Rather than just taking a cruise along oft-sailed routes, be part of a real expedition voyage. As a passenger on the sturdy ice-strengthened European cruise ship Ortelius, travel beyond the Antarctic Peninsula towards the Weddell Sea. An Emperor penguin rookery lies south of Snow Hill Island within the Weddell Sea off the peninsula’s east coast.
In recent seasons, the ice conditions have often thwarted access to the Emperor Penguin rookery, but the most recent attempt, in November 2017, was a success. Whatever the outcome, the beauty and emptiness of the relatively unvisited Weddell Sea, with its striking tabular icebergs and abundant wildlife make this a memorable expedition. If the ship doesn't make it as far as Snow Hill island, it will position itself on the edge of the ice to try and spot lone Emperors - the largest and most striking of all the penguin species - heading out to open water, and there may be trips by helicopter to search for individual birds.