\n\n- [Dreaming of Antarctica: How to book the trip of a lifetime](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/travel-to-antarctica\/)\n- [Skip the Drake Passage: What it's like flying to Antarctica on a chartered plane](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/silversea-antarctica-flight-experience\/)\n- [The ultimate packing list for an Antarctica trip](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/antarctica-packing-list\/)\n\nFeatured image by DAVID MERRON PHOTOGRAPHY\/GETTY IMAGES\n\nEditorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.\n\n## Check out current card offers\n- [![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%2788%27%20height=%2754%27\/%3e)![](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/_next\/image\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.prodstatic.com%2Fshared%2Fimages%2Fcards%2F278x175%2F96987490-949f-11f0-832a-f3f3309a1b0c.png&w=256&q=75) Learn Moreabout American Express Platinum Card®](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/oc\/22504813\/?tid=FAV-CARD-WIDGET-1&c_anonymous_id=c7616f1d-66a6-4ef5-8c36-89d9337a7fe2&c_correlation_id=c8fddf84-22e6-499b-9880-edcd35d57f30&c_exitPageId=thepointsguy.com%2Fcruise%2Fbest-antarctica-luxury-trips%2F&c_instance_id=21108e54-3455-4fb7-80b1-b0ba936d1f2d&c_landing_page_url=thepointsguy.com%2Fcruise%2Fbest-antarctica-luxury-trips%2F&c_session_id=49e8a9ce-14ee-4d17-9657-c08106775372&c_tenant_id=8830ce36-13f9-40da-8176-b8cbf73a598c)\n  \n  Terms Apply\n  \n  [See rates & fees](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/tc\/22504813\/)\n  [Best luxury travel rewards card American Express Platinum Card® As High As 175,000 points. 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stylish expedition vessels exploring the White Continent](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/best-antarctica-cruise-ships\/)\n\n[![Silversea-Cruise\\_Silver-Whisper\\_1](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/12\/Silversea-Cruise_Silver-Whisper_1.jpg?width=608&crop=3%3A2%2Coffset-x50%2Coffset-y50)](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/reasons-to-choose-silversea-cruises\/)\n\nGuides\n\n[5 reasons to choose Silversea Cruises for your next luxury vacation at sea](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/reasons-to-choose-silversea-cruises\/)\n\n[![Seabourn Pursuit](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2024\/06\/20240625_Seabourn-Pursuit_Seabourn-Cruise_GSloan_151.jpg?width=608&crop=3%3A2%2Coffset-x50%2Coffset-y50)](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/reviews\/seabourn-pursuit-cruise-ship\/)\n\nReviews\n\n[Seabourn Pursuit cruise ship review: An expedition vessel built for luxury lovers](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/reviews\/seabourn-pursuit-cruise-ship\/)\n\n[![Le Dumont-d'Urville](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/Ponant_Le-Dumont-dUrville-Le-Dumont-dUrville_SOVIK_StudioPONANT-Fred-MICHEL-38-M.jpg?width=608&crop=3%3A2%2Coffset-x50%2Coffset-y50)](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/ponant-cruise-guide\/)\n\nGuides\n\n[The ultimate guide to Ponant cruise ships and itineraries](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/ponant-cruise-guide\/)\n\nClose Close feedback modal\n\n### How likely are you to recommend The Points Guy to a friend?\n- 0\n- 1\n- 2\n- 3\n- 4\n- 5\n- 6\n- 7\n- 8\n- 9\n- 10\n\nNot at all likelyExtremely likely\n\nMaximize your travel\n\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thepointsguy\/)\n- [Instagram](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thepointsguy\/)\n- [YouTube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/thepointsguy\/)\n- [Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/thepointsguy\/)\n- [TikTok](https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thepointsguy)\n#### Sign up for our daily newsletter for the latest news, deals and tips.\n\n#### Meet TPG\n- [About us](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/about\/)\n- [TPG gives back](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/giving-back\/)\n- [Careers](https:\/\/www.redventures.com\/careers)\n- [Contact us](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/contact-us\/)\n- [Site map](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/sitemap\/)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/newsletters\/?utm_source=footer)\n\n#### Legal\n- [Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/do-not-sell-or-share-my-personal-information\/)\n- [Privacy policy](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/privacy-policy\/)\n- [Terms of use](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/terms-of-use\/)\n- Cookie settings\n- [Consumer Health Data Privacy Policy](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/consumer-health-data-privacy-policy\/)\n\n#### Our Commitment to Transparency\nThe Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That’s why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.\n\nOur site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don’t cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our [advertising policy](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/advertising-policy\/) and [product review methodology](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/review-methodology\/) for more information.\n\nCopyright © 2026 The Points Guy, LLC. All rights reserved. A Red Ventures company.","attrs_readable_markdown":"There was a time when traveling to Antarctica meant roughing it a bit. Many of the adventure travel companies that pioneered tourist trips to the White Continent initially used relatively spartan, sometimes repurposed ships to get people there.\n\nBut those days are long gone.\n\nNow you can travel to the world's most remote destination in luxury and style — assuming you're willing to pay the often steep cost of such trips.\n\nTwo specific luxury cruise companies — [Silversea Cruises](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/silversea\/) and [Ponant Explorations](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/ponant-explorations\/) — have carved out a niche over the past two decades offering high-end voyages to Antarctica on upscale vessels where you'll sleep in cabins and dine in onboard eateries that are every bit as spectacular as the Antarctic scenery. Several more high-end cruise brands have gotten into similarly upscale cruising to Antarctica in just the last few years.\n\nGet updates on cruise deals and top stories by subscribing to the .\n\nThe newcomers include luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, which launched two very upscale [expedition ships](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/expedition-cruises-ultimate-guide\/) since 2019 — a type of cruise ship specifically designed for travel to remote, hard-to-reach places.\n\nAlso relatively new to upscale cruising to Antarctica are Atlas Ocean Voyages, which has offered Antarctica sailings since late 2021 on purpose-built expedition vessels, and [Viking](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/viking\/), which launched voyages to the continent with new expedition ships in early 2022.\n\n**Related: [The best expedition ships for Antarctica cruises](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/best-antarctica-cruise-ships\/)**\n\nLuxury line [Seabourn](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/seabourn\/) has been offering Antarctica cruises since late 2022 with its first luxury expedition ships.\n\nHere, we take a look at these six cruise brands that are leading the way in luxury trips to Antarctica.\n\n![](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/images\/EmailSignUp\/daily-dt.svg)\n\nDaily Newsletter\n\nReward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter\n\nJoin over 1,000,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts\n## Silversea Cruises\n![The Silversea expedition ship Silver Endeavour](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/03\/Silver-Endeavour-scaled.jpg?width=3840)\n\nSilver Endeavour. SILVERSEA CRUISES\n\nSilversea has been the leader among the [major luxury cruise lines](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/best-luxury-cruise-lines\/) in expanding into expedition cruises to remote, hard-to-reach destinations, and it's a big player in luxury trips to Antarctica.\n\nThe Miami-based line's 18-year-old expedition cruise division currently operates high-end sailings to the White Continent on three vessels — the 220-passenger Silver Endeavour, the 254-passenger Silver Cloud and the 274-passenger Silver Wind.