Antarctica Ships vary widely in size, comfort level and expeditions. We recommend first choosing locations to visit, then setting a budget. Next, consider which ship best suits your adventure level. Ships below are rated by size, comfort level, daily expedition quality, zodiacs available and how many embarkation areas are onboard.
North South Voyages recommends expedition ships (fewer than 500 guests) that are purpose built to get travellers ashore. We do not recommend ocean liners with a few thousand passengers who are not allowed ashore.
Size
Over 150 different ships travel annually to Antarctica ranging from small expedition ships to giant ocean liners – these experiences vary greatly.
Learn more about how to pick the right Antarctica ship size for your adventure as this is a crucial aspect of your Antarctica adventure!
Comfort
The comfort level onboard is reflected in our ship star rating. This includes cabins, common areas, and amenities and also considers customer service. We only feature and offer ships that meet a minimum 3* rating.
Options range from 5* luxury ships with private butlers to 3* ships with great pricing.
Expeditions
Expedition ratings refer to the quality, variety and number of daily excursions offered. In general, ships with lower guest numbers and more zodiacs means you’ll spend more time off the ship.
Only 100 guests at a time can be ashore per site. For ships with more guests, there may be extra waiting involved.
