South Georgia Cruises

South Georgia is only accessible via ship as there are no airports. Most South Georgia cruises depart from Ushuaia, Argentina stopping at the Falkland Islands en route. It takes a day to sail from Ushuaia to the Falklands and then about two days at sea from the Falklands to South Georgia. 

South Georgia is home to massive king penguin colonies with hundreds of thousands of birds that can be seen all throughout the season. Macaroni, Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins also breed here. Seabirds are abundant with 4 species of nesting albatross (wandering, black-browed, grey- headed and light-mantled). The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any flying bird. Southern elephant seals and fur seals may be seen in significant numbers on the beaches of South Georgia, depending on the time of season. 

All South Georgia cruises will have the opportunity to experience islands’ rich history with a visit to Shackleton’s grave, the Grytviken Museum and abandoned whaling stations (conditions permitting). If you’re lucky, your voyage may offer the opportunity to hike the last stretch of Shackleton’s epic crossing from Fortuna Bay to Stromness whaling station, but this cannot be guaranteed in advance. 

South Georgia voyages are expensive given their long duration and remote locations visited. Cabins typically start at US $15,000 – $20,000 per person for the most simple expedition ships and higher for premium or luxury vessels.