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antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Icebreaker Cruise to Antarctica – What is an Icebreaker?

Which tourism operators can offer an icebreaker cruise to Antarctica? This is a question I often hear from people interested in travelling to Antarctica , and it’s an interesting question for me as the questioner usually assumes that an icebreaker is the best and safest ship to travel to Antarctica. Icebreakers are certainly hearty ships, but maybe a better question is – What is an icebreaker, and should I travel on one to Antarctica?

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Everything you need to know about an Icebreaker

An icebreaker is a ship that has a couple of essential qualities. It needs to have a reinforced hull for work in ice, but this doesn’t define an icebreaker as all sensible ships operating in the  polar  regions have reinforced hulls. An icebreaker must also have the ability to push through ice, preferably multi-year ice. To push through the ice, it needs to be designed to break the ice without affecting the ship’s stability in the water. Powerful icebreakers often have a flat bottom hull, allowing the vessel to essentially ram thick ice, raising its hull above the ice and crushing it.

 And it’s these flat bottom hulls that often mean that icebreakers are not the best ships to take to Antarctica as a  cruise ship .  The lack of keel means that the vessel is less stable in the open sea , and although that doesn’t mean the ship is necessarily more likely to sink, it does provide a  less pleasant sailing experience  from the perspective of someone travelling on board.

King penguin couple nuzzling

Should I travel on an icebreaker to Antarctica?

So unless you’re wanting to crunch through miles of thick ice (which you normally wouldn’t want to on an Antarctica cruise as it takes a lot of time) then an icebreaker probably isn’t the sort of thing you want to travel on. What you probably do want however is an ice strengthened ship which has reasonable stabilisers to make your cruise as safe and comfortable as possible. But how do you tell if a ship is suitably strengthened? Well the short answer is that they all are essentially – otherwise they wouldn’t be allowed to travel there in the first place by IAATO – the organisation that oversees tourism in the Antarctic.

But some ships are better than others for sure. The other thing that makes it hard to compare is that there a range of different ice classifications for ships. There are Russian, Finnish, American and a more recent International classification. Within the tourism industry the Finnish system seems to be used most and most Antarctica Tourism ships fit into their 1A, 1B or 1C categories, A being the strongest and C being the lowest.

Look out for any reference for these three ratings when comparing ships as this is your best way to gauge the relative capabilities of one Antarctica ship compared to another.

We offer a  range of Antarctica cruises  and flights to suit all budgets and travel styles, and endeavour to match you up with the most suitable expedition option for you. From epic voyages to the Ross Sea to classic cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula and flights to Antarctic islands, our range of adventures is as varied and enticing as the icebergs you’ll no doubt come across! Contact us for more info. Visit our  Antarctica Cruises page for our complete list of Cruises and  Specials deals  page for our current offers. 

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

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Kapitan Khlebnikov

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Legendary Russian icebreaker and former research vessel Kapitan Khlebnikov  holds the passenger ship record for the most crossings of the Northwest Passage and has famously circumnavigated Antarctica - twice.

Built in 1981 by Finland's Wärtsilä Company and one of four Kapitan Sorokin-class icebreakers, Kapitan Khlebnikov wraps comfortable surrounds in a formidable, ice-reinforced vessel powered by 24,000 horsepower diesel-electric engines and is capable of breaking ice as thick as two metres. 

Recently refurbished, Kapitan Khlebnikov comfortably accommodates up to 110 guests in well-appointed and spacious cabins and suites all featuring large windows that can be opened and en suite facilities. Common areas include large open decks, two dining rooms, a digitally equipped theatre-style lecture room, heated indoor pool, sauna, gymnasium, fully-stocked library, bar, lounge and four-person elevator.

The real focus and emphasis of every expedition is getting you ashore as often as possible for as long as possible with maximum safety and comfort. Our Expeditions are accompanied by some of the most experienced naturalists, botanists, historians and guides, who have devoted a lifetime to field research in the areas that we visit. The ship is crewed by an enthusiastic and experienced Russian Captain and crew.

Cabin Details

Heritage Suites: Large lounge area, separate bedroom with double bed and a single bed in the lounge, writing desk, wardrobe and drawers. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. Large forward and side facing windows allow great views.

Mini Suites: Separate bedroom with a double bed and a single bed or sofa in the lounge, writing desk, wardrobe and drawers. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. A large window offers great views.

Superior Plus cabins: Two lower berths, writing desk, wardrobe and drawers. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. A large window offers great views.

Superior Plus Triple: One bunk (one upper and one lower berth) and one additional lower berth, writing desk, wardrobe and drawers. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. A large window offers great views.

Technical Specs

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

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antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

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Top of the World – North Pole Cruise

Duration 13 days

Price from USD $31,995 ? Currency Conversion Converted from USD based on the latest exchange rate. Final amount and payment will be in USD. Final conversion rate is determined by your bank.

Trip Style Expedition Cruise

Time of year July - August

Home / Arctic & Expedition Cruises / Top of the World – North Pole Cruise

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Get on board for the ultimate North Pole adventure. Nothing compares to experiencing the untamed grandeur of the Arctic quite like seeing its majestic landscapes unfold from the deck of a state-of-the-art nuclear icebreaker. Imagine an endless expanse of ice under the polar midnight sun. Pristine waters teeming with marine life. Prowling polar bears in the tundra. This is Mother Nature at her breathtaking best.

From Murmansk, Russia, you’ll embark the icebreaker 50 Years of Victory for a roundtrip voyage to the earth’s geographic North Pole. Our mighty vessel will plough its way through the frozen Arctic Ocean on a cruise that literally circumnavigates the globe in a matter of days. In addition to the exhilaration of cruising to the very apex of the earth, passengers will have the extraordinary privilege to land, via helicopter, on the scarcely visited Russian Arctic archipelago of Franz Josef Land , a remote wilderness home to an incredible abundance of wildlife.

North Pole Cruise Highlights: 

  • After 7 days of cruising from Murmansk, we’ll arrive at the geographic North Pole, the place where all meridians meet and the only direction is south. To celebrate our successful mission to the top of the world, we’ll ceremoniously drop anchor and disembark on a sturdy stretch of ice for the ‘International Round Dance’ – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to literally walk around the world!
  • Franz Josef Land : Weather permitting, we’ll spend two days exploring this uninhabited archipelago, one most pristine Arctic habitats on earth. It is comprised of 192 islands where glaciers cover 85% of the land, carving out a spectacular terrain of steep valleys, caves and pinnacles
  • Helicopter flights : As part of this very special expedition, all guests will have the opportunity to take scenic helicopter rides for an incredible bird’s eye view of the icescape and amazing photo opportunities capturing the ship smashing its way through the ice pack
  • Arctic wildlife : Animal life thrives in the pristine environs of the North Pole. Expect sightings of polar bears and walruses, thronging colonies of seabirds and harp and bearded seals resting atop icebergs. Throughout our cruise, we’ll be looking out for humpback, minke and beluga whales, and with luck, orcas, narwhales and bowhead whales.

This two-week expedition departs from the port of Murmansk, the largest city above the Arctic Circle. We’ll forge our way north through the Barents Sea, and as we make our way across the ice cap, you’ll witness firsthand the ship’s awesome power as massive ice blocks give way under the enormous bulk of the spoon-shaped bow. The sensation of being on deck at this time is surreal and unforgettable. The anticipation heightens as the mighty ship takes us smashing through the frozen Arctic Ocean towards our goal – the most northerly point on the planet. The literal Top of the World. Travelling aboard with us will be the ship’s helicopter, ready to take passengers for awe-inspiring joy flights, aerial photo shoots and shore excursions to the otherworldly islands of Franz Josef Land . Despite their desolate appearance, the heavily glaciated islands of Franz Josef Land provide sanctuary for an amazing abundance of wildlife. Iconic High Arctic species like the polar bear and walrus thrive here, and the cliffsides and screen provide nesting habitat for countless seabirds including the rare ivory gull.

This fantastic voyage is made possible by the 50 Years of Victory , one of the largest, most sophisticated and most powerful nuclear icebreakers in the world. Twenty years in the making, the Victory is a vessel unlike any other, with the ability to forge a passage into places no other ship can.

Accomodation

Murmansk, Russia

i/b "50 Years of Victory"

Expedition Cruise

Action rating ?

Type of tour

13 days / 12 nights

Guaranteed Departures

i/b "50 Years of Victory"

north pole cruise, Russia tour

Itinerary View map

Day 1 murmansk, russia.

Welcome to the city of Murmansk on Russia’s Kola Peninsula, the starting point of our adventure.

Day 2 Embarkation in Murmansk

Today we provide a group transfer to the port where we welcome you aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy. Explore the ship and get orientated as we slip our moorings and sail north out of Kola Bay.

Day 3-6 The voyage north

We cruise northward through the Barents Sea there is always the possibility of seeing whales. As we make our way across the ice cap, you witness firsthand the ship’s awesome power as massive ice blocks give way under the enormous bulk of the spoon-shaped bow. The sensation of being on deck at this time is surreal and unforgettable.

Day 7 North Pole

Welcome to the geographic North Pole! After carefully navigating to 90 degrees North, we ceremoniously drop the anchor on a sturdy stretch of ice and disembark onto the frozen sea. Now is the time to experiencing the long-anticipated thrill of standing at the top of the world. Join hands with your fellow passengers and literally walk around the world during our special International Round Dance.

Day 8-10 Franz Joseph Land

Explore the part of the Russian Arctic National Park. Polar bears and other quintessential High Arctic wildlife—such as walruses and some rare whale species - can be spotted anytime, anywhere in and around Franz Josef Land. Scree slopes and cliffs around the islands host enormous nesting colonies of migratory seabirds such as guillemots, dovekies, and ivory gulls.

Day 11-12 The voyage south

After our amazing time in Franz Josef Land, we cross back south through the bountiful waters of the Barents Sea. Seabird viewing and whale sightings can be enjoyed from panoramic open decks as well as exterior stateroom windows.

Day 13 Murmansk

Our once-in-a-lifetime journey comes to an end. After breakfast, we say farewell in Murmansk. We provide you with a transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Group airport transfers

1 night pre-cruise hotel accommodation in Murmansk

Ice Breaker "50 Years of Victory" accommodation

Shipboard breakfasts, lunches and dinners

Program of lectures and informal discussions by experienced Expedition Team and guest lecturers

Professional Expedition Leadership

All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by helicopter and zodiacs

Shore landings included in daily program

Branded parka and rubber boots for shore landings for the time of the cruise

All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program

Personalized medical insurance covering the risks of evacuation and repatriation. See more in the detailed itinerary

Russian visa support document

Russian visa and visa fees. *Russian visa can be arranged by 56th Parallel for an additional cost (for Australian citizens only). Apply for comprehensive visa service  here .

Travel insurance

Price per person, based on standard twin share cabin

Special offer

North Pole Cruise discount

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Why travel to Russia with 56th Parallel?

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Destination Specialists

Our team offers over 18 years of experience travelling and planning travel in Russia. Delivering outstanding travel experiences in Russia’s capitals and in some of the most stunning & remote locations takes experience, special access and the right connections. We make sure that all the fine details are handled perfectly so you can enjoy your Russia travel experience.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Group & Private Tours

The choice to join a small group on a guaranteed departure or chose to travel on your own dates with your own mates. Each destination we travel to in Russia offers an option between private tours and small group tours. Please note: on our adventure tours in remote destinations, we mostly run group tours to keep the cost down.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Bonded & Licensed

56th Parallel is a fully licensed, insured and accredited travel provider.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

From USD $31,995

Day 1: Murmansk, Russia

Day 2: embarkation in murmansk, day 3-6: the voyage north, day 7: north pole, day 8-10: franz joseph land, day 11-12: the voyage south, day 13: murmansk, not included, start planning your tour.

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Le Commandant Charcot

Le Commandant Charcot , the World's Only Luxury Icebreaker powered by liquefied natural gas, and the latest addition to the PONANT fleet, has now made it possible to operate polar expedition cruises of a kind never before undertaken.

Up to 245 Guests

123 staterooms & suites, 215 crew members, 2 restaurants.

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antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Navigate to the novel and unknown: Discover the new Le Commandant Charcot website. Live an immersive digital experience deep at the heart of extreme lands and environments, as if you were really there.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Immersive polar experiences

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Charcot moments

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Kayaking, snowshoeing, polar plunge, zodiac exploration, dog sledding: explore the polar world through total immersion.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

• Arctic-Antarctica • Pre-booking mandatory before embarkation • Provided equipements: kayak, paddles, gloves, kayak slippersneoprene dry-suits with marker, lifejacket, waterproof bag

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Dog sledding

• Arctic eastern Greenland at the start of the season (May) • Pre-booking required before boarding

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Showsnoeing and Hiking

• Arctic — Antarctica • Equipment provided: boots, hiking sticks and snowshoes

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Ice fishing

• Arctic, early season only • Equipment provided: fishing rod,lures

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Polar plunge

• Arctic — Antarctica • Equipment provided: harness,connected to a lifeline

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Zodiac cruises

• Arctic — Antarctica • 10 passengers per zodiac and dedicated naturalist-guide

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Citizen sciences

• Arctic - Antarctica • Small groups

Le Commandant Charcot is equipped with the kinds of spaces never before seen in the PONANT fleet, spaces designed to wonderfully enhance the onboard environment and extend the polar experience to every moment of the day. Both enveloping and at the same time open to the exterior, the atmosphere of wellbeing these spaces offer emanates from the meticulous detail and delicateness of the exquisitely sensory-awakening materials used.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

All-round 360° connection with the polar environment

Begin the day with a fitness or meditation session, or alternatively go for a stroll around the ship on the promenade deck, taking time out to spend a relaxing break on one of the heated benches as you do so and enjoying the opportunity to watch wildlife through the two Swarovski Optik spotting scopes. From the prow, experience the unforgettable sensation of being all alone in the vast immensity around you.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

A gourmet start to the day

Savour the delights of a richly varied gastronomic breakfast in the soothing polar light. Choose from a range of hot drinks, pastries baked on board, bread made freshly each day by our own French baker, home-made cakes and muffins, pancakes, waffles, eggs, cheeses, cold cuts, detox juices, and more.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Awaken the senses

Head to the wellness space for a detox cocktail and the chance to lie back and relax in front of the panoramic windows; enjoy the pleasures of the indoor pool heated to 32°C; or settle down comfortably in one of the hanging seats in the wellness space and admire the wonders of the icy landscapes after a traditional Nordic experience at the spa, the sauna and the snow cabin.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Lunch in style

Admire the view of the polar environment as you lunch in the softly muted ambiance of the gastronomic restaurant Nuna; basque in the sun's rays at the ship's other restaurant, Sila; or alternatively, enjoy the more casual and relaxed atmosphere offered by the open-air bar. Choose from a range of French and international cuisine served à la carte or as a buffet, fine wines recommended by the sommelier, and signature dishes by Alain Ducasse in the form of vegetable and lobster cookpots showcasing the delights of the sea and natural produce.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Learn all about the ice

The evolution of the climate in the polar regions, the formation of icebergs, the ice pack and the frozen sea in all their different states: unlock some of the mysteries of the Far North and the White Continent through the knowledge and expertise of Antoine Viot (a geological engineer specialising in Svalbard) and glaciologist and climatologist Julien Alex.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

The magical otherwordly wonder of the polar environment

After a briefing by the expedition team, head off to explore the banks, shores and icy expanses aboard a Zodiac inflatable boat, or a kayak, on a dog sled or just with a simple pair of snow shoes, and connect with the authentic essence of the poles.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Soft landing

Return to the ship and warm yourself up around the brazier while you enjoy an afternoon tea of truffle "Croque Charcot" or one of the sweet or savoury treats available throughout the day at the Inneq bar, and take advantage of the pleasures of the Blue Lagoon, with its water heated to between 27°C and 37°C by the ship's energy recuperation system.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Artistic interlude

Continue your exploration on board by going for a stroll to explore the 300 ornaments and works of art decorating the ship's interior spaces; contemplate and admire the monumental digital work by artist Migeul Chevalier adorning the Atrium skylight; and let yourself be transported by the musical creations of Michel Redolfi.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Polar impressions

Discuss your experiences or browse the pages of the most beautiful works available on the poles as you enjoy an apéritif in the main lounge or in the observation lounge. Encounters with wildlife experienced from the decks of the ship or during off-board excursions, first impressions of the poles, the majesty of the scenery: each moment lived is an invitation to share and to continue the voyage in order to fully enjoy every extraordinary instant of this mesmerizing journey.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

A made-to-measure end to the evening

After your gastronomic dinner at the Nuna restaurant, enjoy the opportunity to listen to a Chopin impromptu interpreted by the onboard pianist in one of the two lounges, or watch a performance or projection in the theatre. Cigar aficionados have the option of the Cigar Lounge – one of the ship's most exclusive spaces – where they can enjoy the delights of a selection of fine cigars and premium spirits.

