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December 23, 2024

An expedition cruise to Antarctica is life-changing, full of natural beauty, adventure, and unforgettable locations. But Antarctica is a big place, and what you might see and experience changes slightly throughout the season and the kind of trip you join. Before heading to the frozen continent, you’ll want to make sure you take all factors into account to maximize your experience!

Choose the right time of year (for you)

Depending on when you visit Antarctica, you’ll have a slightly different experience, especially in the weather, landscapes, and wildlife you’ll encounter. The Antarctic expedition cruise season typically runs between October and March. Outside of this period, during the Antarctic winter, temperatures drop, sunlight vanishes, and much of the wildlife departs for warmer waters.

Early season (October – November)

Antarctica’s landscapes will be at their icy best early in the season, with untouched landing sites, drifting icebergs and sea ice, and snow heavy on the mountains and glaciers. This period is also the mating and courtship period for many species that call Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic home. Penguins and seabirds will nest and roost while seals prepare to nurture pups on the ice. On Weddell Sea trips, you may get an opportunity to visit the iconic emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island. For photographers, this early part of the Antarctic season offers dramatic, soft lighting. Expect long sunrises and sunsets, perfect for capturing the beautiful golden hour.

Mid-Season (December – January)

Wildlife is at its most prominent, vivid, and visible at the height of the Antarctic season. Penguin chicks begin to hatch, and seal pups will be navigating their new icy world. Days are long, with 24-hour daylight bathing the southern continent in constant light.

Expedition cruises can head further south during this period as the ice retreats and inlets and straits open up. On land, snow will be melting, widening the number of possible landing sites and revealing more rock – ideal for landscape photography. The weather during this period is also more stable.

Late Season (February – March)

Whale watching hits its peak here. The seas around Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic play host to many whale species, breeding, and feeding in the krill-rich waters. You’ll often spot humpback, minke, and blue whales, while orcas are a common sight, hunting for seal pups and penguins.

The days are shorter towards the end of the season, offering fantastic photography opportunities similar to the early part of the season. Expect dramatic sunsets and beautiful sunrises.

Glaciers and ice shelves will be calving more quickly, creating superb iceberg viewing opportunities throughout the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea. Towards the end of the season, you can follow the migration of bird species as they head back north on an Atlantic Odyssey voyage, taking you from the icy heart of Antarctica to some of the most remote islands in the world, including Tristan da Cunha and St Helena, renowned for their bird and marine life.

Get closer to nature & spend more time on shore

Many expedition cruise operators operate large vessels catering to more guests with onboard luxuries such as saunas and steam rooms. Oceanwide Expeditions‘ approach is different. They operate a fleet of small-size, ice-strengthened vessels, ideal for polar exploration and getting guests closer to the heart of nature than competitors. Aboard m/v Hondius, m/v Plancius, and m/v Ortelius, you can expect comfort, but with the polar experience at the forefront. These vessels are built to explore, being robust, welcoming, and full of character.

They offer increased accessibility, entering narrow channels and more remote areas. They also offer more landings, with fewer guest numbers than larger operators. This means that you will spend more time on shore and can participate in a broader range of activities. Smaller ships can also be more flexible – a key consideration when operating in the polar regions. Weather and ice conditions may not always play along, so choosing a smaller vessel means you’ll have more alternate landing sites available to you.

The experience is also more intimate, with the smaller guest and crew numbers creating a more personal, communal atmosphere. You’ll meet fellow travelers, foster friendships, and create everlasting polar memories together.

A varied choice of Antarctic itineraries

The ‘right’ trip is subjective and really depends on what you want to see, do, and experience. Oceanwide Expeditions offers a number of different itineraries, as well as varied destinations, activities, and lengths. Some trips, such as the 10-night Antarctic Peninsula trip, provide a fantastic entry into the polar world, taking guests to some of the most iconic Antarctic destinations and offering superb wildlife spotting opportunities.

Others focus more specifically on navigation workshops or the spirit of adventure in the remotest parts of the wild south, such as the truly immersive 27-night remote Weddell Sea explorer trip, taking in the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, the Weddell Sea, and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Specific trip itineraries can vary from season to season, but some guest favorites return each year, such as Oceanwide Expeditions’ Antarctica Basecamp concept. Ideal for those with an adventurous spirit, Antarctica Basecamp combines all possible guest activities, such as kayaking, camping, hiking, snowshoeing, and photography workshops, into one activity-laden trip, with no extra costs.

To experience the sub-Antarctic and the Antarctic Peninsula, you could join a Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Antarctica trip. These longer voyages, usually around 18 nights, journey across the Southern Ocean between the wildlife-rich Falkland Islands and South Georgia, then on to the Antarctic Peninsula.

For a truly pioneering Antarctic adventure, join a trip steaming into the dramatic Weddell Sea. Amidst some of the most beautiful landscapes in the south, take the chance to visit the renowned emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island using the helicopter capabilities of m/v Ortelius.

Be sure to take into account all of the above when creating your next polar adventure. For further questions, reach out to Oceanwide Expeditions – pioneers of polar expeditions for over 30 years.

Don’t miss news, updates, and reviews of Ocenawide Expeditions on Cruising Journal.

George Janes

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