Antarctica Compare Ships in Antarctica

Antarctic holidays have traditionally been all about the destination and much less about the ship you’re on. Until just 20 years ago travel was limited to sturdy and functional scientific research vessels and icebreakers, with few frills and ideally suited to adventurous travellers. Today’s new generation of Antarctic ships is chiefly dedicated to leisure expedition travel, some offering levels of luxury barely imaginable just a decade ago. All are small by the standards of the gigantic liners of the Caribbean or the Med, and all are ice strengthened. Price and comfort levels are only partial indicators: every ship carries a high-calibre English-speaking team and crew dedicated to making sure your trip is safe and fulfilling. So, whether you share a quad-berth cabin on an economic vessel or a balcony stateroom on a higher end cruise, you should find your Antarctic experience is first class. Browse our wide range of Antarctica ships below.

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Silver Cloud

Class: First Class Superior

Price bracket: ££££

Capacity: 254

Unique combination of an expeditionary experience, fine dining and butler service in Polar waters.

Ullapool Harbour – Cruise Ship Silver Wind

Silver Wind

Class: First Class Superior

Price bracket: ££££

Capacity: 274

Hotel-style comfort and facilities in the most remote reaches of the Earth.

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Hebridean Sky

Class: First Class

Price bracket: ££££

Capacity: 100 (75 on air cruises)

Stylish ship with large cabins and a remarkably spacious feel throughout. Specialises in air cruises.

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Magellan Explorer

Class: First Class

Price bracket: ££££

Capacity: 100 (73 on air cruises - 76 from 2024/25 season)

Sleek, brand new and state-of-the-art ship specialising in Polar air-cruises.

Ultramarine

Ultramarine

Class: First Class

Price bracket: ££££

Capacity: 199

State of the art expedition ship carrying twin-engine helicopters.

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World Explorer

Class: First Class

Price bracket: ££££

Capacity: 172

Luxurious all suite ship with a great sense of light and space.

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Island Sky

Class: First Class

Price bracket: £££

Capacity: 112

An elegant, classy US-operated ship which captures the nostalgia of life on the ocean.

Seaventure

Seaventure

Class: First Class

Price bracket: £££

Capacity: 149

Serious about Polar expedition cruising in comfort: speed, stability, and an excellent ice-class.

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Ocean Adventurer

Class: Upper Mid-Range

Price bracket: £££

Capacity: 128

Long-standing popular cruise vessel, given a top-to-toe refurbishment in 2017.

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Ocean Nova

Class: Upper Mid-Range

Price bracket: £££

Capacity: 72 (67 on air cruises)

Intimate Danish-built ship operated by the pioneers of Polar air-cruises.

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Hondius

Class: Mid-Range

Price bracket: ££

Capacity: 170

Comfortable Dutch-operated ship offering classic cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula.

Ocean Endeavour

Ocean Endeavour

Class: Mid-Range

Price bracket: ££

Capacity: 199

Ocean Endeavour delivers Polar cruises with a focus on excellent value for money.

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Ortelius

Class: Mid-Range

Price bracket: ££

Capacity: 108

Ortelius offers niche expeditions to visit Emperor Penguins or explore the Ross Sea.

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Plancius

Price bracket: ££

Capacity: 108

Modern vessel with a nautical feel with an emphasis on a variety of Antarctic experiences on different departures throughout the season..

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Ushuaia

Class: Mid-Range

Price bracket: £

Capacity: 90

Affordable Polar expedition ship with a South American crew and a solid, reliable reputation.

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    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

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    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

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