Drake Passage to Antarctic Peninsula: Gentoo colonies, whales, icebergs. 11-21 day itineraries, operators, sea prep.
Antarctica Penguin Expedition Cruise 2026 Guide
Seventh continent: 24hr daylight summer, Adélie penguins tobogganing, tabular icebergs size cities.
Classic Antarctic Peninsula Itinerary (12 Days)
Days 1-2: Ushuaia Argentina embark.
Days 3-4: Drake Passage crossing (50m waves possible).
Days 5-9: Landings: Neko Harbor (gentoo), Paradise Bay (ice calving), Deception Island volcanoes, Vernadsky station.
Days 10-11: Return Drake.
Day 12: Disembark.
Extensions: Falklands, South Georgia (king penguins, $20k+).
Zodiac & Activities
Daily Zodiac cruises, kayaking $1k add-on, snowshoeing, lectures on Shackleton.
Top Operators
Quark Expeditions (active), Hurtigruten (comfort), Oceanwide (budget $8k), Ponant luxury ($25k).
Ships 100-200 pax best.
Prep & Packing
Drake: Scopolamine patch, layers (windchill -20C). Rubber boots provided.
Health: Vaccines routine, no malaria.
Nov-Feb season, midnight sun.
Budget (12 Days pp)
| Category | Cost USD |
|----------|----------|
| Cruise Classic | $10,000–$15,000 |
| Flights US-Ushuaia | $1,500 |
| Gear/Jackets | $500 |
| Tips $15/day | $180 |
| Total | $12,180–$17,180 |
Antarctica: frontier silence, penguin cities. Bucket list pinnacle.
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