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The PONANT App

After booking your cruise, download the PONANT app from the Apple Store or Google Play. It will support you throughout your voyage . Before your cruise, get practical information about how to pack your bag, the composition of the team on board, pre-book your excursions, etc. During your trip, enjoy daily highlights of your cruise, make an appointment with the spa, order the photos from the cruise and book your excursions.

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Reaching the absolute aboard Le Commandant Charcot

A polar odyssey through the ice of the Arctic and Antarctica

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Deep polar exploration

Le Commandant Charcot , the World's Only Luxury Icebreaker opens the gateways to the highest latitudes of the Arctic and the Antarctic. Embark for a faraway odyssey combining exploration with science, and become experts in these regions that for centuries have stirred the imaginations of the greatest adventurers. See this captivating and wondrous part of the world for yourself.

An on-hand expedition team by your side

Le Commandant Charcot expedition team, composed of 19 to 23 experts, constitutes one of the best guest-to-staff ratios found on any voyage of this kind. Biologists, naturalists, engineers, glaciologists, and geologists, these experts in the polar regions will be on hand to ensure the safety of all your activities and experiences and to share their passion for the poles. They will be by your side throughout your voyage of discovery, providing key insights to help you get the most out of the encounters with fauna, flora and local populations that await you, and helping you better understand the stakes and challenges involved in preserving this natural and cultural heritage.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Expedition leaders

Alongside the captain, the expedition leader is the main person responsible for managing and coordinating the exploration aspect of the cruise. They supervise the team of naturalist guides, ensure the safety of the organised activities offered, and tailor and adapt the experiences, thus ensuring the full richness of these fascinating ecosystems is revealed in all its glory.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Naturalist guides

A team of 23 naturalist guides trained in supervising activities in polar environments will be by your side every day to interpret and explain everything about these largely unexplored ecosystems , both onboard the ship and during onshore activities. Meet some of the members of the team.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Scientific coordinator

On board, the scientific coordinator manages the spaces designed and set up specifically for hosting scientists and their equipment. In parallel with this, they also organise laboratory tours and conferences with the purpose of raising awareness about the stakes and challenges involved in protecting the polar world, thus providing special moments of communication and interaction with researchers.

The poles like never before

Le Commandant Charcot takes you further than ever before, sailing well inside the polar circles and deep into the middle of the ice , where only a PC2 polar class ship (icebreaker) can safely venture. Onboard, on land, on the sea or on the ice, enjoy a range of unique , intense and authentically immersive experiences amidst the quasi-hypnotic power of the polar environment, such as dog sledding, sightseeing excursions in zodiac inflatable boats, snowshoeing, polar diving, kayaking, ice fishing.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

A scientific adventure

Sailing through the remote and icy regions of the poles provides a unique opportunity to regularly and periodically collect scientific data to better understand these fragile ecosystems – which more than a century after the heroic golden age of polar exploration still have much to reveal – and move forward efforts to protect and preserve them.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Because Le Commandant Charcot is capable of travelling to the most remote and isolated polar regions on the planet, we also wanted to give researchers access to it. Envisaged from the outset as a vessel of scientific opportunity , the ship is equipped with two dedicated research laboratories and a variety of measuring and recording instruments and equipment, such as buoys, drones, ice core drills, salinometers, sonars, underwater cameras and Argos beacons, and represents a unique partnership between academic science and polar travel and tourism.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

By enabling observations and samples made and collected in the field to be shared with scientists via special apps that feed data to their databases, citizen science gives everyone the chance to contribute to research programmes in areas such as whale identification and meteorological and oceanographic profiling, for example. This provides valuable information for the study and protection of these ecosystems.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Participate in the study of the polar regions

Collect data from the deck of the ship or during your outings. Missions that sharpen your powers of observation! Take photos of whale and help supply the Happy Whale tracking app with data, identify and count seabirds so that their distributions and life cycles can be better understood, describe atmospheric phenomena, observe and listen to underwater wildlife using cameras (ROV) and hydrophones, collect samples of plankton, analyse the samples collected through microscopes. This information is contributing to databases that are essential for the study and preservation of these ecosystems.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

PONANT works with the Polar Citizen Science Collective, an international association that enables everyone to practically contribute to a better understanding of the polar regions through citizen science projects.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

John has been sharing his passion for adventure and polar voyages with others for 30 years. He has been a PONANT expedition leader since 2015. His work as a naturalist guide has taken him all over the world, from the Arctic and Alaska to Africa and Nepal. John speaks English.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Florence Kuyper

After training in humanities and gaining professional experience in applied social science, Florence visited and discovered Antarctica and became passionately interested in polar destinations. Florence has been an expedition leader for PONANT since 2015. She loves teaching people about the history of the polar regions and passing on her knowledge of penguins and ethnology. Florence speaks French, English, Dutch and German.

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Jonathan Zaccaria

An engineer by training, Jonathan worked on both French and international scientific bases in Antarctica before becoming a naturalist guide on expedition cruises to the polar regions in 2018, after which he went on to become an expedition leader. Jonathan speaks French, Italian, English, Spanish and German.

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Laura Jourdan

Laura was biology teacher in France at a secondary institution before to venture into the polar regions. In Svalbard, she was taken by the polar bug and decided to become a polar guide. After 3 years of professional experience between Svalbard and Northern Norway, she joined PONANT in 2019.

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Laureline Formanek

A doctor in marine biology, Laureline worked initially as a university researcher and lecturer before going on to join teams of naturalist guides on boats operating wildlife watching trips in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Canada. She has been working for PONANT since 2015. Laureline speaks French and English.

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Rémi Bigonneau

Rémi trained in environmental education and conservation management and has participated in numerous research and conservation programmes out in the field, particularly in the French Southern and Antarctic Territories and Siberia. He is also a specialist in ornithological observation. He speaks both French and English.

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Batshéva Bonnet

Batsheva is a qualified veterinarian and has completed a thesis on the physiology of the Adélie penguin. She also had the opportunity to study king penguins on the island of Crozet and elephant seals in Kerguelen during two periods she spent in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (an overseas French territory). Bathsheva is involved with organisations that campaign to increase awareness about the polar environment and serves as a member of veterinary teams for sled dog races in France and aboard. She speaks both French and English.

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Christian Genillard

Christian is an engineer with a passion for cold seas and the polar regions. Having visited Antarctica for the first time in 1993, he began working as a naturalist guide in 2004 before later going on to become an expedition leader on voyages to Spitsbergen, Greenland, Antarctica, South Georgia and the Russian Far East. He has been sailing with PONANT since 2015 and speaks French and English.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Benjamin Dy

Alison has degrees in both geography and political science and developed a deeper interest in the Circumpolar World and the geopolitics and peoples of the Arctic while studying in Canada. She has been sailing with PONANT as a naturalist guide since 2018. Alison speaks both French and English.

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Alison Thieffry

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Daphné Buiron

Daphné Buiron holds a doctorate in glaciology and spent 14 months at the Dumont d'Urville scientific station in Antarctica. She then decided to devote herself to the protection, study and exploration of the polar regions, firstly as a teacher and researcher, then as a guide-naturalist. Daphne has been sailing with PONANT since 2015. She speaks French, English and German.

Participate in studies into the way ecosystems work by collecting data as part of special citizen science sessions conducted onboard this floating polar monitoring and research station. Missions that sharpen your powers of observation!

  • Taking photos of whale flukes and helping supply the Happy Whale tracking app with data
  • Identifying and counting seabirds so that their distributions and life cycles can be better understood
  • Describing atmospheric phenomena so that the way surface and air temperatures interact can be better understood
  • Observing and listening to underwater wildlife using cameras (ROV) and hydrophones
  • Collecting samples of plankton , which is fundamentally important for all marine life, so its reaction to temperature changes in the polar environment can be analysed
  • Analysing the samples collected through microscopes

Our team of scientific mediators is trained by the Polar Citizen Science Collective

The Polar Citizen Science Collective is an international association that enables everyone to practically contribute to a better understanding of the polar regions through participatory science projects.

Conceived from the outset as a ship of scientific opportunity, the Le Commandant Charcot is equipped with a range of research-dedicated facilities:

  • A modular wet lab with a side door providing access to the sea for deploying sensors or collecting samples with plankton nets.
  • A dry lab connected to an entirely science-dedicated onboard network and designed for carrying out computer work and data analysis.
  • Lecture theatres for sharing knowledge and information with cruise guests.
  • A quarterdeck that can be used for deploying sensors, especially via the ship's hoist.

“Thanks to the instruments already installed on board,* the Le Commandant Charcot is also able to continuously supply data about the thickness of the ice, the water, sound velocity and the climate.” Hughes Decamus, chief mechanic

*SIMS (Sea Ice Monitoring System), thermosalinograph, miniSVS, meteorological and oceanographic station.

The common areas of Le Commandant Charcot

Le Commandant Charcot has spaces that have never been seen before in the PONANT fleet, designed and fitted out to serve all your needs and requirements whilst at the same time preserving the privacy of each passenger. They were designed by two world-renowned French architectural firms: the Studio Jean-Philippe Nuel and Wilmotte & Associés, whose design brief was to create a real connection with the surrounding landscapes. Names derived from Inuit culture have been attributed to some of them as a reminder of our deep attachment to this fascinating culture.

Expeditions and conferences rooms - Deck 3

  • Two dedicated expedition boarding and disembarking rooms to port and starboard.
  • A conference room ( Ilua - to be inside, to understand) : 30 seats

Reception - Deck 5

  • A 270 m² (2,906 ft²) reception space
  • The expeditions desk
  • The onboard administrative services
  • The sales office run by our reception and voyages manager
  • The photo area : « Studio Ponant »
  • "Oscillations": a digital artwork by Miguel Chevalier

The theatre Kita (let’s go) - Deck 5

  • Capacity for 270 persons
  • Cutting edge audio and lighting technology
  • LED stage background wall enabling the projection of ultra-high resolution media

The main lounge - Deck 5

  • A 313 m² (3,369 ft²) main lounge
  • A 24 m² (258 ft²) cigar lounge
  • A tea room and bar with a programme of live music on certain evenings

Promenade Deck - Deck 5

The outside promenade deck is uninterrupted. This means that, unlike most passenger ships, it is possible to walk all the way around the ship and to the bow. It is also equipped with benches heated by energy recovery and two Swarovski Optik telescopes.

Boutique Illu (the igloo, the house) - Deck 5

The Illu boutique is a space of wonder, an authentic extension of your journey and the ship, dedicated to the polar world. 95% of the souvenir range is made in France.

  • A range of Dodo and Pomellato jewellery and watches from Ulysse Nardin and Garmin.
  • A range of ready-to-wear clothing and special outdoor items suitable for the polar adventure: The North Face, Garmin, Swarovski Optik, Vuarnet, Feelfree, Icebreaker, Black Diamond, Suunto, Eric Bompard
  • Bespoke tips and advice from experts about how to get the most out of the onboard experience and the shore excursions
  • A multilingual range of publications covering each different destination: informational guides, gorgeous photographic books, novels and adventure stories, a special range for children, etc.
  • Unique souvenirs so you can share the magic of the Charcot experience with others
  • A range of accessories for the home

"French designers Gangzaï and Atypyk have created a collection of polar-destination-styled postcards, notebooks, bookmarks, magnets, mugs, coasters, aprons and toys such as spinning tops and tangrams for the Le Commandant Charcot.” Vittoria, gift shop manager

The pool deck - Deck 9

  • A heated indoor swimming pool with a superb skylight thanks to its large glass roof
  • A sunroom with large external-facing windows
  • A Detox bar with sofas and armchairs
  • Blue Lagoon pools, an outdoor heated lagoon with a temperature that ranges from 27 to 37° C using recycled energy from the ship
  • A giant firepit ( Inneq - le feu), so you can enjoy the polar landscapes in complete comfort
  • An outdoor bar (Blue Lagoon bar) where you can enjoy a varied and refined range of sweet and savoury food throughout the day (11:00-18:00)

The Observation Lounge Anori (the wind) - Deck 9

  • A bar and a 262 m² (2820 ft²) observation lounge
  • Library, reading area, live entertainment on certain evenings
  • 2 Swarovski Optik telescopes

Wellness Lounge Nuan (wellness / happiness) - Deck 9

A hair salon facing the boundless horizon, massage cabins with large windows, a sauna with an unobstructed view of the immense white polar expanse… The wellness areas on board Le Commandant Charcot take on a new dimension. These spaces, designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, combine design and comfort, and have been created with expert know-how using repsonsible brands.

