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Antarctic Circle Cruises, Expeditions & Tours

CROSSING 66º SOUTH LATITUDE

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Antarctic Circle

This special voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula departs from Ushuaia, Argentina. Daylight grows longer and the air gets colder as we head south across the Drake Passage, accompanied by soaring albatross. Our first explorations of the White Continent are in the South Shetland Islands, historically important and rich with iconic Antarctic wildlife.

Next we visit the Gerlache Strait where immense glaciers, towering mountains, and blue icebergs form a picture-perfect setting for amazing marine mammal and penguin encounters. We continue south into rarely visited territory, crossing the Antarctic Circle and exploring wherever the wind and ice will allow.

Why travel with Poseidon Expeditions?

27 Years of Polar Experience
27 Years of Polar Experience
Founded in 1999, an IAATO member since 2011, winner of International Travel Awards 2022-2025 and a World Travel Award 2021, with an expert team.
A True Polar Expedition
A True Polar Expedition
Experience unique Antarctic destinations with up to 3 daily landings, guided by naturalists, geologists, and wildlife specialists, each lasting around 2.5 hours.
M/V Sea Spirit – Small but Mighty
M/V Sea Spirit – Small but Mighty
Aboard the Sea Spirit, all guests go ashore together, with no rotations. Enjoy up to 3 daily landings, about 2.5 hours each, following IAATO guidelines.

EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS

Wildest Antarctica_ANTARCTIC WILDLIFE VIEWING
ANTARCTIC WILDLIFE VIEWING

Penguins and other seabirds abound in Antarctica’s nutrient-rich seas. In the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands you can go ashore at sites where chinstrap, gentoo and adélie penguins come together to nest in boisterous colonies. A meeting with a curious penguin chick is an unforgettable experience.

Wildest Antarctica_INCREDIBLE POLAR SCENERY
INCREDIBLE POLAR SCENERY

The scenery in Antarctica is like nothing else on Earth. Rugged white mountains covered on all but their sheerest faces by permanent snow and glaciers rise above deep blue waters, forming protected bays and scenic passages such as the renowned Lemaire Channel.


Wildest Antarctica_CROSSING THE ANTARCTIC CIRCLE
CROSSING THE ANTARCTIC CIRCLE

This special, once-per-year voyage includes extra days so we can push deep into rarely visited regions south of the Antarctic Circle. In so doing, we are following in the historic footsteps of legendary polar explorers.

Itineraries

Region

Departures

itinerary dates days activities special offers rates from
Antarctic Circle
Crossing 66º South Latitude
26 Jan - 09 Feb 2027 15 Sea Kayaking Camping Photography Included Activities Start Your Solo Journey US$ 15 295 per person
Antarctic Circle
Crossing 66º South Latitude
05 Feb - 19 Feb 2028 15 Sea Kayaking Camping Photography Included Activities Start Your Solo Journey US$ 18 395 per person

Through the Viewfinder

Activities

PHOTOGRAPHY

The Antarctic Peninsula is the ultimate destination for novice and experienced photographers alike. Our free photography program gives you the chance to learn and practice your skills alongside an expert photographer.

Antarctic wildlife is famously obliging to photographers. Having evolved without land predators, animals such as seals and penguins do not spook easily when on ice floes or ashore. At sea, whales and seabirds make excellent subjects too.

With scenery beyond comparison and ice features of every description, Antarctica also offers an abundance of inspiration to the landscape photographer. Our experienced expert will be available to help you make the most of this bounty in your viewfinder.

PHOTOGRAPHY

SEA KAYAK CLUB

Antarctica is truly a paradise for paddlers. The White Continent rewards kayakers with spectacular polar landscapes, abundant marine wildlife, mesmerizing ice features, and a variety of excellent paddling locations.

Kayakers in Antarctica have the unique opportunity to paddle with playful penguins in waters sparkling with ice while enjoying magnificent vistas of mountains and glaciers. On this voyage there is also the rare chance to paddle south of the Antarctic Circle.

