hurtigruten antarctica travel insurance

Antarctica Travel Insurance: Get The Right Protection

It goes without saying that Antarctica travel, like all travel, comes with certain risks .

To ensure you understand all of your Antarctica travel insurance options, we have set out the main Antarctica Travel Insurance considerations below.

These include trip cancellation , medical evacuation and repatriation , baggage issues and what Antarctica activities you need cover for.

We have also provided a quick little Antarctica travel insurance calculator from the adventure travel insurance experts – World Nomads . You can use the nifty calculator to get an instant quote for your Antarctica travel journey. We explain the procedure below.

Please note: Antarctica Guide are not insurance experts. The considerations and information presented below are based on our personal experience and research. This page is for information purposes only and should not be relied on upon or construed as a insurance opinion or insurance advice regarding any specific issue or factual circumstance. You should always consult with your insurance provider for accurate information.

Antarctica Travel Insurance

Get an immediate quote from our recommended travel insurance provider, World Nomads.

Key Considerations

Trip cancellation, interruption, delays and policy excess.

Your Antarctica cruise is a big investment and you should therefore get the right Antarctica travel insurance to cover you for any unfortunate circumstances such as long delays or, god forbid, trip cancellation!

Antarctica’s notorious weather often dictates when a ship can depart. Although there is nothing anyone can do, delays are often long and can stop people from actually joining their intended cruise. It’s therefore vital to purchase an Antarctica travel insurance policy that covers you for ‘trip delays’, ‘trip interruptions’ and ‘trip cancellation’.

Trip Delays

The weather waits for no man and this is certainly true for Antarctica where the ships sail to the weathers clock. Most Antarctica travel insurance policies will cover you up to US$500 for trip delays, however, if you can find higher, do, as trip delays in Antarctica are common. In order to avoid disappointment, try to book your cruise with some leeway either side.

Trip Cancellation

If your Antarctica cruise still goes ahead but you have been forced to cancel it because you’re on a tight schedule, then US$500 is hardly going to cover it. This is why trip cancellation is very important. A good Antarctica travel insurance policy will include Trip cancellation cover which includes bad weather ! Trip cancellation generally pays out US$2,500 for standard cover or US$10,000 for advanced cover. If purchasing with World Nomads you’ll need to select the ‘Explorer’ option to get the advanced cover price.

Important Note

Trip cancellation is also important for other issues including unforeseen illness, family death, natural disasters and cruise operator insolvency. Although it sounds unlikely, one of the major Antarctica cruise operators had to cease operations a few years ago due to the economic crisis. People who had not purchased Antarctica travel insurance prior to their trip lost all their money. In terms of financial protection when booking with an operator, you need to make sure they’re ABTA and ATOL protected as this will allow their insurers to pay you out should the company become insolvent.

Trip interruption

Trip interruption cover is also a must as it is not uncommon for a ship to turn around due to rough weather – especially on the notorious Drake Passage . Trip interruption will cover you up to US$5,000 on a standard Antarctica travel insurance policy, however, the explorer option on World Nomads covers you up to US$10,000.

Policy Excess

One of the most common things that drives down the price of Antarctica travel insurance policies is the excess amount. Most insurers will have an excess of roughly US$100-200. This means that any claim you make, you have to pay the excess amount first. World Nomads are one of the few Antarctica travel insurers that have a zero excess policy.

Emergency Evacuation, Repatriation and Medical Expenses

Because of Antarctica’s remote location and the expense of getting someone to a medical facility, every Antarctica operator requires you to be covered for emergency evacuation insurance.

 All vessel companies require you to have insurance that covers air lift evacuation in case of a medical emergency, without this they will refuse you on board.

Most Antarctica operators will require you to have emergency evacuation, repatriation and medical cover up to US$200,000. Generally, the minimum cost of an Antarctica evacuation is US$100,000! Therefore, when it comes to emergency evacuation, medical fees and, in particular, repatriation, the higher the cover amount the better! Evacuation is never cheap, especially from somewhere as remote as Antarctica. Simple hospital operations will cost over US$10,000 and repatriation often costs in the hundreds of thousands.

A good Antarctica travel insurance policy will cover more than US$200,000, particularly in Antarctica where evacuation is very difficult.

Be warned here, many Antarctica travel insurance policies will claim that they cover you for US$10,000,000 or more, however, this rarely includes actual evacuation, especially from remote areas like Antarctica.

Please also note, antarctica travel insurance policies will not cover you for any pre-existing illnesses. Also, please do not rely on your credit card travel insurance or something similar as these policies often will not cover Antarctica expeditions, medical evacuations and trip delays.

Get an Insurance Quote

On-shore and off-shore activity cover.

One of the most important aspects of any Antarctica travel insurance policy is understanding what activities you are covered for.

Insurers will never openly state these activities and it is up to you to read the fine print to make sure you’re covered for the activities you wish to do. Be warned, some Antarctica travel insurance policies stop covering you at any point you leave your cruise ship!

Most policies will cover you for on-shore activities such as wildlife watching, however, if you add an activity on to this, you’ll need to check whether you’re covered, particularly for kayaking , scuba diving , skiing, camping and climbing.

For example, a travel insurance policy with World Nomads (who are particularly good when it comes to activities) cover cruises to Antarctica including zodiac trips, shore-landings, kayaking and paddle-boarding, but not all plans cover overnight or remote expeditions, trekking, climbing, mountaineering or skiing on Antarctica peaks. It may be possible to upgrade your plan or activities cover if you want to scuba dive, snorkel, hike or climb so check your policy carefully when you buy it.  For full details, contact World Nomads as coverage, conditions and exclusions will vary, depending on your country of residence.

Baggage Loss, Theft and Delay

Another important element to any Antarctica travel insurance policy is your baggage cover. This is often particularly important to Antarctica travelers as many of us carry expensive camera gear!

No one wants to turn up for their long-awaited Antarctica journey to find their expensive equipment has been stolen, lost or broken. Luckily, nearly all standard Antarctica insurance policies cover for this, however, it’s important to understand how much your covered for.

A standard amount for lost or stolen baggage is US$1,000. If like us, you’re carrying expensive camera gear, this amount won’t really cut it! We suggest therefore getting a premium plan or the ‘Explorer’ plan with World Nomads that covers you up to US$3,000 for lost and stolen baggage and US$750 for delayed baggage (over 12 hours).

An important note here is that many Antarctica travel insurance policies will state that they cover you for millions and that you’ll get thousands and thousands back for your lost, damaged or stolen gear , however, this is not entirely true. This is why the wording of the policy is key. Most policies will not actually cover you for optic gear or any electronic gear! Most policies will also not cover you for any items bought second-hand.

We always recommend to travelers to bring a small lock to secure your baggage. Although theft is certainly not a problem in Antarctica or on any Antarctica cruises , Ushuaia is a busy city in which crime does happen.

Please also remember that you will be travelling in several countries, not just Antarctica and that you’ll need to take out insurance for these places also. If you are leaving from Ushuaia for example, you’ll need a Antarctica travel insurance policy that covers you for both Antarctica and Argentina.

World Nomads Insurance Calculator

Below is a very quick calculator by World Nomads which you can use to get your Antarctica travel insurance quote.

The quote that will initially be provided  to you will be for World Nomad’s ‘standard’ policy option. However, depending on your country of residence, you may see both the ‘Standard’ and ‘Explorer’ options on your screen.

If you just wish to purchase the standard option then all you need to do is fill out the form and then follow the instructions. If you wish to purchase the advanced ‘Explorer’ policy, then just follow the instructions below.

STEP 1: FILL OUT THE FIELDS IN THE CALCULATOR BELOW AND CLICK ‘GET A PRICE’ (REMEMBER TO PUT IN BOTH ANTARCTICA AND ANY OTHER COUNTRY YOU VISIT)

STEP 2: CLICK ON THE ACTIVITIES LIST TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED FOR THE ACTIVITIES YOU ARE PLANNING

Depending on your country of residence, the activities you are covered for on a standard policy will change. For example, a standard policy for a US citizen will not cover snorkeling, however, for a UK or Australian citizen, snorkeling is covered as standard. 

The activities button is located just above the ‘Buy It Now’ button on each policy option. See Image below marked in red:

When you click the activities option you’ll be greeted with a blue page that has every activity World Nomads cover. 

Activities with the number 1 after them are covered in your particular policy as standard whereas the activities with a number 2 after them are only covered if you select the ‘Explorer’ option. See Image below:

For non US citizens, there will also be the chance to ‘upgrade’ your policy. This means you can add certain activities onto your policy and also take out higher coverage for your personal items and gear.

If you would like to know more about Antarctica travel insurance please leave a comment below and we will endeavor to get back to you within 24 hours! Alternatively, please see our FAQ page here . If you would like to get a cruise quote, please use this form.

Thank you - AntarcticaGuide Team

Tags: Antarctica travel insurance, do you need travel insurance for Antarctica, travel insurance Antarctica

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• Travel Guide

How To Find The Best Antarctica Travel Insurance For You

Key considerations for antarctica travel insurance, geographical coverage, trip delays, missed flight/connection, trip cancellation, trip interruption, policy excess, medical emergency evacuation, repatriation and expenses (including covid-19), on-shore and off-shore adventure activity cover, baggage loss, theft and delay, frequently asked questions about antarctica travel insurance, why should i purchase travel insurance for my polar expedition, when should i arrange my travel insurance, what is the difference between medical insurance and emergency evacuation insurance, what part of my expedition do i need to cover with travel insurance, what if i have travel insurance through my own credit card benefits, what if i already have a worldwide travel insurance policy, can you not choose and book my travel insurance for me, what is the best travel insurance for antarctica, antarctica travel insurance providers, antarctica travel insurance for north american travelers, antarctica travel insurance for uk travelers, antarctica travel insurance for australian travelers, questions you may like to ask your insurer, i’ve bought my insurance. what next.

