Antarctic Peninsula Cruises
The Peninsula is the classic way to experience Antarctica. Some of the best wildlife and most dramatic scenery can be found in this part of the Frozen Continent.
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Why book your Antarctic trip with Swoop?
- With over 150 Antarctica voyages and more than 100 years of collective Antarctic knowledge under our belts, we’ve got unrivalled polar experience to put at your service
- We've spent years helping families create memories for life, so we understand what's important for your trip to this incredible wildlife and wilderness destination
- No two polar cruise ships are the same, but our expertise can guide you smoothly through the many child policy, cabin configuration and discounts on offer
- We visit Antarctica every year and undertake regular ship inspections, giving us the edge when helping you choose the right ship and cabins for your family adventure
- Whether you’re travelling with younger children, teenagers or sharing a trip with your grown-up kids, we've got access to the best pricing available for your group
Swoop says
As a place for creating lasting family memories and exploring the scenery and wildlife in one of the world's greatest outdoor classrooms, there are few places that can match Antarctica.
What makes an Antarctic cruise special for families?
Memories for life
Family vacations are all about creating memories – and Antarctica is one of the greatest canvases on which to make them.
Exploring the Seventh Continent and watching penguin families with your own brood is a truly special experience. Being able to hand down the gift of travel is a rare treat, inspiring the next generation with a shared encounter with somewhere that’s the very definition of true wilderness.
We love helping families create memories that will last a lifetime. Over the years we’ve catered to families of all shapes and sizes, so we know what you need and exactly where to find it.
Inspired by nature
Antarctica is one of the world’s greatest outdoor classrooms. On an expedition cruise you’ll get up close to countless numbers of penguins in their rookeries or darting through the water beside your zodiac. You’ll see whales showing their flukes after gorging on krill or just quietly contemplate the glassy tinkle of ice on a polar sea.
You’ll experience this while accompanied by the world’s greatest tour guides: scientists, biologists, geologists, historians and more, all eager to share their knowledge with you.
From onboard talks to offering expert insights during a wildlife watching session, the team on your expedition cruise ship offer you the chance to engage with the wonder of Antarctica in ways that go far beyond any regular travel experience.
Julie says
It’s exciting enough to see a whale as an adult, but seeing the wide-eyed smile of amazement of a child as it shows it flukes and dives right in front of their eyes is a true wonder to behold.
Julie Ruston Antarctica Sales Specialist
Adventure activities
As special as it is, there is more to Antarctica than just its wildlife. You can take zodiac cruises through bays full of stranded icebergs or paddle in pairs in a sea kayak through a landscape dominated by glaciers, led by specialist guides.
For the more adventurous, there can be snowshoeing or even the chance to spend a night camping in the snow: the ultimate family sleepover.
Not all activities may be available for younger ages, but the chance to explore Antarctica with a dash of adventure will have all teenagers and adult children reverting to joyful childhood wonder.
Citizen science
Antarctica is a place dedicated to science, and many ships offer passengers the opportunity to participate in citizen science projects to help collect data for programmes run by some of the most respected research institutions in the world.
Projects are designed to be fun as well as educational, making them perfect for budding scientists. There aren't many family vacations that offer the chance to help NASA train their weather satellites, take phytoplankton samples to look into the effects of climate change, or survey seabirds or humpback whales.
Taking part in citizen science is a fantastic way of giving back in Antarctica – and taking the time to look down a microscope can sometimes be the best way of seeing just how connected the polar ecosystem is to the rest of our planet.
What our family travellers thought of their Antarctica cruise
Review:
How to choose your family Antarctic cruise
Finding the right ship
Expedition cruise ships aren’t explicitly set up to cater for children and don’t have family-friendly facilities in the same way that traditional cruise ships do.
As such there are no set rules around lower age restrictions onboard expedition cruise ships: every ship is slightly different and there are a lot of nuances, especially when it comes to optional adventure activities like kayaking or camping. Swoop’s contacts across the entire polar fleet and long experience in helping families book expedition cruises means that we can help guide you through this maze and find the ship that best suits your requirements – and for the best price.