“We wanted to created a sensory journey in connection with the Conservatory, which is home to the heated indoor pool and the Detox Bar. The curves are very soft and understated, and exotic materials have been used, like the raw Carrara marble with pearlescent reflections in the treatment rooms, or the black marble in the relaxation area” Chloé, Spa Manager

  • 430 m² dedicated to wellness
  • Spa Biologique Recherche : 3 massage and beauty cubicles (including one double cubicle with sea view), a nail salon, 2 lounges with sea view to to wait or relax after a session
  • A hair salon with Davines products
  • A Sauna ( Ikuma - the burning heat)
  • A Snow Room ( Siku - the ice) a fun and invigorating snow bath you can try out after leaving the sauna
  • Gym with with sea view and TECHNOGYM machines (elliptical trainers, Kinesis®, 3 treadmills, exercise bikes, rowing machine…), dedicated coach and group or private lessons (according to availability) of fitness, yoga, pilates, meditation, aquagym...
  • A heated indoor swimming pool ( Imaq - sea water) with countercurrent swimming and a superb skylight thanks to its large glass roof

For Le Commandant Charcot , PONANT has chosen to work with two new partners: Biologique Recherche for facial and body treatments, and Davines for hairstyling. These two brands share the same philosophy of bespoke, personalised service and care for the environment.

  • 100% made to measure: a tailored approach with indvidually selected procedures.Every treatment is unique.
  • Natural and eco-friendly active ingredients: naturally or plant-sourced raw active ingredients, packaging made from recycled materials

Two signature treatments designed to give you a gentle return on board after shore excursions in extreme environments have been created especially for the Le Commandant Charcot : "expedition return" and "exploration return".

View the spa menu

The restaurants onboard Le Commandant Charcot

An integrant component of the PONANT hallmark approach, fine dining takes on an impressive new look on board Le Commandant Charcot . Chef Alain Ducasse and his team offer contemporary French cuisine of the highest standard. These artists align culinary know-how and cutting-edge kitchen technology to bring dishes worthy of the world’s top restaurants to the sea.

Gastronomic Restaurant Nuna (the earth) - Deck 5

Nuna, the 484 m² gastronomic restaurant at the rear of deck 5, can seat all the ship's passengers at a single sitting. Elegant and refinement are all part and parcel of the à la carte dining experience it has to offer at breakfast, lunch and dinner. The ship's second bridge is located at the back of the restaurant: behind its large windows, you will have a front row seat to observe the crew during their operations.

  • Capacity : 245
  • French and international cuisine
  • Signature dishes by Alain Ducasse
  • Fine wine cellar
  • Furniture by Ligne Roset
  • Bernardaud French china and glassware by Elne

“To go where others do not go - in the geographical sense but also in the gastronomic sense, such is the challenge that we take up on board Le Commandant Charcot . This experience is absolutely unique: never before has the French art of living been so far-reaching, and we are very proud to contribute to it with PONANT.” Jérôme Lacressonnière, Director at Ducasse Conseil

Restaurant Sila (the sky, outside) - Deck 9

In a more relaxed atmosphere, a 320 m² restaurant located at deck 9 will welcome you for your breakfasts, buffet lunches and themed dinners.

  • Indoor capacity: 142

Open-air bar Inneq (the fire) - Deck 9

At the open-air bar, you can enjoy a varied and refined range of international sweet and savoury dishes throughout the day (11am-6pm), as well as a permanent menu.

  • Bar capacity : 79
  • Restaurant capacity : 62

A more eco-friendly sailing

PONANT’s latest addition to the fleet, Le Commandant Charcot - the very first luxury hybrid electric polar exploration ship powered by liquified natural gas, is the epitome of a more responsible and sustainable sailing. Safe and low impact polar navigation is her area of expertise, taking advantage of the latest innovations and even developing new, market-leading technologies and solutions to make Le Commandant Charcot one of the most advanced polar vessels at sea today.

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Exceptional suites and staterooms

Equipped with 123 suites and staterooms with private balcony or terrace, Le Commandant Charcot is fully in keeping with the PONANT philosophy: to provide a rare and exceptional ambiance for every passenger welcomed onboard and reinforce the feeling and sense of sailing on a private yacht. At the rear of decks 6 and 7 are four stunning 94 m² (1,011 ft²) split-level suites equipped with private terraces and jacuzzis. The breathtaking 115 m² (1,237 ft²) Suite de l’Armateur (Shipowner's Suite) on deck 8 features wide sliding glass doors offering stunning panoramic views and opening out onto a 186 m² (2,002 ft²) private terrace.

See the staterooms

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

A unique concierge service

To assist you in all the steps related to your cruise, our Concierge Travel team is at your dispposal at any time. Our experts help you plan and develop your tailor-made trip. Before embarking Le Commandant Charcot , rest assured our team had handle every details.

Information & reservations + 33 4 91 26 62 20 [email protected]

The world's most powerful propulsion pods, providing safety and exceptional 360° manoeuvring ability in the ice.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG)

Only ship in the world that is genuinely autonomous for a period of one and a half months using LNG thanks to 2x 4,500 m3 tanks.

ELECTRIC POWER

Largest battery bank ever installed on a cruise ship. Zero emissions and quiet sailing in electric mode in protected areas.

RESPECTFUL TOWARDS ECOSYSTEMS

Shell and sea creature detectors, electronic positioning system without the need for anchoring, ballast water processing, reduced noise and vibrations.

Only passenger ship in the world with a PC2 polar class shell, ensuring total safety and the ability to travel through channels inaccessible to other expedition ships.

ELECTRICAL QUAY CONNECTION

in ports that are equipped.

RECYCLED ENERGY

Blue Lagoon baths and benches on the promenade deck heated by recycled energy generated by the ship’s propulsion.

WASTE REDUCTION

Onboard production and bottling of drinking water in glass containers, supply and provision of stainless steel flasks, elimination of single-use plastics.

CONTROLLED ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Optimisation of navigation routes, energy management systems, ship speed limitation.

CERTIFICATION

Clean Ship label awarded by the Bureau Veritas guaranteeing reduced atmospheric emissions and water and waste processing.

LOW EMISSIONS

25% less carbon emissions, 85% less nitrogen oxide emissions and 95% less fine particle emissions.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

RÉDUCTION DES DÉCHETS

Mathieu Petiteau , Director of New Construction at PONANT

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

We had to imagine, develop and design everything from A to Z. No ship like Le Commandant Charcot had ever seen the light of day. Going to such privileged environments without limiting our impact as much as possible was out of the question.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

The art of polar navigation

Le Commandant Charcot is the world's first passenger ship to be fitted with a Polar Class 2 (PC2) hull. This gives it the ability to sail between the sheets of drifting sea ice and reach the most remote and isolated regions, when conditions allow. Protecting the polar ecosystems and the coastal sea ice – a vital habitat for marine wildlife – is our priority. Expertise, innovation, humility before nature, cooperation with local peoples and ensuring a minimal impact on the environment are the fundamental concepts behind responsible exploration.

See all our commitments

Etienne Garcia and Patrick Marchesseau , Captains onboard Commandant Charcot

Le Commandant Charcot is both an extraordinary vessel and a safe and comfortable ship. It's a sailor's dream; an outstanding accomplishment You simply could not do better when it comes to sailing in polar regions; though to minimise our impact as far as possible, we explore these regions with a tremendous sense of humility.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

Pioneer of safety regulations in the polar regions

The rescue and safety equipment developed and designed from scratch by PONANT for Le Commandant Charcot (Ice Cube, group survival kit, floating polar shelters and survival suits) currently exceed the existing safety criteria established by the tourism industry as well as the military, raise the bar for maritime safety and standards in polar tourism, and help experts across the world to devise new safety strategies

Ecosystem-friendly landing protocols

Our approach is also based on a carefully considered choice of itineraries , the drafting of a specific environmental brief for each sensitive region or area, a code of conduct for passengers, and of course, a zero tolerance policy regarding the impact we leave behind when we travel through an area. PONANT is a member of IAATO (the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators) and AECO , (the International Association of Expedition Cruise Operators for Responsible, Environmentally Friendly and Safe Tourism), two organisations responsible for regulating tourism activities in Antarctica and the Arctic . Our itineraries and protocols in the polar regions are designed in accordance with the directives issued by these organisations , which stipulate the maximum number of passengers allowed to disembark and the specific conduct to be followed (i.e. maximum wildlife approach distances; briefings for passengers, crew and expedition personnel; the level of Antarctic experience of expedition personnel; and emergency and medical evacuation plans).

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Technical Specificity

Services provided

  • Concierge Service: tailor-made and fully customisable services, from your reservation until you return from your trip
  • Glazed private balcony for all our staterooms and suites
  • Terrace for the Duplex suites and the Owner's suite
  • 24-hour room service
  • Inclusive Wifi internet access (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
  • Individually-controlled air conditioning
  • Dressing room with shelves and closet
  • Dressing table and hairdryer
  • Dyptique Paris top-of-the-line bath products
  • Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
  • Electronic safe
  • Direct line telephone
  • Bose Bluetooth speaker
  • Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
  • 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
  • 3 ADA staterooms

Your stateroom category

Stateroom size

  • - than 269 ft²
  • + than 269 ft²

Prestige Stateroom Deck 6

Prestige Stateroom Deck 7

Prestige Stateroom Deck 8

Deluxe Suite Deck 6

Deluxe Suite Deck 7

Deluxe Suite Deck 8

Prestige Suite Deck 7

Prestige Suite Deck 8

Grand Prestige Suite Deck 6

Privilege Suite Deck 8

Duplex Suite Deck 6

Owner's Suite

  • CruiseMapper
  • Icebreakers

Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker

Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker cruise ship

Cruise line Rosatom-Rosmorport Russia (Icebreakers)

Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker current position

Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker current location is at East Asia (coordinates 49.02712 N / 140.32152 E) cruising en route to RUVNN-RUVNN. The AIS position was reported 33 minutes ago.

Specifications of Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker

  •   Review
  •   Wiki

Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker vessel details

FESCO is the biggest icebreaker-ship operator in Far East Russia. The Russian Federation government transferred 4 ice-breaking vessels to the company. FESCO's fleet, along with Khlebnikov, also includes the diesel-powered icebreakers Makarov , Krasin and Magadan .

The four ships provide assistance in the ice-covered waters of the Russian far-eastern seas and the Arctic. However, their deployment is not limited to these sectors and covers areas from the Eastern Arctic region down to the Antarctica coast.

Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker ship

A polar-class icebreaker that combines technology with modern comforts, the Kapitan Khlebnikov ship was originally designed for the severity of the Arctic Ocean. She has twin decks, with superstructure and engine room located midship, transom stern and an icebreaker bow. The stern area is cushioned to allow for close towing of other ships when helping through the ice.

Passenger accommodations include a total of 54 cabins and suites. The icebreaker has two dining rooms, a Bar Lounge. Other amenities are an exercise room, sauna and heated indoor swimming pool, as well as Boutique Shop and theatre-style Auditorium. The Library offers an extensive polar-themed books collection.

The ice-breaker's double hull has water ballast between, along with pumps that move ballast water at up to 74 tons/min to help ice breaking. Hull thickness at ice skirt is 45 mm (elsewhere is 25-35 mm). Friction between the vessel and ice is reduced via polymer-paint coating (at ice skirt level). An air-bubbling system also aids ice breaking and lowers friction. Air is forced under pressure from 2 m (6,6 ft) above keel - from the bow to halfway down.

Besides Khlebnikov, the list of other Russian icebreaker cruise ships also includes Akademik Ioffe , Akademik Sergey Vavilov , Kapitan Dranitsyn , and the nuclear ships 50 Let Pobedy and Yamal ,

  • The vessel has 1 dining room, Sauna, 1 swimming pool (indoor, heated), 1 elevator, 1 helipad (helicopter deck).
  • Max Draught: 8,5 m (28 ft)
  • Displacement tonnage: 14917 tons
  • DWT Deadweight tonnage: 4515 tons
  • Power: Wartsila-Sulzer (six diesel engines type 9ZL40/48), each with 3040 kW output (combined 18,24 MW)
  • Propulsion: diesel-electric, with three shafts (each with 5,4 MW output, or combined 16,2 MW)

Note: In the case of poor AIS coverage, tracking the vessel's current location will be impossible. You can see CruiseMapper's list of all icebreakers and ice-breaking research ships in the "itinerary" section of our Icebreakers hub. All states and their fleets are listed there.

Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker - user reviews and comments

Photos of kapitan khlebnikov icebreaker.

Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker ship

Other Rosatom-Rosmorport Russia cruise ships

  • 50 Let Pobedy icebreaker
  • NS Arktika icebreaker
  • NS Chukotka icebreaker
  • NS Leningrad icebreaker
  • NS Rossiya icebreaker
  • NS Sibir icebreaker
  • NS Ural icebreaker
  • NS Yakutia icebreaker
  • Sevmorput icebreaker
  • Sovetskiy Soyuz icebreaker
  • Taymyr icebreaker
  • Vaygach icebreaker
  • Yamal icebreaker

U.S. sends icebreaker to free Russian ship trapped in Antarctica — and the Chinese vessel sent to rescue it

The Chinese ship’s helicopter rescued 52 scientists, journalists and tourists from the Russian ship who are now on their way home aboard an Australian icebreaker

Article content

A U.S. Coast Guard heavy icebreaker left Australia for Antarctica on Sunday to rescue more than 120 crew members aboard two icebreakers trapped in pack ice near the frozen continent’s eastern edge, officials said.

[np_storybar title=”Terence Corcoran: Science of climate change not on the same course as reality” link=”http://opinion.financialpost.com/2014/01/02/terence-corcoran-science-of-climate-change-not-on-the-same-course-as-reality/”] The key to success when stuck on a giant floe of irony is to pretend it doesn’t exist, which is exactly the trick performed by Prof. Chris Turney, leader of the global warming science expedition that was rescued Thursday by a Chinese icebreaker off the coast of Antarctica.

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The 122-meter cutter, the Polar Star, is responding to a Jan. 3 request from Australia, Russia and China to assist the Russian and Chinese ships because “there is sufficient concern that the vessels may not be able to free themselves from the ice,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The Russian research ship Akademik Shokalskiy has been trapped in ice-clogged Commonwealth Bay since Christmas Eve, while the Chinese ship which came to its rescue, Xue Long or Snow Dragon in Chinese, reported on Friday it too had become stuck nearby.

A day earlier, the Chinese ship’s helicopter had retrieved from the Russian ship 52 scientists, journalists and tourists who are now on their way home aboard an Australian icebreaker, Aurora Australis.

Authorities say the 101 crew aboard the Chinese ship and 22 aboard the Russian ship were well provisioned and in no immediate danger.

The Polar Star cut short its planned stop in Sydney, Australia, to assist. It left Sydney on Sunday morning local time, Coast Guard spokeswoman Chief Warrant Officer Allyson Conroy said in an email.

“Our highest priority is safety of life at sea, which is why we are assisting in breaking a navigational path for both of these vessels.” Vice Adm. Paul F. Zukunft, the Coast Guard Pacific Area commander, said in a statement.

“We are always ready and duty bound to render assistance in one of the most remote and harsh environments on the face of the globe.”

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre, which oversaw the rescue, said the Polar Star, the Coast Guard’s only active heavy polar icebreaker, would take about seven days to reach Commonwealth Bay, depending on weather.

After the Snow Dragon reported it was stuck on Friday, AMSA told the Aurora to stay in the area, with its rescued passengers on board, in case help was needed. Under international conventions observed by most countries, ships’ crews are obliged to take part in such rescues and the owners carry the costs. On Saturday, AMSA said the Aurora was allowed to continue and that the Chinese and Russian ships were safe.