Travel insurance is not just important when visiting Antarctica due to its extreme isolation, conditions, and the considerable costs associated, but some levels of coverage—especially with regards emergency evacuation, repatriation, and medical cover—are a mandatory requirement for travelers.

As with any form of travel, insurance to protect you, your belongings, and your investment, is a wise choice, but perhaps never has it been more apparent than when booking an Antarctica expedition where the risk-reward relationship is higher than most.

Modern explorers certainly have it easier than those in whose wakes they follow, with the latest state-of-the-art expedition vessels arguably the safest found anywhere on the seven seas, but it would be foolhardy to take a trip to this wild and unpredictable part of the world without adequate protection.

Here we’ll take a look at how travel insurance for Antarctica—like the continent itself—is unlike anything else, and point out what makes a good policy to give you the peace of mind to embark on your expedition with only excitement and without any apprehension.

While most cruises tend to visit the Antarctic Peninsula region, some visit more remote reaches of the continent, and other trips even venture into the depths of the Antarctic interior. So whilst an insurance policy may state it covers Antarctica, please do check it covers the entire continent or at a minimum your chosen expedition route.

Operator requirements regarding travel insurance covering Antarctica’s interior are normally even greater than those for Antarctica cruises given the extra logistical complications, higher costs associated with evacuation, your likely participation in more adventurous (and subsequently hazardous) activities, and the added danger of higher altitude—as Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the Moon, will attest after having to be evacuated from the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station to McMurdo Station on the south tip of Ross Island and on to Christchurch, New Zealand, after succumbing to its effects.

So if you are planning a visit to the South Pole or spending some significant time camping on the White Continent, be prepared for higher minimum coverage requirements for Medical Evacuation Insurance—anywhere from USD$150,000, but as high as USD$300,000 for expeditions outside of the Ellsworth Mountains—and also be aware that policies often need to be not just for the duration of your expedition but at least 7 days beyond your return flights home to ensure you’re covered in the event of any unforeseen delays.

Whichever part of the White Continent you’ll be exploring, you’ll likely be traveling to several countries en route to Antarctica so you will need to ensure your policy covers these destinations too. For example, if your cruise departs from Ushuaia, you’ll need a policy that covers you for both Argentina and Antarctica, or if you are booked on a fly-cruise from Punta Arenas you will require a policy covering Chile and Antarctica.

Related to this, it is also important to check whether your insurance will still cover you in the event of any changes to governmental travel advisories relevant to your trip, such as a Level 4 travel advisory being announced unexpectedly before or during your travels.

Nowhere else but Antarctica can the weather conditions actually dictate when your ship or aircraft can depart, and delays due to dangerous flight or unsailable sea conditions can be long, sometimes even days. It’s therefore vital to purchase an Antarctica travel insurance policy that covers you for trip delays.

Most Antarctica travel insurance policies will cover you up to somewhere in the region of USD$500 for trip delays, however, if you can find higher, do so, as trip delays in Antarctica are not uncommon. In order to avoid disappointment it’s best to book your Antarctica cruise with some leeway either side to give yourself the flexibility to adjust your travel plans as required.

While travel delay typically covers a daily amount for unplanned accommodations and other costs incurred as a result of a delay, missed flight/connection cover—often available as an add-on—additionally reimburses you for potentially expensive transportation costs required to “catch up” to your trip in the event of a covered delay. This may be very useful for those with short lay-overs or anyone considering a fly-cruise itinerary where the connecting flight is crucial to the experience.

Whilst Trip Cancellation insurance isn’t a requirement as such, given the high cost of Antarctica expeditions we strongly advise that you do purchase it to protect yourself against any event which may force you to cancel your trip before departure, including unforeseen illness, family death, or natural disasters.

Equally unlikely, potential cruise operator insolvency is also a possibility. Indeed, one of the major Antarctica cruise operators was forced to cease operations a few years ago and anyone who had not purchased Antarctica travel insurance prior to their trip lost any monies they had already paid. A good Antarctica trip cancellation policy will also include cover for the continent’s capricious weather conditions.

Trip cancellation generally pays out anywhere from USD$2,500 – USD$10,000 depending on the policy level, so if your trip costs more than the limit specified you may wish to consider purchasing a “top-up” policy to cover the difference.

A trip interruption normally occurs when a traveler unexpectedly has to cut short their trip and return home—like trip cancellation but after you have already begun your trip—so it is equally sensible to protect yourself for any events that may cause you to leave your polar experience part-way through.

Conversely, trip interruption can also encompass events which may cause you to have to stay in your destination longer than you’d originally planned. If you are sailing the notorious Drake Passage, trip interruption cover would be sensible as it is not unheard of for a ship to have to turn around due to high winds and rough seas. Trip interruption normally covers you up to USD$5,000 on a standard Antarctica travel insurance policy.

One tool at your disposal for reducing the price of your Antarctica travel insurance policy is by raising your policy excess—the amount you are willing to pay first as part of any claim. Most insurers will have a compulsory excess of roughly USD$100 – USD$200. If you wish to remove such an excess, note that only a few Antarctica travel insurers offer zero excess policies.

Because of Antarctica’s remote location and the expense of getting someone to a medical facility, every Antarctic tour operator requires you to have a certain level of medical emergency (air-)evacuation insurance before you can embark your expedition vessel. (Medical repatriation is slightly different to medical emergency evacuation as it covers travelers who’d prefer to be taken home to have medical treatment rather than just be taken to the nearest hospital.)

Given the cost of an Antarctica evacuation is upwards of USD$100,000 and simple hospital operations costing in excess of USD$10,000, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Antarctica operators typically require you to have a minimum emergency evacuation, repatriation and medical cover of USD$100,000 – USD$250,000 (or even higher for trips to the Antarctic interior outside of the Ellsworth Mountains). It is important that you check this minimum amount in advance. Be warned that while many Antarctica travel insurance policies may claim they cover you for USD$5,000,000 or more, this rarely includes any actual evacuation so do check the wording carefully.

Closely linked to the topic of geographical coverage, Argentina and Chile (or any other country you may be traveling through to get to Antarctica) may also have their own medical insurance requirements for entry into the country. For example, during the pandemic, both these countries required foreign nationals to have medical insurance that explicitly covered any expenses relating to COVID-19 (medical costs, quarantine, trip delay, etc.) upon entry, indeed Chile required a fixed level of medical insurance with a minimum claim value of USD$30,000.

Whilst these may no longer be applicable currently, the situation may revert back so we have included this point to raise awareness. Please be aware that whilst we make every effort to ensure the latest requirements are reflected here, it is your responsibility to check they haven’t changed before you travel.

Also note that, as with all medical insurance, Antarctica travel insurance policies will not cover you for any pre-existing medical conditions or illnesses.

One of the most important aspects of any Antarctica travel insurance policy is understanding what activities you are covered for. Some policies may stop covering you the moment you leave your cruise ship, others however may cover you (as standard or via an add-on) for some but not all polar pursuits you’ll be partaking in. Even if they do in fact cover every adventure, activity, insurers rarely openly state every covered activity so it will be up to you to read the fine print to make sure you’re covered.

Most policies will cover you for on-shore activities such as wildlife watching, but activities such as kayaking, scuba diving, camping and hiking are typically not covered as standard but easily added on for a premium. More hazardous activities or trips to the Antarctic interior like mountaineering, skiing, and skydiving may require separate specific coverage or higher minimum medical evacuation limits.

Another important consideration for your Antarctica travel insurance is your baggage cover—particularly important for the many Antarctica travelers planning to take high-end camera gear with them. No one wants to turn up for their once-in-a-lifetime Antarctica expedition to find their expensive equipment has been lost in transit, damaged, or worse still, stolen. Luckily, all standard Antarctica insurance policies cover for such scenarios to some extent, however, it’s important to understand how much you are covered for.

A standard amount for lost or stolen luggage is USD$1,000, but if you’re carrying expensive camera gear, this amount won’t really cut it! Also note that many policies will not actually cover you for any optic or electronic gear, or any items that have been bought second-hand.

It’s always advisable to bring a lock to secure your luggage. Although theft is not a problem in Antarctica or on any Antarctic expedition cruises, like any busy city the world over, Ushuaia and other South American cities you may visit or transit through are not exempt from crime and sensible precautions should be taken.

Here is a list of the most common questions we receive with regards travel insurance for Antarctica cruises and expeditions. Should you have any additional questions that aren’t covered here, feel free to get in touch with our specialists who will endeavor to answer your queries.

Given the remote regions you’ll be visiting, the unpredictable weather and sea conditions, and the high cost of a polar expedition, comprehensive travel insurance is not only strongly recommended to protect yourself, your belongings, and your investment, but certain levels of coverage is also a stipulation of cruise operators in order to embark on an expedition.

It is best practice to arrange any travel insurance at the same time as you book your trip (or as soon after booking as is feasible) not only to ensure your investment is protected for trip cancellation as soon as possible, but also because some insurance policies actually offer a reduced level of coverage—or none at all in the case of “Cancel for Any Reason” policies—if not bought sufficiently soon after paying for your cruise deposit.

Emergency Evacuation Insurance covers the incurred transportation costs associated with getting you to the nearest location with a medical facility for your needs, whereas Medical Insurance takes over once you get to that facility to cover your medical expenses, such as medical procedures, doctor/hospital fees, prescriptions, etc.

It is recommended you purchase travel insurance coverage for the entire cost and duration of your travel plans, including any countries you’ll be visiting or traveling through before and after your expedition. If you are planning to visit the Antarctic Interior you may even need to get coverage for up to a week after your scheduled return date in the event of any unforeseen delays.

