When Is The Best Time To Cruise To Antarctica?

Antarctica is the best time to visit for many people, including first-time visitors, due to its optimal weather, ample daylight, scenic attractions, and rich wildlife-viewing. The best time to cruise to Antarctica is between November and March, when temperatures begin to climb, days are longer, and sea ice melts. The best time to visit is during the Antarctic summer from November to March, when the wildlife is at its busiest and there is up to 24 hours of daylight.

Cruise can only sail to Antarctica when the ice breaks up during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer, generally from November to March. The short Antarctic cruise season typically runs from late October to March, with variations within this narrow window. The best time to visit Antarctica is from mid-December through mid-February, with January being the best month to take an Antarctic cruise.

The early season offers several bonuses, such as longer days and a easing breeding frenzy. February is an excellent time for an Antarctica cruise, especially for wildlife-watching enthusiasts. The end of November is an ideal time to embark on the Antarctic Peninsula Cruise, introducing visitors to the land of penguins and icebergs. Antarctica’s cruise season is short, and visiting the icy destination is not possible from April to October outside of research purposes.


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Best time to visit Antarctica for wildlife
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What month is best to go to Antarctica?

The best time to visit Antarctica is during the summer period from November to March. Wildlife is most active during these months and the days are at their longest. The most popular period to visit during the summer is from December to February when temperatures are regularly above zero.

Whilst few Antarctica cruises leave in October, the early season offers a number of bonuses.

Throughout the east side of the Antarctic Peninsula sea ice is prevalent. In fact, this is the only period to see large swaths of sea ice before it breaks up later in the season.

Certain species during this period such as Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins come ashore to begin their nesting. This is a great time therefore to see courtship rituals between adults as they find mates.

Cheapest time to go to Antarctica
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What months do cruise ships go to Antarctica?

When can you cruise to Antarctica?. The cruise season for Antarctica begins in late October/early November and ends in mid-March. This is spring/summer in the Southern Hemisphere, and it’s also the only time of year that Antarctica is accessible to cruise ships. Passengers who book in late October and November are likely to see penguins courting and nesting while those who cruise in December and January will see chicks hatching. February or March is the ideal time for whale watching.

Where do cruises to Antarctica embark and disembark?. The main port of embarkation and disembarkation for Antarctica itineraries is Ushuaia, a remote city located on the southern tip of Argentina on the Beagle Channel. Some longer itineraries, however, begin and/or end in Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, or ports in Chile such as Santiago (Valparaiso), Puerto Williams, or Punta Arenas.

Do passengers actually step foot on the continent?. It depends. Some longer expedition itineraries do take passengers to landing points below the Antarctic Circle at 66°30′ S, while many classic sailings visit the more accessible tail-shaped Antarctic Peninsula at the continent’s northernmost end, landing passengers ashore via Zodiac. Other itineraries, mainly those on non-polar-rated traditional cruise ships, offer only scenic cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula without a chance to step foot on land.

Best time to visit Antarctica to see penguins
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What I wish I knew before going to Antarctica?

10 things I wish I knew before visiting AntarcticaVisit in the summer! … Fly over the Drake Passage. … Every expedition is different. … Your flights may change. … Pack layers. … UV rays are strong! … Bring extra memory cards and chargers for cameras. … There’s no internet signal.

“My pictures cannot capture the absolute beauty of the surroundings, the grandeur, and vastness of the landscape, the variation of wildlife, nor the size of the ice shelves we saw. I was in awe and still am.”

Visiting Antarctica doesn’t happen every day. Very few people are lucky enough to visit this breathtakingly beautiful wilderness. You’ll see the world like never before and return with stories to share and memories to treasure forever. Yet because so few visit this southern continent and know its extremes, it can be hard to know what to expect. Here are our top tips for anyone thinking of visiting Antarctica.

1. Visit in the summer!. It goes without saying that Antarctica is not a warm place – it contains 90% of the earth’s ice. However, inthe summer, you’ll catch much milder weather, with temperatures around 0oC (32oF), although it may feel colder with wind chill. Visiting in the summer also means sunnier and longers days so you can make the most of your excursions or take some great photos!

Antarctica cruise
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What is the best time to take a cruise to Antarctica?

During autumn and winter much of Antarctica’s coastline is impenetrable due to thick ice and temperatures that can drop to -60 degrees. The best time to cruise to Antarctica is during the Antarctic summer from November to March, when you’ll see Antarctica’s wildlife at its busiest and benefit from up to 24 hours of daylight.

Due to strong demand and the relatively modest number of ships, particularly during High Season, to be confident of securing your first choice we would strongly urge that you begin planning at least 12 months in advance. For the most popular Fly & Cruise trips or those incorporating South Georgia, 18 months ahead isn’t too early.

I spent eleven summer seasons in Antarctica and I genuinely don’t have a favourite time – it’s a place of such variety, constant wonder and excitement.

Best time to visit Antarctica to see whales
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When should I sail to Antarctica?

During autumn and winter much of Antarctica’s coastline is impenetrable due to thick ice and temperatures that can drop to -60 degrees. The best time to cruise to Antarctica is during the Antarctic summer from November to March, when you’ll see Antarctica’s wildlife at its busiest and benefit from up to 24 hours of daylight.

Due to strong demand and the relatively modest number of ships, particularly during High Season, to be confident of securing your first choice we would strongly urge that you begin planning at least 12 months in advance. For the most popular Fly & Cruise trips or those incorporating South Georgia, 18 months ahead isn’t too early.

I spent eleven summer seasons in Antarctica and I genuinely don’t have a favourite time – it’s a place of such variety, constant wonder and excitement.