\n\nIn addition to traditional sailings from South America that cross the Drake Passage, Silversea also offers its signature [Fly Cruise program](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/silversea-antarctica-flight-experience\/), allowing guests to fly over the Drake without sacrificing time spent in Antarctica. The journey will become even more seamless with the debut of The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, Chile, Silversea's new hotel designed to streamline the Antarctic travel experience, including new charter flights connecting directly from Santiago to Puerto Williams.\n\n**Related: [This new luxury tour gets you to Antarctica faster than most](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/silversea-antarctica-bridge-fly-cruise\/)**\n\nWhile older than many of the luxury ships sailing to Antarctica, Silver Cloud and Silver Wind offer a luxury experience with all-suite accommodations, upscale cuisine and luxury touches such as butler service for every suite. Silver Endeavour is a newer vessel with even more advanced offerings.\n\n**The details:** Fares for 10-night Antarctica trips start at \\$10,920 per person, based on double occupancy.\n\n## Ponant Explorations\n![The expedition cruise ship Le Commandant Charcot](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/09\/20230928_LE-COMMANDANT-CHARCOT_PONANT_16_Activite-Kayak-CDT-Charcot%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BDStudioPONANT-Olivier-Blaud_6.jpg?width=3840)\n\nPonant's Le Commandant Charcot. OLIVIER BLAUD\/PONANT\n\nA longtime leader in expedition cruises, Ponant is known for its [array of truly once-in-a-lifetime small-ship adventures](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/best-ponant-cruise-itineraries\/) to places no other passenger ships go, including [epic voyages to the North Pole](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/north-pole-cruise-ponant\/), the [only winter expedition cruises to Canada](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/winter-canada-cruise-ponant\/) and a wide range of extended sailings to Antarctica.\n\nSome of the most unusual sailings the line offers to the White Continent take place on [Le Commandant Charcot](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/ponant-le-commandant-charcot-cruise-ship\/), the world's first and only luxury icebreaker. Unveiled in 2021, it's by far the toughest passenger vessel ever built, capable of reaching ice-clogged parts of Antarctica that no other ship can reach.\n\nThe line also takes well-heeled, intellectually curious travelers to Antarctica on four other upscale expedition ships, all sister vessels, that were purpose-built for such voyages: Le Boreal, Le Lyrial, L'Austral and Le Soleal.\n\nUnveiled between 2010 and 2015, these 264-passenger ships are sleek and stylish, with contemporary decor, large rooms with balconies and multiple restaurants. But they also feature a sustainable design with ice-strengthened hulls and cutting-edge technology, allowing them to safely access harder-to-reach regions such as Antarctica.\n\nWhile Ponant is a France-based line, its sailings are bilingual with announcements in both French and English, and it draws an international crowd in addition to many Americans.\n\n**Related: [The ultimate guide to Ponant ships and itineraries](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/ponant-cruise-guide\/)**\n\n**The details:** Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at \\$17,320 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a precruise hotel stay in Buenos Aires and round-trip flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia.\n\n## Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours\n![](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/02\/Scenic-Luxury-Cruises-Tours-Eclipse_SCENIC.png?width=3840)\n\nScenic Eclipse. SCENIC LUXURY CRUISES\n\nLong known for high-end river cruises, luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has made a big move into high-end expedition trips to Antarctica since 2019 with the debut of its first two expedition vessels, the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse and sister ship Scenic Eclipse II.\n\nBilled as \"discovery yachts,\" the super-swanky vessels offer all-suite accommodations (and we're talking real suites with separate living rooms), butler service for all and a wide range of onboard dining options including a sushi restaurant. They also have whiskey bars stocked with more than 110 whiskies and other high-end liquors, plus a spa and a yoga studio.\n\nThe initial vessel in this series, Scenic Eclipse, was notably the first Antarctica-bound cruise vessel to boast helicopters to take passengers on epic (and pricey) Antarctica excursions. Scenic Eclipse II debuted with helicopters, too. Both vessels also have submarines for underwater exploration.\n\nHaving experienced a helicopter excursion from one of these vessels, I can say that it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. On the downside, the helicopter pads and hangars on these ships eat up a lot of space on their top decks, as do the suites along the vessel's sharply sloping front. The combination leaves less available room for observation areas. The result is a ship with less outdoor space for viewing scenery than is typical for small vessels operating polar trips.\n\n**The details:** Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at \\$17,868 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a precruise, one-night hotel stay in Buenos Aires; round-trip flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia; drinks, including spirits and fine wines; and prepaid gratuities.\n\n**Related: [These books are must-reads before an Antarctica trip](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/antarctica-book-reading-list\/)**\n\n## Atlas Ocean Voyages\n![](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/02\/Atlas-Ocean-Voyages-World-Traveller_ATLAS.png?width=3840)\n\nThe Atlas World Traveller. ATLAS\n\nLaunched in 2021, [Atlas Ocean Voyages](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/atlas-ocean-voyages-cruise-guide\/) is a relatively new brand that specializes in luxury sailings on small, yacht-like vessels to some of the world's most off-the-beaten-path destinations, such as Antarctica and the Arctic. They also operate in more mainstream cruise destinations such as Europe and Asia.\n\nThe brand currently fields three nearly identical, 184-passenger ships (World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager), all of which spend at least part of their time in Antarctica.\n\nBuilt tough for polar exploring (they each have a PC 6 ice class rating), these three ships are designed to be upscale with elegant, 1940s-influenced decor, and pampering touches such as L'Occitane-branded spas (the first at sea) and butler service in top cabins.\n\nThe vessels, which I have [given high marks](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/atlas-ocean-voyages-cruise\/) after past sailings, are also loaded with indoor and outdoor observation areas, including innovative, close-to-the-waterline outside deck areas with heated seating called The Water's Edge. High-tech touches include GPS systems that let them hover in sensitive areas without dropping anchor.\n\n**Related: [I just spent the night in an igloo in Antarctica — here's how you can, too](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/antarctica-igloo-experience-lindblad-expeditions\/)**\n\n**The details:** Nine-night voyages to Antarctica start at \\$11,748 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares cover drinks, including spirits and fine wines; shipboard Wi-Fi; prepaid gratuities; and emergency medical evacuation insurance for every passenger (the latter being a rare offering among companies cruising to Antarctica).\n\n## Viking\n![Viking Octantis](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/03\/Viking-Cruises_Cruise-Stock_Viking-Octantis-Antartica-Snowy-Coastline.jpg?width=3840)\n\nViking Octantis in Antarctica. VIKING\n\nViking is a relative newcomer to expedition cruising in Antarctica — it's only been operating in the region since 2022. But it's gotten a lot of attention from cruise-industry watchers.\n\nThat's because the two new expedition ships the line has built for Antarctica sailings — the 378-passenger Viking Octantis and sister ship Viking Polaris — have several unusual features.