Credit card travel insurance policies often exclude Antarctica expeditions, medical evacuations, and trip delays, but it is your responsibility to find out what travel insurance coverage and benefits you may have through your credit card provider to see if it is suitable and sufficient for your and any tour operator requirements.

Despite being called ‘worldwide’ policies, many do not include Antarctica so it is always advisable to check the geographical coverage of your policy. Even if they do, such policies rarely have the requisite levels of coverage for emergency evacuation, or indeed the desired trip cancellation amounts either. It may however be possible to top up an existing policy with your current or a separate provider, but do be aware that top up insurance is contingent on your base insurance paying out.

Antarctica Cruises are not insurance experts and are not legally permitted to provide insurance advice. Any considerations and comments here are solely based on our personal experiences and research, and should not be relied upon or construed as insurance advice in any way. Each traveler is individually responsible for arranging their own insurance and should always consult with an accredited insurance provider or broker for accurate information.

Really this question should be, “what is the best travel insurance policy for my Antarctica trip?” as everyone’s personal circumstances, age, health, belongings, route, activities, historical claims, affluence levels, and risk appetite are unique to them.

For example, someone may be too old, be wanting to bring too expensive camera equipment, or take part in too hazardous an activity for some underwriters to insure for a reasonable price or at all. Other travelers may be wanting to visit more remote locations than someone else, and may be willing to pay much more in excess in the event of a claim for a lower premium.

All this goes to highlight that the best Antarctica travel insurance policy for you will always be the one which provides you personally with sufficient peace of mind, whilst still satisfying the requirements of the tour operator you’ll be traveling with. For more detailed information on what is required for your specific expedition please refer to your tour operator’s terms and conditions.

We have provided a list of well-known Antarctica travel insurance providers below to assist you in finding and researching those Antarctica insurance policies we are aware of. As our expertise lies in Antarctic expedition cruises and not the nuances of insurance—not to mention that legally we are not permitted to provide any insurance advice—please address any specific questions you may have about your particular requirements to them.

Given insurance typically has to be bought in your country of residence, it may be worthwhile contacting a local insurance broker who has a thorough understanding of the options available in your region, as they may be able to match you up to a suitable policy.

Always take the time to thoroughly review any prospective policy and its exclusions before purchasing. Again, for legal reasons we are unable to check the wording or suitability of any policies you are considering, so  should you have any queries needing clarification please contact the relevant insurer directly.

If your locale is not listed below then unfortunately we are unable to provide any insurer information.

Please note that many standard US-based insurance policies will cover you for travel to a Level 4 travel advisory country, but not for cancellation because of a state advisory change prior to entering the country or for “fear of travel” reasons. Known Antarctica travel insurance providers serving North America residents who you may like to contact for a quote include:

Cat70 Tin Leg HTH Travel Insurance Travel Guard Travelex Arch – RoamRight Allianz Squaremouth (comparison site)

Please note that standard UK insurance policies often have insufficient cancellation coverage to fully protect most trips to Antarctica, so you may need to consider purchasing an additional “top-up” policy. Known Antarctica travel insurance providers serving UK residents who you may like to contact for a quote include:

PJ Hayman Campbell Irvine Travel + General

Known Antarctica travel insurance providers serving Australia residents who you may like to contact for a quote include:

NIB Travel insurance

Here are some important points you may like to discuss with your insurer prior to purchasing your Antarctica travel insurance policy. We strongly recommend phoning insurers to discuss your requirements as it can prove difficult finding all the necessary answers online, not to mention time consuming.

Please note this list of questions is not exhaustive and you should ensure you also discuss any relevant personal circumstances which apply to you.

• Does the policy cover cruising or travel to countries that are subject to a travel advisory? For example, for US-based travelers it’s important to ask about scenarios around US State Department travel advisory Level 4, both prior to booking or during your trip.
• What coverage does this policy include in relation to COVID-19? For example, cancellation coverage for the full value of the trip should you test positive prior to departure, and travel delay, interruption, and medical coverage should you test positive during travel and need medical costs?
• Does the policy cover you for any missed flights, connections, or airline delays which may have a detrimental knock-on effect to your trip?
• Will the policy cover you for any lost or curtailed cruise days as a result of inclement weather, along with any charges for rescheduling other impacted travel arrangements such as hotels and flights.
• Does the cancellation coverage amount actually cover the full cost of the expedition cruise plus any flights and hotel arrangements that you may have booked separately?
• Is a “Cancel for Any Reason” policy available and, if so, what are its terms and conditions?
• Does the policy sufficiently cover all the requirements set out by your tour operator? This may include mandatory emergency evacuation coverage to a certain value.
• Are all the adventure activities I’ll be participating in covered?

Having the right travel insurance for you and your Antarctic adventure will give you peace of mind before and during your travels, so be sure to take your time to research the options available and scrutinize the fine print.

Once you have booked your trip with us and bought an appropriate insurance policy to comprehensively cover your full itinerary and any associated activities, your Antarctica specialist will request a copy, usually several weeks in advance of travel, to submit to the relevant tour operators for review and filing as proof of coverage. After that, you can concern yourself with packing your bags and building up the excitement for your trip of a lifetime.

When it comes to actually traveling, we recommend not only having your policy easily accessible on your phone, but also carrying a printout (or two) to show at airline counters when boarding your flight(s) if requested, and storing both your policy number any relevant claim hotline numbers in your contacts for ease of reference. Hopefully you’ll be among the throngs of Antarctic travelers who won’t be in need of any of them, but in the unlikely event a situation arises that you do need to make a claim for, be sure to inform your insurer immediately and adhere to any specific process they require you to follow as specified in their policy wording.

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Our travel guides are for informational purposes only. While we aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information, Antarctica Cruises makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information in our guides or found by following any link on this site.

Antarctica Cruises cannot and will not accept responsibility for any omissions or inaccuracies, or for any consequences arising therefrom, including any losses, injuries, or damages resulting from the display or use of this information.

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

Get in touch with us via phone or form today and you’ll be assigned a dedicated Antarctica specialist who’ll be with you every step of the way to help you choose, book and plan the right Antarctica cruise for you. Here’s how it works:

Listen & Match

We’ll carefully listen to your aspirations and curate an impartial shortlist of personalized polar cruise recommendations—and pre- and post-cruise extensions—to match your desired experience.

Reserve & Relax

Next we’ll place a free, no obligation, 24-hour cabin hold on your preferred cruise option whilst we discuss the final details. Book and relax safe in the knowledge you’ll be paying the lowest price guaranteed.

Prepare & Travel

Then we’ll provide you with our expert packing advice, insider travel tips, and more to ensure you are fully prepared for—and maximize your enjoyment of—your once-in-a-lifetime Antarctica expedition.

• With Partner/Friend
• With Family
• As Part Of A Group
• Emperor Penguin
• Photography
• Exploration Heritage
• Antarctic Peninsula
• Antarctic Circle
• Falklands/S. Georgia
• Weddell Sea
• Ross Sea/E. Antarctica

• Destinations

Expedition Travel Guide to Antarctica

Antarctica is the pinnacle of expedition and adventure travel! Start planning your journey to exploring this pristine world of ice, wildlife, and awe-inspiring beauty.

Antarctica | Like nowhere else on earth

Undertaking an expedition cruise to Antarctica is the pinnacle of adventure, a journey to the southernmost reaches of the planet, where untouched landscapes and awe-inspiring wildlife converge in this frozen wonderland. From the towering icebergs and snowcapped peaks of the Antarctic Peninsula to the charismatic penguins of South Georgia, each day is a unique chance to experience the mysteries of this pristine wilderness.

This guide takes you through the most frequently asked questions about travelling to Antarctica! Discover the best time to undertake this polar journey, ensuring optimal conditions for wildlife encounters and stunning landscapes. Get insider tips on selecting the ideal expedition cruise with the help of our Expedition team and how to pack for the everchanging Antarctic conditions.

Whether you're a seasoned explorer or a first-time adventurer, this guide will help to plan your trip, ensuring your expedition to Antarctica is a seamless, enriching, and unforgettable experience at the edge of the world.

Organising an expedition to Antarctica can bring about a number of questions! To help, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions to kick-start your planning.

What do I need to pack for Antarctica?

Even though we journey to Antarctica during the warmer summer months, the weather is unpredictable and changes quickly. Be sure to pack lots of warm insulated layers, waterproofs, gloves, and hats.

To ensure we are IAATO compliant, we will lend you rubber boots to wear ashore.

When is the best time to visit Antarctica?

The best time for an Antarctic expedition cruise is during the austral summer, from November to March.

This time brings slightly milder temperatures, an abundance of wildlife activity, and the chance to witness breathtaking landscapes from both sea and land.

How do you get to Antarctica?

For our expeditions to Antarctica, we sail out of two ports - Ushuaia, Argentina for sailings on MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen or Punta Arenas, Chile for sailings on MS Fram.

However, depending on the expedition you undertake, we offer return flights between major airports within Argentina and Chile to smaller regional airports.

What's it like exploring Antarctica?

One of the joys of an Expedition Cruise to Antarctica is that there is no 'typical day'. Flexibility is key, as conditions can be unpredictable, and the safety of passengers and crew is the top priority. One thing we can be certain of is that we are ready from Plan A to Plan Z - each day is dynamic and filled with a variety of activities that take advantage of the unique environment and locations.

Even though your expedition ship is specially designed for sailing amongst the waters of Antarctica, there are limits on where it can go. Our small expedition boats allow us to easily navigate the icy maze, getting you closer to the rich wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. Where the conditions allow, we will use these boats to get ashore for land exploration including hikes, snowshoeing, or if lucky a night spent sleeping out on the ice.

Or what could be better than drifting alongside icebergs or past penguins diving into crystal-clear water? Where the conditions allow, you can take to the water in sea kayaks for a more intimate experience with these frozen landscapes.