Cabins for family groups
Cabin styles and space vary from ship to ship across the polar fleet. We know that families have different requirements from other travellers and can put our in-depth knowledge and first-hand experience onboard to meet your requirements. Options include:
- Interconnecting cabins
- Larger suite-style cabins to spend time together in
- Triple and quads cabins
- Cabins with sofa beds that can be set up for children.
Some cabin types often book out early, Swoop’s long-standing and close working relationships means that we can find you the cabins you need at the best possible price – and located close together on the ship in the configuration that suits your family best.
What's the right age for an Antarctic cruise?
Parents will always be the best judge of age suitability, but in our experience, families get the most out of an Antarctic adventure when children are aged 10+. This is when most children can take instructions from the expedition team, including following the simple biosecurity procedures involved in stepping foot on Antarctica.
Children must be able to quietly observe wildlife from a safe distance or from a zodiac and be able to move safely about the ship. The older the child, the more they'll also get out of the expert talks on board.
Be aware that the set dining hours on many expedition cruise ships may not suit all younger children. Towards the more luxury end of the market, there are more dining options at different times of the day, often including 24 hour room service.
Heath & safety on board
Passenger health and safety is a central undertaking during any expedition cruise to Antarctica. Expert onboard teams look after every aspect of the trip to ensure you will experience the polar regions in a safe and comfortable environment.
All expedition cruise ships have an onboard doctor and a medical centre equipped to handle emergencies. Underwater stabilisers on most ships reduce excess movement during heavy seas.
For safety reasons, it will always be at the Captain and Expedition Leader’s discretion as to whether an individual activity will be suitable for a younger traveller.
Otto says
Going to Antarctica is like a family road trip on steroids. It's so remote and wild – there's nowhere quite like it on Earth that offers such an epic canvas for deep shared experiences.
Otto Lock Antarctica Specialist
Our most popular Antarctic cruises for families
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
4.7 out of 5
Antarctic Peninsula Classic
Travelling on board this extremely comfortable ship, explore the highlights of the peninsula with a top class expedition team. Spacious cabins, delicious cuisine and optional adventure activities all help create this ideal marriage of comfort and…
- 12-13 Days
- $11,985
4.5 out of 5
Antarctic Basecamp Adventure
The ultimate Antarctic adventure, this trip is specifically for the active traveller. Spend 7 days kayaking, hiking, camping, mountaineering and snowshoeing, all included in the price. A medium-sized expedition ship acts as your floating ‘basecamp’. An excellent deal backed up…
- 13 Days
- $10,550
4.6 out of 5
Antarctic Peninsula Explorer
Explore the White Continent aboard one of the polar fleet's newest additions, a state-of-the-art expedition vessel combining adventure with comfort. As well as being limited to only 130 passengers, there’s a wide range of optional activities on this classic Antarctic…
- 12-15 Days
- $13,395
4.8 out of 5
Antarctic Explorer
The great strength of this trip is choice – a wide selection of departure dates and optional adventure activities available on a sleek purpose-built 138 passenger expedition ship. Spend four full days exploring Antarctica. Enjoy daily shore landings and zodiac…
- 11 Days
- $16,495
4.6 out of 5
Explore the Antarctic Peninsula
Travelling aboard a state-of-the-art small ship and accompanied by unparalleled onboard expertise, expeditionary cruising doesn’t get much better. Regular departures throughout the season and a choice of three outstanding ships renowned for their comfort, enhanced safety features and spirit of…
- 12 Days
- $15,380
4.7 out of 5
Original Fly & Cruise Luxury Adventure
Fly over the Drake Passage in just 2 hours, both to and from Antarctica. Ideal for those wanting a high comfort level, but who have limited time or are anxious sailors. An outstanding program, successfully operated for over 15 seasons.…
- 8 Days
- $15,995
4.5 out of 5
Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Adventure
With a good choice of departure dates through the season across three medium-sized ships, this 19-22 day trip stands out for its value for money and the broad range of cabin categories available, including Quads, which are…
- 19-22 Days
- $14,500
For those travellers looking for seamless travel on a trip that is hassle-free and all-inclusive, this is the perfect option. Skip over the notorious Drake Passage on a comfortable two hour flight to Antarctica, then travel onboard a state-of-the-art mega…
- 10 Days
- $20,389
Family Antarctica Adventure Cruises: FAQs
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Are there minimum age limits on Antarctic expedition cruises?