\n\nMost notable is The Hangar, an enclosed marina on each of the vessels that allows passengers to transfer to a special touring boat while still in the protected interior of the ship. A first for expedition ships, it's something that makes it easier for travelers with mobility issues to experience the region.\n\nIn another first for polar expedition cruise vessels, every cabin on the two vessels has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel.\n\nLike all Viking ships, the public areas and cabins on Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris boast an elegant Scandinavian design. Their restaurants include a version of Viking's signature Italian spot, Manfredi's, and the Scandinavian-inspired Mamsen's outlet. Also familiar are top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers' Lounges promising stunning views of passing scenery.\n\nAnother standout public space is The Aula, a dramatic panoramic auditorium designed for lectures, daily briefings and other events that features a screen that retracts to reveal floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping 270-degree views. Also notable is The Science Lab, a working wet and dry research facility where guest scientists carry out real research throughout voyages. Passengers are invited to observe, ask questions and gain a deeper insight about scientific work related to the places the ship sails.\n\n**Related: [The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/cruise\/viking-cruise-guide\/)**\n\nAs is typical for expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are tough vessels, with reinforced bows that let them bump through ice in polar regions and extra tanks for fuel and food. In addition to landing craft on board to bring people ashore, they carry kayaks and even submersibles for exploring (the latter being something that is relatively rare on cruise vessels of any type).\n\n**The details:** Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at \\$14,995 per person.\n\n## Seabourn\n![](https:\/\/runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2022\/02\/Seabourn-Venture_SEABOURN.png?width=3840)\n\nSeabourn Venture. SEABOURN\n\nLike Viking, Seabourn has only recently added its first expedition cruise ships for expedition cruising to Antarctica.\n\nThe two vessels — Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit — both carry 264 passengers at maximum occupancy and are ice-rated vessels with all the luxury touches that Seabourn fans have come to know, including restaurants serving elegant cuisine.\n\nEvery room on both of the ships, notably, is a suite with its own balcony — something that isn't often the case with expedition ships.\n\nIn addition, the ships offer a lot of high-end adventure. Outdoor equipment for off-ship exploring includes kayaks as well as Zodiac boats. But perhaps their standout adventure features are two, six-person submarines that allow passengers to explore the world under the water in polar regions as well as what's above the waterline.\n\n**Related: [I just went kayaking in Antarctica — if I can do it, so can you](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/antarctica-kayak-expedition-lindblad-cruise\/)**\n\nAmong other unusual features of the ships that make a difference in polar regions is a high-definition Cineplex camera that can pick up wildlife up to 5 miles away and streams the footage into an onboard \"discovery center\" while leaving the wildlife undisturbed. The ships sail with 23 expedition guides, including scientists, historians and naturalists who lecture regularly on board and lead guided tours on land.\n\n**The details:** Fares for Antarctic sailings start at \\$11,899 per person, including flights in Argentina to reach the ship.\n\n**Planning an Antarctica cruise expedition? Start with these stories:**\n\n- [Dreaming of Antarctica: How to book the trip of a lifetime](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/travel-to-antarctica\/)\n- [Skip the Drake Passage: What it's like flying to Antarctica on a chartered plane](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/silversea-antarctica-flight-experience\/)\n- [The ultimate packing list for an Antarctica trip](https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/antarctica-packing-list\/)","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	There was a time when traveling to Antarctica meant roughing it a bit. Many of the adventure travel companies that pioneered tourist trips to the White Continent initially used relatively spartan, sometimes repurposed ships to get people there. But those days are long gone. Now you can travel to the world's most remote destination in luxury and style — assuming you're willing to pay the often steep cost of such trips. Two specific luxury cruise companies — Silversea Cruises and Ponant Explorations — have carved out a niche over the past two decades offering high-end voyages to Antarctica on upscale vessels where you'll sleep in cabins and dine in onboard eateries that are every bit as spectacular as the Antarctic scenery. Several more high-end cruise brands have gotten into similarly upscale cruising to Antarctica in just the last few years. Get updates on cruise deals and top stories by subscribing to the . The newcomers include luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, which launched two very upscale expedition ships since 2019 — a type of cruise ship specifically designed for travel to remote, hard-to-reach places. Also relatively new to upscale cruising to Antarctica are Atlas Ocean Voyages, which has offered Antarctica sailings since late 2021 on purpose-built expedition vessels, and Viking , which launched voyages to the continent with new expedition ships in early 2022. Related: The best expedition ships for Antarctica cruises Luxury line Seabourn has been offering Antarctica cruises since late 2022 with its first luxury expedition ships. Here, we take a look at these six cruise brands that are leading the way in luxury trips to Antarctica. Daily Newsletter Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter Join over 1,000,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts Email address By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe at any time. Silversea Cruises Silver Endeavour. SILVERSEA CRUISES Silversea has been the leader among the major luxury cruise lines in expanding into expedition cruises to remote, hard-to-reach destinations, and it's a big player in luxury trips to Antarctica. The Miami-based line's 18-year-old expedition cruise division currently operates high-end sailings to the White Continent on three vessels — the 220-passenger Silver Endeavour, the 254-passenger Silver Cloud and the 274-passenger Silver Wind. In addition to traditional sailings from South America that cross the Drake Passage, Silversea also offers its signature Fly Cruise program , allowing guests to fly over the Drake without sacrificing time spent in Antarctica. The journey will become even more seamless with the debut of The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, Chile, Silversea's new hotel designed to streamline the Antarctic travel experience, including new charter flights connecting directly from Santiago to Puerto Williams. Related: This new luxury tour gets you to Antarctica faster than most While older than many of the luxury ships sailing to Antarctica, Silver Cloud and Silver Wind offer a luxury experience with all-suite accommodations, upscale cuisine and luxury touches such as butler service for every suite. Silver Endeavour is a newer vessel with even more advanced offerings. The details: Fares for 10-night Antarctica trips start at $10,920 per person, based on double occupancy. Ponant Explorations Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot. OLIVIER BLAUD/PONANT A longtime leader in expedition cruises, Ponant is known for its array of truly once-in-a-lifetime small-ship adventures to places no other passenger ships go, including epic voyages to the North Pole , the only winter expedition cruises to Canada and a wide range of extended sailings to Antarctica. Some of the most unusual sailings the line offers to the White Continent take place on Le Commandant Charcot , the world's first and only luxury icebreaker. Unveiled in 2021, it's by far the toughest passenger vessel ever built, capable of reaching ice-clogged parts of Antarctica that no other ship can reach. The line also takes well-heeled, intellectually curious travelers to Antarctica on four other upscale expedition ships, all sister vessels, that were purpose-built for such voyages: Le Boreal, Le Lyrial, L'Austral and Le Soleal. Unveiled between 2010 and 2015, these 264-passenger ships are sleek and stylish, with contemporary decor, large rooms with