How can I get involved with the Science & Education program?

For over 20 years we have been exploring Antarctica, during this time we have been proud to have helped and supported hundreds of scientists, research projects, universities, and organisations to undertake world-leading research.

The onboard Science & Education team aims to unlock your inner scientist with numerous hands-on experiences, helping you better understand the world around where we sail. From researching the impact of climate change on animal populations and sea ice to getting a better understanding of migratory patterns of marine life or meteorological observations in partnership with NASA. We have multiple Citizen Science Projects for you to get involved with.

We are occasionally joined onboard by various international research groups, universities, or scientists. They use the expedition boats to access the remote parts of Antarctica, in return many often run guest lectures or workshops for you to get involved with. When you get on board, speak to a member of our Expedition Team who will be able to provide more information about the projects taking place on board your ship.

Don't just take our word for it! Check out the HX Insiders Facebook Group - where previous guests share their thoughts, tips, and highlights about their time onboard an expedition.

The onboard Expedition Team are your guides to Antarctica, sharing their knowledge, passion, and expertise with our guests on everything from marine biology and the history of exploration to the impact of global warming & climate change on this fragile ecosystem. They are the experts in our destinations, and being onboard our ships are best placed to share their insight & recommendations on the different voyages - helping you to choose the right one for you.

Best unique sailing | voyage to the late summer sun.

This is one of our newest voyages onboard MS Maud, as she makes her return to Antarctica in 2025. Giving you everything you need for an extended expedition around South America - from the vibrant culture of Santiago and Buenos Aires to the rich history of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and not forgetting the unique wildlife and landscapes of Antarctica.

With the added bonus of sailing late into the Antarctic Summer, the extended hours of daylight allow you to pack more into your time onboard.

Best Short Sailing | Highlights of Antarctica

Whether you're a first-timer to expedition cruising or to Antarctica, this itinerary gives you a good introduction to both. The 5 days spent amongst the icy maze of the Antarctic Peninsula are unscripted and unplanned, welcome to true Expedition Cruising.

Each itinerary is slightly different as it depends upon the sea and weather conditions, but we hope you will have a range of opportunities to meet some of the 12 million local penguin residents who live on the ice, take part in citizen science projects and marvel at the rugged antarctic landscape.

Best for Wildlife & Wilderness | In-depth Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia

Sailing onboard one of the smallest ships in our fleet - MS Fram, this itinerary will take you to some of the more remote parts of Antarctica and the islands of the Atlantic Ocean.

Taking in the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, we hope to visit the penguin and bird colonies of these remote islands. Spending 4 days around the Antarctic Peninsula, weather dependant you can get amongst the sea ice and if you are lucky, intimate encounters with the area's unique wildlife.

Sail in the wake of history's greatest explorers.

With a range of 12 to 24 days expeditions to Antarctica, we have the perfect voyage for you explore this frozen wonderland at the edge of the world.

Sitting at and around the South Pole, Antarctica experiences some of the harshest weather conditions on Earth rendering it uninhabited for many months of the year. During the Antarctic winter (April to September), the continent sits in darkness with winds reaching up to 100 mph (160 kph) and temperatures as low as -34 degrees Celcius (-30 degrees Fahrenheit).

In contrast, the best time to visit Antarctica is during the summer months of late November to early March, when the continent experiences milder temperatures, less sea ice, and longer daylight hours, making it more suitable for exploration. It's during this time that the waters, air, and land come alive with the arrival of an array of wildlife species, including penguins, seals, whales, and seabirds, as they return to the continent for breeding.

An expedition to Antarctica is to follow in the footsteps of history's greatest explorers - but unlike our predecessors, travelling to the 7th Continent and the edge of the world is a bit easier than you might think.

Depending on the expedition you choose, we have return flights in the economy between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia in Argentina or Santiago de Chile to Punta Arenas in Chile included in the cost of your voyage.

These flights are operated by different South American airline partners.

They usually depart Buenos Aires/Santiago de Chile early in the morning and land back in Buenos Aires/Santiago de Chile late at night.

We strongly recommend arranging overnight accommodation, as airlines don't confirm flight times until a few days before departure.

What to pack for an expedition to Antarctica?

Even though Antarctica is cold enough to be the only uninhabitable continent on the face of the planet, you are not going to freeze while you're visiting. When you're packing for your Antarctic Expedition there's one piece of sage advice you should always carry with you: "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing."

To help you prepare we recommend packing the following for your expedition to Antarctica:

Waterproof trousers

Woolen underlayers and second layers

Thin woolen socks, and thick top-layer socks

Polarised sunglasses and sunscreen

Underlayer gloves, top layer gloves

A warm hat that covers your ears

Moisturiser and lip balm

A face mask to prevent windburn

A water bottle that’s insulated against cold

A pair of casual shoes for use onboard

Don't forget you will receive a a reusable aluminum water bottle, which is yours to keep at the end of the expedition.

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Travel Insurance

Antarctica travel insurance can help cover trip cancellation, curtailment, or interruption. These plans can also cover expenses that might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, and delay, or other inconvenience occurring to or otherwise involving a passenger (e.g. assistance if your luggage is lost). Many Antarctic travel insurance policies include medical coverage during travel.

Medical Insurance

In most cases, trips to Antarctica require proof of out-of-country medical coverage. Your insurance plan must cover personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, evacuation expenses, and pre-existing medical conditions.

Medical Evacuation Insurance

Antarctic Cruise companies often require a policy that will cover air evacuation from Antarctica (King George Island) to Punta Arenas, Chile. Several companies offer medical evacuation insurance for Antarctica. Evacuation from Antarctica can cost more than US$150,000 per person, prompting some cruise operators to set that amount as their policy minimum.

Antarctic medical evacuation policies usually cover the cost of any medical care needed during transportation (e.g. doctor, medical supplies, etc). When the patient is delivered to the closest hospital, the coverage provided by an Antarctic medical evacuation insurance policy ends. Any further medical costs are not covered by Antarctic medical evacuation policies. Therefore, additional medical coverage is needed/required.

As these three types of policies can overlap or leave gaps when purchased separated, most cruise operators recommend their passengers purchase comprehensive Antarctic medical travel insurance.

Comprehensive Medical Travel Insurance

Comprehensive Antarctic Medical Travel Insurance policies typically include:

• Medical Evacuation and Repatriation in remote areas, including Antarctica.
• Evacuation travel insurance coverage of $150,000 per person (limits vary by cruise operator)
• Insurance to cover flight cancellation & change of dates
• Out-of-country medical treatment
• Insurance for loss, damage, injury, and delay, or other inconvenience occurring to or otherwise involving a passenger.

Each Antarctica travel insurance policy has its own features that should be reviewed carefully based on the circumstances of the traveler. The policies offered in different countries may vary, sometimes in significant ways, from what is described above. With this in mind, we recommend that travelers seek the advice of a travel insurance specialist when selecting the coverage that is appropriate for their trip.

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At LANDED, we do not sell insurance; however, we can help you understand the details of the policies your Antarctic travel requires. Speak to one of our Antarctica experts today.

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LANDED: the finest in private, tailor-made travel to Latin America and Antarctica. Smile. You’ve LANDED 🛬 www.landedtravel.com

Frequently asked Questions about Antarctica

Find out everything you need to know about Antarctica before you travel. We have all the answers to your most frequently asked questions on Antarctica travel.

Antarctica is an awe-inspiring realm of sublime wilderness – the coldest, windiest, driest, and highest continent on the planet. The few people who ever journey this far south are rewarded with exquisitely enchanting icescapes and some of the most pristine nature on Earth.

At Hurtigruten Expeditions we know you’ll have many questions if you’re considering an expedition cruise to Antarctica. To help satisfy some of your curiosity, our experts have answered some of the most frequently asked questions here.

If you have questions about this enchanting frozen desert, about the wildlife which thrives here, or about the unique history and collaborative governance between the nations of the world, we’ll do our best to answer them.

Browse at your leisure and skip straight to a relevant question to get started. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, you can always simply get in touch – our knowledgeable team is always happy to help.

Where is Antarctica?

The southernmost continent in the world, Antarctica is located at and around the South Pole, and surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Almost all of Antarctica lies south of the Antarctic Circle in the Southern Hemisphere, which means temperatures are consistently below zero throughout most of the year.

The nearest neighbouring continent to Antarctica is South America, where the closest part is shared by Chile and Argentina. Part of Antarctica – called the Antarctic Peninsula – extends north beyond the Antarctic Circle. From here it’s about 600 miles to the southernmost tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego.

Apart from South America, Antarctica’s other neighbours are the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Other neighbouring countries to Antarctica include Australia, of which the islands of Tasmania are the closest part, and New Zealand’s South Island, which is also officially named Te Waipounamu.

Can you go to Antarctica?

You can certainly go to Antarctica! We highly recommend visiting.

You don’t need a visa to visit Antarctica, because it has no government and doesn’t belong to any other country. However, if you’re a citizen of a country that is signed up to the Antarctic Treaty, you’ll need a permit from your country. You can see a list of all Signatories to the Treaty here .

Few people go to Antarctica, and many of those who do are scientists. However, there are plenty of excellent reasons to go to Antarctica . Every year, some intrepid people make the journey to explore this amazing wilderness for themselves. We recommend you take a look around on our website and see if an Antarctic cruise is right for you .

Hurtigruten Expeditions offers a variety of expedition cruises to Antarctica with a range of different itineraries to choose from.

How to get to Antarctica?

To travel to Antarctica , the closest place to depart from is the southern tip of South America, from where you can take a ship or plane.

Most flights go from Punta Arenas in Chile to King George Island in Antarctica, which takes two hours. From King George Island, you then need to take a ship to reach the Antarctic continent or other islands. There are also limited flights to the interior of the continent, where you land on a runway of blue ice!

