Cruises to the Antarctic Circle
Ross Sea | Incl. helicopters
Polar Circle & Antarctic Peninsula - Peter I Island - Ross Sea - Campbell Island - Enderby Island | The most spectacular Antarctic journey ever!
OTL27-20. Sail to the southern parts of the Antarctic Peninsula, Peter I Island, the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas into the Ross Sea. Visiting the Ross Ice-shelf, Dry Valleys, Campbell Island, Enderby Island and the historic huts of Scott and Shackleton.
Ross Sea | Incl. helicopters
Enderby Island - Campbell Island - Ross Sea - Peter I Island - Antarctic Peninsula & Polar Circle | The most spectacular Antarctic journey ever!
OTL28-20. Sail to the southern parts of the Antarctic Peninsula, Peter I Island, the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas into the Ross Sea. Visiting the Ross Ice-shelf, Dry Valleys, McMurdo Station, Campbell Island, Enderby Island and the historic huts of Scott and Shackleton.
Antarctica - Polar Circle
Crossing the Polar Circle
PLA30-20. This Polar Circle and Antarctic Peninsula cruise passes through waters travelled by Humpback, Minke and Fin whales. Anchoring in various spots around the region, the expedition offers the chance to hike, kayak, and dive in the iceberg-heavy waters.
Antarctica - Whale watching discovery and learning voyage
In search for the giants of the seas
HDS32-20. This Polar Circle and Antarctic Peninsula cruise will take you further south of Antarctica, crossing the Polar Circe. This expedition cruise passes through waters travelled by Humpback, Minke and Fin whales. Including photo workshops with Massimo Bassano and video workshops with Myriam Casper. Acous...
Antarctica - Polar Circle, Deep South Discovery voyage
Whale watching voyage
OTL29-20. This Polar Circle and Antarctic Peninsula cruise will take you further south of Antarctica, crossing the Polar Circe. This expedition cruise passes through waters travelled by Humpback, Minke and Fin whales. Anchoring in various spots around the region, the expedition offers the chance to hike, and...
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Customer pictures
Customer stories
Humpback Whales Sing for Food, Not Entertainment
The normal call of a humpback whale can be heard from miles away, and they often make noises that sound similar to crying, howling and moaning....
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Adding Antarctica to Your Seven-Continents Bucket List
It’s a common pursuit among serious travelers to visit all seven continents. And indeed, the term “bucket list,” which became popular (if not...
Highlights
See the highlights you may experience::
Antarctic Circle wildlife
See the impressive array of wildlife you may encounter::
Map of Antarctic Circle
Antarctic Circle cruise reviews
Overall rating based on 23 votes
With apologies to penguins, seals and whales, the voyage itself aboard MV Ortelius was the attraction for me; unsailed seas, spectacular geography and experience of Antarctic weather. Being aboard was déjà...
This trip was everything as advertised and more. The first morning we arrived in Antarctica we had Humpback Whales breaching next to the ship, and the 2 landings that day I had penguins coming right up to me,...
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All excellent. Great experience. Very professional in every regard. Once in a lifetime opportunity. In true expedition style, the crew and all responsible for the safety, comfort, and success of our mission adapted...
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Very impressed with the staff, the ship and even the (creative) food. Crew and expedition leaders had to think on their feet -- since the ice was building with the end of summer down south. They were making changes,...
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Travelling on a cruise into the Antarctic. Now there were expectations, I am not much of a person to go on a cruise. To massive, sailing hotels, not my thing and going on an outing like sheep changing fields,...
I had a great time during my trip. Ali was a great head and all of the other staff and expedition leaders were beyond fantastic. Esp Sara and Adam, both were SUPER passionate about the animals and everything...
Read full review >>Antarctic Circle FAQ
Where is the Antarctic Circle Located?
The Antarctic Circle, which is also referred to as a polar circle, is one of the five latitude circles that are used to divide maps of Earth. An expedition cruise to the Antarctic Circle will take travelers south of the Equator to the 66°33′45.9″...
Read more >>What is the Average Temperature and Weather of the Antarctic Circle?
Due to the range of the Antarctic Circle, the average weather conditions can vary greatly. However, most expedition cruises that go near the Antarctic Circle stop at Detaille Island. This area can be warmer than many travelers would imagine. For example,...
Read more >>How Big is the Antarctic Circle?
The Antarctic Circle is slowly moving southward. This movement changes its exact coordinates by approximately 15 meters (49 feet) every year. At the current time, the entire area beneath the Antarctic Circle takes up 20 million square km (7.7 million...
Read more >>Who Discovered the Antarctic Circle?
Although we do not know which individual determined the existence of this Polar Circle, history does tell us that James Cook was the first person to travel to the Antarctic Circle. Cook reportedly crossed the circle via boat in 1773 as part of his second...
Read more >>What Wildlife Can Be Seen in the Antarctic Circle?
The exact area of the Antarctic Circle that you visit will directly impact the type of wildlife that you might encounter. During a cruise to the Antarctic Circle, it is possible that you will see a variety of penguin species, along with whales, seals...
Read more >>What Are the Unique Features of an Antarctic Circle Cruise?
A cruise to the Antarctic Circle is definitely a unique experience, and you may see a variety of photo-worthy things. Examples include wildlife, glaciers and icebergs. One of the most intriguing facts about the Antarctic Circle is the region’s...
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About Antarctic Circle
Antarctic Circle Weather
While much is said about just how frosty it can get in the Antarctic, your Polar Circle trip will happen in a more hospitable time of year. When you visit the islands and the continent you can expect temperatures to range from around 0°C up to about 5°C.
However, when you’re thinking about what clothes to bring don’t forget about the famous Polar Circle winds which can whisk away your body heat.
Facts about the Antarctic Circle
- The magnetic South Pole is constantly on the move, travelling about 8 km a year.
- The southern Polar Circle contains the driest, coldest, and windiest continent on Earth – Antarctica!
- The western portion of Antarctica is actually an archipelago (chain of islands) that are all joined together into one big mass by ice.
- The South Polar Circle is defined by anything south of 66°30’ S line of latitude.
- This line of latitude was first crossed by Captain James Cook on January 17, 1773.
- The hours of daylight on any particular day in the southern Polar Circle are matched by hours of night in the northern Polar Circle.
- Winds in some places within the South Polar Circle can reach 320 km per hour.
Travel to the Antarctic Circle
Your Polar Circle cruise to the Antarctic region brings you to one of the coldest, windiest, and driest places on Earth… and yet one that is teeming with a huge variety of wildlife and fantastic rugged landscapes.
Our Polar Circle expeditions are a trip to Heaven for bird watchers. You’ll be able to go ashore on islands and the continent, and the experienced can even go diving into waters shared by seals and whales. On your Polar Circle holiday you’ll be able to kayak, join photography workshops, make friends with thousands of penguins, an enjoy great whale watching opportunities.