balconies and multiple restaurants. But they also feature a sustainable design with ice-strengthened hulls and cutting-edge technology, allowing them to safely access harder-to-reach regions such as Antarctica. While Ponant is a France-based line, its sailings are bilingual with announcements in both French and English, and it draws an international crowd in addition to many Americans. Related: The ultimate guide to Ponant ships and itineraries The details: Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at $17,320 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a precruise hotel stay in Buenos Aires and round-trip flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours Scenic Eclipse. SCENIC LUXURY CRUISES Long known for high-end river cruises, luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has made a big move into high-end expedition trips to Antarctica since 2019 with the debut of its first two expedition vessels, the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse and sister ship Scenic Eclipse II. Billed as "discovery yachts," the super-swanky vessels offer all-suite accommodations (and we're talking real suites with separate living rooms), butler service for all and a wide range of onboard dining options including a sushi restaurant. They also have whiskey bars stocked with more than 110 whiskies and other high-end liquors, plus a spa and a yoga studio. The initial vessel in this series, Scenic Eclipse, was notably the first Antarctica-bound cruise vessel to boast helicopters to take passengers on epic (and pricey) Antarctica excursions. Scenic Eclipse II debuted with helicopters, too. Both vessels also have submarines for underwater exploration. Having experienced a helicopter excursion from one of these vessels, I can say that it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. On the downside, the helicopter pads and hangars on these ships eat up a lot of space on their top decks, as do the suites along the vessel's sharply sloping front. The combination leaves less available room for observation areas. The result is a ship with less outdoor space for viewing scenery than is typical for small vessels operating polar trips. The details: Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at $17,868 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a precruise, one-night hotel stay in Buenos Aires; round-trip flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia; drinks, including spirits and fine wines; and prepaid gratuities. Related: These books are must-reads before an Antarctica trip Atlas Ocean Voyages The Atlas World Traveller. ATLAS Launched in 2021, Atlas Ocean Voyages is a relatively new brand that specializes in luxury sailings on small, yacht-like vessels to some of the world's most off-the-beaten-path destinations, such as Antarctica and the Arctic. They also operate in more mainstream cruise destinations such as Europe and Asia. The brand currently fields three nearly identical, 184-passenger ships (World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager), all of which spend at least part of their time in Antarctica. Built tough for polar exploring (they each have a PC 6 ice class rating), these three ships are designed to be upscale with elegant, 1940s-influenced decor, and pampering touches such as L'Occitane-branded spas (the first at sea) and butler service in top cabins. The vessels, which I have given high marks after past sailings, are also loaded with indoor and outdoor observation areas, including innovative, close-to-the-waterline outside deck areas with heated seating called The Water's Edge. High-tech touches include GPS systems that let them hover in sensitive areas without dropping anchor. Related: I just spent the night in an igloo in Antarctica — here's how you can, too The details: Nine-night voyages to Antarctica start at $11,748 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares cover drinks, including spirits and fine wines; shipboard Wi-Fi; prepaid gratuities; and emergency medical evacuation insurance for every passenger (the latter being a rare offering among companies cruising to Antarctica). Viking Viking Octantis in Antarctica. VIKING Viking is a relative newcomer to expedition cruising in Antarctica — it's only been operating in the region since 2022. But it's gotten a lot of attention from cruise-industry watchers. That's because the two new expedition ships the line has built for Antarctica sailings — the 378-passenger Viking Octantis and sister ship Viking Polaris — have several unusual features. Most notable is The Hangar, an enclosed marina on each of the vessels that allows passengers to transfer to a special touring boat while still in the protected interior of the ship. A first for expedition ships, it's something that makes it easier for travelers with mobility issues to experience the region. In another first for polar expedition cruise vessels, every cabin on the two vessels has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel. Like all Viking ships, the public areas and cabins on Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris boast an elegant Scandinavian design. Their restaurants include a version of Viking's signature Italian spot, Manfredi's, and the Scandinavian-inspired Mamsen's outlet. Also familiar are top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers' Lounges promising stunning views of passing scenery. Another standout public space is The Aula, a dramatic panoramic auditorium designed for lectures, daily briefings and other events that features a screen that retracts to reveal floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping 270-degree views. Also notable is The Science Lab, a working wet and dry research facility where guest scientists carry out real research throughout voyages. Passengers are invited to observe, ask questions and gain a deeper insight about scientific work related to the places the ship sails. Related: The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries As is typical for expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are tough vessels, with reinforced bows that let them bump through ice in polar regions and extra tanks for fuel and food. In addition to landing craft on board to bring people ashore, they carry kayaks and even submersibles for exploring (the latter being something that is relatively rare on cruise vessels of any type). The details: Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at $14,995 per person. Seabourn Seabourn Venture. SEABOURN Like Viking, Seabourn has only recently added its first expedition cruise ships for expedition cruising to Antarctica. The two vessels — Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit — both carry 264 passengers at maximum occupancy and are ice-rated vessels with all the luxury touches that Seabourn fans have come to know, including restaurants serving elegant cuisine. Every room on both of the ships, notably, is a suite with its own balcony — something that isn't often the case with expedition ships. In addition, the ships offer a lot of high-end adventure. Outdoor equipment for off-ship exploring includes kayaks as well as Zodiac boats. But perhaps their standout adventure features are two, six-person submarines that allow passengers to explore the world under the water in polar regions as well as what's above the waterline. Related: I just went kayaking in Antarctica — if I can do it, so can you Among other unusual features of the ships that make a difference in polar regions is a high-definition Cineplex camera that can pick up wildlife up to 5 miles away and streams the footage into an onboard "discovery center" while leaving the wildlife undisturbed. The ships sail with 23 expedition guides, including scientists, historians and naturalists who lecture regularly on board and lead guided tours on land. The details: Fares for Antarctic sailings start at $11,899 per person, including flights in Argentina to reach the ship. Planning an Antarctica cruise expedition? Start with these stories: Dreaming of Antarctica: How to book the trip of a lifetime Skip the Drake Passage: What it's like flying to Antarctica on a chartered plane The ultimate packing list for an Antarctica trip