Alternatively, you can fly to Antarctica from Cape Town, South Africa, or sail from South Island, New Zealand, or from Ushuaia, Argentina.

On a Hurtigruten Expeditions trip to Antarctica , you can cruise in comfort on one of our state-of-the-art ships that are outfitted for the purpose of making your trip as enjoyable and rewarding as possible. We offer expedition cruises with a variety of different itineraries so you can find the one that suits you best.

How to choose Antarctic cruise?

We recommend choosing an Antarctic cruise provided by a reputable company with modern ships and top experts to help you understand and get the most from your incredible opportunity. Coming to such a pristine wilderness, we also consider it of the utmost importance to take care to protect the environment and keep it unspoiled.

At Hurtigruten Expeditions, we offer expedition cruises to Antarctica with a variety of different itineraries, so you can find one that suits you best. Simply get in touch with our knowledgeable experts – they’re always happy to help. They can talk to you and ask you about your preferences to help you choose your dream trip to Antarctica.

Once you’ve chosen a cruise, our friendly teams can give you expert advice on topics such as what you need to pack for Antarctica .

What animals live in Antarctica?

Antarctica is teeming with animal life. Even though it’s one of the least hospitable places in the world, the wildlife there is spectacular.

The largest animals of all are found around Antarctica – whales. The whales found here include blue, humpback, Minke, sperm, and beaked. It’s also thought that Antarctica has the largest population of orcas (a type of dolphin) to be found anywhere in the world. In addition, many other types of dolphins are found here. Seals abound, including fur seals, leopard seals, elephant seals and sea lions.

Penguins are the most common birds in the Antarctic, where there are about 20 million breeding pairs (40 million birds). There are 18 different species of penguins in Antarctica, and while most are migratory, the Emperor Penguin and Adélie Penguin remain on the continent year-round, hatching their eggs among the bare rocks. Other birds found here include albatrosses, petrels, skua, prions, fulmars, shearwaters, gulls, terns and cormorants.

Some of the most notable differences between Antarctica and the Arctic are the differences between the animals found there. While penguins are emblematic of the Antarctic, there are no penguins in the Arctic. Moreover, there are no land mammals, reptiles or amphibians in Antarctica, so there are no Polar Bears! In fact, the only terrestrial vertebrates in Antarctica are birds that are found on the sub-Antarctic islands – the South Georgia pipit and freshwater ducks.

Further down the food chain are huge numbers of krill, fish and squid that nourish the marine ecosystem. In fact, the vertebrates living in Antarctica are almost entirely dependent on the Southern Ocean surrounding the continent for sustenance.

Invertebrates in Antarctica include earthworms and molluscs, as well as spiders, beetles and flies – though these are mainly confined to the warmer sub-Antarctic islands. There are no flying insects on the Antarctic continent itself – only tiny nematodes and the Antarctic springtail arthropod are able to survive and complete their lifecycles there.

You can read more about the wildlife of Antarctica here .

Do people live in Antarctica?

Yes, they do, but there are no people living permanently in Antarctica.

In Antarctica, there are many permanent research facilities, and some of them are constantly occupied. However, the individual people in these facilities typically stay for the summer before returning to their home country. While some people stay on through the winter and into the next summer, and sometimes through two or even three winters in a row, no one lives in Antarctica permanently.

During the short summer period, the population of researchers staying in Antarctica typically numbers around 4,000 people – a number that falls to around 1,000 during the winter.

The largest scientific base in Antarctica is McMurdo Station, which has about 1,000 people staying there during the summer. This number falls to about 200 during the winter.

Interestingly, women have given birth to babies at some of the scientific bases in Antarctica. At least 11 children are known to have been born there, to Argentinian and Chilean parents. However, they became citizens of their respective countries rather than of Antarctica and left soon afterwards, because Antarctica is not a country.

Who owns Antarctica?

No single country owns Antarctica, and there are no countries in Antarctica. Moreover, there are no native inhabitants.

Many different countries have historically claimed certain areas of Antarctica as their territory. These are Norway, Australia, Argentina, the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand and Chile. However, these claims have never been universally recognised.

A unique international partnership – the Antarctic Treaty – has existed since 1959 to protect the continent. This sets aside any disputes over territorial sovereignty and binds the signatories to keep Antarctica as “a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science.”

Under the agreement of the Antarctic Treaty, the countries that are active in Antarctica consult each other on the uses of the continent, guarantee each other the freedom to perform scientific research, and prohibit the establishment of mineral mining, military bases, nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal. Consequently, there has never been war in Antarctica, and there are strong environmental protections in place.

Many countries have built research facilities in Antarctica in order to study the unique environment. In addition to the countries mentioned above, these include Russia, Ukraine, Pakistan, India, Italy and the USA.

No one lives permanently in Antarctica, and while there are some people in the buildings and research stations of Antarctica year-round, individual people stay for a limited time and then return to their own countries.

How cold is Antarctica?

It gets very cold. In fact, Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth. The lowest temperature ever recorded at the surface of the Earth was recorded at Vostok research station, where the temperature once fell to −89.2 °C during winter.

However, the temperature varies considerably with the location, weather and seasons in Antarctica .

The coldest parts of Antarctica are in the interior of the continent, away from the coasts. Even during the summer, the interior remains below freezing with an average temperature of between −20 °C and −35 °C. The average temperature here during the coldest months is between −40 °C and −70 °C. It gets so cold because the sun doesn’t rise here in winter. Ever in summer, the sun remains low in the sky, so its rays are spread out over a wider surface area than in warmer parts of the world.

The warmest parts of Antarctica are the coastal areas, where the maritime climate keeps temperatures slightly higher. The average temperature during the coldest months here varies from −20 °C to −30 °C, while the mid-summer average temperature is about 0 °C on the coast.

The Antarctic Peninsula and the islands around it extend the furthest northwards towards the equator. Here, midsummer temperatures remain mostly below 0 °C, but can reach as high as 15 °C on occasion.

Research indicates the rate of climate change in Antarctica is greater than the global average.

How big is Antarctica?

At 5.4 million square miles of land mass, Antarctica is about 1.3 times as large as Europe and roughly twice the size of Australia. Antarctica is the fifth largest continent in the world, with 11,164 miles of coastline, about 45 percent of which is fringed with ice shelves.

In addition, Antarctica almost doubles in size during the winter. This is because it’s 98 percent covered with an ice sheet, which extends out from the land as ice shelves that float on the water of the Southern Ocean. During the winter, these ice shelves become extended as the sea freezes on a vast scale. At its peak, around 12.4 million square miles of the surface of the sea around Antarctica is frozen into sea ice. Much of this frozen sea ice melts during the Antarctic summer, leaving only around 1.8 million square miles of the sea frozen.

Antarctica is a high continent too, with significant mountain ranges. The highest mountain is Vinson Massif in the Ellsworth Mountains, which reaches up over 16,000 ft. Some of Antarctica’s mountains are entirely buried beneath the continental ice sheet.

You can read more about the physical features of Antarctica here.

Is Antarctica a desert?

Yes, much of Antarctica is a ‘cold desert’ or ‘polar desert’. This is because it is a large and extremely barren area where little precipitation occurs. In fact, as well as being the world’s coldest continent, it’s also the world’s driest.

Despite being a place with an abundance of ice covering the ground and sea, the interior of the Antarctic continent only gets an annual snowfall of a few inches. What’s more, the constantly low temperature in the interior keeps water frozen, making it very difficult for most forms of life to access it.

The coastal areas of Antarctica receive higher levels of precipitation and higher temperatures than the harsher interior of the continent. On the coast, temperatures can even rise high enough that precipitation falls as rain, while snowfall is typically measured in feet.

Plant life is only to be found along the coastal areas and islands where temperatures can rise above freezing. However, these plants don’t support any mammals, reptiles or amphibians. Most of the wildlife found in Antarctica such as penguins and seals depend on the ecosystems of the Southern Ocean for sustenance. The only terrestrial vertebrates are birds that inhabit the sub-Antarctic islands – the South Georgia pipit and freshwater ducks.

Do polar bears live in Antarctica?

No, polar bears don’t live in Antarctica. In fact, there are no land mammals living there.

Polar bears are found in the Arctic, which is located around the northernmost region of the planet, and while they do move south of the Arctic Circle, they remain in the colder northern latitudes.

Interestingly, the name ‘Arctic’ comes from the Greek word for bear. This is because the constellation Ursa Major – also known as the Great Bear – is always visible there. The name ‘Antarctic’ means ‘opposite to the Arctic’.

If you’re interested in spotting polar bears, you might like to see our expedition cruises to Arctic destinations such as Svalbard .

When was Antarctica discovered?

Antarctica was first observed on 27 January 1820 by the First Russian Antarctic Expedition led by Bellingshausen and Lazarev. They went on to circumnavigate the newly found continent twice. Just three days later, a British naval officer named Edward Bransfield also saw Antarctica. However, the first person to actually make a landing in Antarctica was John Davis, an American seal hunter and explorer, in 1821.

The history of exploration and discovery in the Antarctic is a fascinating story of desperate competition between the great powers of the world.

What time is it in Antarctica?

The time in Antarctica depends on who you ask! There isn’t one official time zone for Antarctica, nor is there any government to decide on an official time. Besides this, there is no need for a single time zone.

In most of the world, the time zone is related to the time of the sunrise and sunset (based on longitude). However, Antarctica is so far south that the days and nights last for months, so the time doesn’t matter very much in relation to sunlight. Moreover, since all lines of longitude pass through Antarctica (meeting at the South Pole), this would make 24 different time zones on one continent. By walking around the South Pole, you could then step through each one in a few seconds!

In practice, the various research bases on Antarctica use whichever time makes the most sense for them. Some bases use the time of the country they come from, or which supplies them. Others use the time of nearby countries such as Chile or Argentina.