Andrew Peacock, an Australian doctor and photographer who was rescued from the Russian ship, said he and his fellow passengers “have been and continue to be thankful for all the help we have been given and … aware of the cost and inconvenience to others.”

“Handwritten notes of gratitude from each person rescued have been scanned and faxed to the captain of the Chinese ship and Chinese authorities and we remain concerned for that ship and the Akademik Shokalskiy which remain in the ice and we fervently hope that the Polar Star gets there quickly to free those vessels and their crew,” Peacock said in an email from the Aurora on Sunday.

The Polar Star left its homeport of Seattle in early December to take part in one of its main missions, Operation Deep Freeze, to break a channel through the sea ice of McMurdo Sound to resupply and refuel the U.S. Antarctic Program’s McMurdo Station on Ross Island.

A reporter for China’s official Xinhua News Agency who is aboard the Snow Dragon, Zhang Jiansong, said an iceberg appeared over Thursday night and blocked the ship’s return route. He said the ship would again try to find a way out, possibly as early as Monday when westerly winds would hopefully loosen the ice’s grip.

Zhang said late Saturday that the 101 crew members on board the vessel were safe and had plenty of supplies.

The Snow Dragon was 21 kilometres from open water, he said.

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50 Years of Victory

Ship overview.

Operated by: Poseidon Expeditions

The Russian name of the vessel 50 Let Pobedy means 50 Years of Victory. Powered by two nuclear reactors generating 75,000 horsepower and capable of crushing a clear path through multi-year ice up to three metres thick, she is the largest and most powerful icebreaker ever built. Cruising aboard this marvel of engineering is an unforgettable experience in itself. She is a working ship, purpose-built to pilot cargo and research ships through heavy ice. 

50 Years of Victory is not a tourist ship. It is just during the short summer months when adventurers get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to travel aboard this real working icebreaker to the geographic North Pole. Despite the fact that the 'Victory' was not designed with touristic purposes in mind, it offers comfortable accommodation and gourmet cuisine for its guests. Public spaces create friendly, casual atmosphere for socialising and get-togethers.

View expeditions

  • Room Grades

50 Years of Victory Photo 1

Arktika Suite

SIZE: 33m2 / 355sqft SLEEPS: 2

Very spacious bedroom and a separate sitting room with sofa bed and opening windows. Comforts include a refrigerator, TV and DVD player and coffee maker. The en suite features a bath tub.

Victory Suite

SIZE: 28m2 / 301sqft SLEEPS: 2

A large bedroom and separate sitting room with sofa bed and opening windows. Comforts include a refrigerator, TV and DVD player and coffee maker. The en suite features a bath tub.

Grand Suite

SIZE: 26m2 / 280sqft SLEEPS: 2

A spacious bedroom and separate sitting room with sofa bed and opening windows. Comforts include a refrigerator, TV and DVD player and coffee maker. The en suite features a shower.

Junior Suite

SIZE: 24m2 / 258sqft SLEEPS: 2

SIZE: 22m2 / 237sqft SLEEPS: 2

Standard Twin

SIZE: 14m2 / 151sqft SLEEPS: 2

These compact rooms feature one lower berth and one sofa bed. Comforts include a refrigerator, TV and DVD player and coffee maker. The en suite features a shower.

The Dining Room features unreserved seating, allowing you to dine with new friends every day.  Gourmet European cuisine and superb service is on offer. Seasonal, local products and ingredients are utilised to prepare sumptuous menus.

antarctica cruise russian icebreaker

50 Years of Victory is equipped with the most up-to-date satellite navigation system and communication equipment, including telephone and e-mail. Among public spaces aboard there are an open bridge, dining room (seating is unreserved), aft saloon for lectures, presentations and socialising, bar and lounge with forward view, library and lounge, a gym, two saunas and swimming pool with heated sea water. There is also a clinic on board with passenger doctor (licensed). 

The Expedition Team are specialists in travelling into the deep Arctic and they will plan each day to maximise opportunities. Join lectures and briefings in the saloon, zodiac explorations and landings, and take to the skies in the ship's helicopter for bird's eye views over the ice caps.

Ever wondered what the Captain and crew do on a nuclear-powered icebreaker? Go up – the Bridge is open for you. Talk to the Captain and officers. Watch landscapes from this special angle of view. Fix your location at a map of your expedition.

50 years victory ship lecture

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2023 EARLYBIRD DEALS ON NOW! Conquer the Top of the World aboard the most powerful icebreaker ever built. This expedition is a prize most zealously pursued by adventurers.

the Chinese icebreaker Xue Long also beset in ice off East photographed from its own helicopter that evacuated 52 passengers from the Akademik Shokalskiy.

The Chinese icebreaker Xue Long (seen above) evacuated 52 passengers by helicopter from the research vessel Akademik Shokalskiy this week.

Antarctic Ship Drama: What Is an Icebreaker, Really?

Former U.S. Coast Guard officer reflects on the need for more polar-worthy ships in a warming world.

Drama continued to unfold Friday in the frozen sea around Antarctica as a Chinese ship that aided the trapped Russian vessel, M.V. Akademik Shokalskiy , found itself also stuck in the heavy ice. (Related: " Antarctic Ship Rescue: 5 Lessons From the Trapped-Vessel Drama .")

The struggles of the Chinese ship, Xue Long , or Snow Dragon , which had provided the helicopter used in the airlift rescue of 52 passengers aboard the Shokalskiy , raise new questions about icebreaking vessels and the limits of their capabilities.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which coordinated the rescue, said the Chinese ship was in no immediate danger but appeared to be trapped. The Australian icebreaker that is carrying the rescued passengers from the Russian ship, the Aurora Australis , was standing by to offer possible assistance, while officials assess whether changing conditions would free the ship. (Related: " Best Pictures From Dramatic Antarctic Ship Rescue .")

National Geographic talked to one of the leading experts on icebreaker technology, retired U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jeffrey M. Garrett , who served as the first commanding officer of the icebreaking cutter, the USCGC Healy , when it was delivered in 1999. Garrett served on a National Academies of Science committee in 2005 that urged that the United States invest in upgrading its icebreaking capability. (See " Arctic Shipping Soars, Led by Russia and Lured by Energy .")

Garrett spoke by telephone from Seattle, where he is now a private maritime affairs consultant.

What is an icebreaker?

It's a complicated question. There's a whole spectrum of ice capability for ships. There are ships with some extra hull protection and some extra protection for propellers and rudders that can go through very light ice, and it goes all the way up to strong and powerful ships that can go through just about anything. And there's not a real good terminology. It's like saying something is a "truck." Well, that can mean anything from a pickup to a huge semi. People ask, "What's an icebreaker like?" There are all kinds of them, and you've got to dig a lot deeper to know what it's capable of doing.

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What about the Shokalskiy and the rescue ships in the Antarctic?

The Shokalskiy is an ice-capable ship, built in the Soviet era, and its main function is now expedition and tourism. The three ships that made attempts to reach it are all probably on the high end of the ice-capable scale, but I wouldn't classify them as icebreakers. (Also see: " Who's on That Russian Ship Stuck on Antarctic Ice? ")

What's the metric that people use to tell the difference between an ice-capable ship and an icebreaker?

One of the rules of thumb is how many feet of ice could it break at a given speed. The U.S. has two of the most powerful non-nuclear icebreakers in the world, the Polar Sea and the Polar Star . They can break over 6 feet [1.8 meters] of ice continuously at [a speed of] three knots. [One of Russia's largest nuclear-powered icebreakers, considered the strongest in the world, could break] probably upwards of ten feet [three meters]. [A ship that is merely "ice-capable"] would break 3 feet [0.9 meter] of ice or less at that speed.

What is making conditions so hard for these ships in the Antarctic?

The toughest kind of ice is sea ice that's under pressure from wind. Ice has a rough texture, and wind will push an ice field close together and actually pile the ice up. I think this is essentially what happened to the Russian ship. The blizzard or heavy winds put the ice under pressure and jammed it up. ( See your Antarctica photos .)

Aren't there forecasts or warnings that could help ships avoid such situations?

There is a lot of weather information available. The Antarctic, of course, [is] not as well covered. So sometimes forecasts are over such a wide area, you don't know how forecasts apply to localized areas. There's a lot of trash talk on the Internet about how they didn't look at the weather. But it's often tough to predict—especially in polar conditions, which can change quickly. You can always "Monday-morning quarterback" these things. Should they have gone in there? Well, clearly not, you can see now.   (See also: " Ship Stuck in Antarctica Raises Questions About Worth of Reenacting Expeditions .")

If Russia's nuclear icebreakers are so powerful, why wouldn't they be dispatched to help?

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It's not like sending the AAA tow vehicle. It's a 20,000-mile [32,100-kilometer] journey. You're talking weeks and weeks. Also, the Russians are now in winter. Their icebreakers are all employed [in the Arctic]. We are in the Antarctic summer, so those ice conditions are probably going to get better. There's a very good chance the wind will die down or shift and they'll be able to get out.

Also, there's kind of an urban legend that Russian nuclear icebreakers can't go into warmer water because their cooling systems wouldn't be able to cool the nuclear reactors adequately. [Although we don't know if that's the case,] the Russians have never sent one of their nuclear [icebreakers] near the equator. Add to that the possible uproar about sending a nuclear ship into the pristine Antarctic, and it is not something the Russians are likely to do.

How different is an icebreaker from other vessels?

The question sometimes comes up of whether we can just retrofit existing ships—why don't we just put more steel in the hull and then it can go in ice?

But there's a significant difference in open-water vessels and ice-capable ships, and if you want an icebreaker it really must be built that way from the keel up.

You've got to protect things as mundane as the intakes where seawater comes in. [Intakes have to be screened] because ice can break into small pieces and enter the ship and clog the intakes.

You don't just take a normal ship's hull and make it into an icebreaker. The hull shape must be different. It has to have a bow that can crush ice, and the rest of the form has to be shaped in a way that it can go through ice efficiently. It's not just the size and thickness of the hull framing. It has to be very strong, but you also have to have all the ship systems strengthened so they can deal with cold weather: propellers, rudders.

What about power?

You have to have lots of horsepower and an ability to readily reverse and stop the direction of thrust quickly. The Polar -class ships have a very unique system, with two kinds of propulsion: a diesel-electric system for steaming over long distances, and gas turbines—like those on a commercial jet—that [provide extra power]. But the gas turbines burn a whole lot of fuel very fast. So the captain constantly has to make the decision on how much turbine power to use. [An icebreaker like the Polar Star would carry about 1.3 million gallons of diesel fuel aboard.]

How much does an icebreaker cost?

If you want something powerful, you are looking at almost $1 billion. You could probably design a more moderate ship that would meet most U.S. needs for something less, but you're talking about an expensive vessel.

Are we at the point where we need more ships with icebreaking capability, not just the U.S. but around the world?

The simplistic question you often get is, "With global warming, why do you need icebreakers?" But in the Arctic, you have more thinning and decrease in the ice pack, and that's making ice conditions more unpredictable. It's not like everything's getting easy. In some ways, global warming has increased the need for icebreaking and ice-capable vessels in both locations.

The Arctic is seeing a big increase in energy development and more shipping, and in the Antarctic you have more tourism. (Related interactive map: "The Changing Arctic .")

Now it appears that the Akademik Shokalskiy is not in immediate danger, but if a ship gets stuck and it gets dragged aground by the moving ice field, the hull could be punctured and this could have severe environmental consequences.

Follow Marianne Lavelle on Twitter.

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Best Antarctica Cruise – Ultimate Guide to Who & How [2024]

If you’re planning on going on the world’s most epic bucket list adventure by booking an Antarctica cruise there’s a few things you need to know first. In our ultimate guide we draw on our personal experience from multiple trips to share the how, who, when and why of travelling on a cruise to Antarctica!

Whether you’re ready to book, doing more research or simply interested in the idea of visiting Antarctica, there’s some very important things you need to know before dropping your hard-earned money on an expedition to the 7th continent.

We’ve been travelling and working in Antarctica since 2017, first as photographers and content creators, then as tour guides taking our own groups to this beautiful part of the world.

One thing we’ve discovered over the years is that no two Antarctic expeditions are the same – both in experience, and in service.

A quick Google will show that there are over 100 operators registered to IAATO, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, to run trips down here, and then there are a handful of private enterprises and sailers that visit each year as well.

So how do you know which operator to book with? What time of year should you go? Why are some companies more expensive than others? And with so many different itineraries now available, which one should you choose?

That’s what we have set out to answer for you in this comprehensive guide.

By the end of this article you will have a great understanding of the differences between the best Antarctica cruises and which companies we recommend based on personal experience and intimate industry knowledge.

Ready to embark on the journey of a lifetime? Let’s dive into it!

READ MORE: Dive deep into our complete guide on travelling to Antarctica !

Penguins On Ice Best Antarctica Cruise Expedition Operator

Table of Contents

Can You Travel to Antarctica in Winter?

Crossing the drake passage vs flying the drake passage, crossing the antarctic circle, the weddell sea and snow hill, falkland islands (islas malvinas), south georgia, the ‘trio’ – antarctica, south georgia and falkland islands, the ross sea from new zealand or australia, quark expeditions, aurora expeditions, hurtigruten, other operators, navigating antarctic waters, does a more expensive trip mean a better experience, 7 days – express (fly the drake), 10/11 days – classic antarctic peninsula, 14 days – crossing the antarctic circle or visit the weddell sea/snow hill, 20 days – falkland islands, south georgia island and antarctica, 21-24 days – trio and crossing the circle, 28 days – ross sea or ‘sailing’ to antarctica on a yacht, zodiac cruises, landings and hiking, onboard seminars, polar plunge, wildlife watching, sea kayaking, day paddling, mountaineering and climbing, skiing and snowboarding, scuba diving, photography workshops, citizen science programs, environmental responsibility when choosing an antarctica cruise operator, when is the best time to go on an antarctica cruise.

All commercial operators that run trips to Antarctica during the Southern Hemisphere’s spring and summer months, stretching from late October to March, with the majority being between November and February.

Each month offers travellers a very different experience.

In November, as the continent emerges from its icy slumber, voyagers are greeted with pristine and untouched snowy landscapes.

Antarctica is at its most beautiful, but it also brings challenges for expedition teams due to weather, sea ice and snow density, meaning some landings might not be possible.

December and January are the peak months of the Antarctic summer, with the warmest temperatures (sometimes never dropping below freezing except at night), very long daylight hours, and the heartwarming sight of penguins nurturing their freshly hatched chicks.

It’s also the busiest time of year though on the Peninsula.

As the season progresses into February and March, the continent witnesses the awe-inspiring migrations of thousands of humpback whales and penguins shedding their feathers in the molting season.

The Peninsula might look it’s ‘dirtiest’ though, with much of the ground snow melted.

While the scenery is mesmerising throughout, the choice of month can tailor very different wildlife encounters and unique experiences.

We’ve written another full guide on the best time to visit Antarctica , but personally we prefer to travel early season (November) for landscapes and penguins, and late season (February and March) for whales.