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He has spent nearly 30 years writing about cruise ships and cruising, and he is one of the world's best-known authorities on the topic. Feb. 19, 2026 • 10 min read ![Cruising Antarctica](https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2021/12/Antartica_David-Merron-Photography-3.jpg?width=2000&crop=16%3A9%2Coffset-x50%2Coffset-y50) Jump to section - Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Copy URL - [Email](<mailto:?body=https%3A%2F%2Fthepointsguy.com%2Fcruise%2Fbest-antarctica-luxury-trips%2F&subject=The Points Guy: 6 ways to travel to Antarctica in style and luxury>) The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our [advertising policy](https://thepointsguy.com/advertising-policy/) and [product review methodology](https://thepointsguy.com/review-methodology/) for more information. New ### Quick summary - Luxury cruises to Antarctica have evolved, now offering upscale accommodations, gourmet dining and unique amenities on purpose-built expedition ships. - Six leading cruise brands provide high-end Antarctic voyages, each with distinct features such as helicopters, submarines, advanced observation areas and scientific research labs. - Options range from small, intimate vessels to larger ships, with experiences designed for comfort, adventure and educational enrichment. - Fares for these luxury expeditions are significant, often including extras like precruise hotel stays, flights within South America, drinks and gratuities. #### What to consider - Expedition cruise fares typically cover more than just the voyage, often bundling flights, hotel stays, drinks and gratuities, but inclusions vary by operator. - Some ships offer rare amenities like helicopters, submarines or research labs, while others prioritize outdoor observation space or sustainable design. - Travelers should review ship-specific features, accessibility options and the level of included adventure activities when selecting a cruise. ### What you'll miss from the article - A detailed comparison of each cruise line's standout offerings, ship amenities and the unique experiences available on luxury Antarctic expeditions. Generated by AI with support from our editorial team. Show summary There was a time when traveling to Antarctica meant roughing it a bit. Many of the adventure travel companies that pioneered tourist trips to the White Continent initially used relatively spartan, sometimes repurposed ships to get people there. But those days are long gone. Now you can travel to the world's most remote destination in luxury and style — assuming you're willing to pay the often steep cost of such trips. ADVERTISEMENT Two specific luxury cruise companies — [Silversea Cruises](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/silversea/) and [Ponant Explorations](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/ponant-explorations/) — have carved out a niche over the past two decades offering high-end voyages to Antarctica on upscale vessels where you'll sleep in cabins and dine in onboard eateries that are every bit as spectacular as the Antarctic scenery. Several more high-end cruise brands have gotten into similarly upscale cruising to Antarctica in just the last few years. Get updates on cruise deals and top stories by subscribing to the TPG Cruiseletter. The newcomers include luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, which launched two very upscale [expedition ships](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/expedition-cruises-ultimate-guide/) since 2019 — a type of cruise ship specifically designed for travel to remote, hard-to-reach places. Also relatively new to upscale cruising to Antarctica are Atlas Ocean Voyages, which has offered Antarctica sailings since late 2021 on purpose-built expedition vessels, and [Viking](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/viking/), which launched voyages to the continent with new expedition ships in early 2022. ADVERTISEMENT Related: [The best expedition ships for Antarctica cruises](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-antarctica-cruise-ships/) Luxury line [Seabourn](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/seabourn/) has been offering Antarctica cruises since late 2022 with its first luxury expedition ships. Here, we take a look at these six cruise brands that are leading the way in luxury trips to Antarctica. ![](https://thepointsguy.com/images/EmailSignUp/daily-dt.svg) Daily Newsletter Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter Join over 1,000,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts ## Silversea Cruises ![The Silversea expedition ship Silver Endeavour](https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2023/03/Silver-Endeavour-scaled.jpg?width=3840) Silver Endeavour. SILVERSEA CRUISES Silversea has been the leader among the [major luxury cruise lines](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-luxury-cruise-lines/) in expanding into expedition cruises to remote, hard-to-reach destinations, and it's a big player in luxury trips to Antarctica. The Miami-based line's 18-year-old expedition cruise division currently operates high-end sailings to the White Continent on three vessels — the 220-passenger Silver Endeavour, the 254-passenger Silver Cloud and the 274-passenger Silver Wind. In addition to traditional sailings from South America that cross the Drake Passage, Silversea also offers its signature [Fly Cruise program](https://thepointsguy.com/news/silversea-antarctica-flight-experience/), allowing guests to fly over the Drake without sacrificing time spent in Antarctica. The journey will become even more seamless with the debut of The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, Chile, Silversea's new hotel designed to streamline the Antarctic travel experience, including new charter flights connecting directly from Santiago to Puerto Williams. ![Card Illustration](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7) ![Person using CardMatch](https://thepointsguy.com/_next/image/?url=%2Fimages%2FCM2%2Finline-widget%2Fhappy-customer.png&w=3840&q=75) CardMatch Let us help find the best card for you Get personalized card matches to maximize your earning potential. Let's get started. How do you want to redeem your rewards? Booking travel and travel experiences Cash back and statement credits Take me to CardMatch Related: [This new luxury tour gets you to Antarctica faster than most](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/silversea-antarctica-bridge-fly-cruise/) While older than many of the luxury ships sailing to Antarctica, Silver Cloud and Silver Wind offer a luxury experience with all-suite accommodations, upscale cuisine and luxury touches such as butler service for every suite. Silver Endeavour is a newer vessel with even more advanced offerings. The details: Fares for 10-night Antarctica trips start at \$10,920 per person, based on double occupancy. ## Ponant Explorations ![The expedition cruise ship Le Commandant Charcot](https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2023/09/20230928_LE-COMMANDANT-CHARCOT_PONANT_16_Activite-Kayak-CDT-Charcot%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BDStudioPONANT-Olivier-Blaud_6.jpg?width=3840) Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot. OLIVIER BLAUD/PONANT A longtime leader in expedition cruises, Ponant is known for its [array of truly once-in-a-lifetime small-ship adventures](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/best-ponant-cruise-itineraries/) to places no other passenger ships go, including [epic voyages to the North Pole](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/north-pole-cruise-ponant/), the [only winter expedition cruises to Canada](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/winter-canada-cruise-ponant/) and a wide range of extended sailings to Antarctica. Some of the most unusual sailings the line offers to the White Continent take place on [Le Commandant Charcot](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/ponant-le-commandant-charcot-cruise-ship/), the world's first and only luxury icebreaker. Unveiled in 2021, it's by far the toughest passenger vessel ever built, capable of reaching ice-clogged parts of Antarctica that no other ship can reach. The line also takes well-heeled, intellectually curious travelers to Antarctica on four other upscale expedition ships, all sister vessels, that were purpose-built for such voyages: Le Boreal, Le Lyrial, L'Austral and Le Soleal. ADVERTISEMENT Unveiled between 2010 and 2015, these 264-passenger ships are sleek and stylish, with contemporary decor, large rooms with balconies and multiple restaurants. But they also feature a sustainable design with ice-strengthened hulls and cutting-edge technology, allowing them to safely access harder-to-reach regions such as Antarctica. While Ponant is a France-based line, its sailings are bilingual with announcements in both French and English, and it draws an