Cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctic Peninsula - Basecamp Ortelius
The best activity voyage in Antarctica
OTL21-17. The 12-day Antarctic Peninsula Basecamp Ortelius cruise offers you a myriad of ways to explore and enjoy the Antarctic Region. This expedition allows you to hike, snowshoe, kayak, go mountaineering, and even camp out under the Southern Polar skies.
Weddell Sea - In search of the Emperor Penguin incl. helicopters
Searching for the Elusive Emperor Penguins
OTL22A-17. A true expedition, our Weddell Sea cruise sets out to explore the range of the Emperor Penguins near Snow Hill Island. We will visit the area via helicopter and see a variety of other birds and penguins including Adélies and Gentoos.
Antarctic Peninsula with South Shetland Islands
Classic Antarctica including Deception Island
OTL24-17. This 11-day Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins.
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula
Meet at least six penguin species
PLA23-17. This Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula cruise is an animal-lover’s dream come true. The expedition explores one of the last untamed areas on Earth – a land of ruggedly beautiful landscapes and amazingly varied wildlife.
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula
Meet at least six penguin species!
PLA22-17. A 20-day cruise to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia & the Antarctic Peninsula. Visit some of the most beautiful arrays of wildlife on Earth. This journey will introduce you to at least 6 species of penguin and a whole lot of Antarctic fur seals!
Video Antarctic Expedition
Fan(tastic) photos
Customer stories
The Antarctica State of Mind
The grandeur and wonder of Antarctica is beyond words. Staring at my screen and not knowing where to start, I took a glance at the dark grey...
Blog
15 Stunning Photos for Those Curious About Antarctic Cruises
Though the following photos are all fantastic, they’re no substitute for the real thing.
Highlights
See the highlights you may experience::
Wildlife
See the impressive array of wildlife you may encounter::
Map of Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctic Peninsula cruise reviews
Overall rating based on 45 votes
Fantastic trip Antartica is the probably the travel of a lifetime On the Plancius. Unfortunately we staid only 3,5 days on the peninsula and the continent. 10 days of cruise includes: Departure day (departure...
Best choice: the trip from february to march, at the end of antarctic summer. We reached Ross Sea and McMurdo Sound, we got to McMurdo Antarctic Station by helicopter, we went shopping there and had coffee and...
So, I was lucky enough to win Oceanwide's contest for the Spectacular Ross Sea - an epic 30 day expedition across Western Antarctica. I knew it was going to be amazing. On paper, it sounded like the trip...
Having previously travelled to the Antarctic Peninsula, my wife and I wanted to return to more distant parts of this gorgeous and fascinating place. The Ross Sea tour, with its abundance of natural wonders and...
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Once in a lifetime memorable trip. The Oceanwide expedition staff was excellent and kept all the passengers informed of daily activities as well as provide seminars and presentations on whales, seals, penguins,...
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We really appreciated life on board, how things were organized, what we did in disembarking, your qualified team and so on. Our only regret is that it is a pity to stay on the spot for only 3 and a half days...
Read full review >>Antarctic Peninsula FAQ
What is the Time in the Antarctic Peninsula?
The Antarctic Peninsula follows Coordinated Universal Time -3 (UTC -3). This means that if it is 18:00 UTC-3 (6 p.m.) during your expedition cruise trip to the Antarctic Peninsula , it would be 17:00 (5 p.m.) in New York City, USA and 22:00 (10 p.m.)...
Read more >>What is the Temperature and Weather Like in the Antarctic Peninsula?
The climate in the Antarctic Peninsula is much milder than most people would imagine because it is located near the most northerly part of Antarctica. If you travel to the Antarctic Peninsula during January, which is summertime, you can expect an average...
Read more >>What Wildlife Can I See in the Antarctic Peninsula?
Animal lovers who take their holiday in the Antarctic Peninsula will be treated to a diverse list of wildlife that is especially suited to the area’s cold climate. It is common to encounter several penguin species such as the Gentoo penguins. Other...
Read more >>How Many People Live in Antarctica?
No one is allowed to take up permanent residence in the Antarctic Peninsula or anywhere else in Antarctica. However, research groups are allowed to stay in Antarctica for limited periods of time. Due to this, the overall temporary population of Antarctica...
Read more >>Who Owns Antarctica?
The Antarctic Continent or any part of it is not controlled by any nation. Instead, it is covered by the Antarctic Treaty, which provides every signatory nation with the ability to conduct non-military related research within the Antarctic Peninsula....
Read more >>What Unique Features Does the Antarctic Peninsula Have?
The Antarctic Peninsula is one of the most beautiful regions of the entire continent. Your cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula will reveal the most diverse mixture of wildlife throughout Antarctica. The scenery in this region is dramatic, filled with icebergs...
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About Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctic Peninsula Weather
The weather patterns on the Peninsula can vary significantly depending on where you are. The west coast of the Peninsula down to about 68°S are actually fairly mild with the local summers averaging around 0°C and the winters only dipping down to around -10°C.
Moving below 63°S along the west coast the averages drop to -15°C in the winter.
Facts about the Antarctic Peninsula
- The Peninsula is the only part of the Antarctic that extends out beyond the border of the Antarctic Circle. It is the part of the continent that is the furthest out from the South Pole.
- The only flowering plants on the continent (the Antarctic Pearlwart and the Antarctic Hair-grass) are found on the Peninsula.
- The Peninsula is about 2000 km long.
- The Peninsula was originally named the Palmer Peninsula by the U.S., named after an American explorer who journeyed to the area in November of 1820. Other countries later gave it different names – Graham Land and Trinity Peninsula (Britain, 1832), San Martin Land (Argentina, 1940), and O’Higgins Land (Chile, 1942). It didn’t gain the name of the Antarctic Peninsula until 1964 when an international agreement was reached.
- The Peninsula is regulated under the international Antarctic Treaty System which promotes use of the area for scientific study (especially in regards to environmental safety). There are currently 28 research posts stationed along the Peninsula.
- The Peninsula is actually a continuation of the Andes Mountains which run down almost the entire west coast of South America
- There are 28 countries currently contributing to the scientific research conducted on the Peninsula.
Travel to the Antarctic Peninsula
An Antarctic Peninsula cruise carries you into a world of beautiful stark landscapes and a surprisingly vast array of animal life. Embark on one of our Antarctic Peninsula expeditions and use our ice strengthened cruise ships as a home base as you explore the region while snowshoeing & hiking, kayaking, bird watching, mountaineering, or even camping overnight onshore.
Your Antarctic Peninsula holiday will introduce you to 5 seal species, 37 flying seabird species, whales, and more penguins than you can count.
