Cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctica
Classic Antarctica including Deception Island
OTL26-21. This 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.
Antarctica
Classic Antarctica including Deception Island
PLA25-21. This 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.
Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage
The 'Classic Antarctic' route
HDS27-21. This cruise delivers you to wondrous landscapes found in one of the harshest environments on Earth. The great star-actors of Antarctica are the penguins and in total seven species could appear before your very own eyes.
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula
Meet at least six penguin species
OTL27a21. 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.
Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage
Classic Antarctica including Deception Island
HDS28-21. This 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.
Video Antarctic Expedition
Customer pictures
Customer stories
Basecamp Plancius: A True Antarctic Adventure
It was New Year’s Eve, and I was dressed in a full-body penguin suit, making my way to the buffet. We were three days into our cruise aboard...
Blog
Eight Antarctic Misconceptions
Some are funny, some unfortunate, some are so far from the truth it’s hard to see how anyone believed them.
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 226 votes
Congratulations to everyone at Oceanwide for providing a superbly well run expedition on a marvellous ship. The Hondius is a world-leader in its eco credentials and superb for its operating environment. Everyone...
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This was dream trip of a lifetime. We are very please that we chose the Hondius. The hotel staff were superb , friendly and very helpful , the food was excellent and the facilities appropriate for an expedition...
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An outstanding trip which was everything we hoped for and more. The passionate Oceanwide Expedition leader who , with his team epitomised the spirit of expedition by ensuring, (whether permitting!) we landed...
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The Oceanwide Expeditions Basecamp Antartica Cruise was amazing on every level! I couldn’t have asked for a better Antarctica experience. The expeditions, lectures, meals and excursions were outstanding....
Our mother/daughter trip to Antarctica truly was one of the most unique, fantastic experiences of my life. The guides, excursions, wildlife sightings, and meals surpassed my expectations. The expedition guides,...
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I can't properly express to you my gratitude (and those of my fellow shipmates) at the care the Plancius crew (and the Home Office) took of us during our extended Antarctic cruise (March 9-26). The statement...
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 >>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...
Read more >>What happens if we cannot camp?
Our expedition leaders always do their best to ensure the camping activity is carried out, but sometimes this is impossible due to unsafe environmental conditions. If such is the case, we may offer camping on the outer decks of the ship.
Read more >>How long has Oceanwide Expeditions been running expeditions?
Even though Oceanwide Expeditions was founded in 1996, we look back at 32+ years of experience in expedition cruising with a thorough knowledge of the areas visited. The Dutch Plancius Foundation (1981-1996) was the predecessor of Oceanwide Expeditions.
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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.