Best time to visit Antarctica Lonely Planet
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When should I take Antarctica cruise?

During autumn and winter much of Antarctica’s coastline is impenetrable due to thick ice and temperatures that can drop to -60 degrees. The best time to cruise to Antarctica is during the Antarctic summer from November to March, when you’ll see Antarctica’s wildlife at its busiest and benefit from up to 24 hours of daylight.

Due to strong demand and the relatively modest number of ships, particularly during High Season, to be confident of securing your first choice we would strongly urge that you begin planning at least 12 months in advance. For the most popular Fly & Cruise trips or those incorporating South Georgia, 18 months ahead isn’t too early.

I spent eleven summer seasons in Antarctica and I genuinely don’t have a favourite time – it’s a place of such variety, constant wonder and excitement.

Best Antarctica cruise
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Why are cruises to Antarctica so expensive?

There are a lot of significant variables which influence the cost to go to Antarctica, and no two ship operators are the same. The size of the ship, standard of accommodation, and quality of food and service all play a part in Antarctica trip costs. But there are less obvious factors too; the calibre of the expeditionary staff, what clothing is provided, whether the wine is included, staff to passenger ratio and the variety of complimentary activities.

Classic Antarctica Peninsula cruise (10-11 days) $6,000 – 14,000.

Antarctic Circle cruise (12-14 days) $8,000 – 18,000.

Best month to visit Antarctica
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How long does an Antarctic cruise take?

Cruises to Antarctica range from 10-24 Days. Antarctica cruises from South America are popular because they access the most popular regions including the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia Island and the Falkland Islands.

Ushuaia to Antarctica Cruises. Ushuaia to Antarctica is the most popular cruise route. Ushuaia is 680 miles to Antarctica and the closest port making it the primary hub for cruises.

Ushuaia is the southernmost city in South America before Antarctica. It is in the Terra del Fuego province of Argentina and is generally recognized as the southernmost city in the world. Ushuaia is well worth a visit. We recommend travelers going to Antarctica arrive a day or two early.

Are cruises to Antarctica worth it?

The bottom line? Any opportunity to see the world’s coldest, highest, driest, darkest, windiest continent is definitely worth it. And I enjoyed Sapphire Princess — triumphing at trivia, tapping my foot in the theater, and spotting gentoos and humpbacks and crab eaters. Big ship or small, I would return to Antarctica in a heartbeat.

Antarctica cruise price
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How cold is it on Antarctica cruises?

Antarctica Climate. The climate of Antarctica is the coldest on Earth. Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest continent on Earth. The average temperature of the interior is about -71 degrees Fahrenheit. The coast is warmer with average temperatures about 14 degrees F.

Antarctica is technically a desert with less than 6.5 inches of average precipitation.Because very little snow melts, it builds up into glaciers and ice caps. Coastal Antarctica receives more snow and some rain, with precipitation up to 20 or more inches per year. The air is dry with low temperatures resulting in low humidity.

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Antarctica Weather. The weather in Antarctica is highly variable. Conditions can change dramatically over short periods of time. Antarctica is also vast, and weather will depend on where you are on the continent.

Is March a good time to go to Antarctica
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What is the average cost of a cruise to Antarctica?

USD$10,000 Antarctica Cruise Cost Expect to pay a minimum USD$6,000 per person for a classic Antarctica cruise. Prices rise quickly from there, with average prices more in the USD$10,000 range, and high-end berths on luxury ships costing up to four times that much.

Can you put a price on a trip to Antarctica, one of the most profound and authentic experiential adventures you’ll have in your entire life? It turns out “Yes”. While many consider an Antarctica trip to be a ‘priceless’ experience, Antarctica travel does incur a significant outlay, and not solely from the cost of your Antarctica cruise, albeit the most notable contributing factor.

Here we’ll explore the reasons why Antarctica expeditions cost so much, explain all the factors that may affect the cost of the Antarctica trip that you want to experience, and ultimately help you calculate (approximately) how much it may cost you to go to Antarctica based on these factors. Just bear in mind that, despite how expensive you may perceive a polar adventure to be, we’ve never had anyone return from Antarctica who didn’t think that it was well worth the investment.

Please note that all the estimated costs mentioned below are in USD.

How many days is enough for Antarctica?
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How many days is enough for Antarctica?

The most common expeditions last approximately nine to ten days, including five full days of exploration in Antarctica. Rather than fly from South America, these voyages embrace the power and the beauty of the Drake Passage (and its rich and abundant bird life), sailing from Ushuaia. Time spent at sea varies depending on sea conditions and wind, but often take from one and a half to two days at sea, each way. The rest of the voyage is spent in the seemingly endless coastal environment of the Antarctic Peninsula.

For those with extended holidays and a thirst for a deeper exploration of this remote wilderness, there are expeditions that spend twenty or more days exploring in the Southern Ocean and its unique islands. These extended voyages include visits to the wildlife-rich Falkland Islands and the otherworldly wilderness of South Georgia, in addition to the days spent in the Antarctic Peninsula, making these expeditions the most thorough exploration of the wild environments at the bottom of the globe.

King penguins in South Georgia. Photo: David Merron.


📹 When is the best time to visit Antarctica?

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When Is The Best Time To Cruise To Antarctica
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Debbie Green

I am a school teacher who was bitten by the travel bug many decades ago. My husband Billy has come along for the ride and now shares my dream to travel the world with our three children.The kids Pollyanna, 13, Cooper, 12 and Tommy 9 are in love with plane trips (thank goodness) and discovering new places, experiences and of course Disneyland.

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