international crowd in addition to many Americans. Related: [The ultimate guide to Ponant ships and itineraries](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/ponant-cruise-guide/) The details: Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at \$17,320 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a precruise hotel stay in Buenos Aires and round-trip flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. ## Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours ![](https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2022/02/Scenic-Luxury-Cruises-Tours-Eclipse_SCENIC.png?width=3840) Scenic Eclipse. SCENIC LUXURY CRUISES Long known for high-end river cruises, luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has made a big move into high-end expedition trips to Antarctica since 2019 with the debut of its first two expedition vessels, the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse and sister ship Scenic Eclipse II. Billed as "discovery yachts," the super-swanky vessels offer all-suite accommodations (and we're talking real suites with separate living rooms), butler service for all and a wide range of onboard dining options including a sushi restaurant. They also have whiskey bars stocked with more than 110 whiskies and other high-end liquors, plus a spa and a yoga studio. The initial vessel in this series, Scenic Eclipse, was notably the first Antarctica-bound cruise vessel to boast helicopters to take passengers on epic (and pricey) Antarctica excursions. Scenic Eclipse II debuted with helicopters, too. Both vessels also have submarines for underwater exploration. Having experienced a helicopter excursion from one of these vessels, I can say that it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. On the downside, the helicopter pads and hangars on these ships eat up a lot of space on their top decks, as do the suites along the vessel's sharply sloping front. The combination leaves less available room for observation areas. The result is a ship with less outdoor space for viewing scenery than is typical for small vessels operating polar trips. The details: Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at \$17,868 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a precruise, one-night hotel stay in Buenos Aires; round-trip flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia; drinks, including spirits and fine wines; and prepaid gratuities. Related: [These books are must-reads before an Antarctica trip](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/antarctica-book-reading-list/) ## Atlas Ocean Voyages ![](https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2022/02/Atlas-Ocean-Voyages-World-Traveller_ATLAS.png?width=3840) The Atlas World Traveller. ATLAS Launched in 2021, [Atlas Ocean Voyages](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/atlas-ocean-voyages-cruise-guide/) is a relatively new brand that specializes in luxury sailings on small, yacht-like vessels to some of the world's most off-the-beaten-path destinations, such as Antarctica and the Arctic. They also operate in more mainstream cruise destinations such as Europe and Asia. The brand currently fields three nearly identical, 184-passenger ships (World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager), all of which spend at least part of their time in Antarctica. Built tough for polar exploring (they each have a PC 6 ice class rating), these three ships are designed to be upscale with elegant, 1940s-influenced decor, and pampering touches such as L'Occitane-branded spas (the first at sea) and butler service in top cabins. The vessels, which I have [given high marks](https://thepointsguy.com/news/atlas-ocean-voyages-cruise/) after past sailings, are also loaded with indoor and outdoor observation areas, including innovative, close-to-the-waterline outside deck areas with heated seating called The Water's Edge. High-tech touches include GPS systems that let them hover in sensitive areas without dropping anchor. Related: [I just spent the night in an igloo in Antarctica — here's how you can, too](https://thepointsguy.com/news/antarctica-igloo-experience-lindblad-expeditions/) The details: Nine-night voyages to Antarctica start at \$11,748 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares cover drinks, including spirits and fine wines; shipboard Wi-Fi; prepaid gratuities; and emergency medical evacuation insurance for every passenger (the latter being a rare offering among companies cruising to Antarctica). ## Viking ![Viking Octantis](https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2022/03/Viking-Cruises_Cruise-Stock_Viking-Octantis-Antartica-Snowy-Coastline.jpg?width=3840) Viking Octantis in Antarctica. VIKING Viking is a relative newcomer to expedition cruising in Antarctica — it's only been operating in the region since 2022. But it's gotten a lot of attention from cruise-industry watchers. That's because the two new expedition ships the line has built for Antarctica sailings — the 378-passenger Viking Octantis and sister ship Viking Polaris — have several unusual features. Most notable is The Hangar, an enclosed marina on each of the vessels that allows passengers to transfer to a special touring boat while still in the protected interior of the ship. A first for expedition ships, it's something that makes it easier for travelers with mobility issues to experience the region. In another first for polar expedition cruise vessels, every cabin on the two vessels has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel. Like all Viking ships, the public areas and cabins on Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris boast an elegant Scandinavian design. Their restaurants include a version of Viking's signature Italian spot, Manfredi's, and the Scandinavian-inspired Mamsen's outlet. Also familiar are top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers' Lounges promising stunning views of passing scenery. Another standout public space is The Aula, a dramatic panoramic auditorium designed for lectures, daily briefings and other events that features a screen that retracts to reveal floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping 270-degree views. Also notable is The Science Lab, a working wet and dry research facility where guest scientists carry out real research throughout voyages. Passengers are invited to observe, ask questions and gain a deeper insight about scientific work related to the places the ship sails. Related: [The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/viking-cruise-guide/) As is typical for expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are tough vessels, with reinforced bows that let them bump through ice in polar regions and extra tanks for fuel and food. In addition to landing craft on board to bring people ashore, they carry kayaks and even submersibles for exploring (the latter being something that is relatively rare on cruise vessels of any type). The details: Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at \$14,995 per person. ## Seabourn ![](https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2022/02/Seabourn-Venture_SEABOURN.png?width=3840) Seabourn Venture. SEABOURN Like Viking, Seabourn has only recently added its first expedition cruise ships for expedition cruising to Antarctica. The two vessels — Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit — both carry 264 passengers at maximum occupancy and are ice-rated vessels with all the luxury touches that Seabourn fans have come to know, including restaurants serving elegant cuisine. Every room on both of the ships, notably, is a suite with its own balcony — something that isn't often the case with expedition ships. In addition, the ships offer a lot of high-end adventure. Outdoor equipment for off-ship exploring includes kayaks as well as Zodiac boats. But perhaps their standout adventure features are two, six-person submarines that allow passengers to explore the world under the water in polar regions as well as what's above the waterline. Related: [I just went kayaking in Antarctica — if I can do it, so can you](https://thepointsguy.com/news/antarctica-kayak-expedition-lindblad-cruise/) Among other unusual features of the ships that make a difference in polar regions is a high-definition Cineplex camera that can pick up wildlife up to 5 miles away and streams the footage into an onboard "discovery center" while leaving the wildlife undisturbed. The ships sail with 23 expedition guides, including scientists, historians and naturalists who lecture regularly on board and lead guided tours on land. The