Antarctic Solo Travellers

The most popular (and cost effective) option for solo travellers sailing to Antarctica is to share a cabin. Cabin shares are always with another solo traveller of the same sex.

Wherever possible you’ll be matched with another passenger of the same relative age and nationality to make getting to know each other smooth and easy.

Some ships have triple and quad cabins as well, all with en suite bathrooms. While it might initially feel odd to consider sharing with a complete stranger, it’s a highly effective way to book an affordable Antarctic trip and the very nature of expedition cruising means that new acquaintances rapidly become friends.

In terms of the amount of space you’ll have, it’s worth knowing that average cabin sizes in the polar fleet have almost doubled over the past ten years as well as becoming a lot smarter with storage space, giving everyone a lot more room. Of course,  cabins are really only places for sleeping in and getting ready for excursions: the point of expedition cruising is to be out exploring Antarctica! 

Sharing a cabin comes with the implicit requirement to be respectful of the common space; those concerned about the idea might be more relaxed with securing their own cabin entirely.

While exact cabins vary from ship to ship, note that the highest cabin categories on a ship often aren’t available for sharing.

Dedicated single cabins for solo travellers used to be a real rarity for Antarctic voyages, but the recent growth in expedition cruise ship numbers now means that those travelling by themselves have access to a lot more choice.

The price of a dedicated single cabin is typically close to the cost of a twin cabin with single supplement and is more expensive than a shared cabin.

The number of dedicated solo cabins varies hugely between different ships. These cabins are always limited in number and in high demand however. Even with the increased choice on offer, early booking is strongly recommended: booking 18 months in advance of travel isn’t too soon.

Swoop knows the entire polar fleet like no one else so we can guide you in choosing the right ship on the right date with the perfect cabin for you – our close connections with all the operators will help you secure your chosen berth.

If you’d like your own space and your preferred ship has no dedicated cabins or they’re all booked up, the option exists to pay a single supplement to secure exclusive use of a twin cabin.

There’s no restriction on which cabin category you can choose, but the single supplement you’ll pay operates along a sliding scale according to which ship you're sailing on. Typically, you'll pay somewhere between 140%-170% of the cost of a single berth. On most ships, if you wish to secure the top cabin categories you’ll need to pay the full price of the cabin.

Swoop’s expertise can help guide you through the best matched options for your needs, including which ships offer the most competitive single supplement costs. We’re also on top of when ships may choose to run incentives for solo travellers and waive the single supplements on their twin cabins.

There are few better ways of breaking the ice with new travel companions than getting out in a zodiac together for your first landing in Antarctica, but there are plenty of other ways to find your people when you're on board.

Booking additional adventure activities such as kayaking or camping can be an ideal option for solo travellers. Groups taking part in activities are often the first to bond during a voyage: you'll take part in dedicated briefings from your guides and if you're kayaking you'll be paired up with a kayaking buddy. We know from experience how like-minded people meeting for the first time quickly become tight-knit teams through shared adventure. From sharing photos of the day in the ship’s lounge and swapping stories over dinner, these activities are a great way to make new friends as well as experiencing Antarctica from a unique perspective.