Every ship in the polar fleet is slightly different when it comes to applying minimum ages for child passengers. Further restrictions may apply if you also want to do adventure activities like kayaking or camping – there are often no hard and fast rules, but our experience can help find exactly the right ship for you.
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Can we book cabins together as a family?
Yes. We can arrange cabins next door to each other for your family group. Every ship is unique, but we’ll find the best configuration for you – whether that’s interconnected cabins, triples, cabins with sofa beds or with extra space for you all to relax in together.
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What facilities are there onboard for children?
Antarctic expedition cruise ships aren’t like traditional cruise ships, so don’t expect kid’s clubs, babysitting or evening entertainment. On the other hand, those ships can’t offer your family the chance to walk close to a penguin rookery or zodiac cruise past icebergs, so we think that’s more than fair compensation.
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Do we need to bring extra child-friendly outdoor gear?
Almost all expedition cruise ships provide a parka and waterproof boots for passengers. If booking with a child, we’ll check in advance that the ship will have outdoor kit in the right size, or if there are items you should bring with you
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Will there be internet for my teenagers?
Yes. Getting online at the bottom of the world presents more of a challenge than elsewhere however, so the amount of internet that’s available can vary from ship to ship. Many ships now use Starlink which provides excellent internet connections.
Speeds are subject to weather conditions: voice calls are often possible, though you shouldn’t expect to be able to use the internet as you would at home; streaming movies won't be an option. We can advise on who has the best options for getting online: some ships included everything in the price, while on others you pay for data packages.
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Are there Antarctic cruises during school vacation?
Yes, but Antarctic expedition cruise schedules aren't specifically designed to match up with school terms and vacations, so be aware that to make your dates work it might be necessary to remove your child from school for a few days.
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When should I book?
We recommend trying to book your Antarctic family adventure at least 12-18 months in advance. While most holidays have a far shorter lead time, Antarctica has a finite number of ships and cabins: places can fill quickly for travel at high demand times like school vacations and Christmas, so those booking late frequently find their choice significantly reduced, especially when travelling in a larger group.
Discover more about Antarctica
South Georgia Cruises
A jewel in Antarctica's crown, South Georgia is one of the world's great wildlife destinations: the Serengeti of the Southern Ocean
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The best time to visit Antarctica
Choosing the best time to visit Antarctica is an essential part of the planning process. Each month's distinctive weather and wildlife offer a different side of the region.
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Antarctic Cruise Ships
We work with a range of different Antarctic vessels, with expertise across the entire polar fleet, to give you the best choice of ship, cabin and departure date.
Discover MoreWhy our customers love Swoop
The Antarctic Experts.
No Compromises
Our team has visited Antarctica over 150 times and has 100 collective years of polar experience, so from which trip is right for you to what shoes to bring - there’s no question we can’t answer.
Expert impartial advice at no extra cost
Choosing the right voyage is complicated, Swoop makes it easy. We offer no-nonsense advice on 1500 voyages across 30 ships to find you the right trip, cabin, price - and we don’t charge a fee.
The only B Corp certified Antarctic specialist
We want to protect Antarctica for future generations - which is why we became a certified B Corp and set up our own conservation fund. So your adventures can be a force for good.
A full concierge service, unlike booking direct
We leave nothing to chance in delivering your perfect trip and have over 6500 happy travellers to show for it. With a dedicated Antarctic co-ordinator & support throughout - you’re in safe hands.
Ready to plan your Antarctic adventure?
1
Listen
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
2
Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
3
Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
With over 100 years of Antarctic experience between us, we can help guide you to exactly the right trip for you.
1-888-970-4570