After our very successful tour to Antarctica this season, we are going to be running another exclusive adventure down to the Peninsula in 2025, this time crossing the Antarctic Circle! Check out the tour page if you’d like to learn more.

Unfortunately tourists cannot visit Antarctica in winter due to the extremely cold weather and huge congestion in sea ice limiting access.

Zodiac In Front Of Iceberg Antarctica Expedition

Antarctic Cruise Itineraries

There are a variety of different itineraries that are available to book for cruises to Antarctica.

Depending on your style, budget, interests and length of time available you’ll find some trips that are common (for good reason), and others that are very unique and only happen once every few years.

Here are the main Antarctic cruise itineraries you can book.

Antarctic Peninsula

The most common itinerary to Antarctica is a trip to the Antarctic Peninsula, most often departing from the port of Ushuaia in Argentina, at the very southern tip of South America.

These trips usually take around 10-12 days, with 5-7 days spent on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula (the rest of the days are travelling over the Drake Passage), and no two trips are the same.

Some of the main destinations that you might visit on an Antarctic Peninsula cruise are:

  • Deception Island
  • South Shetland Islands
  • Vernadsky Station
  • Elephant Island
  • Paulet Island
  • Damoy Point
  • Portal Point
  • Cuverville Island
  • Errera Channel
  • Gerlache Strait
  • Lemaire Channel

Just because it’s the most common tour doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing. A Peninsula trip is truly mind-blowing, and allows you to officially step foot on the 7th continent.

Errera Channel Antarctic Peninsula

When researching Antarctic Peninsula cruises you’ll probably see that the majority of the itineraries sail across the Drake Passage , the infamous stretch of sea between South America and Antarctica, while a couple fly over the Drake to King George Island.

Many people are worried about the Drake Passage, which is understandable – it has the reputation for being the roughest sea in the world.

But one thing to keep in mind is that you’re not sailing to Antarctica in a little boat. You’re on a large expedition ship which is designed to handle much worse conditions than the Drake.

Seasickness might be a concern, but there’s medication to help with that and every trip has a doctor onboard.

The alternative is to fly the Drake from Punta Arenas in Chile, and while this is very tempting (it saves 4 days of travel and no rough seas to cross), there’s one very important thing to keep in mind:

Weather at King George Island is very unpredictable, and with just one scheduled flight a day allowed, cancellations are very common.

Visibility needs to be very clear down there and the right direction of wind for the pilots to land safely. If they don’t think they can land safely, they don’t depart Chile.

If your flight to Antarctica is cancelled on one day, the company usually only has one more attempt to get their guests down there before they have to forfeit their spot for the next company’s charter.

So if you’re unlucky and just so happen to get two days of bad weather in either Punta Arenas or Antarctica during your scheduled days of departure, your entire trip can be cancelled.

For that reason we do not recommend flying over the Drake Passage to Antarctica unless you are 110% positive that you mentally cannot handle the sea crossing.

Plus if you do cross the Drake by sea you get that added sense of achievement.

Great Southern Petrel Drake Passage

If stepping foot on the Antarctic continent isn’t enough, you can become one of the 0.001% of the human population who will ever cross the fabled Antarctic Circle at 66º southern latitude.

A few companies offer Antarctica tours that aim to cross the Circle (we say aim because nothing is guaranteed down here), and these itineraries are usually around 14 days (with 7-10 days on the Peninsula).

One thing to note is that there isn’t really anything ‘different’ once you cross the circle – the landscapes and wildlife are more or less same.

But you get more time in Antarctica, and get to venture to one of the most remote places on the planet.

Mushroom Iceberg Danco Island

Some Antarctica tours go to the eastern side of the Peninsula and enter the Weddell Sea, which promises a different experience again and is not often visited by travellers.

There’s a lot of fascinating history in the Weddell Sea, especially around Sir Ernest Shackleton and his legendary tale of survival from the Endurance with his crew, so if this is of interest it’s worth looking for an itinerary that follows this path.

One unique tour that’s popped up recently, and has been pioneered by Quark Expeditions and now also offered by Ponant, is a trip to the emperor penguins of Snow Hill .

This trip is only offered once every couple of years in the early season (October) and requires either an icebreaker ship or a Class 1A ice-strengthened ship with helicopters, which allows guests to get close to the emperor penguin colony.

It’s known as one of the world’s greatest wildlife experiences, and has the price to match.

We’ve never personally done this but hope to one day.

Adelie Penguin Colony Paulet Island

The Falkland Islands, or Isla Malvinas, is a truly spectacular archipelago about 1.5 days cruising from Ushuaia.

You’ll find some fantastic itineraries that include Falkland Islands, either as part of the trio (below), or sometimes starting in the Falkland Islands.

If you love British history, or just want something a little different, it’s worth looking at an itinerary that includes the Falklands.

The wildlife here, while not as dense as South Georgia, is especially fascinating for birdlife like albatross.

Black Browed Albatros West Point Falkland Islands

Known as the Serengeti of the Southern Ocean, South Georgia is one of the most incredible wildlife destinations on the planet.

Boasting dramatic mountains, huge glaciers and beaches filled with hundreds of thousands of king penguins, elephant seals and fur seals, it really is a sensory overload and we’ve seen quite a few people shed a tear when they’ve seen Salisbury Plain or St Andrews Bay for the first time.

In all honesty, as amazing as Antarctica is, most people who visit South Georgia end up saying that this spectacular island is their real highlight of the trip.

There are a few itineraries that only visit South Georgia (usually after flying into Stanley in the Falkland Islands), but the majority will either include the Peninsula and possibly the Falklands.

Adding on South Georgia adds significant expense to an Antarctic trip due to how remote it is, but it is 100% worth it.

Check out our guide on the best time to visit South Georgia based on our personal experience.

King Penguins South Georgia

Considered to be the pinnacle of best Antarctic tours is a trip that includes the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, often referred to as the ‘trio’.

These itineraries are usually around 20 days long, with quite a few days spent at sea navigating between each destination, so if you can find a longer itinerary that includes more days at each place it’s worth exploring.

This is the Antarctic cruise itinerary we most recommend.

Our own group tour on the trio includes the most amount of days in each location available.

Zodiac Cruise In Antarctica

An Antarctic cruise to the Ross Sea from either New Zealand or Australia is a very rare occurrence, with only a small number of companies making the journey, and is usually booked by people who have been to the Peninsula before and want to see a different side of the continent.

A trip to the Ross Sea involves a lot of sea days and can be very expensive, but they visit very important research bases, follow the explorers Mawson and Shackleton’s history and includes penguin colonies not often seen, or located on the Macquarie Islands in the Subantarctic.

Blue Iceberg In Antarctica

Our Best Tips for Choosing the Right Antarctica Expedition for You

Choosing the right Antarctic cruise is essential for crafting an unforgettable polar experience.

This remote, icy frontier promises unparalleled adventures and sights, but the vast array of cruise options available can be overwhelming.

From the more than 100 different companies that operate down there, different ship sizes and amenities and of course the nuances of itineraries and activities, every detail plays a big part in shaping your journey.

With such a significant investment of time, money, and anticipation, it’s crucial to make informed decisions.

As you dream of gliding past enormous tabular icebergs and observing wildlife in its purest habitat, here are our best tips to ensure you select the right Antarctic cruise and best Antarctica tour company that aligns perfectly with your expectations and desires.

The Best Antarctica Cruise Company – Our Recommendations

With more than 100 operators running trips to Antarctica it’s very easy to be overwhelmed with who to go with.

And if you ask for opinions from a travel agent, they’ll just tell you the one that either a) pays them the most commission or b) is going to offer them a free trip if they sell X number of spots.

Then if you ask in one of the popular Facebook groups, the answer will almost inevitably be whichever company that particular person went with, and they have nobody else to compare them to.

We’ve travelled with a whole variety of polar operators, and here’s our top 5 recommendations and why.

Canadian company Quark Expeditions is one of the true pioneers in polar adventures.

Established in 1991, this trailblazing company has spent decades perfecting the art of delivering unparalleled experiences in the planet’s most remote regions.

They were the the first to organise trips to Snow Hill and revolutionised North Pole tours, so they’re always looking for what’s next in the world of polar voyages.

Quark has an impeccable safety record and has a fleet of ice-class vessels, including the new, luxurious MV Ultramarine , which allows them to execute really unique itineraries.

All of their ships have under 200 passengers too, meeting IAATO regulations for number of people off the ship at any one time.

After lots of research, personal testing, and fielding quite a few (better) offers from competitors, we decided that Quark Expeditions is the company we trust to operate our own group tours to Antarctica.

EXCLUSIVE – We have partnered with the world’s top polar tour operator, Quark Expeditions, to offer readers of NOMADasaurus a very special deal on any trip to Antarctica or the Arctic! Contact us ( [email protected] ) if you’d like to learn more about this exclusive Quark Expeditions discount.

Ocean Adventurer Quark Expeditions

Australian enterprise Aurora Expeditions has carved a niche for itself in the realm of polar travel for being a bit more adventurous than the rest, without compromising safety.

Their focus leans towards a genuine and immersive experience rather than mere sightseeing, with activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving and stand-up paddleboarding available to purchase.

Aurora has a small fleet of luxury ships and a fantastic team of seasoned expedition guides, so travellers are in good hands

Their trips however are on the pricier side, which is something to consider.

For those seeking a thoughtful and authentic polar journey, Aurora Expeditions is a good choice.

Aurora Exepeditions Sylvia Earle

One of the most famous names in polar travel, Hurtigruten , hailing from Norway and originally started as a ferry company, offers excellent budget-friendly trips to the Antarctic and Arctic.

Their itineraries are fantastic and the service for guests is excellent. They also have an excellent onboard science program.

However , their ships are very large, with between 250 and 500 passengers on each trip, meaning your actual time spent off the ship is limited.

If price is a major factor for you they are a good option and they do have a great product, but the size of their ships is something to consider. Remember, in Antarctica, bigger isn’t better.

Intrepid is famous around the world for organising amazing small group tours around the world, and as of recently have now moved into the polar regions.

They operate a large, older ship, the Ocean Endeavour, but limit passengers to 199 to skate under the 200 pax limit.

Their trips attract a younger demographic and a lower price point, but they’ve worked hard to secure some of the best expedition team members in the industry.

Jarryd travelled with Intrepid this year as an expedition photographer in partnership with Sony Australia, and absolutely loved their service.

The average age onboard an Intrepid trip is around 45, so it’s an entirely different atmosphere compared to something like Ponant or Lindblad that has an older average age.

Neither is better or worse, just something to consider based on your own style.

Intrepid Ocean Endeavour

Scenic is an old hand in the luxury river cruise industry, they have since branched out into polar tours and are doing an amazing job at it with their beautiful ships and brilliant expedition team.

They have some pretty unique offerings, including a submarine that you can book for seeing Antarctica beneath the surface, and really fun activities.

Many of our expedition guide friends are now working at Scenic as well, and we can vouch for just how good they all are.

Of course that’s just scratching the surface and there is plenty of other operators out there. These are some others worth considering:

  • Islands and Ice – Small tour company run by the legendary expedition leader David Sinclair, chartering the MV Polar Pioneer for adventurous trips of less than 50 people.
  • Ponant – Uber-luxurious cruise operator. If you like your icebergs with a side of caviar underneath a chandelier, this is the company to go with.
  • G Adventures – Similar to Intrepid in that they focus primarily on small group trips in other parts of the world, but their Antarctic product is quite good.
  • Oceanwide Expeditions – Small groups with under 100 passengers, operating some cool itineraries.
  • Albatros Expeditions – Nice, sustainable operator with great ships and decent expedition team.

Akademik Ioffe Lemaire Channel Antarctica

Ship Size Matters on Antarctica Cruises

You might be tempted to book a tour onboard a larger cruise ship for a number of reasons.

More space and amenities, cheaper price, familiarity with a particular company such as Carnival, etc.

But trust us when we say bigger is not bigger in Antarctica!

IAATO , the body that regulates tourism in Antarctica, has strict rules around the number of passengers from any one ship that can leave the vessel at any one time.

  • Less than 100 passengers – Everybody can leave the ship at the same time and step foot on the continent at the same time
  • Between 101-200 passengers – Everybody can leave the ship at the same time, but only 100 people can step foot on the continent at any one time, so the rest of the guests will often do a zodiac cruise
  • Between 201-500 passengers – Only 200 people can leave the ship at any one time, so 100 maximum people will land on shore, 100 people maximum will go on a zodiac cruise and the rest waits on the ship for a group to come back.
  • More than 501 passengers – Nobody leaves the ship at all.

So as you can see if you are booking a trip to Antarctica on a large ship, you run the risk of not even getting off the ship.

You don’t really want to spend all that money just to get down there and look at the continent from your balcony.

For that reason we don’t recommend booking a trip on a vessel that carries any more than 200 people total, and ideally less than 100 people if you can find one.

Let us say that again;

DO NOT BOOK A TRIP WITH MORE THAN 200 PASSENGERS!

Besides that, there’s other considerations when it comes to ship size and choosing the best Antarctica expedition.

People Looking At Penguins Neko Harbour

Smaller ships have much better manoeuvrability, which allows them to navigate through narrow channels and into tight bays to allow you to access Antarctica close up.

A smaller ship often means a shallower draft too, so they can get into some areas that may not be deep enough for larger vessels.

This might not be something you think about, but when you book a smaller ship you have a greater sense of intimacy with your fellow guests and expedition team.

There is often just the one dining room and one, maybe two, lounges to relax in. That means everybody congregates in the same areas and it doesn’t take long to start getting to know everybody.

The larger ships can feel like a labyrinth, and we’ve heard of people going entire expeditions and not ever finding the library for example.

Personally, we prefer smaller ships.

Penguins At Neko Harbour

How Much is a Cruise to Antarctica?

Heading off on an Antarctic adventure is both a dream and a significant financial undertaking.

With such a wide variety of cruise options, ranging from small, older vessels to high-end luxury ships, it can be hard to determine what is worth spending your money on.

At the budget-friendly end, less extravagant ships may lack the luxurious amenities, but they often deliver an authentic, intimate connection with the Antarctic wilderness.

These ships focus on the adventure and Antarctica expedition with an authentic flare, where you feel encouraged to be out on deck or in the lounge areas when you’re onboard rather than sprawled out in your cabin.

On the other hand, luxury cruises offer plush accommodations, gourmet dining, spa services, and even onboard entertainment.

Some of them even have helicopters and submarines onboard, opening up a whole new world that isn’t possible with other operators.

While these amenities come at a premium, it ensures an unparalleled level of comfort amidst a wild Antarctic backdrop.

Essentially, you get what you pay for when it comes to the ship; the more you pay, the nicer the onboard experience.

So how much should you expect to pay for a cruise to Antarctica?

On average, USD$10,000 per person for the standard itinerary, and around USD$18,000 for a trip that includes the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.

Of course you can sometimes find trips for as long as USD$5,000 per person if you book it super last minute on a special deal, and ones as expensive as USD$50,000 or more.

