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By Destinations Editor
OCTOBER 01, 2026
Find Your Antarctica | Glacial Expeditions × ExplorEarth
ExplorEarth × Glacial Expeditions · Antarctica

Antarctica Expedition Cruises:
Find Your Antarctica

Picture the moments you want to bring home: a whale beside the ship, your first Antarctic landing or an afternoon paddling through ice. Erika and Chris will help you build a journey around them.

Find My Antarctica Expedition Watch the Film
Erika CommissoChris Commisso
Your Antarctica, with Glacial Expeditions.Two Antarctic voyages, firsthand advice, and help planning your complete journey.
Meet your specialists →
01 · Where to go

Start with what draws you south

Perhaps this is your first polar voyage, or you have a particular wildlife encounter in mind. Start with the places below, then talk through the time, travel arrangements and style of expedition each would involve with Glacial Expeditions.

01 · YOUR FIRST LANDING

Antarctic Peninsula

For many travelers, this is where Antarctica becomes real: a Zodiac ride beneath glaciers, a penguin colony ashore and ice stretching across the horizon.

Show on the map
02 · COLONIES & COASTLINES

South Georgia

Allow more time for this subantarctic island, where king penguins crowd the beaches and the traces of Shackleton’s journey sit beneath steep mountains.

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03 · A LONGER JOURNEY

Antarctic Circle

An option for travelers who want more time along the Peninsula, with the possibility of reaching the Circle when ice and weather permit.

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04 · ANOTHER SIDE OF ANTARCTICA

Weddell Sea

Look east of the Peninsula for immense flat-topped icebergs and a different sense of scale. Emperor penguin expeditions require a carefully chosen specialist itinerary.

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Your journey starts here

A glimpse of your Antarctica

Head south with us. The film plays silently as you scroll into view; turn on the sound to enjoy the music.

Watch on Vimeo ↗

Explore Antarctica

Get to know the places behind the itinerary

Use the map to explore the wider Antarctic region, then switch views for a closer look at Peninsula landing sites and cruising areas.

Outbound flight to ChileInbound flight to King George IslandSouth America · ChileInbound & outbound flightsAntarctic Peninsula1South Georgia2Weddell Sea3Snow Hill Island4Ross Sea5King George Island6Antarctic Circle · indicative latitude boundary7
Choose a number or destination card for more detail. The dashed line marks the approximate Antarctic Circle; animated dots illustrate flight connections between King George Island and the Chilean gateways of Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams.

Use these locations to get your bearings, rather than as a promised schedule. Your voyage, local permissions and conditions determine access, and wildlife encounters are never guaranteed. The Lemaire Channel and Gerlache Strait are cruising waterways, not shore landings.

02 · When to go

Choose the season for the experience you want

The Antarctic travel season is short, but a few weeks can change the character of a voyage. Think about whether fresh snow, the bustle of penguin colonies or time watching whales matters most to you.

Snow-covered mountains on the Antarctic Peninsula
November to December

A fresh start to summer

Snow still defines the landscape as penguins establish their nests. This is an appealing time for travelers drawn to bright ice and the activity of the breeding season.

Gentoo penguin with its chick in Antarctica
Photo: Jamie Lafferty
January

Long days to explore

With long hours of daylight and chicks appearing in the colonies, midsummer offers plenty to observe. Access still follows local ice and weather conditions.

Humpback whale in Antarctic waters
Photo: Jamie Lafferty
February to March

Time on the water

Later departures appeal to whale watchers and photographers, with feeding humpbacks and changing light. Penguin colonies and shore conditions look different from early summer.

03 · How to arrive

How would you like your Antarctic journey to begin?

Your available time and feelings about open-ocean travel both matter here. Erika and Chris can help you weigh the sea crossing against a fly-cruise, including the connections and overnight stays around your expedition.

Begin at sea
≈ 2 days

Sail

Depart from Ushuaia and settle into life aboard during the crossing. There is time for introductions and briefings, with seabirds to watch from deck. Sea conditions can range from calm to rough.

Join the ship in Antarctica
≈ 2 hrs

Fly

A flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island replaces the ocean crossing on selected itineraries. Antarctic flights depend on weather, so allow for the operator’s contingency arrangements when planning your trip.

Plan the connections as carefully as the cruise. Glacial can help you consider travel days, comfort at sea and the flexibility each option needs.

04 · Choosing a ship

Find the ship you will feel at home aboard

You will spend time aboard as well as ashore. Compare the social atmosphere, cabin, outdoor spaces and expedition program alongside the route, and tell Erika and Chris which details would make a difference to your trip.

Ocean Nova expedition ship in Antarctica
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A close-knit atmosphere

If you enjoy getting to know your fellow travelers, consider a smaller guest complement and ask how the ship organizes its landings and small-boat outings.

Swan Hellenic observation lounge with panoramic windows
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Space to settle in

A welcoming lounge, room to relax in your cabin and the facilities you enjoy can make days at sea a pleasure. Compare what each cabin category actually includes.

Sea kayaking at Curtis Bay in Antarctica
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An active expedition

Choose around the activities you most want to try. Availability, group sizes and advance reservations can matter as much as the ship’s equipment.

Le Commandant Charcot polar exploration ship
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A particular ambition

An emperor penguin expedition, an icebreaking voyage or the right arrangement for a solo traveler may narrow the options. Bring those priorities into the conversation early.

Tell Glacial how you like to travel, from the pace of your days to the space you want aboard. Those details help turn a list of ships into a useful shortlist.
05 · Expedition life

Settle into the rhythm of an expedition

A morning announcement may invite you onto deck before breakfast, while an afternoon plan might change after a wildlife sighting. The sequence below gives a sense of life aboard; your expedition team will decide what is possible each day.