Hurtigruten

• Norway Fjords Cruise
• Northern Lights Cruise
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• HX Expeditions UK

Antarctic Circle Expedition

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• First class scientific lectures
• Come ashore on isolated beaches and spend the night in a tent
• Cross the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66° 33’ 39’’
• See penguins, Leopard seals and whales

What's this trip about?

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Travel themes.

• National Parks
• Nature & Wildlife
• Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

• South America

Attractions

• Buenos Aires
• Shetland Islands
• Whale watching
• Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

• Cabin grade of your choice on a full board basis
• One hotel night in Buenos Aires before the voyage including breakfast
• Return economy flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia
• Transfer in Ushuaia with orientation tour
• Wind and water resistant jacket
• Landings with Polarcirkel boats and activities onboard and ashore
• Professional English speaking Expedition team that gives lectures as well as accompanying landings and activities
• Free tea and coffee

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Buenos Aires’ mixture of elegant and bohemian neighbourhoods only adds to its charm and appeal. You start with an overnight stay here, in the birthplace of the tango.

Ushuaia is where the Andes meet the Southern Ocean. It is a busy port and adventure hub with steep streets and architectural diversity below the snow-capped Martial Range.

The Drake Passage is famous for some of the roughest and most unforgiving waters of the world. This is where two oceans meet; sailors say that it’s either the Drake Lake or the Drake Shake.

We continue our voyage in Antarctica.

After nine unforgettable days in Antarctica, MS Fram takes us safely back across the famous Drake Passage.

The sailing from the Antarctic Peninsula to Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina is roughly 40 hours in good weather. During the voyage north, we will continue our lecture series and recap our experiences of Antarctica.

Back in Ushuaia you can either join an optional excursion or go straight to the airport to fly to Buenos Aires. Here you can either fly back home or spend time with our post programmes to the Tigre Delta or the incredible Iguazu Falls.

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• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Dates & Availability

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Hurtigruten .

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Hurtigruten Reviews & Ratings

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unfortunately due to covid-19

do not book with this company !!!!! I my husband and 2 other friends (all Italian) had to take the cruise starting March 17th, unfortunately due to covid-19 we were ...

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Tour operator, hurtigruten.

The coastline between Bergen and Kirkenes is over 1,490 miles long, and in the 19th Century almost all of it was home to rich fishing grounds. The maritime maps were unreliable and there were only a few lighthouses, especially in the north. This important seaway was lined with perilous reefs, small islands and narrow inlets, and it was essential that a safe trade route be established to link the southern and northern regions of Norway.

When the Norwegian government decided to create a connection between the north and the south, Richard With and his friend Anders Holthe took on the challenge of thoroughly mapping the seas along the coastline. In 1893, Captain Richard With’s steamer, DS Vesteraalen, was brought into regular service along the coast of Norway, and Hurtigruten was established. The service offered several weekly departures, first from Trondheim to Hammerfest and later from Bergen to Kirkenes in only seven days. He called this important connection ‘Hurtigruten’ (the fast route).

120 years later, we still carry freight and passengers. Our captains use their extensive maritime expertise to ensure that guests and goods are safely carried from port to port. Today, as then, the Hurtigruten ships are a part of Norwegian coastal life. One of the fleet’s 11 ships departs Bergen daily, sailing to Kirkenes and back in 12 days at an average speed of 15 knots.

Hurtigruten's Ships

Hurtigruten ships have been a staple along the Norwegian coast since 1893. The current fleet consists of classic ships, ships built in the late nineties, and ships built after the millennium.

Many boast of their “ultimate” expedition ships. But none, save the MS Fram, contains two critical features which deliver adventure in a more safe and comfortable way. MS Fram is a purpose-build expedition ship built especially for comfortable Explorer voyages, with emphasis on relaxation and discovery.

MS Fram was built in 2007 with one mission in mind - to bring her guests closer to nature, wildlife and unforgettable experiences. As well as offering numerous lounges in which to relax, our more active guests can use our well-equipped gym. Meanwhile, on deck, our Jacuzzis guarantee you surreal memories when passing the towering icebergs of Antarctica or Greenland.

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About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip, travel confidently, what's excluded.

• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Luggage handling
• Optional excursions and gratuities

You, or any member of your party, may cancel your travel arrangements at any time. Written notification from the person who made the booking or your travel agent must be received at our offices. We recommend ‘Recorded Delivery’. Cancellation takes effect the day we receive your letter or email. Since we incur costs in relation to your arrangements from the time we confirm your booking you will have to pay the applicable cancellation charges as shown in the table below (which also applies if we cancel because you have failed to make payments on time - see ‘Payment’ section) together with the cost of any air fare for which we have had to pay at the time of the booking and will be payable immediately on cancellation.

When the cancellation letter is received by us before departure

Charges as a % of the total holiday cost (excl. insurance premiums)

60 or more days Retention of deposit

42–59 days is 30%

28–41 days will be 60%

14–27 days is 90%

Less than 14 days is 100%

If you have to cancel for a reason covered by your travel insurance you may be able to reclaim the cancellation charges, less applicable excess. Insurance premiums are not refundable.

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About Explorer Cruises by Hurtigruten

An explorer cruise with Hurtigruten is meant for adventurers who value life experiences and personal growth over excessive luxury. These expedition-style voyages will take you on breath-taking, nature-based experiences in remote corners of the world, from the far north to the far south. On an Explorer voyage you will be accompanied by a highly skilled crew and expedition team on one of five intimately-scaled expedition ships.

Explore our explorer cruises by Hurtigruten  →

Frequently asked questions:

What are the differences between the ships, what is included in the tour price, will i meet a representative from authentic scandinavia during my trip, what is the weather like, what do i need to pack, when is the best time to travel with ms nordstjernen, is there a guide on board, is there entertainment on board, is there a doctor on board and do i have to be in good health, might i get seasick, will my mobile phone work is there internet access, are there laundry facilities on board, is smoking allowed on board, do i need travel insurance, why is the cruise schedule not fixed, what are small boat landings, are children allowed on expedition cruises, why do i have to fill out a personal questionnaire and medical forms, will i see the northern lights on explorer voyages.

Is there a jacuzzi on board?

What is the cruise card?

Do i need an adapter, can i drink the water on board.

What does Hurtigruten do for the environment?  

All five ships are designed for the special conditions of explorer cruises, but they are very different – ranging from the “old lady” MS Nordstjernen to the very modern MS Roald Amundsen, a brand-new environmentally friendly hybrid vessel launched in 2019. The vessels travel to different destinations. You can find information on the vessel used under each tour. You can also read more about the different vessels here: 

MS Midnatsol

MS Nordstjernen

MS Spitsbergen

MS Roald Amundsen

An overview of the services included is specified for each tour (at the bottom of the tour page).

Since we offer tours throughout the Nordic countries, the Baltis and Russia we do not have staff available to meet you in person during your travels with us. Please rest assured however that we are always available through phone and email during our office hours and through our emergency phone outside our office hours should you require any assistance during your travels.  

Even if you travel in summer, remember that you will be in Arctic regions where temperatures hardly ever raise over 10 degrees Celsius even in the warmest summer months. The climate in Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen (Svalbard) can still be minus degrees at night in May, and reaches a maximum of about 9 degrees Celsius in July. Further north on Spitsbergen, it can be colder, and if the weather is rough and windy, it might feel like proper winter. The temperature in Iceland can raise to about 15 degrees during July and August but can have a chilly 4 degrees at night in May. The climate on the west coast of Greenland is about the same as in Iceland. The temperatures in Antarctica vary a lot depending on the location. The average temperature during the summer time along the coast is just below 0 degrees Celsius.

The dress code on board is informal; bring casual and comfortable clothing. There is no need to dress up for dinners. Even though it is summer, you will need warm clothing to be able to be outside on deck and for the landings. It is recommended to bring a warm jacket, wind and water-resistant trousers, long thermal or woolen underwear, a warm cap or headband, a scarf and gloves, a warm woolen jumper or a fleece jacket and warm socks. Shoes with good, grippy soles and a pair that is comfortable on board. Bring good sunglasses and sun protection. A small waterproof backpack, a pair of good binoculars and a good camera should also be on your packing list. On all expedition ships except MS Nordstjernen, you will receive a wind- and waterproof jacket that you can bring home afterwards, and you can borrow boots (there is not enough space on board MS Nordstjernen for boot storage).

Early in the season, in May and beginning of June, there is usually still a lot of ice. That means there are many seals which again attract polar bears so that chances of seeing them might be a little bigger. On the other hand, lots of ice means that the ship might not get into all fjords, might not reach 80 degrees north or that landings have to be in different places than planned.  From May to July, there are many birds to be seen; most of them will leave the area by August. August is a time of beautiful colours, and until August 23, you can still see the mignight sun (after that, it is still very bright but they days shorten with 20 minutes daily in each end). Both early (May) and late (August-September) in the season, the tour price is cheaper.

Yes, there is a professional expedition team on board that will keep you up to date on the progress of the trip and point out interesting sights and wildlife sightings. They will also hold lectures on topics such as biology, history and geology, accompany you on landings, and will happily answer all questions you might have. Apart from onboard MS Nordstjernen, the ships have an expedition desk where you can book additional activities if you like. The main language on board is English; on most departures there is also a German speaking guide on board.

The emphasis on board is on relaxation and discovery, and not on the commercial entertainment which is so often a part of conventional cruises. Hurtigruten’s aim is to get you closer to unique environments and to allow you to share the experience with your fellow travellers. Occasionally there may be some musical entertainment on board in the evenings.

