Choose Your Polar Expedition
Pick the voyage by what you most want to bring home.
Get Polar Advice and QuotesStart With Your Priority
The big polar voyages are not interchangeable. One is about a single point on the globe, another about wildlife in staggering numbers, another about history. Pick the voyage by what you most want to bring home.
| If you most want... | Look at | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| The farthest point north | A North Pole cruise from Svalbard | North Pole cruise |
| The greatest wildlife spectacle | Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica | South Georgia cruises |
| To go deeper south than most | An Antarctic Circle voyage | Antarctic Circle cruises |
| Emperor penguins | A Weddell Sea helicopter voyage | Emperor penguin cruise |
| Heroic-age history | The Ross Sea, below | This page |
| Polar bears | Svalbard in summer | Svalbard cruises on Polar Cruise Adventures |
| A first taste of Antarctica | The classic Peninsula voyage | Cruising Antarctica |
The Ross Sea: Antarctica’s Far Side
Voyages to the Ross Sea leave from New Zealand and cross the Southern Ocean to the side of Antarctica facing the Pacific. They are among the longest polar expeditions, often around four weeks, and sail in the height of summer when the sea ice opens up.
The draw is the huts of the heroic age of exploration: Captain Scott’s hut at Cape Evans, built in 1911, and Shackleton’s hut at Cape Royds, both cared for by the Antarctic Heritage Trust. Voyages may also see the edge of the vast Ross Ice Shelf. Sea ice can still block a landing; one recent voyage report described Cape Royds made impossible by ice in the bay. Expect many sea days and few other ships.
Five Questions Before You Choose
- How many days can you give it? The voyages here run from under two weeks to about four.
- How do you handle open sea? South Georgia and the Ross Sea involve long ocean crossings. Our sister site compares the Drake Passage or fly-cruise options for the classic route.
- How much uncertainty is acceptable? The Pole, the Circle and the emperor colony are all sold as attempts.
- Which ship suits the trip? Ice strength for the Pole, helicopters for emperors, sea-kindliness for South Georgia. See the expedition cruise lines list.
- Is your insurance ready? Remote polar evacuation cover is essential; Cruise & Travel Insurance explains it.
Arctic or Antarctic Basics First?
If you are still choosing a region rather than a voyage, our older overview site Polar Expedition Cruises compares the Arctic and Antarctic side by side, and Antarctica Adventure Cruises introduces the classic Antarctic trip. For current promotions across cruise lines, including expedition brands, Wave Season collects the year’s offers, and Best of the USA highlights the best places to visit at home before or after a big trip.
Choosing Questions
Which polar expedition should I do first?
For most people, a classic Antarctic Peninsula voyage or a summer Svalbard trip. They are shorter, run more often and show you whether expedition travel suits you before you commit to a longer or riskier voyage.
Can I combine the Arctic and Antarctica in one trip?
Not in one season, because their summers fall six months apart. A few long voyages travel between the poles while ships reposition, but most people simply plan one pole, then the other.
How far ahead should I book?
For the voyages on this site, often a year or more, because departures and cabins are limited.
Help Me Choose a Polar Expedition
Tell us what you most want to see and how much time you have. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will suggest the right polar expedition and send free quotes.
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