Penguins On Ice Floe

However when you look at the individual itineraries for different operators, you might notice something interesting…

They are often the exact same, whether you’re playing $8,000 or $20,000.

A typical 10-day ‘Best of Antarctica’ itinerary, which actually only includes 4.5 days in Antarctica, has the same number of days and excursions on the continent, often doing the same thing (zodiac cruises, landings, ship exploring, etc).

Adventure activities, such as kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding and camping, usually have an additional cost no matter which company you’re with too.

So really, in most situations you’re paying more money for a nicer ship and cabin.

There are exceptions of course, especially if your ship has helicopters.

But if the company you’re looking at doesn’t have any obvious benefits such as helicopters or more days at sea, most of the price increase is for better food and nicer rooms.

Is that worth it the difference in cost?

That’s a question only you can answer.

Either way, it’s paramount to really look into what’s included in your package. Some voyages may seem very cheap upfront but then charge extra for essentials like shore excursions, gear rentals, or even certain onboard facilities.

All of the operators we recommend though include daily excursions, all meals and gear rental included, regardless of price and itinerary.

And if you have some flexibility in your travel plans, there’s a big potential to lock in some remarkable last-minute deals.

Subscribe to the newsletters of Antarctic cruise operators or follow their social media channels to see what’s available.

Or get in touch with us for the best price possible with our current favourite operator, Quark Expeditions, even better than what they advertise to the public.

Zodiac In Front Of Iceberg Antarctica Expeditions

How Long Should You Book to Visit Antarctica?

The length of Antarctica cruises vary quite a bit, with options ranging from a week right up to an entire month.

The length of your voyage determines not only how much of Antarctica you get to explore but also how much time you spend on the open sea versus the continent itself.

The sweet spot is the classic 11-day itineraries, which just visits the Peninsula, but let us break down the general ones you’ll find.

One thing to keep in mind though is that the length of time the companies advertise is not how much time you get to spend in Antarctica.

For example an 11-day itinerary often means just 4-5 days in Antarctica, and the rest of the time is spent before the trip in Buenos Aires or Ushuaia and the two days each way on the Drake.

Misleading? Perhaps. But that’s just what it is.

For those that are on a super tight schedule or really, really don’t want to cross the Drake, you can fly down to join your cruise to Antarctica.

You’ll usually have one full day in Punta Arenas, Chile, then schedule to fly to King George Island the next day. Then you’ll have 4 days on the ship, before flying back for another night in Punta Arenas.

This is the trip most people do.

You’ll meet your group in Ushuaia on the first day, then jump on the ship the next day (or start in Buenos Aires and take a charter flight the next morning).

After that it’s two days sailing across the Drake Passage, 4 days to explore Antarctica, then two days back to Ushuaia.

You wake up in Ushuaia and the trip either ends there for you, or you jump on a charter flight back to Buenos Aires.

Essentially the same structure as above, but you’ll have an extra couple of days to travel the distance required to hopefully cross the Antarctic Circle, or sail around to the east side of the Peninsula to get into the Weddell Sea and maybe see the emperor penguins.

Our personal favourite length, as it ticks off all the major highlights.

Starting in Buenos Aires or Ushuaia, you then have one sea day to make it to Falkland Islands, then usually have two days exploring around the British archipelago.

Then it’s two more days at sea to get to South Georgia, with 3 to 4 days spent visiting the most spectacular place on earth.

You’ll then have a massive three sea days to get to the Peninsula for your 4 days hanging around here.

Then back across the Drake you go.

As above, but with a few extra days to cross the Antarctic Circle.

Basically the ultimate Antarctica trip.

If you have a month up your sleeve you can either take the historic Ross Sea trips from New Zealand or Tasmania, or be a real adventurer and jump on tall ship to sail down to Antarctica.

Damoy Point Drone Image

Activities and Excursions on Antarctica Trips

When you’re heading down to the Antarctic region on an expedition cruise ship there’s quite a few activities that you can do.

Some are included in the price for everybody, and others have limited availability for an additional cost.

Here’s what you can expect for what to do in Antarctica :

There are no ports in Antarctica that allows for a ship to dock, so the only way to get off the ship and explore land is on a small, inflatable boat called a Zodiac.

Zodiacs not only allow you to step food on land, but they also let you get up close to icebergs, glaciers, and wildlife.

Zodiac cruises offer an intimate and immersive experience, allowing passengers to navigate through stunning icy waterways.

The frequent Zodiac landings, integral to most Antarctic cruises, transport passengers from the ship to the very heart of the continent.

Setting foot on the Antarctic mainland, or one of its many islands, is an indescribable moment.

Zodiac excursions are included in most small ship cruises.

Once you’ve used a zodiac to get to shore you have a few other included activities – landings and hiking.

You can wander around a predetermined path, set out by the expedition guides, to visit research stations and viewpoints, or get closer to penguin colonies.

Hiking In Antarctica

Any decent company, like the ones we recommend above, will also have daily onboard seminars from guides, scientists, biologists and historians to share information about the continent.

They fill the sea days and evenings, and you shouldn’t miss any.

If you want the ultimate bragging rights after your trip to Antarctica make sure you don’t miss the polar plunge.

What is it? Well, it’s going for a swim in Antarctica, of course.

You wander down the gangway, strap a harness and rope to you, and literally jump off a perfectly good (and warm) ship into the icy water.

It’s included in most trips, weather permitting, and you’ll get to come home with some cool photos to prove you did it.

Polar Plunge Antarctica

Of course Antarctic wildlife watching is always free and included in your trip.

Some of the animals you could see are many penguin species such as gentoos, adélie penguins, Magellanic penguins, rockhoppers, chinstraps, king penguins, emperors (if you’re super lucky) and macaronis.

You can see lots of whales too such as humpback whales, minke whales and orca (killer whales), and occasionally blue or southern right whales in the Southern Ocean.

Sea birds also make part of the abundant wildlife, with albatross, skuas, petrels and terns commonly found.

And if you like seals in their natural habitat, there’s southern elephant seals, weddell seals, ross seals, leopard seals, crabeater seals and Antarctic fur seals.

Sorry, there’s polar bears down here. You’re thinking of the Arctic.

Humpback Whale Antarctica

Optional Activities on your Antarctic Cruises

While almost all Antarctic cruises offer shore landings and Zodiac cruises as standard, there’s a whole bunch of optional activities for those eager to try something different down in the continent.

If you’re ready to step up the adventure, here’s a guide on what’s on offer and how to ensure you don’t miss out.

Gliding silently through the icy waters, kayakers get an intimate perspective of Antarctica’s coastlines.

As icebergs loom majestically overhead and seals laze on floating ice, you can navigate through a surreal world rarely experienced by others.

When you book a sea kayaking package you are given a dry suit and instruction from your experienced guides, and the goal is to get out as much as possible during your itinerary.

Most expedition ships that offer kayaking in Antarctica have a limited number of kayaks, so early reservation is crucial.

It’s also only suited for those with some prior sea kayaking experience.

Kayaks In Antarctica

If you love the idea of kayaking but don’t want to do it every single day on your trip, many companies now offer what’s called ‘day paddle excursions’, where you sign up for a once-off and jump in an inflatable kayak for an hour or two.

It’s absolutely beautiful and is perfect for those that just want to try it once.

Imagine sleeping under the Antarctic sky , surrounded by snow and ice, with the distant calls of penguins lulling you to sleep.

Sounds majestic doesn’t it?

Truth is it’s not comfortable at all, most people get anxious about it and there’s the fear of being too cold to sleep, but we’ll let you in on a little secret – Camping in Antarctica is nowhere near as bad as it sounds and is the ultimate experience.

You are given strict instructions on how it works and will be given your own bivvy sack to sleep in (not a tent), which is rated to the temperatures down there so you won’t freeze.

Given the stringent environmental regulations and the limited gear available, only a few spots are open per cruise. Book in advance.

If you’re a hardcore mountaineer or experienced rock climber there are a number of small expedition companies that offer these activities on certain itineraries.

With the guidance of expert mountaineers, you can ascend icy peaks or navigate glacial routes for an epic bucket list adventure.

You must be an experienced climber, and be able to prove it, before a company will accept your booking for these challenging adventures.

A couple of companies now also offer skiing and snowboarding trips to Antarctica.

As above, you need to prove you have backcountry skiing/snowboarding experience, all the right gear and avalanche rescue training before you can sign up.

Fancy doing a bit of scuba diving in Antarctica? Well you can…on the condition that you have the right tickets and experience.

Diving in Antarctica is a very unique experience where you can see marine mammals, krill and ice, but it does require advanced PADI certification, ice-diving certs and at least 20 logged ice dives.

There’s also only a couple of companies that are equipped for this and it’s quite expensive.

While most ships have an expedition photographer onboard whose job it is to document the entire trip, providing the images and videos to the guests at the end, most companies don’t have dedicated photography workshops.

There are some exceptions, Intrepid being a notable one who Jarryd worked with as a photography guide this year, where you join a small group of people to get daily workshops on photography techniques, camera settings, composition, creativity, editing and more.

For those who wish to contribute to our understanding of this remote region, some companies collaborate with research institutions to allow passengers to participate in data collection and other scientific activities.

Details are often available in cruise itineraries, and early registration ensures you’re part of these enriching experiences.

Photography Program In Antarctica

Finally, remember that it’s a privilege to visit Antarctica and you should always make sure you do so responsibly .

Only every book a trip with a company that is registered of IAATO, which is an official organisation that designates Antarctica purely for the purpose of science and research.

Newer ships produce less emissions and are more fuel efficient, so consider spending a little bit more money for a ship that wasn’t built in the 80s.

Protect the unique wildlife, stunning environment and exploration history of one of the world’s most spectacular places by selecting a reputable company to travel with, like the ones we recommended in this article.

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About the Author - Alesha and Jarryd

Hey! We are Alesha and Jarryd, the award-winning writers and professional photographers behind this blog. We have been travelling the world together since 2008, with a passion for adventure travel and sustainable tourism. Through our stories and images we promote exciting off-the-beaten-path destinations and fascinating cultures as we go. As one of the world's leading travel journalists, our content and adventures have been featured by National Geographic, Lonely Planet, CNN, BBC, Forbes, Business Insider, Washington Post, Yahoo!, BuzzFeed, Channel 7, Channel 10, ABC, The Guardian, and plenty other publications. Follow our journey in real time on Facebook , YouTube and Instagram .

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Exterior image of the 50 Years of Victory Antarctica icebreaker cruise ship

  • January 25, 2024

Everything You Need to Know Before Boarding an Antarctica Icebreaker Cruise

If you are looking for a typical tourist trap of a vacation, then it’s best to scroll on. An Antarctica icebreaker cruise is probably not for you.

There is a time and place to lounge in a poolside cabana and sip strawberry-infused daiquiris. But, aboard an Antarctica expedition ship is just not one of those times.

I’ve been to the world’s southernmost continent a number of times. As a small ship cruise expert, it’s part of the job I have to do to stay knowledgeable for my clients. It helps me help them to make the best travel choices to meet their needs.

Allow me to share my experience aboard Quark’s 50 Years of Victory icebreaker cruise.

An Antarctica icebreaker cruise is no ordinary trip

Antarctica is the Earth’s southernmost and least-populated continent. It’s a place with weather so harsh yet equally breathtaking at the same time. You won’t find traffic jams here unless you’re caught waiting behind a raft of sea lions. There aren’t any mobs here, either. Wait, correction. Of course, the rookeries of penguins count.

You are cut off from the rest of the world. And it is oh so glorious… and peaceful.

But Antarctica isn’t just for the Shackletons and the Scotts . And you don’t have to be a rugged, leathery-skinned worldly seafarer to enjoy the earth’s most chilly and remote locations either. I believe there is a fledgling explorer hidden amongst us all. I invited my good friend Lorraine and her 82-year-old mother with me on this journey. We still swap stories about what a memorable time we had.

Life aboard an Antarctica icebreaker cruise

50 Years of Victory - an Antarctica icebreaker cruise ship

We set out on our journey in November, which is springtime for the Antarctic region. The vessel that would be our home for the next 11 days was Quark’s 50 Years of Victory. It’s a Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker research vessel built to withstand the harshest of icy waters. It can accommodate just under 128 passengers and around 140 crew members, including the expedition staff.

While it won’t win any awards for luxury ship design, this Antarctica icebreaker cruise is comfortable, has all the necessary amenities required, and can batten off any wild waves the mighty Drake Passage may toss your way.

They don’t call it the “Drake Shake” for nothing

Crossing the infamous Drake Passage, the corridor between mainland South America and the South Pole is an experience unto itself.

How long does it take; To cross the Drake?

About two full days. You might get lucky and experience calm waters that will rock you to sleep, but it’s good to be prepared. I highly recommend consulting a travel doctor for advice on preventative relief for potential sea sickness. You have options.

Regardless, ships like the 50 Years of Victory were built specifically to weather the most dramatic of crossings. I always felt safe.

A whale's tale can be seen above the water on an Antarctica icebreaker cruise

During the crossing, we spent hours on deck watching the albatross, petrel, shags, skuas, and gulls soar above the ship.

And when we grew tired of becoming couch ornithologists, we grabbed a seat in the lecture theatre, where the expedition staff prepared us for the day ahead. We learned about exploratory history, marine biology, geology, glaciology, and, of course, the birds. So much to learn about birds. Yes, this included the show-stealing penguins.

After 11 days, I never tired of watching the toddler-height, Charlie Chaplin comedians of the South decked out in their formal black and white waddle across the frosty landscape.

a flock of King penguins seen from an Antarctica icebreaker cruise

There was also plenty of time to read in the library in between meals while getting to know our fellow Antarctic voyagers. For some, it was their first time ever experiencing snow and cold. As three hearty Canadians accustomed to chilly temperatures, we found their reactions adorable.

A Day in the Life of Antarctica

Once we reached Antarctica, our days typically started at 7 am for breakfast before a short orientation from the expedition leader. He or she would go over the loose plan for the day. And was quick to remind us that things could change in an instant. Antarctica has a way of laughing at those who try and make plans. The weather remains fickle, and the captain and expedition team are always looking to take advantage of opportunistic wildlife encounters.

A zodiac carries passengers from an Antactica icebreaker cruise ship to the shore

A typical day included two excursions by Zodiac. We’d maneuver around icebergs, hoping to catch a glimpse of pods of blue and humpback whales, leopard, fur and crabeater seals, or maybe even some Commerson’s dolphins.

Or we might do a landing near a penguin colony to watch the antics of the loveable and quirky bird. There are eight species that can be found hanging out near the chilly continent. You may not get lucky to see all eight, but you won’t tire of the search.

a collage of the eight different species of penguins found in the Antarctica

On other days, we’d go to one of the research stations, hoping to learn about some new scientific discovery that was unfolding right before our eyes. Some adventurous guests chose to go ‘cross-Antarctica-skiing’, mountaineering, and even kayaking. After returning to the ship for a hot lunch, we’d go back out and do it all over again.