The legendary waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula offer some of the most memorable paddling opportunities on the planet. If you enjoy sea kayaking, then be sure not to miss your chance to participate in this optional adventure activity.

SEA KAYAK CLUB

ANTARCTICA CAMPING

Antarctica Camping is a special way to expand your experience in Antarctica. This optional activity allows you to meet the White Continent on its own terms by spending a night out on the frozen landscape.

Camping is your best chance to immerse yourself in the Antarctic wilderness. For hours you can watch the drama of ever-changing light upon the landscape, capture that perfect photo, or simply fall asleep to the mysterious sounds of ice all around you.

On your camping night you can take the time to experience fully the peace and joy of Antarctica. You will gain lasting memories, undeniable bragging rights, and a newfound appreciation for your warm bed back on the ship.

ANTARCTICA CAMPING


Our expedition ship

M/v Sea Spirit
Providing spacious suites for accommodation of 114 passengers the Sea Spirit at the same time features maneuverability and friendly atmosphere of small ships. The vessel has an ice-strengthened hull, a fleet of Zodiacs, and a set of retractable fin stabilizers for smoother sailing.
CATEGORY
Small expedition ship
PASSENGERS
114
SPEED
15 knots
CREW
72
LENGTH
90.6 meters (297 ft.)
WIDTH
15.3 meters (50 ft.)


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Frequently Asked Questions

Flights to and from the departure port, as well as travel insurance are not included. Any personal equipment, clothes, cameras, etc. need to be brought with you, with the exception of our signature Poseidon Expedition parka (which you can keep after the cruise). Additional activities such as kayaking and camping in Antarctica, as well as alcoholic beverages and gratuities to our team are not included.


We recommend layering your clothes, so you can add or subtract based on weather conditions. Start with warm thermal undergarments made from merino wool or synthetics (not cotton), layer with polar fleece and wool and finish off with water and windproof materials. Once we cross the Antarctic Circle, the weather may get harsher with high winds. Don’t forget your hats, scarves and gloves. We’ll have our warm expedition parka ready for you aboard, which you can take home with you, as well as rubber boots for landings, which are yours for the duration of the trip.

Click here to review our check-list on what clothes to bring with you.

On our expedition ship, the Sea Spirit, there is Wi-Fi available at no additional cost.

Travel insurance covering journeys to the polar regions and with an evacuation and repatriation coverage for no less than 200,000 USD is required on your polar circle expedition.

It’s not mandatory, but we also recommend cancellation insurance.

What Is the Antarctic Circle, and Why Should It Be on Your Travel List?

Crossing the Antarctic Circle at 66°33′ south — a line that shifts slightly with the Earth's axial tilt — is far more than a geographic milestone. Beyond it, 24-hour daylight bathes extensive sea ice, tabular icebergs, and rugged peaks rarely seen by other travelers.

Few expeditions venture this far south; the Sea Spirit is one of the small number of ships that cross the Circle regularly, and guests who do so receive a certificate to mark the achievement. The extra ice navigation is why this voyage runs 15 days, compared to 11-12 for a standard Peninsula cruise.

Brief of the Antarctic Circle Expedition

Push further south than any other Antarctic expedition cruise and see the sublime icy landscapes crossing the Antarctic Circle. Few people see this part of Antarctica and you can be one of them. Travel on our small expedition ship, the Sea Spirit, from Ushuaia south and cross the infamous Drake Passage. Join our citizen science projects, lectures about the region’s geography, history and marine life or upgrade your photography skills in a workshop led by our onboard specialists.

See the Shetland Islands come into sight – the first glimpse of Antarctica. Cruise in small inflatable Zodiac boats to get up close to icebergs and see iconic wildlife such as penguins, seals and whales on your way south along the Antarctic Peninsula.

Expedition Highlights

Iconic Wildlife

Thanks to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the waters around the Antarctic Peninsula are full of nutrient-rich krill – the major food source of local wildlife. Not only do various seabirds feed on it, but keep your eyes open for pinnipeds such as crabeater, weddell and leopard seals, chinstrap, gentoo and adélie penguins, as well as orcas, humpback and minke whales.