It depends on the ship. There is no doctor on board MS Nordstjernen; the hospital in Longyearbyen will be contacted in case of emergency. On all other explorer ships, there is an English-speaking physician and nurse on board. The ships have a small medical facility with the necessary equipment and medication to handle small emergencies. In the event of a serious emergency, the nearest hospital will be contacted. Medical consultations as well as medication will be charged to the passenger affected. It is compulsory to carry sufficient travel/health insurance. If you depend on medication, remember to bring sufficient supplies to last through any unforeseen delays. We also recommend that you keep your medication in your hand luggage properly labelled and with clear instructions for its use. If you depend on vital drugs, please inform the ship’s doctor upon arrival. Illness on board can lead to quarantine and orders from the ship’s physician and captain must be followed.  In general, it is advised that you are in good health when joining an explorer cruise since there is no immediate access to modern medical facilities. Futhermore, you must be able to walk on uneven or slippery surfaces and to climb on and off the small boats for landings. 

Yes, that might happen since the sea can be rough at times. Seasickness pills are available for purchase in the reception. If you are prone to seasickness, it is recommended that you bring pills that you are familiar with. You may also buy “sea bands” on board.

Depending on the operator with whom you have a contract, mobile phones will function in some places on shore. Check with your carrier company for details. There is no internet connection on board MS Nordstjernen. On the other ships, Wi-Fi is available for a fee (from 2020 free of charge). On MS Fram, MS Midnatsol and MS Spitsbergen, there is an internet café on board with available computers, and coverage almost everywhere on the vessel except in the cabins. On MS Roald Amundsen, no internet café is available but the whole ship will have Wi-Fi coverage. 

There is no laundry service on MS Nordstjernen. On the other ships, laundry service is available for a fee. There are no self-service or dry-cleaning options. 

Smoking is only permitted in designated areas on the outside decks. Smoking in the cabin is prohibited and subject to a fine.

Yes, Hurtigruten requires all guests to have a travel insurance including cancellation cover and providing medical cover for illness or injury and repatriation while overseas.

During an expedition cruise, the elements rule, and the weather, wind and ice conditions will determine the final schedule. Safety is paramount and the captain will decide the sailing itinerary during the voyage. Therefore, the stated itinerary is just an indication of what you can experience, and why every expedition with Hurtigruten is unique.

During the explorer cruise, you will make several landings by small boats, often called Polar Circle Boats. These sturdy boats are used for water-based exploration and safe landings in otherwise inaccessible areas. You need to be fairly agile to board them (especially on MS Nordstjernen where you need to climb down stairs), but the crew is there to assist. Proper footwear needs to be worn. There are usually two boat tours or shore visits per day but they depend on the weather and wind, and no guarantee can be given for the location and the amount of landings during the cruise. 

Expedition cruises are neither recommended nor allowed for small children. For most expedition cruises the lower age limit is 5 years (for tours in the Antarctic it is 12 years) but we ask you to consider if your child will enjoy a tour like that. On cruises on MS Nordstjernen around Spitsbergen, small children/babies are allowed but not recommended since the ship and the program are not adjusted. In any case, due to safety reasons, children under 12 will be considered for each landing. It is entirely at the Captain’s discretion to allow children on shore landings. 

The personal questionnaire is necessary for the ship manifest, immigration offices, flight tickets and customs (if applicable for the chosen tour). Please fill in the Hurtigruten questionnaire once you receive it from us after your booking is confirmed. Please note that we are unable to send your travel documents until we have received the completed form.  A Medical Certificate needs to be submitted by all passengers joining our voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the North East side of Greenland, on the Northwest Passage and across the Atlantic Ocean, due to the remoteness of these areas. The Medical Certificate is to be completed and approved by your personal physician not more than 8 weeks before your departure date.  The completed forms must be presented to the ship’s doctor upon boarding. Boarding will be denied if part III of the Medical Certificate is not approved by your personal physician. Even if the forms have been duly submitted and approved by your personal physician, the ship’s doctor and the captain reserve the right to deny the boarding of guests who do not seem to be sufficiently fit for travel. 

No, since the explorer voyages are mostly sailing under the Midnight Sun. For chances of seeing the Northern Lights we recommend to book Norwegian Coastal voyages in winter.

Is there a jacuzzi on board? 

There is a jacuzzi on deck of all ships except MS Nordstjernen. 

A cruise card will be issued upon arrival on board as part of the check-in procedure. All guests are requested to wear this card when disembarking in all ports of call and landings. The card serves as a control system on the gangway enabling the ship to know which of the guests are on board and ashore at any time. This card, in addition to being the key card for your cabin, is also your payment card on board. The card is the only means of payment for on board facilities. To activate the cruise card account you must have a Visa, American Express, Diners or Mastercard (Maestro Card is not supported). The credit card must be valid more than 3 months after your stay on board. 

The plugs in your cabins are all 220V/50hz. Suites have 110V for Shavers. The plugs are continental two pin plugs. Please bring an adapter if your appliances use different ones. On all ships except MS Nordstjernen, adapters are available for purchase in the shop.

The tap water in your cabin is drinkable. Filtered water by the carafe is available at your table during meals, while bottled water is available for purchase.

What does Hurtigruten do for the environment?

Hurtigruten attempts to only leave a small footprint. In order to achieve this, they have established the Hurtigruten foundation that helps fight pollution, funds local and global projects in the areas they explore and is involved in research to for example secure the polar bear population. They have introduced the first battery hybrid power ship and convert most of their existing ships to hybrid battery powered. As the first cruise line in the world, Hurtigruten has banned all unnecessary single use plastic. From straws to drinking cups and plastic bags, the plastic has been removed or replaced by environmentally friendly alternatives made of paper, biodegradable material and sustainable materials. Hurtigruten actively works against marine pollution and involves their guests, for example by cleaning the beaches during landings.  Furthermore, Hurtigruten has been actively involved in establishing the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators ( AECO ), which oversees expedition cruising in Arctic areas. Through the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators ( IAATO ), Hurtigruten works to secure a safe and environmentally aware tourism industry in the unique and fragile Antarctica.

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• Hurtigruten

2021/2022 Antarctica Travel Insurance

By Heartfelttraveler , October 10, 2021 in Hurtigruten

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Heartfelttraveler

We live in the United States.

I need to purchase travel insurance for our upcoming trip to Antarctica in January 2022.

If you recently purchased insurance for your upcoming Antarctica trip - what company did you go with and why?

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GeezerCouple

16 hours ago, Heartfelttraveler said: We live in the United States. I need to purchase travel insurance for our upcoming trip to Antarctica in January 2022. If you recently purchased insurance for your upcoming Antarctica trip - what company did you go with and why?

We haven't (yet?) sailed to Antarctica.

However, we always get our travel insurance from www.TripInsuranceStore.com, which we learned about here on CC almost 10 years ago now.

They are a broker, and work with several "vetted" insurers, each of which has more than one type of policy (I think each does).

Our policies have been with Travel Insured and we've had several claims, including a few large ones, for cruises and land trips.  All have been paid without nonsense, and that's what counts, after all.

We learned a LOT from Steve (owner) and his associates.  They are incredibly patient, and answered many (!) "But what if X happens?  What if Y happens!?" questions, including recently.  It seems several trips continue to have various "peculiarities" such that I need to double check yet again... 😉  

And Covid has just made things even more complicated.

Here are links to CC's Travel Insurance sub-forums and to one that Steve himself handles (which includes questions that don't involve trips where he handles the insurance):

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/499-cruisetravel-insurance/

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/2500-qa-cruise-insurance-with-the-tripinsurancestorecom-june-2021/

They don't "upsell".  (In fact, one time, Steve actually talked me *out* of buying a policy, explaining - and mostly from his memory! - why he thought we didn't need it.  He was correct, and we didn't buy a policy from him for that trip.  That really surprised me, and very pleasantly!)

Enjoy your trip!  We'll be thinking about it.  Do you care to share just which cruise it is, so we can "follow along"?

cruiseonward

On 10/9/2021 at 8:37 PM, Heartfelttraveler said: We live in the United States. I need to purchase travel insurance for our upcoming trip to Antarctica in January 2022. If you recently purchased insurance for your upcoming Antarctica trip - what company did you go with and why?

We are sailing in Feb 2022 and we purchased our insurance from Travel Guard.  There are several online companies that "compare" prices.  Make sure to check out several of them ...as they all offer the same insurance companies...but not all prices are the same.  Insuremytrip; Squaremouth; and the one mentioned above.  If you are member of AAA or USAA they also offer just travel insurance.  Make sure your travel insurance is the "primary payer", not secondary...as this means you must submit to your other insurance methods (like medical insurance) and get a reject before you can submit to the travel insurance carrier.  Takes a lot of time, and is a hassle.  We have used both Allianz and Travel guard...both are very good for claims.

• 1 month later...

On 10/10/2021 at 10:10 AM, GeezerCouple said:   Hi again,   We haven't (yet?) sailed to Antarctica.   However, we always get our travel insurance from www.TripInsuranceStore.com, which we learned about here on CC almost 10 years ago now. They are a broker, and work with several "vetted" insurers, each of which has more than one type of policy (I think each does).   Our policies have been with Travel Insured and we've had several claims, including a few large ones, for cruises and land trips.  All have been paid without nonsense, and that's what counts, after all. We learned a LOT from Steve (owner) and his associates.  They are incredibly patient, and answered many (!) "But what if X happens?  What if Y happens!?" questions, including recently.  It seems several trips continue to have various "peculiarities" such that I need to double check yet again... 😉   And Covid has just made things even more complicated.   Here are links to CC's Travel Insurance sub-forums and to one that Steve himself handles (which includes questions that don't involve trips where he handles the insurance):   https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/499-cruisetravel-insurance/   https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/2500-qa-cruise-insurance-with-the-tripinsurancestorecom-june-2021/   They don't "upsell".  (In fact, one time, Steve actually talked me *out* of buying a policy, explaining - and mostly from his memory! - why he thought we didn't need it.  He was correct, and we didn't buy a policy from him for that trip.  That really surprised me, and very pleasantly!)   Enjoy your trip!  We'll be thinking about it.  Do you care to share just which cruise it is, so we can "follow along"?   GC

Thank you for this information. I have many trips on the calendar in the next 18 months and need help,p figuring out how to insure those adventures. Happy Cruising. 