The atmosphere aboard an Antarctica icebreaker cruise

You build close friendships with your fellow travellers when you take a small ship cruise. With less than 150 passengers on board, most of whom share a similar worldview, it’s an easy, laid-back atmosphere.

Meals were a family affair, and everybody ate together. People were chatty and eager to share what they’d seen during the day.  And then, later in the evening, we’d gather in the bar area, like a bunch of kids around a campfire, to hear gripping tales of past voyages from the expedition staff. 

I guess storytelling must be a pre-requisite to land the job – because they were all so good at it. The team joined this Antarctica icebreaker cruise from around the globe, but they all shared a similar passion for the flora and fauna of the polar regions.

The people you meet aboard an Antarctica icebreaker cruise

Reaching land on the elusive seventh continent is, for many, a completion of a lifetime travel goal. Therefore, it’s not uncommon to find many of your fellow travellers will be well-travelled.

There is no need to be intimidated, though. The one thing I know for sure is that travel is an ideology that humbles the most boastful of men. I met the most interesting people aboard the Russian icebreaker cruise.

An expedition staff aboard an Antarctica icebreaker cruise lectures passengers on the flora and fauna of the area

One 83-year-old Kiwi gentleman was travelling with his granddaughter. As a younger man, he’d spent his career working on tall ships that sailed between the UK and the South Pacific. Did he have some nail-biting stories to share. Completely fascinating. His dream was to sail around the legendary Cape Horn once more, so our Captain did his best to get the ship within a few miles of this iconic landmark.

I often get asked what the nationality breakdown will be on board. The majority of polar cruises I sell cater to an international clientele.

Seasonal Changes and Wildlife

Antarctica’s travel season runs between October and March, but the tourist season really swings into action in November.

The first time I journeyed south was in March (considered the fall). By March, things are winding down. There are fewer ships, but temperatures are beginning to drop. And while you miss out on seeing penguins and other birds hatch, you are more apt to catch a glimpse of whales and fur seals. And the sunsets! The fall has the best sunsets on the continent than any other time of the year.

An iceberg appears as the sunsets on an Antarctica icebreaker cruise

This visit, however, was in spring. It’s still a bit chillier than the temps experienced between December and February, but the clear skies, virgin ice, and snow offer photographers the most ideal backdrop. The contrast of the landscapes is extreme, with black mountains stark against the angelic white snow and crisp glaciers.

The best part of travelling in spring is seeing the fauna come alive. In November, they are just beginning to mate and build their nests. By December, the eggs have been laid, and the chicks are starting to hatch toward the end of the month.

An Antarctica icebreaker cruise traveller gets up close to snap a photo of an adelie penguin

Come January, the penguin chicks are getting bigger, and some are leaving the nest to form crèches as protection against predators while both parents go to sea to collect food for their young.

Clear skies offer incredible reflections of the mountains in the sea.

In late February and early March, most penguin chicks have fledged, and many parents have left to begin their annual moult. Many of the colonies that were covered in several metres of snow in November are now muddy and covered in guano, with little snow to be seen. Still, the little penguin chicks had us roaring in laughter and smiling with their amusing behaviours.

Travelling during shoulder seasons like November and March can offer more attractive rates over the more popular and warmer December to February months.

Final thoughts on travelling on an Antarctica icebreaker cruise

Travelling to the world’s chilliest and highest continent is a lifetime experience. I don’t want to say, “once in a lifetime,” because I’ve already been twice and gladly go again.

For a land that is vast, cold, and seemingly inhospitable – Antarctica is unusually welcoming!

With ice-capped peaks floating in the ocean amongst friendly seals and penguins galore as icebergs float by – Antarctica is probably the closest you can get to being out of this world without leaving Earth.

a close up pic of a leopard seal

Antarctica is a journey I’d recommend to any adventurer who loves nature and is a searcher of the novel. It appeals to the romantic, the pioneer and the knowledge-thirsty wanderer. Most of all, it’s an experience tailored specifically for those who aren’t afraid of feeling small in this big, big world.

Antarctica is waiting for you. Call to book an appointment with me, and let’s talk.

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Poseidon Expeditions - your polar cruise operator

Poseidon Expeditions is a leading operator of polar expeditions in the cruise industry. Since 1999, we’ve offered voyages to the Arctic, Antarctica and the North Pole that combine the spirit of adventure with a generous measure of onboard comfort and well-being.

We recommend

Best of Svalbard

US$ 9 195

5 jul - 16 jul 2024

Photography

US$ 7 095

10 sep - 20 sep 2024

Wild Islands & Lands of Legends

US$ 4 586

19 may - 30 may 2024

Photography

Special offers

West Svalbard

17 jun - 26 jun 2024

US$ 5 132

Crossing the Arctic Circle

29 may - 10 jun 2024

US$ 4 482

Arctic Odyssey Under a Solar Eclipse

2 aug - 15 aug 2026

US$ 11 495

Sea Kayaking

Why travel with Poseidon Expeditions?

Poseidon Expeditions is one of the leading operators of polar expeditions in the cruise industry. Since 1999, we’ve offered voyages that combine the spirit of adventure with a generous measure of onboard comfort and well-being, along with educational enrichment.

Why travel with us?

Small ship – big advantage

Small ship – big advantage

With a maximum capacity of just 114 passengers, we usually operate with 100 guests off the ship. It maximizes our travelers' time ashore because there is no need for splitting passengers into groups for landing rotations as required on larger ships.

A real polar expedition

A real polar expedition

Experience active exploration of the polar regions through a variety of activities. Weather permitting, we schedule up to 3 excursions per day and offer optional kayaking and, in Antarctica, camping. Enrich your polar knowledge in an engaging and interactive way through Poseidon’s edutainment program.

25 years of polar cruising

25 years of polar cruising

Polar cruising is our passion and expertise and over the past 25 years, we’ve gained tremendous experience building a strong team of enthusiastic polar professionals who are all experts in their field.  Each expedition cruise is a thoughtfully crafted expedition voyage.

Environmental responsibility

Environmental responsibility

As a longtime member of leading associations dedicated to protecting the Arctic and Antarctica, we take an active approach with projects such as Clean up Svalbard, strict leave-no-waste policies, a reduction of our footprint thanks to our smaller expedition ship and other conservation measures.

Safety and comfort

Safety and comfort

Expedition cruising with Poseidon ensures active, yet safe polar exploration. Our highly trained team of professionals will help you navigate into the polar worlds in maximum possible comfort and safety.

Expedition team excellence

Expedition team excellence

Our guests continually rate our expedition team as top-notch, highlighting their expertise in their field, knowledge, professionalism, and commitment to making each expedition cruise truly unforgettable and life changing.

COME ABOARD OUR SHIPS FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE ANTARCTIC, ARCTIC OR NORTH POLE CRUISE EXPERIENCE!

Join a small group of curious, like-minded travelers for the trip of a lifetime — an Antarctic, Arctic or North Pole cruise. Step aboard one of our ships and travel to destinations unlike any other — lands of other-worldly icescapes, towering glaciers and unique wildlife.

All of this is accessed via one of our rugged yet comfortable vessels specifically designed for accessing the most extreme conditions and farthest reaches of the globe.

Antarctica Cruises

Embark in Ushuaia, Argentina. Just 600 miles to the southeast, across the storied Drake Passage, lies the Antarctic Peninsula. While not a great distance, the “White Continent” remains a world apart. Our expedition cruises are scheduled at the height of the Austral summer season — November through February — when waterways are open to navigation and wildlife is most active.

Arctic Cruises

North pole cruise.

The top of the world. Venture with the best expedition cruise line to a place few explorers ever have a chance to see – the geographic North Pole. The adventure begins in Murmansk, Russia, and the roundtrip journey will take you through the frozen Arctic Ocean to the the highest latitude possible, 90º north. The history and wildlife on this cruise are exhilarating enough, but it’s the rarely visited destination and fact of traveling on a nuclear-powered icebreaker that make this a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

In addition to the expeditionary elements that make Antarctic, Arctic and North Pole cruises so rewarding, Poseidon Expeditions takes great care to ensure your comfort and well-being. Our 114-passenger Sea Spirit is tastefully appointed with queen-size beds — or twins if you prefer — sofas, private facilities and thoughtful amenities. The 50 Years of Victory is a working icebreaker, yet beneath the rugged exterior lies a comfortable interior more akin to a traditional passenger vessel. Aboard either vessel, you’ll enjoy delicious, freshly prepared meals from our internationally trained chefs.

Poseidon Expeditions is a top-expedition cruise company because we take our mission seriously: to provide curious, discerning travelers with the perfect combination of comfort and personable service, balance with maximum opportunities for outdoor activities in the spirit of adventure.

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The Russian icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov in Antarctic Sea

Antarctica: Penguin cruise tourists trapped in sea ice

Eighty British tourists on a journey to watch emperor penguins in the Antarctic have been stranded for a week after their cruise ship got stuck in the ice. The Kapitan Khlebnikov, a Russian icebreaker that takes people through the icebergs of the Weddell Sea and to Snow Hill Island rookery, set out on 3 November and was due to return tomorrow.

But bad weather caused the sea-ice to compact, making it impossible for the ship, with its 105 passengers, including the 80 Britons, to break through. Among those on board are a BBC crew filming The Frozen Planet , a nature documentary series produced by Alastair Fothergill, who also made Blue Planet . A BBC spokeswoman said the team, who were supposed to take helicopter rides from the ship to film the penguins from above, were frustrated but in no danger.

There are also biologists and geologists on the ship, who are said to be giving daily conferences to keep passengers entertained.

Passing the message on through a satellite phone, a passenger, who has asked to remain anonymous, said: "The first three days went according to plan, but then the weather started changing. Now we have to wait for winds to change."

The passengers and crew are in no danger and it is expected that the ice will decompress enough over the weekend for the ship to navigate its way out and return to Ushuaia, Argentina.

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Falkland Islands

Weddell sea, tips for planning your antarctic cruise, how to choose an antarctic cruise.

  • Book early! Fewer than 60,000 people step foot on Antarctica each year and many ships fill up many months or even years ahead of time. Plan your trip at least a year ahead of time, or even earlier if you can, for the best prices and selection.
  • Choose a smaller ship, preferably with less than 200 passengers. By choosing a smaller cruising vessel for your Antarctica cruise, you are guaranteeing yourself a superior on board  experience with more opportunities for daily excursions to small bays and ports. Ships carrying more than 500 passengers are not allowed to land their passengers ashore in Antarctica.
  • Choose your cruise based on activities, destinations, and cruise line experience. Use this guide, or contact one of our Antarctica cruise experts  and we'll help you find the itinerary and ship that is best suited to your you. 
  • Be prepared for rough seas. If you are affected by motion sickness, then take tried and tested medications or treatments. Consider taking a flight cruise that can fly you either one, or both ways from Punta Arenas, Chile to King George Island.

Top-Rated Small Antarctic Cruise Ships

Magellan explorer, sylvia earle, ultramarine, greg mortimer, national geographic endurance, ocean albatros, world explorer, ocean adventurer (sea adventurer), ocean victory, ms seaventure, antarctica highlights.

  • Zodiac Expeditions: Delve into the heart of Antarctica's icy realm on Zodiac expeditions. Get unbelievably close to massive icebergs and glaciers that defy imagination. Encounter unique wildlife such as seals, penguins, and majestic whales, making every moment a captivating memory.
  • Antarctica Camping Trips: For an unparalleled connection with the environment, camp under the starry skies of Antarctica. Some cruises offer camping experiences complete with all the necessary equipment, ensuring your safety while you immerse yourself in the raw beauty of the continent.
  • Kayak Among Marine Life: Glide through the pristine waters of Antarctica in a kayak, coming face to face with the remarkable marine life that calls this continent home. Paddle through stunning ice formations and observe seals and penguins in their natural habitat.
  • Snowshoeing and Skiing: Embrace the adventure spirit by snowshoeing or skiing on the pristine slopes of Antarctica. Some cruises include these exhilarating activities in their itineraries and provide top-notch equipment for guests seeking an adrenaline rush.
  • Glacier Hikes: Embark on glacier hikes through awe-inspiring white landscapes, all while spotting the incredible wildlife that inhabits this unique region. It's an opportunity to stay active and witness wildlife thriving in their natural habitat.
  • Scientific Explorations: Visit science research stations and onboard science labs to delve into the cutting-edge research conducted in Antarctica. Learn about the history of exploration in Antarctica and gain insights into the current challenges facing the continent.
  • Breathtaking Sceneries: Be prepared to be mesmerized by the inspiring and breathtaking sceneries of Antarctica. Marvel at the incredible species that call this pristine wilderness home every step of the way.
  • Relaxation and Luxury: Amidst the adventure, take time to unwind and pamper yourself. Enjoy moments of relaxation as you tour or sail through the blue waters of Antarctica. Many cruises offer onboard services like spas, massages, fine dining, hot tubs, and more, ensuring you have the best of both worlds during your expedition.

Antarctic Wildlife

Top places to visit in antarctica.

  • Antarctic Peninsula : This is one of the most visited regions in Antarctica and is known for its stunning landscapes, research stations, and abundant wildlife, including penguins, seals, and whales. Cross the Lemaire Channel back or from notable visitor sites along the Antarctic Peninsula include Paradise Bay , Deception Island , Neko Harbor, Cuverville Island, Half Moon Island, and Petermann Island.
  • East Antarctica: The vast and largely unexplored eastern portion of Antarctica contains the coldest and driest areas of the continent.
  • West Antarctica: This region is characterized by its massive ice sheets and glaciers, including the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. It is an important area for scientific research on climate change.
  • Ross Sea : Located in the southernmost part of the Pacific Ocean, the Ross Sea region is home to the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in Antarctica. It is a critical area for studying the continent's marine ecosystem, Visit Brown Bluff (Tabarin Peninsula) or sail to the remote Peter I Island and Macquarie Island as you approach New Zealand .
  • Weddell Sea : Situated off the eastern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, the Weddell Sea is known for its diverse wildlife and historic significance, including the famous Shackleton expedition.
  • South Orkney Islands: These islands are a sub-Antarctic archipelago located in the Southern Ocean, not far from the Antarctic Peninsula. They are home to various bird species and marine life.
  • South Shetland Islands : This archipelago is a popular stop for Antarctic cruises, serving as a gateway to the continent. It is known for its research stations and wildlife, including penguins and seals. Notable visitor sites within the South Shetland Islands include Livingston Island, Hannah Point (Livingston Island), Elephant Island , and Aitcho Islands.
  • South Sandwich Islands : This group of uninhabited islands located in the South Atlantic Ocean is home to a variety of seabirds and marine mammals, including chinstrap penguins, fur seals, albatrosses, and orcas.
  • Sub-Antarctic Islands: These islands are scattered throughout the Southern Ocean and are known for their unique ecosystems, including various bird species and marine life. Sail to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island . Explore visitor sites such as Port Stanley (capital), Saunders Island, Carcass Island, West Point Island, and Sea Lion Island.
  • Scotia Arc: This chain of islands and undersea ridges connects South America with the Antarctic Peninsula. It is an important migratory route for marine animals.
  • Balleny Islands: These remote sub-Antarctic islands lie in the Southern Ocean and are known for their isolation and unique geology.