Incredible Polar Landscapes

Massive icebergs and towering mountains covered by glaciers in all shades from white to blue will mesmerize you. You will see bleak, yet beautiful white landscapes around the Antarctic Circle, shifting sea ice and huge tabular icebergs. It’s the magic of the true Antarctic continent, which only few people will get to see in their lifetimes.

Get closer than ever

We don’t just observe the polar beauty from the comfort of our small expedition ship, we immerse ourselves into the magic of the White Continent! Cruise in small inflatable boats (Zodiacs) and come up close to wildlife, cruise amid gigantic icebergs and land on the most pristine shores in the world.

Activities

Kayaking

Join the kayaking group and paddle close-up to icebergs and wildlife.

Camping

Only for the real adventurers – camping under the stars of the Southern Hemisphere! Cuddle up in a warm sleeping bag and spend a night ashore!

A Night Beneath the Antarctic Sky

In the darker skies of early and late season, you may spot the Southern Cross and the Magellanic Clouds — with no light pollution, the stars appear right above the glaciers and icebergs around you. At night you'll hear waves lapping the shore and ice cracking nearby; many guests call it the best experience of their lives.

Sleeping bags rated to -18°C, bivy sacks, and foam pads are provided, no camping experience needed, and the activity is limited to 40 participants per night.

Onboard Citizen Science Projects

Want to learn more about the Antarctic region? Join lectures with onboard specialists in geography, marine biology, and history. Through hands-on citizen science projects, team up with our naturalists, biologists, and geologists to contribute valuable observations on marine life and the polar environment, no scientific background required.

As a partner of Oceanites, Poseidon Expeditions supports long-term Antarctic penguin research by providing researchers with access to selected voyages for population monitoring and data collection. Cruises this far south also offer opportunities to observe changing sea-ice conditions and learn about the Antarctic environment scientists have studied for decades.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Ushuaia, Argentina

We’ll depart from here on our epic Antarctic Circle expedition cruise.

Day 2: All aboard the Sea Spirit

Get comfortable in your spacious suites and start exploring the Sea Spirit with all of its features.

Day 3-4: Crossing the Drake Passage

Going south, we cross the infamous Drake Passage, where the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern oceans meet with no land to block the wind — conditions travelers call "Drake Lake" on calm days or "Drake Shake" when it's rough. Either way, it's part of the authentic Antarctic experience.

The Sea Spirit's retractable fin stabilizers ease the ride, and if you're prone to seasickness, scopolamine patches, ginger candy, fresh air on deck, and onboard medication all help.

Watch for wandering and black-browed albatrosses, storm petrels, cape petrels, and humpback and fin whales. As we near Antarctica, we cross the Antarctic Convergence, where the water's color and temperature shift — your first real sign the White Continent is close.

Day 5-11: South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula

We will explore the most impressive scenery and wildlife viewing spots on the historically significant South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Day 12-13: Return via the Drake Passage

Hold on tight once more – we’re crossing the Drake Passage for a final chance to experience the open sea and splendid wildlife viewing.

Day 14: Stepping ashore in Ushuaia, Argentina

Enjoy a last breakfast aboard and bid farewell to your expedition team and fellow travelers.

Plan you Antarctic Circle Tour

How to get to the Antarctic Circle

The cruise starts in Ushuaia or Buenos Aires aboard our small expedition ship, the Sea Spirit. After a night in a hotel we start our expedition by crossing the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula. We go as far south as possible to the Antarctic Circle at 66 degrees south.

Ushuaia – Your Day Before Departure

Your voyage begins in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world and a historic gateway to Antarctica, set on the Beagle Channel in Tierra del Fuego. Your airport transfer from Malvinas Argentinas International Airport and first night in a hotel are included in your cruise package.

Use your free day to visit the Museo Marítimo y del Presidio, stroll the Beagle Channel shoreline, or explore Tierra del Fuego National Park — the local currency is the Argentine peso, and Ushuaia's weather, while changeable, is far milder than what awaits you further south.

