Antarctic cruise holidays: introduction
A spectacularly wild and pristine frontier land of dramatic topography, weather and wildlife, Antarctica is almost entirely covered in perpetual ice. During the long days of the austral summer expedition cruises depart from the southern tip of South America, the shortest and probably most scenically impressive approach.
Climate and when to go
The season runs from November to early March. Each month has its own special and often unique highlights:
In November the spring ice begins to break up, creating sculpted new landscapes of pristine icebergs with abundant pack ice. This is the courting season for penguins and sea birds, with whole colonies in spectacular displays of courtship rituals. Seals are visible, spring flowers bloom on the Falklands, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets create stunning photographic opportunities.
December and January are witness to wildlife in full swing as temperatures and activity levels rise and days lengthen. On South Georgia and the Falklands the first penguin chicks emerge and fur seals are breeding. Whale sightings increase as receding ice opens new channels for exploration. February is already late summer in Antarctica: whale sightings are at their best, penguin chicks begin to fledge and the receding pack ice permits forays further south. Snow algae blooms, chicks leave their nests and fur seals are increasingly common on the Antarctic Peninsula.
“Antarctica was brilliant - all we had hoped.” - CT
“We have returned from South America and Antarctica having enjoyed an excellent trip. All the arrangements worked well and whilst the whole trip was excellent, Antarctica was superb and we were particularly impressed with Explora. Many thanks for making all the arrangements.” - DC
“Just a short note to thank you so much for all you did to make our time in South America so special, we shall not stop singing your praises. The Antarctic in particular was a complete wow! Everything worked out brilliantly, and we have great memories and some wonderful photos of the trip. The itinerary was superb, hotels excellent, and the whole experience just fantastic.” - JL
“What can I say - I had a fantastic time! The ship, accommodation, food, expedition and ship staff were excellent. Apart from one wet morning in South Georgia, the weather was great with sunshine most of the time. The wildlife and scenery were amazing - I'm now having to sort through the hundreds of photographs I took! We also had a hike on South Georgia between Fortuna Bay and Stromness, which followed the last 5km of Shackleton's epic journey to rescue his crew - so I'm glad I packed my walking boots.” - KA