Antarctica Travel Guide

Ushuaia airport & transportation, antarctica fly + cruise, best time of year to travel to antarctica, antarctica weather.

  • November: This is when tourism to Antarctica begins to kick off. Days start to lengthen, and sea ice retreats, marking the Antarctic "spring" in full force. While temperatures are still chilly, it's a great time for those seeking pristine landscapes and wildlife, including penguin mating rituals and seals having pups. Skiers and snowshoers will find ideal conditions in November and early December
  • December: Among the most popular months for visiting, December offers optimal weather, long days, and access to stunning scenery and wildlife. It includes the austral summer solstice, providing extended daylight and relatively warmer temperatures. Penguin hatchlings and chicks are a highlight, and it's a great time for various activities, including kayaking and camping.
  • January: Another prime month for tourism, January features ideal weather conditions, long daylight hours, and extensive access to the mainland and coastline. Temperatures are at their warmest, and there's an abundance of wildlife to observe, including penguins and increasing numbers of whales.
  • February: Although tourist numbers start to decline from the December/January peak, February continues to offer fine weather. Daylight remains ample, and sea ice is at its yearly minimum, allowing for deeper exploration into the Antarctic wilderness. Whale-watching is particularly rewarding during this time. Scuba divers may prefer mid-December through mid-February
  • March: The tail-end of the austral summer provides less-crowded sightseeing opportunities, minimal sea ice, and the chance to experience the "Antarctic fall." While temperatures cool off, March offers lower cruise prices, clearer waters for diving, and unique wildlife experiences, such as leopard seals hunting penguin chicks.
  • Don't introduce any non-native species that could become invasive species.
  • Always listen to your guides and the ship's crew while on day-trips.
  • Make sure to observe animals from a safe distance and never try to touch them (at least 15 feet is a good recommendation).
  • Don't feed any animals.
  • Stay on designated walking paths.
  • Allow animals enough space to make their own navigation decisions. 
  • Do not surround any animal or go between baby animals and their mothers.

What's it like on an Antarctic Cruise?

A Typical Day on an Antarctica Cruise

Expeditions to the south pole, south pole expeditions.

  • The cruising season in the Arctic is from May to September, while in Antarctica it runs from November through March.
  • While temperatures in Antarctica can be more extreme than in the Arctic, the cruising season tends to stay between 20-30 degree Fahrenheit, with plenty of sunny days (sometimes with 24 hours of sunlight each day). 
  • A trip through the Arctic might bring you through any of the following countries: Canada, the US, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Finland. Longer comprehensive cruises might do the whole Northwest Passage or cruise almost all of the Arctic Circle. Cruises board either in Scandinavia, Russia, or Canada.
  • Antarctica trips either start in Ushuaia, Argentina for cruises or Punta Arenas for the fly cruises over the Drake Passage . 
  • Polar bears or Penguins - While penguins are so prolific in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean that the idea of not seeing hundreds on your cruise seems absurd, the polar bears of the Arctic can be much harder to spot (though some feel that they are more majestic and rewarding when you do spot them). NOTE: Polar bears live in the Arctic and penguins live in the southern hemisphere, so there is nowhere (other than perhaps a zoo) where you will see them both living in their natural habitat on the same trip. 
  • Wildlife in Antarctica features more whales and many different types of seals. 
  • Active travelers might prefer Antarctica for the chances to do activities like camping, kayaking, mountaineering, cross-country skiing, paddleboarding or scuba diving, which aren't included on Arctic tours for safety reasons.
  • Ice vs. Land: Antarctica is aptly named the White Continent because its landmass is almost entirely permanently frozen ice and glaciers with towering rocky mountains, while the Arctic Circle goes through a summer season of lush vegetation when its icy coat melts away.

Antarctica Cruise Lines

Penguins of antarctica.

  • Adelie Penguins - are common along the entire coast of the Antarctic continent and is the most widely-spread penguin species.
  • Emperor Penguins - the tallest, heaviest and perhaps most famous of the penguin species.
  • King Penguins - the second largest penguin, and similar in appearance to the Emperors, King Penguins live in the sub-antarctic islands and northern regions of Antarctica.
  • Rockhopper Penguins  - get their name because they are found jumping from jagged rock to rock instead of waddling like most penguins. 
  • Chinstrap Penguins - are easily distinguishable by their black chinstrap, which makes it look like they're wearing a bicycle helmet!
  • Gentoo Penguins  - are related to the Adelie and Chinstraps, and perhaps the speediest of the penguins in the water. 
  • Macaroni Penguins - with their distinctive spikey orange crests, are perhaps the world's most abundant penguin species, though they only visit Antarctica part of the year.

Antarctica Travel FAQ's

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Russian Cruise Ship Carrying 100 Tourists Stuck in Antarctic Ice

MOSCOW – A Russian icebreaker carrying over 100 tourists, scientists and journalists on a cruise around Antarctica was struggling to free itself from sea ice but was not in any danger, a shipping company said Tuesday.

The Captain Khlebnikov icebreaker is about 5 miles from clear water near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, German Kuzin of the Fareastern Shipping Company told Russia's Vesti 24 television. He said neither the ship nor the passengers faced any risks.

The ship was trying to move slowly through the ice but the winds were too light to break up the ice pack, he said. An Argentine official said the ice would delay the ship's return by three to six days.

"The icebreaker is trying to move and is waiting for more favorable winds," Kuzin said. "After the winds get stronger, the ice grip will weaken ... and it will break free."

Kuzin said the tourists were using the unplanned stop to take helicopter tours of the surrounding area. Russian news agencies said a BBC camera crew filming a documentary about the Antarctic was also on board.

"They are implementing the tour program in full," Kuzin said. "The captain reported that the situation on board is normal."

The cruise was advertised as a unique opportunity to watch Emperor Penguins in their natural habitat. The Finnish-built icebreaker has been used as a cruise ship for several years and carries two helicopters.

Natalie Amos, a spokeswoman for holiday tour operator Exodus Travel, said 51 British tourists were among the ship's 101 passengers.

Paul Goldstein, a guide and photographer with Exodus on the ship, told BBC News that the ship was trying to move.

"We're breaking ice," he said Tuesday. "Obviously there's frustration, but we're going to get back perfectly safe."

He said some people had sunburns but there have been no other complaints.

Rene Reibel, operations chief for the Argentine Coast Guard in Ushuaia, told The Associated Press that the icebreaker was moving amid floating ice and no one was in danger.

"This ship was never stuck or run aground," he said. "It's floating, it has its engines and control."

"There is a lot of floating ice, as happens in this time of year, and the boat encountered a large ice mass, which has slowed its return to Ushuaia," he said Tuesday.

Reibel said the ship's return has been delayed from Nov. 16 to sometime between Nov. 19-21.

A spokesman for the Met Office, Britain's weather service, said stations along the Weddell Sea reported temperatures ranging between -7 and -11 degrees Celsius at 7 a.m. EDT Tuesday.

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Cruise ship breaks Antarctic ice, nears open water

A Russian icebreaker carrying over 100 tourists and scientists to see emperor penguins in Antarctica has been crunching through pack ice and should reach clear water soon, a shipping official said Wednesday.

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The Captain Khlebnikov icebreaker has been struggling to free itself from heavy sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea. It was supposed to return to Ushuaia, Argentina, two days ago but now is not expected until this weekend at the earliest.

Officials have said the people onboard weren’t in any danger and were using the unplanned stop to take helicopter tours of the area. Snow Hill Island lies off the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula, which juts up toward South America.

Tatyana Kulikova, a spokeswoman for the Fareastern Shipping Company, which owns the ship, said the icebreaker has broken through three nautical miles (5.5 kilometers) of pack ice since Tuesday and is now just a half-mile (less than 1 kilometer) from clear water. She spoke Wednesday to the ITAR-Tass news agency.

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The shipping company initially said the cruise ship was waiting for stronger winds to break up the huge ice pack, but Kulikova said the icebreaker was successfully freeing itself even though the winds remained light.

“The icebreaker keeps moving thanks to the skills of its captain and the crew,” she said.

The cruise was advertised as a unique opportunity to watch emperor penguins in their natural habitat. Natalie Amos, a spokeswoman for Exodus Travel, said 51 British tourists were among the ship’s 101 passengers.

Two-week Antarctic tours aboard the Captain Khlebnikov range from $13,890 (euro9,350) to $22,690 (euro15,280) per person. The Finnish-built icebreaker has been used as a cruise ship for several years and carries two helicopters.

IMAGES

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  2. U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker goes to rescue of 2 ships from Russia

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COMMENTS

  1. Kapitan Khlebnikov: Russian Icebreaker

    The Kapitan Khlebnikov is a polar-class icebreaker combining power and technology with comfort. No passenger ship has transited the Northwest Passage more often than the renowned Kapitan Khlebnikov.

  2. Kapitan Khlebnikov

    Kapitan Khlebnikov ( Russian: Капита́н Хле́бников, IPA: [kəpʲɪˈtan ˈxlʲɛbnʲɪkəf]) is a Russian (formerly Soviet) icebreaker. The vessel now operates as a cruise ship offering excursions to the Arctic and Antarctic . History The Kapitan Khlebnikov was completed in Finland in 1981 [3] as one of four Kapitan Sorokin -class icebreakers.

  3. Icebreaker Cruise to Antarctica

    05 Feb, 2024 - WRITTEN BY chimu Antarctica Which tourism operators can offer an icebreaker cruise to Antarctica? This is a question I often hear from people interested in travelling to Antarctica, and it's an interesting question for me as the questioner usually assumes that an icebreaker is the best and safest ship to travel to Antarctica.

  4. North Pole expedition aboard icebreaker

    The Russian name of the vessel 50 Let Pobedy means 50 Years of Victory. Powered by two nuclear reactors generating 75,000 horsepower and capable of crushing a clear path through multi-year ice up to three meters thick, she is the largest and most powerful icebreaker ever built.

  5. Kapitan Khlebnikov

    Legendary Russian icebreaker and former research vessel Kapitan Khlebnikov holds the passenger ship record for the most crossings of the Northwest Passage and has famously circumnavigated Antarctica - twice.. Built in 1981 by Finland's Wärtsilä Company and one of four Kapitan Sorokin-class icebreakers, Kapitan Khlebnikov wraps comfortable surrounds in a formidable, ice-reinforced vessel ...

  6. North Pole Cruise Onboard of a Russian Icebreaker

    Price from USD $31,995 ? Trip Style Expedition Cruise Time of year July - August START PLANNING Home / Arctic & Expedition Cruises / Top of the World - North Pole Cruise Overview Itinerary Inclusions Dates & Prices The North Pole is the world's northernmost point and a prize still zealously pursued by adventurers and explorers today.

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    Le Commandant Charcot, the World's Only Luxury Icebreaker powered by liquefied natural gas, ... Zodiac cruises • Arctic — Antarctica • 10 passengers per zodiac and dedicated naturalist-guide- ... Antarctica, South Georgia and the Russian Far East. He has been sailing with PONANT since 2015 and speaks French and English.

  8. Kapitan Khlebnikov icebreaker

    The 1981-built MS Kapitan Khlebnikov ("ледокол Капитан Хлебников") is an icebreaking vessel. The "icebreaker cruise ship" is regularly chartered by the travel company Quark Expeditions for tourist shipping operations on itineraries to Russian Arctic territories. The vessel (IMO number 7824417, Helsinki Shipyard/hull ...

  9. U.S. sends icebreaker to free Russian ship trapped in Antarctica

    A U.S. Coast Guard heavy icebreaker left Australia for Antarctica on Sunday to rescue more than 120 crew members aboard two icebreakers trapped in pack ice near the frozen continent's eastern ...

  10. Sub Antarctic Adventure Of The Decade: Russian Icebreaker ...

    If inspired by this aspiration, nab one of the four remaining available cabins on a Heritage Expedition's Russian research icebreaker (approximately 3-star) sailing on November 8 - December 2 ...

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  13. Who's on That Russian Ship Stuck on Antarctic Ice? And Why?

    A Russian vessel is stranded in ice off the coast of Antarctica with 74 people onboard, including the scientific team recreating explorer Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition from...

  14. Antarctic Ship Drama: What Is an Icebreaker, Really?

    The Australian icebreaker that is carrying the rescued passengers from the Russian ship, the Aurora Australis, was standing by to offer possible assistance, while officials assess whether changing ...

  15. Best Antarctica Cruise

    14 Days - Crossing the Antarctic Circle or Visit the Weddell Sea/Snow Hill. 20 Days - Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island and Antarctica. 21-24 Days - Trio and Crossing the Circle. 28 Days - Ross Sea or 'Sailing' to Antarctica on a Yacht. Activities and Excursions on Antarctica Trips.

  16. Everything You Need to Know Before Boarding an Antarctica Icebreaker Cruise

    Allow me to share my experience aboard Quark's 50 Years of Victory icebreaker cruise. An Antarctica icebreaker cruise is no ordinary trip Antarctica is the Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. It's a place with weather so harsh yet equally breathtaking at the same time.

  17. Icebreaker Travels 2,000 Miles To Rescue Sick Scientist Stuck in Antarctica

    An icebreaker has been deployed to rescue an unwell researchers at the Casey Research Station in Antarctica. Stock image of a Russian icebreaker ship in Arctic Ocean.

  18. Poseidon Expeditions: Antarctic, Arctic & North Pole expedition cruises

    Choose Poseidon Expeditions. In addition to the expeditionary elements that make Antarctic, Arctic and North Pole cruises so rewarding, Poseidon Expeditions takes great care to ensure your comfort and well-being. Our 114-passenger Sea Spirit is tastefully appointed with queen-size beds — or twins if you prefer — sofas, private facilities ...

  19. Antarctica: Penguin cruise tourists trapped in sea ice

    Sat 14 Nov 2009 19.06 EST. Eighty British tourists on a journey to watch emperor penguins in the Antarctic have been stranded for a week after their cruise ship got stuck in the ice. The Kapitan ...

  20. 18 Best Antarctica Cruises, Ships & Tours for 2024-2025

    South Shetland Islands South Georgia Antarctica All Trips Cruises Land Tours Ships Deals Info Talk with an expert Build your ideal Antarctica trip. Call 1.406.541.2677 Start Planning My Trip Adventure Life's Antarctica cruises and tours are the ultimate way to visit the white continent in comfort, safety, and style.

  21. Russian Cruise Ship Carrying 100 Tourists Stuck in Antarctic Ice

    MOSCOW - A Russian icebreaker carrying over 100 tourists, scientists and journalists on a cruise around Antarctica was struggling to free itself from sea ice but was not in any danger, a...

  22. Cruise ship breaks Antarctic ice, nears open water

    A Russian icebreaker carrying over 100 tourists and scientists to see emperor penguins in Antarctica has been crunching through pack ice and should reach clear water soon, a shipping official...