details: Fares for Antarctic sailings start at \$11,899 per person, including flights in Argentina to reach the ship. Planning an Antarctica cruise expedition? Start with these stories:** - [Dreaming of Antarctica: How to book the trip of a lifetime](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/travel-to-antarctica/) - [Skip the Drake Passage: What it's like flying to Antarctica on a chartered plane](https://thepointsguy.com/news/silversea-antarctica-flight-experience/) - [The ultimate packing list for an Antarctica trip](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/antarctica-packing-list/) Featured image by DAVID MERRON PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. ## Check out current card offers - [![](data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%2788%27%20height=%2754%27/%3e)![](https://thepointsguy.com/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.prodstatic.com%2Fshared%2Fimages%2Fcards%2F278x175%2F96987490-949f-11f0-832a-f3f3309a1b0c.png&w=256&q=75) Learn Moreabout American Express Platinum Card®](https://thepointsguy.com/oc/22504813/?tid=FAV-CARD-WIDGET-1&c_anonymous_id=c7616f1d-66a6-4ef5-8c36-89d9337a7fe2&c_correlation_id=c8fddf84-22e6-499b-9880-edcd35d57f30&c_exitPageId=thepointsguy.com%2Fcruise%2Fbest-antarctica-luxury-trips%2F&c_instance_id=21108e54-3455-4fb7-80b1-b0ba936d1f2d&c_landing_page_url=thepointsguy.com%2Fcruise%2Fbest-antarctica-luxury-trips%2F&c_session_id=49e8a9ce-14ee-4d17-9657-c08106775372&c_tenant_id=8830ce36-13f9-40da-8176-b8cbf73a598c) Terms Apply [See rates & fees](https://thepointsguy.com/tc/22504813/) [Best luxury travel rewards card American Express Platinum Card® As High As 175,000 points. 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Readable Markdown	There was a time when traveling to Antarctica meant roughing it a bit. Many of the adventure travel companies that pioneered tourist trips to the White Continent initially used relatively spartan, sometimes repurposed ships to get people there. But those days are long gone. Now you can travel to the world's most remote destination in luxury and style — assuming you're willing to pay the often steep cost of such trips. Two specific luxury cruise companies — [Silversea Cruises](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/silversea/) and [Ponant Explorations](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/ponant-explorations/) — have carved out a niche over the past two decades offering high-end voyages to Antarctica on upscale vessels where you'll sleep in cabins and dine in onboard eateries that are every bit as spectacular as the Antarctic scenery. Several more high-end cruise brands have gotten into similarly upscale cruising to Antarctica in just the last few years. Get updates on cruise deals and top stories by subscribing to the . The newcomers include luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, which launched two very upscale [expedition ships](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/expedition-cruises-ultimate-guide/) since 2019 — a type of cruise ship specifically designed for travel to remote, hard-to-reach places. Also relatively new to upscale cruising to Antarctica are Atlas Ocean Voyages, which has offered Antarctica sailings since late 2021 on purpose-built expedition vessels, and [Viking](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/viking/), which launched voyages to the continent with new expedition ships in early 2022. Related: [The best expedition ships for Antarctica cruises](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-antarctica-cruise-ships/) Luxury line [Seabourn](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/seabourn/) has been offering Antarctica cruises since late 2022 with its first luxury expedition ships. Here, we take a look at these six cruise brands that are leading the way in luxury trips to Antarctica. ![](https://thepointsguy.com/images/EmailSignUp/daily-dt.svg) Daily Newsletter Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter Join over 1,000,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts ## Silversea Cruises ![The Silversea expedition ship Silver Endeavour](https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2023/03/Silver-Endeavour-scaled.jpg?width=3840) Silver Endeavour. SILVERSEA CRUISES Silversea has been the leader among the [major luxury cruise lines](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-luxury-cruise-lines/) in expanding into expedition cruises to remote, hard-to-reach destinations, and it's a big player in luxury trips to Antarctica. The Miami-based line's 18-year-old expedition cruise division currently operates high-end sailings to the White Continent on three vessels — the 220-passenger Silver Endeavour, the 254-passenger Silver Cloud and the 274-passenger Silver Wind. In addition to traditional sailings from South America that cross the Drake Passage, Silversea also offers its signature [Fly Cruise program](https://thepointsguy.com/news/silversea-antarctica-flight-experience/), allowing guests to fly over the Drake without sacrificing time spent in Antarctica. The journey will become even more seamless with the debut of The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, Chile, Silversea's new hotel designed to streamline the Antarctic travel experience, including new charter flights connecting directly from Santiago to Puerto Williams. Related: [This new luxury tour gets you to Antarctica faster than most](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/silversea-antarctica-bridge-fly-cruise/) While older than many of the luxury ships sailing to Antarctica, Silver Cloud and Silver Wind offer a luxury experience with all-suite accommodations, upscale cuisine and luxury touches such as butler service for every suite. Silver Endeavour is a newer vessel with even more advanced offerings. The details: Fares for 10-night Antarctica trips start at \$10,920 per person, based on double occupancy. ## Ponant Explorations ![The expedition cruise ship Le Commandant Charcot](https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2023/09/20230928_LE-COMMANDANT-CHARCOT_PONANT_16_Activite-Kayak-CDT-Charcot%EF%BF%BD%EF%BF%BDStudioPONANT-Olivier-Blaud_6.jpg?width=3840) Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot. OLIVIER BLAUD/PONANT A longtime leader in expedition cruises, Ponant is known for its [array of truly once-in-a-lifetime small-ship adventures](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/best-ponant-cruise-itineraries/) to places no other passenger ships go, including [epic voyages to the North Pole](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/north-pole-cruise-ponant/), the [only winter expedition cruises to Canada](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/winter-canada-cruise-ponant/) and a wide range of extended sailings to Antarctica. Some of the most unusual sailings the line offers to the White Continent take place on [Le Commandant Charcot](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/ponant-le-commandant-charcot-cruise-ship/), the world's first and only luxury icebreaker. Unveiled in 2021, it's by far the toughest passenger vessel ever built, capable of reaching ice-clogged parts of Antarctica that no other ship can reach. The line also takes well-heeled, intellectually curious travelers to Antarctica on four other upscale expedition ships, all sister vessels, that were purpose-built for such voyages: Le Boreal, Le Lyrial, L'Austral and Le Soleal. Unveiled between 2010 and 2015, these 264-passenger ships are sleek and stylish, with contemporary decor, large rooms with balconies and multiple restaurants. But they also feature a sustainable design with ice-strengthened hulls and cutting-edge technology, allowing them to safely access harder-to-reach regions such as Antarctica. While Ponant is a France-based line, its sailings are bilingual with announcements in both French and English, and it draws an international crowd in addition to many Americans. Related: [The ultimate guide to Ponant ships and itineraries](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/ponant-cruise-guide/) The details: Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at \$17,320 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a precruise hotel stay in Buenos Aires and round-trip flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. ## Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours ![](https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2022/02/Scenic-Luxury-Cruises-Tours-Eclipse_SCENIC.png?width=3840) Scenic Eclipse. SCENIC LUXURY CRUISES Long known for high-end