Visa control

You may require a visa to enter Argentina. We can assist with arrangements, such as contacting the consulates or advice on what documents are required.

Antarctic Circle Ships

Our small expedition ship, the Sea Spirit, equipped for only 114 passengers. The ship features cabin categories for all levels of comfort. It also features charming common areas, a restaurant, outdoor bistro, 24-hour coffee and tea station, bar, polar library, lecture hall and a gym. Stabilizing fins keep the ship steady during rough weather.

We also load our small inflatable expedition boats (Zodiacs) for cruising and to land ashore, as well as single and double kayaks for our kayak club.

When to visit Antarctic Circle

Pack in layers: a merino wool base (avoid cotton), a fleece or down mid-layer, and a waterproof, windproof outer shell, plus a hat, gloves, thermal socks, scarf, and sunglasses. SPF 50+ sunscreen is essential against the sun reflecting off the snow.

We provide a branded parka, yours to keep, and rubber boots for landings for the duration of the cruise. Bring a waterproof daypack or dry bag for excursions, along with camera gear protected from moisture, spare batteries, and chargers — and don't forget any prescription medication or motion sickness remedies.

What to Pack for Your Antarctic Circle Voyage

We cruise during the Antarctic summer months (December to March). It’s the best time to visit and temperatures are relatively mild, around 1 to 2°C. Weather may change suddenly, especially when we approach the Antarctic Circle, where high winds and rough weather may await us.

Deck Plan and Cabin Descriptions

Please find a photo of the deck plan here.

Choose your cabin category aboard the Sea Spirit:

Triple Suite

Suited for 3 passengers, this 21m2 cabin with picture windows offers two twin beds (convertible to a king size bed) and one sofa bed. Located on the Oceanus Deck, it features 2 wardrobes, in-room safe, refrigerator, satellite telephone access, TV/DVD, temperature control, hair dryer and en-suite facilities.

Main Deck Suite

Designed for 2 passengers, this 23m2 suite on the Main Deck, equipped with portholes, offers two twins or a king size bed. The suite features 2 wardrobes, in-room safe, refrigerator, satellite telephone access, TV/DVD, temperature control, hair dryer and en-suite facilities.

Classic Suite

Perfect for 2 passengers, this 21m2 suite located on the Oceanus Deck features picture windows. Choose either two twin beds or a king size. The suite features 2 wardrobes, in-room safe, refrigerator, satellite telephone access, TV/DVD, temperature control, hair dryer and en-suite facilities.

Superior Suite

Located on the Club Deck, these 20m2 suites for 2 passengers feature picture windows overlooking the walkway on the Club Deck. Choose either two twin beds or a king size. The suite features a walk-in closet or wardrobe, in-room safe, refrigerator, satellite telephone access, TV/DVD, temperature control, hair dryer and en-suite facilities.

Deluxe Suite

Designed for 2 passengers, this 24m2 suite located on the Sports Deck comes with a private balcony. Choose either two twin beds or a king size. The suite features a walk-in closet or wardrobe, in-room safe, refrigerator, satellite telephone access, TV/DVD, temperature control, hair dryer and en-suite facilities.

Premium Suite

This 30m2 suite for two is located on the Sun Deck and features a private balcony. Choose either two twin beds or a king size. It features a lounge area, refrigerator, satellite telephone access, TV/DVD, temperature control, hair dryer and en-suite facilities.

Owners Suite

As only one of its kind aboard, this 63m2 suite is located on the Sun Deck and features a king size bed, a sofa bed, a private living room with game and meeting area, a BOSE stereo system and plasma TV. You’ll have your own private deck and a jetted bathtub in addition to en-suite facilities.

What’s Included in the Rate?

Airport pick-up and the first night in a hotel before you board your cruise are included in the fee. Accommodation, as well as all meals aboard, 24-hour tea and coffee station, landings and excursions in Zodiacs, rubber boots for the duration of your cruise, lectures, use of polar library and gym are included. We provide free Wi-Fi on board. You will also receive your signature Poseidon Expeditions parka, which you can take home with you!

For a full list of items included and not included in the cruise fee, please check a cruise page.


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