I went to Antarctica in 12/19 and had trip insurance through Ripcord Travel Rescue Insurance.  Thank goodness I didn't need to use it but someone fell down a flight of stairs, broke an ankle, and had to be air rescued out.  

We went through AARDY - who we have dealt with in the past and they are extremely helpful explaining all the different policies and suggesting which one would be best for me.  I bought the Travel Guard Plus policy.  I know it differs for different ages, I am 72 and it cost me $1098 for 25 days.  I bought it within the 21 day timeframe to cover pre existing conditions.  I liked it because it gave $1 million for evac and $100,000 medical expense + all the other benefits.  Also covers if the tour company goes out of business - which not all policies cover.

Thanks for all the information.

We went through SquareMouth and bought a Tin Leg Gold policy.

It was very expensive (we are used to this) - we are 65 and 74.

Covid Coverage

$500,000 evacuation

$500,000 Emergency Medical

Plus all the other stuff.

It is a very comprehensive policy and covers us for the expedition and post trip to Rio.

I have learned that "You never know" and 'You have to be prepared."

I expect it to be wasted money and that we will not have to use it.

On 11/14/2021 at 12:03 PM, cruise1949 said: Thank you for this information. I have many trips on the calendar in the next 18 months and need help,p figuring out how to insure those adventures. Happy Cruising. 

If you have several trips scheduled, you might consider an annual policy.  We have done so in the past.

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Travel Insurance

Some of the covered reasons for trip cancellation and trip interruption include:

• Covered sickness, injury or death of you, a family member or traveling companion
• Common carrier delays resulting from inclement weather, mechanical breakdown or unannounced strikes
• Financial insolvency of a travel supplier
• Your primary residence or accommodations at your destination are made uninhabitable by fire, flood, volcano, earthquake, hurricane or other natural disaster
• Mandatory hurricane evacuations
• Being called into emergency military duty for a natural disaster
• A documented theft of passports or visas
• Your involuntary termination of employment or layoff after you've been working with the same employer for at least one year
• A terrorist act which occurs in your departure city or in a city to which you are scheduled to travel while on your trip, and which occurs within 30 days of your scheduled departure date

The table below provides the coverage and benefit limits of the Go plan.

The Go plan also includes 24-hour emergency assistance services and concierge services from Generali's designated provider.

24-Hour Emergency Assistance Services These services offer on-the-spot and immediate assistance for unexpected problems that can arise during your trip. The hotline operates 24/7 for help while traveling.

Concierge Services Get pre-trip assistance scheduling golf tee times, making restaurant, airline and rental car reservations or obtaining tickets for performances and special events.

All benefits and services are described on a general basis. For complete details on policy exclusions and benefits, contact Generali Global Assistance for a sample Description of Coverage or Policy.

For trips over $10,000 per person or longer than 31 days in length, please contact your Vacations To Go travel counselor for a price.

Other Details

Purchase Rule This plan must be purchased the same day the first trip payment is made. In addition, the traveler must be medically able to travel at the time the policy is purchased.

10-Day Free Look Generali offers a 10-day free look for the Go plan. In the 10 days after you purchase your plan, you have the ability to cancel your coverage and receive a full refund of the plan cost as long as you haven't left for your trip or filed a claim.

Policy Confirmations You will receive a Description of Coverage (or Policy for residents of certain states) which describes the benefits and limitations in detail. If you do not receive your documents within 10 days or 24 hours for email, call Generali Global Assistance at 800-994-3765. Note : Insurance coverage is provided to all travelers listed on the policy, who must be residents of the United States or purchase this insurance from a company that is based in the United States.

Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services. Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions. Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply. Travel Retailers are not authorized to answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. This plan provides insurance coverage for your trip that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered to you by your travel retailers. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker. This notice provides general information on Generali's products and services only. The information contained herein is not part of an insurance policy and may not be used to modify any insurance policy that might be issued. In the event the actual policy forms are inconsistent with any information provided herein, the language of the policy forms shall govern. Travel insurance plans are underwritten by: Generali U.S. Branch, New York, NY; NAIC # 11231. Generali US Branch operates under the following names: Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A. (U.S. Branch) in California, Assicurazioni Generali – U.S. Branch in Colorado, Generali U.S. Branch DBA The General Insurance Company of Trieste & Venice in Oregon, and The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch in Virginia. Generali US Branch is admitted or licensed to do business in all states and the District of Columbia.

Cruises to Antarctica take passengers to nature in its most pristine and rugged state. On your Antarctica cruise, observe whales, penguins, sea lions and albatross as your ship sails past towering blue icebergs. Onboard Antarctic cruises, naturalists offer lectures and lead sightseeing excursions. Antarctic cruises typically depart from South American ports like Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands and Buenos Aires or Ushuaia in Argentina, and cruise the Drake Passage. Cruises to Antarctica include highlights such as the South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula and a number of peak-filled islands.

• The Antarctic cruise season is December to February.
• Because you'll need to fly a long distance to reach your port of departure, we suggest that you arrive at the port city at least one or two days in advance of your Antarctica cruise. This will give you time to rest and get oriented before boarding the ship. Most cruise lines offer pre-cruise hotel packages.

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Travel Insurance for Antarctica

Home > Destinations > Antarctica > Travel Insurance for Antarctica

To travel on board an Aurora Expeditions’ voyage to Antarctica, all passengers require travel insurance with emergency evacuation cover to help protect you against unplanned changes that may result from sickness, accident, loss of baggage and personal belongings, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption.

We recommend that you purchase your insurance at the same time as you book your trip to ensure you are also covered against trip cancellation.

Aurora Expeditions recommend NIB travel insurance for Australian travellers. If you take out an alternative policy, you should check that it provides adequate coverage as above.

International travellers are required to book travel insurance via a local insurance provider in your home country.

Please advise Aurora Expeditions of your policy details on your Personal Details Form.

To arrange your travel insurance or for more information please contact Aurora Expeditions  or your travel agent.

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It's hot, so hot in here: Warmest March on record was part of a 10-month streak

This was the real March madness.

March 2024 was the warmest March ever recorded globally, scientists reported Tuesday , in data that goes back to before the Civil War. It was also the 10th month in a row that was the hottest on record, itself an ongoing record-breaking streak.

In addition, "the global average temperature is the highest on record, with the past 12 months being 1.58 degrees (Celsius) above pre-industrial levels," said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service , which released the report.

The primary cause of the exceptional heat were human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, the service said. Other factors pushing up temperatures include El Niño, the natural climate pattern that warms the surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Heat records fall: Scientists are puzzled and alarmed in 2024. Here's what to know.

Long-term trend is concerning

"It's the long-term trend with exceptional records that has us very concerned," Burgess said. "Seeing records like this – month in, month out – really shows us that our climate is changing, is changing rapidly."

Scientists don't fully understand why recent temperatures are up so much more than projected. The year 2023 was the planet's hottest year in global records that go back to 1850. It was also warmer than it should have been, experts say, and they're not sure why.

"It’s humbling, and a bit worrying, to admit that no year has confounded climate scientists’ predictive capabilities more than 2023 has," wrote NASA climate scientist  Gavin Schmidt in an opinion piece in March in the journal Nature.

March warmth was worldwide

In addition to Europe, which had its second-warmest March on record, temperatures were most above average over eastern North America, Greenland, eastern Russia, Central America, parts of South America, many parts of Africa, southern Australia and parts of Antarctica, Copernicus said.

In the U.S., March temperatures were above average across much of the country, while below-average temperatures were seen in small pockets of the West and Southwest, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in a Monday report . Overall, it was the USA's 17th-warmest March in the climate record.

Why is 1.5 degrees significant?

Although the global average temperatures in Tuesday's report are above the 1.5 Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) threshold set in the landmark Paris Agreement, it's not yet seen as exceeding the goal, because that is based on a long-term, consistent average rather than a measurement from any single month or year.

However, scientists agree the world needs to  hold down  the global increase in average temperatures to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels. If temperatures go over that, especially over 2 degrees Celsius, scientists believe the global warming effects we're already seeing will become  devastating .

Fossil fuel burning the cause

"The main driver of the warming is fossil fuel emissions," said Friederike Otto , a climate scientist at Imperial College London's Grantham Institute.

Failure to reduce these emissions will continue to drive the warming of the planet, resulting in more intense droughts, fires, heat waves and heavy rainfall, Otto said.

Burgess said that "stopping further warming requires rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions."

Federal scientists from NASA and NOAA will release their global temperature data for March within the few days.

Contributing: Reuters ; Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY

Travel Insurance

An illness, an accident or an unexpected situation can arise before or during any type of vacation. Such an event might cause you to cut short your cruise or cause your trip to be canceled altogether. Unfortunately, most cruise lines impose penalties for canceling a cruise, up to and including loss of the entire cruise price.

Because a cruise is a significant investment, most cruise lines offer some form of insurance to protect their passengers from financial loss in the event of an emergency. Details and prices vary from cruise line to cruise line, as do coverage limits and exclusions.

If you decide to purchase insurance, you will have two options, to go with the cruise line's plan or to use our independent insurance provider, Generali Global Assistance. Use the summaries below to compare policies and prices.

Generali can provide insurance coverage to all customers, regardless of their country of citizenship, except residents of the province of Quebec, Canada.

For more information or a complete copy of a policy, ask your Vacations To Go cruise counselor.

Independent Insurance Coverage

Generali Global Assistance

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