Antarctica cruises 2026–2027, plus the Arctic and the Galápagos

Antarctica, the Arctic and the Galápagos share one rule of thumb: the smaller the ship, the more you see. Each region limits how big a ship can be, or how many people can go ashore at once, so this guide starts with the ship size and then the line.

The one rule that decides an Antarctica cruise

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) sets the rules its members follow:

• More than 500 passengers: no landings at all. These ships are cruise-only and show you Antarctica from the deck.
• 201 to 500 passengers: landings allowed, with strict limits on where and when.
• Every ship that lands: no more than 100 visitors ashore at one site at the same time, with at least one guiding staff member for every 20 visitors.

That is why Holland America, Princess, Celebrity and Norwegian sell “scenic cruising” in Antarctica, while expedition lines sell landings. A ship with a few hundred guests rotates them ashore in groups. A ship with 100 to 200 guests gets everyone ashore more often.

Best time for an Antarctica cruise

Antarctica cruises run in the southern summer, from about November to March. The lines schedule their ships in those months: Princess’s 2026–27 Antarctica route sails between November 2026 and January 2027, and Holland America, Celebrity and Norwegian schedule their South America voyages in the same window. Ice, wind and sea state decide the day’s plan at any point in the season, so a landing is never guaranteed.

Antarctica cruise lines compared

Expedition lines land you. Mainstream lines sail past.

• SilverseaExpedition, landingsThe biggest luxury program: 43 Antarctica voyages on Silver Wind and Silver Endeavour in the 2027–2028 collection, 32 of them fly cruises that replace the Drake Passage crossing with a flight.
  From $13,950 per personChecked October 2026
• SeabournExpedition, landingsSeabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit sail 49 expedition voyages from March 2027 to April 2028, covering Antarctica and the Arctic, with Zodiac landings and an expedition team.
  Fares change daily; check current prices
• Princess CruisesBig ship, scenic onlyMajestic Princess sails a 17-day Antarctica route in its November 2026 to January 2027 South America season.
  Fares change daily; check current prices
• Holland America LineBig ship, scenic onlyAdds a 22-day Antarctica route in 2027–28 that spends four days in Antarctic waters and crosses the Drake Passage.
  Fares change daily; check current prices
• Celebrity CruisesBig ship, scenic onlyCelebrity Equinox sails from Buenos Aires in 2026–27, and some sailings add scenic cruising off Antarctica.
  Fares change daily; check current prices
• Norwegian Cruise LineBig ship, scenic onlyNo 2026–27 season. Norwegian Star returns from December 2027 with scenic cruising at Elephant Island on 15-night Buenos Aires to San Antonio voyages.
  Fares change daily; check current prices

National Geographic Antarctica cruises. Lindblad Expeditions sells its voyages with National Geographic. Its new 2026–27 voyages include a 25-day Patagonia, Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica trip departing in January, listed from $50,000 per person (checked October 2026).

Our pick: if landing in Antarctica is the point, book an expedition ship, and pay for a fly cruise if you dread rough seas. If you mainly want to see the ice and your budget is tight, a big-ship South America voyage with scenic cruising is the honest compromise. Our South America cruise guide covers those routes.

How much is a cruise to Antarctica?

Antarctica is one of the most expensive cruise regions. Price depends on three things:

• Ship type. A big ship that only sails past costs a fraction of an expedition fare, because the voyage is a South America cruise with a few days in Antarctic waters.
• Fly cruise or sea crossing. A flight over the Drake Passage saves sea days but adds cost.
• Length. Routes that add the Falklands and South Georgia run three weeks or more.

The cheapest Antarctica cruise is usually a big-ship scenic sailing, booked early. Expedition lines include landings and Zodiac outings in the fare, so compare what is included, not just the headline price. See our luxury and small-ship cruise guide for how the expedition lines compare on board.

Departure ports

Most Antarctica cruises leave from Ushuaia, Argentina, according to IAATO. Punta Arenas in Chile and Montevideo in Uruguay are other gateways in South America, and a few trips leave from Hobart, New Zealand’s ports or South Africa. Big-ship voyages start in Buenos Aires or San Antonio (for Santiago). Every route needs a long flight from the US, so plan an extra night before you sail.

Arctic cruises

Arctic cruises run in the northern summer. The two main kinds:

• Expedition voyages to Svalbard, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic on small ships. Silversea’s 2027–2028 collection has 20 Arctic and Greenland voyages, some reaching 80 degrees north. Lindblad’s new 10-day Southeast Greenland voyage departs in July and is listed from $11,000 per person (checked October 2026).
• Arctic Circle cruises on big ships along the Norwegian coast and to Iceland. Our Northern Europe cruise guide covers those.

Svalbard rules. Since January 1, 2025, only ships with 200 passengers or fewer may enter Svalbard’s protected areas, which cover its national parks and nature reserves. Landing sites in those areas were cut to 43. Longyearbyen, the main port, is outside the protected areas, so bigger ships can still call there. If you want the remote fjords and wildlife, choose a ship of 200 guests or fewer.

Galápagos cruises

The Galápagos National Park limits expedition vessels to 100 passengers, so every Galápagos cruise is small-ship. You fly from mainland Ecuador to join the ship in the islands.

• Celebrity FloraCelebrity Cruises, 100 guestsCelebrity's one Galápagos ship. Seven-night cruises include drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities and the park fees; longer packages add hotel nights in Quito and the flight to the islands.
• Silver OriginSilversea, 2020, 100 guestsBuilt for the Galápagos, with Silversea butler service.
• National Geographic Islander IILindblad-National GeographicSails year-round in the Galápagos since 2022, with snorkeling gear, kayaks and paddleboards on board.

Entrance fee. Since August 1, 2024, the national park fee for international adult visitors is $200 per person, up from $100. Children 12 and under pay less, and children under 2 are free. Check whether your cruise fare includes it; Celebrity’s does.

For a first Galápagos cruise we’d pick a seven-night trip on Celebrity Flora: the fare covers drinks, gratuities and the park fee, so the price you see is close to what you pay. Pick Silver Origin for more luxury on board, or Lindblad-National Geographic for a smaller ship with kayaks and snorkeling gear on board.

Antarctica, Arctic and Galápagos sailings snapshot

Our price snapshot has very few polar or Galápagos sailings, because CruiseBound lists few expedition voyages. The table shows what it had when we checked.

Places these cruises visit

• The Antarctic Peninsula: the destination of almost all Antarctica cruises.
• Elephant Island: scenic cruising on Norwegian Star’s 2027–28 route.
• South Georgia and the Falklands (Stanley): on longer expedition routes, including Lindblad’s 25-day voyage.
• Ushuaia and Punta Arenas: the gateway ports at the tip of South America.
• Svalbard (Longyearbyen): the base for Arctic expeditions north of Norway.
• Greenland (Nuuk): on expedition voyages and some Iceland routes.
• The Galápagos Islands: in Ecuador, reached by air from the mainland.

Antarctica, Arctic and Galápagos cruise FAQ