There are several ways to visit Antarctica, but such a special destination deserves an equally special journey which is why Totally Latin America want to share the best itinerary for Antarctica Cruise 2025/2026:
The Great Austral Loop — A luxury 18-day Antarctic expedition with Ponant Cruises.
Join their timeless modern ship Le Boréal for the trip of a lifetime to the White Continent, stopping at the Falkland Islands and South Georgia before reaching the Antarctic Peninsula for a five-day polar exploration.
Find out exactly why this is the best itinerary to choose for your once-in-a-lifetime trip to Antarctica by reading all about it below. We cover the trip highlights, the experiences it offers, what to expect of the ship, and the day-to-day itinerary.
Antarctica Cruise 2025/2026 Trip Summary
Experience the magic of the White Continent on an 18-day luxury cruise that sails all the way to Antarctica from Ushuaia, Argentina. Along the way, stop at the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island to see their inexplicable rugged beauty and learn about their unique histories as tiny remote islands in the `South Atlantic Ocean. From there, cruise across Drake’s Passage to reach the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula which the ship will spend the next five days navigating down.
Each day spent on the Antarctic Peninsula will bring new horizons and new adventures that allow guests to experience the White Continent to the fullest. Kayak around icebergs, walk alongside penguins, hike to scenic viewpoints, and visit an Antarctic research station with expert naturalist guides who divulge their specialist scientific information on this largely unknowable place. Complete the trip with a couple more luxurious sea days as the trusted captain navigates the ship back to Ushuaia.
Antarctica Cruise 2025/2026 Trip Highlights
- Sail to Antarctica on one of the finest polar expedition ships at sea
- Step foot on Antarctica, the most unexplored place on Earth
- Meet several species of penguins, albatross, shags, and other Antarctic birdlife
- Kayak your way around an assault course of giant icebergs
- Encounter several whale species as they play and splash around the ship
- Meet people who live in the planet’s most uninhabitable environment
- Learn all about Antarctic geography and wildlife from expert naturalists
- Retrace the steps of Sir Ernest Shackleton in the Falkland and South Georgia islands
- Make the most of the cruise’s luxury facilities on relaxing sea days
The Luxury Antarctica Ship
Ponant Cruise’s Antarctic Expedition is entrusted to one of its four sisterships named Le Boréal. This small ice-class ship luxury liner is ideal for those wishing for an intimate and highly personal cruising experience that prioritizes comfort and privacy. Extending 466ft from bow to stern, it is much smaller than an average cruise ship, holding up to 264 guests across 132 staterooms (each featuring a private balcony).
Le Boréal’s design exudes a timeless modern elegance with a white, blue, and silver color palette reflecting that of its Antarctic surroundings. Yet, each room from the restaurants to the suites is warm, inviting, and calming. The ship’s on-board facilities including a spa, library, fitness center, and lounge all promote a restful and relaxing atmosphere that allows guests to fully unwind after active Antarctic landings.
The ship also features two restaurants, the patio grill which is a relaxed restaurant serving international fare, and the grand gastronomic restaurant where formal dinners are held. And not forgetting the intimate theater where guests can gather in the mornings for insightful lectures from Ponant’s expert naturalist guides, or after a delicious evening meal to watch live music, dancing, and shows.
Prestige Stateroom, Le boreal, Ponant Cruises
Antarctica Cruise 2025/2026 Activities
During your 18-day Antarctic Expedition with Ponant Cruises, you will spend five full days sailing along the Antarctic Peninsula. Each day, the ship will anchor at a different spot to explore with a Ponant Antarctica expert from snowy volcanic beaches to icy mountainscapes and iceberg-filled bays. Since sailing and anchoring are very weather-dependent, there is no set schedule for your stay in Antarctica, but here are some of the exciting activities you can expect to experience:
Kayaking
Put your kayaking skills to the test as you glide along the glassy Antarctic Coast to see its dramatic beauty from a unique perspective. Navigate your way around gigantic icebergs which, the closer you get, make you feel like sardines swimming beside a whale. Speaking of whales, you might be lucky enough to find them swimming playfully beside you along with penguins and sea lions. Either way, this activity will be an experience treasured forever.