river cruises, luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has made a big move into high-end expedition trips to Antarctica since 2019 with the debut of its first two expedition vessels, the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse and sister ship Scenic Eclipse II. Billed as "discovery yachts," the super-swanky vessels offer all-suite accommodations (and we're talking real suites with separate living rooms), butler service for all and a wide range of onboard dining options including a sushi restaurant. They also have whiskey bars stocked with more than 110 whiskies and other high-end liquors, plus a spa and a yoga studio. The initial vessel in this series, Scenic Eclipse, was notably the first Antarctica-bound cruise vessel to boast helicopters to take passengers on epic (and pricey) Antarctica excursions. Scenic Eclipse II debuted with helicopters, too. Both vessels also have submarines for underwater exploration. Having experienced a helicopter excursion from one of these vessels, I can say that it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. On the downside, the helicopter pads and hangars on these ships eat up a lot of space on their top decks, as do the suites along the vessel's sharply sloping front. The combination leaves less available room for observation areas. The result is a ship with less outdoor space for viewing scenery than is typical for small vessels operating polar trips. The details: Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at \$17,868 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares include a precruise, one-night hotel stay in Buenos Aires; round-trip flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia; drinks, including spirits and fine wines; and prepaid gratuities. Related: [These books are must-reads before an Antarctica trip](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/antarctica-book-reading-list/) ## Atlas Ocean Voyages ![](https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2022/02/Atlas-Ocean-Voyages-World-Traveller_ATLAS.png?width=3840) The Atlas World Traveller. ATLAS Launched in 2021, [Atlas Ocean Voyages](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/atlas-ocean-voyages-cruise-guide/) is a relatively new brand that specializes in luxury sailings on small, yacht-like vessels to some of the world's most off-the-beaten-path destinations, such as Antarctica and the Arctic. They also operate in more mainstream cruise destinations such as Europe and Asia. The brand currently fields three nearly identical, 184-passenger ships (World Navigator, World Traveller and World Voyager), all of which spend at least part of their time in Antarctica. Built tough for polar exploring (they each have a PC 6 ice class rating), these three ships are designed to be upscale with elegant, 1940s-influenced decor, and pampering touches such as L'Occitane-branded spas (the first at sea) and butler service in top cabins. The vessels, which I have [given high marks](https://thepointsguy.com/news/atlas-ocean-voyages-cruise/) after past sailings, are also loaded with indoor and outdoor observation areas, including innovative, close-to-the-waterline outside deck areas with heated seating called The Water's Edge. High-tech touches include GPS systems that let them hover in sensitive areas without dropping anchor. Related: [I just spent the night in an igloo in Antarctica — here's how you can, too](https://thepointsguy.com/news/antarctica-igloo-experience-lindblad-expeditions/) The details: Nine-night voyages to Antarctica start at \$11,748 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares cover drinks, including spirits and fine wines; shipboard Wi-Fi; prepaid gratuities; and emergency medical evacuation insurance for every passenger (the latter being a rare offering among companies cruising to Antarctica). ## Viking ![Viking Octantis](https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2022/03/Viking-Cruises_Cruise-Stock_Viking-Octantis-Antartica-Snowy-Coastline.jpg?width=3840) Viking Octantis in Antarctica. VIKING Viking is a relative newcomer to expedition cruising in Antarctica — it's only been operating in the region since 2022. But it's gotten a lot of attention from cruise-industry watchers. That's because the two new expedition ships the line has built for Antarctica sailings — the 378-passenger Viking Octantis and sister ship Viking Polaris — have several unusual features. Most notable is The Hangar, an enclosed marina on each of the vessels that allows passengers to transfer to a special touring boat while still in the protected interior of the ship. A first for expedition ships, it's something that makes it easier for travelers with mobility issues to experience the region. In another first for polar expedition cruise vessels, every cabin on the two vessels has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel. Like all Viking ships, the public areas and cabins on Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris boast an elegant Scandinavian design. Their restaurants include a version of Viking's signature Italian spot, Manfredi's, and the Scandinavian-inspired Mamsen's outlet. Also familiar are top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers' Lounges promising stunning views of passing scenery. Another standout public space is The Aula, a dramatic panoramic auditorium designed for lectures, daily briefings and other events that features a screen that retracts to reveal floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping 270-degree views. Also notable is The Science Lab, a working wet and dry research facility where guest scientists carry out real research throughout voyages. Passengers are invited to observe, ask questions and gain a deeper insight about scientific work related to the places the ship sails. Related: [The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries](https://thepointsguy.com/cruise/viking-cruise-guide/) As is typical for expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are tough vessels, with reinforced bows that let them bump through ice in polar regions and extra tanks for fuel and food. In addition to landing craft on board to bring people ashore, they carry kayaks and even submersibles for exploring (the latter being something that is relatively rare on cruise vessels of any type). The details: Fares for 12-night Antarctica trips start at \$14,995 per person. ## Seabourn ![](https://runway-media-production.global.ssl.fastly.net/us/originals/2022/02/Seabourn-Venture_SEABOURN.png?width=3840) Seabourn Venture. SEABOURN Like Viking, Seabourn has only recently added its first expedition cruise ships for expedition cruising to Antarctica. The two vessels — Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit — both carry 264 passengers at maximum occupancy and are ice-rated vessels with all the luxury touches that Seabourn fans have come to know, including restaurants serving elegant cuisine. Every room on both of the ships, notably, is a suite with its own balcony — something that isn't often the case with expedition ships. In addition, the ships offer a lot of high-end adventure. Outdoor equipment for off-ship exploring includes kayaks as well as Zodiac boats. But perhaps their standout adventure features are two, six-person submarines that allow passengers to explore the world under the water in polar regions as well as what's above the waterline. Related: [I just went kayaking in Antarctica — if I can do it, so can you](https://thepointsguy.com/news/antarctica-kayak-expedition-lindblad-cruise/) Among other unusual features of the ships that make a difference in polar regions is a high-definition Cineplex camera that can pick up wildlife up to 5 miles away and streams the footage into an onboard "discovery center" while leaving the wildlife undisturbed. The ships sail with 23 expedition guides, including scientists, historians and naturalists who lecture regularly on board and lead guided tours on land. The details: Fares for Antarctic sailings start at \$11,899 per person, including flights in Argentina to reach the ship. Planning an Antarctica cruise expedition? Start with these stories: - [Dreaming of Antarctica: How to book the trip of a lifetime](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/travel-to-antarctica/) - [Skip the Drake Passage: What it's like flying to Antarctica on a chartered plane](https://thepointsguy.com/news/silversea-antarctica-flight-experience/) - [The ultimate packing list for an Antarctica trip](https://thepointsguy.com/guide/antarctica-packing-list/)
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