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Northwest Passage Cruises

The Antarctic Peninsula Cruises are the most popular cruises to Antarctica with many departures and ships.

Most economical. Most departures / selection of dates.

Sailing across the Drake Passage both ways. Most Antarctic Peninsula voyages depart from Ushuaia, Argentina. Some ships operate from Puerto Williams.

Top Reasons to Book an Antarctic Peninsula Cruise

  • Step foot on the 7th Continent
  • See penguins
  • Photograph icebergs in all shapes and sizes
Route map for Antarctic Peninsula cruises departing from Ushuaia, Argentina.

Trip Itinerary Overview:

Day 1: Embarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina

Days 2-3: Drake Passage

Days 4-10: Antarctica

Days 11-12: Drake Passage

Day 13: Disembark in Ushuaia, Argentina

Highlights

Maybe list out 3 highlights for each cruise type?

Popular Northwest Passage Cruises

Shorter Duration Cruises

Wildlife of the Northwest Passage

The Antarctic Peninsula is a wildlife-rich region where guests can experience incredible encounters with iconic polar species. As you explore its icy landscapes, you may see:

  • Penguin colonies bustling with gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie penguins
  • Whales such as humpback, minke, and orca feeding in krill-rich waters
  • Seals including leopard, Weddell, fur, crabeater, and southern elephant seals resting on ice floes
  • Seabirds like albatrosses, petrels, and skuas soaring over the Drake Passage

Explore Activities in the Northwest Passage

All Antarctic Peninsula cruises offer active trips that allow guests to get off the ship for daily excursions when in destination, conditions permitting.

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Northwest Passage Cruises FAQ’s

Question 1

The most popular region to visit in Antarctica is the Antarctic Peninsula. The majority of Antarctica Peninsula cruises depart from Ushuaia, Argentina. Most travelers book an international flight to Buenos Aires and then a domestic flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. From Ushuaia it takes approximately 2 days to sail across the Drake Passage to Antarctica. Fly the Drake trips depart from either Punta Arenas, Chile or Puerto Natales, Chile which are accessible via domestic flight from Santiago. The flight from southern Chile to Antarctica takes about 2 hours.

Question 2

The Antarctic season runs from late October – March. See the Best time to travel to Antarctica page for more information on the different months of the season.

Question 3

Antarctica is the highest, driest, windiest and coldest of the continents (but it’s not that cold in the summertime!). On the Antarctic Peninsula, the temperatures hover right around freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius) plus or minus about 5 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer season.

Question 4

Antarctica is 98% covered in ice, which on average is an incredible 7,000 feet thick. Simply put, the scenery is absolutely spectacular. Rugged snow covered peaks rise out of the ocean, glaciers flow in every direction and icebergs in all shapes and colors of blue are scattered along the coastline.

Quesiton 5

The wildlife is abundant with millions of penguins nesting on shore, curious seals swimming alongside zodiacs and humpback whales that make their migration from South America to feed in the krill rich waters of the Southern Ocean.