EARLY Step out on deck

Start with the view, then listen for the team’s briefing on the day ahead.

MORNING Take the small boat

A Zodiac outing brings the shoreline and the shapes of the ice closer.

ASHORE Spend time ashore

Follow your guides, pause to observe wildlife and take in the detail of a landing site.

AFTERNOON Keep the binoculars nearby

Watch from deck as the ship moves between locations; a sighting may become the day’s highlight.

EVENING Make sense of the day

Join the recap, ask the questions your outings raised and hear what the team hopes to explore next.

06 · Specialist activities

What would you love to try in Antarctica?

Some travelers want every chance to get on the water; others have one special activity in mind. Discuss your interests and experience with Glacial before choosing a departure, so there is time to check places and requirements.

Kayaking on an expedition

Kayaking

Take a quieter route

Paddling offers a close view of the coastline away from the ship. Ask whether your voyage offers a taster session or a program of guided outings, and what experience is expected.

Polar snorkeling

Snorkeling

See the water differently

On a departure offering polar snorkeling, specialist guides and cold-water equipment make it possible to explore at the surface. Confirm the program details and your suitability before reserving.

Snowshoeing at Hanusse Bay, Antarctica

Snowshoeing

Head out on snowshoes

Snowshoes can open up a different kind of guided shore outing when conditions are suitable. The route, pace and availability will depend on the terrain and your expedition team.

Scuba diving on an Oceanwide expedition

Scuba diving

Plan a specialist dive

Antarctic diving calls for appropriate qualifications and cold-water experience. Glacial can help identify departures with a dive program so you can review the operator’s requirements before booking.

Helicopter flightseeing on an expedition

Helicopter flightseeing

Look out over the ice

A helicopter-equipped ship may offer an aerial perspective on the landscape. Check what your chosen voyage includes; flying always depends on suitable weather and operating conditions.

Treat activities as part of your trip planning, rather than an addition to settle later. Glacial can check availability, extra costs and experience requirements for the departure you are considering.

Help me choose an active voyage
07 · Meet your Antarctica specialists

Plan with Erika and Chris.

Choosing an Antarctic expedition involves more than picking a departure date. Erika and Chris Commisso bring firsthand Antarctic experience and complementary expertise to the conversation, helping you compare the voyage and plan the journey around it.

Erika Commisso of Glacial Expeditions
Travel Experience Architect

Erika Commisso

Erika brings the complete journey together: flights, pre-cruise nights, transfers and the preparation that helps a remote expedition run smoothly. She can help you understand equipment, optional activities, solo arrangements and the details to settle before departure.

CLIA Elite Cruise Counselor · ASTA Verified Travel Advisor · Signature Travel Expert

Plan your journey with Erika
Chris Commisso of Glacial Expeditions
Expedition Expert

Chris Commisso

Chris helps you make sense of the ships, routes and experiences. His interests in wildlife, photography and expedition vessels inform conversations about how you want to explore, the atmosphere aboard and what matters to you between landings.

Signature Travel Expert · Firsthand Antarctic experience

Explore your options with Chris
Firsthand perspective

Two Antarctic voyages aboard World Navigator and Greg Mortimer, with practical experience to share.

Help comparing the details

Discuss routes, cabins, activities and inclusions across Glacial’s available portfolio.

Your specialist partner

ExplorEarth Approved Partner and IAATO Associate Member.

08 · Their Antarctic journeys

Antarctic advice shaped by two voyages

Erika and Chris have traveled to Antarctica twice, aboard World Navigator and Greg Mortimer. Their experiences span different ships and times of the Antarctic season, giving you practical starting points for a conversation about life aboard, shore activities and the journey south.

Chris and Erika holding an Antarctic flag at Portal Point
February 24–March 6, 2024 · Atlas Ocean Voyages

World Navigator: their first Antarctic landings

Humpbacks in Fournier Bay, a landing at Portal Point and a night in bivy bags at Eckener Point made this a voyage to remember. Chris’s account follows the journey from Buenos Aires and Ushuaia to wildlife encounters, hikes and camping on the Antarctic continent.

Ask them about: preparing for a night ashore, making time for the journey through Argentina and choosing activities that suit your interests and energy.

Speak to Erika
Greg Mortimer beside snow-covered Antarctic mountains
December 9–18, 2024 · Aurora Expeditions

Greg Mortimer: returning with a new perspective

Their return brought visits to Port Lockroy, Danco Island and Deception Island, alongside photography sessions and citizen science. Whale-tail photographs became contributions to the Happywhale identification project, adding another purpose to time spent watching wildlife.

Ask them about: learning with the expedition team, photographing wildlife responsibly and the practical realities of a Drake Passage crossing.

Speak to Chris

Both journals are written by Chris Commisso and published by Glacial Expeditions. They describe their own voyages; routes, activities and conditions will vary on future departures.

Talk to Erika and Chris about your Antarctica
ExplorEarth × Glacial Expeditions

Let’s plan your Antarctica.

Tell Erika and Chris what draws you south, when you might travel and how much time you have. You can start with a question, a favorite ship or simply the wish to go.

Include your group size, preferred cabin, activity interests and budget, with the currency clearly stated. Erika and Chris can help plan connections from the US or Canada.

ErikaChrisYour expedition, planned with Erika and Chris.

Your inquiry is for Glacial Expeditions to help plan your trip. Use the form or choose a time to speak with Erika.

Plan my Antarctica expedition

Share a little about the trip you have in mind.