Zodiac Rides
Hop onto the Ponant zodiac navigated by our expert naturalist guides for a thrilling ride around the Antarctic Peninsula’s coast in search of breathtaking viewpoints and gasp-worthy wildlife sightings. During the ride, your guide will share their expert knowledge on Antarctic geography, wildlife, history, and much more, giving you immense insight into your alien surroundings. Powered by a motor, the zodiacs pack a punch making for an enlivening ride highlighted by the fresh Antarctic air.
Antarctic Hike
Immerse in the Antarctic elements as you join your naturalist guide on a short hike through the white wilderness. From the sea-level landing spot, you’ll slowly but surely climb the foothills of the Antarctic mountains to an unimaginably beautiful viewpoint of the bay below where your ship is quietly anchored. Although climbing the snowy hills may be slightly challenging for some, the birds-eye view of the iceberg-scattered bay surrounded by mountains will stay with you forever.
Spotting a penguin colony in Antarctica
Wildlife spotting
During excursions and on sea days, Ponant’s expert naturalist guides keep an eye out for Antarctic wildlife which they will eagerly point out when spotted. Some of the amazing Antarctic wildlife you can expect to see includes sea lions, penguins, albatross, shags, humpback whales, and orcas. Whether you’re on a zodiac, at a landing site, or on your private balcony onboard the ship, watching Antarctic wildlife in its natural habitat will have you entranced.
Volcanic Beach Landing
Step foot on Antarctica’s black sand beaches which, emboldened by the contrast of starch-white snow, will blow you away. Take time to wander along the beach, greeting waddling penguins and sleeping sea lions along the way, and listening to your guide’s stories about those that landed there before from whalers to other expedition ships. But watch where you’re walking, you might don’t want to trip on giant whale bones that may have washed ashore.
Research Station Visit
Although Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent on Earth, it’s home to several naval bases and research stations. Take the rare and unique opportunity to visit them and get a glimpse into the life and work of the few brave souls who call Antarctica home, at least for part of a year, to research this unknown continent and better understand what answers it can give us in many aspects of natural life.
Antarctic Zodiac ride
Day-to-Day Antarctica Cruise Itinerary
16 February 2026 – Ushuaia
Your 18-day Antarctic expedition begins by boarding your ship, the beautiful Le Boréal, and exploring all it has to offer as you set sail.
17 February 2026 – At sea
Spend a relaxing day at sea enjoying your ship’s luxurious facilities and onboard entertainment.
18 February 2026 – New Island (Falkland Islands)
Land on the flower-lined beaches of New Island for a walk through the moorlands to meet a colony of rockhopper penguins, albatross, and shags
18 February 2026 – Grave Cove
Step onto Grave Cove, a white-sand beach overlooked by old whaler’s graves, and walk across the island to find a colony of gentoo penguins on the other side.
19 February 2026 – 21 February 2026 – At sea
Spend three relaxing days at sea enjoying your ship’s luxurious facilities and onboard entertainment.
22 February 2026 – 24 February 2026 – South Georgia
Over the next three days, your ship will cruise to several landings across South Georgia including Gold Harbour to see its magnificent glacier and Salisbury Plain where a colony of over 300,000 king penguins reside. During your stay, get a harrowing account of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s fateful 1916 landing.
25 February 2026 – 26 February 2026 – At sea
Spend two relaxing days at sea enjoying your ship’s luxurious facilities and onboard entertainment.
27 February 2026 – 2 March 2026 – Antarctic Peninsula
Over the next five days, you’ll anchor at several landing sites along the breathtaking Antarctic Peninsula. At each stop, you will get the opportunity to experience the White Continent’s splendor with activities like hiking, kayaking, and wildlife-spotting with your expert scientific guide.
3 March 2026 – 4 March 2026 – Crossing the Drake Passage
Spend two relaxing days at sea enjoying your ship’s luxurious facilities and onboard entertainment.
5 March 2026 – Ushuaia
Return to Ushuaia, Argentina to debark the ship and begin your onward journey.
Book your Antarctica Cruise Now
As small expedition ships, Antarctic cruises have limited capacity and spaces fill quickly well ahead of time, which is why it’s important to book a year in advance to secure your spot on an Antarctica Cruise 2025/2026. As a Ponant Affiliate, Totally Latin America offer the best deals on Ponant Cruises — get in touch today and see how much you could save by contacting us here or call toll-free at +1 855 217 9045, or direct on +51 84 656 421.
