Last updated 30 May 2026
Antarctica is a seasonal destination, so knowing the right time of year to go is important. There are two other questions worth answering early: when to book your Antarctica cruise, and when to book the flights to join it.
A quick note on “where to go” before we get to “when to go”. There are two main Antarctic regions: the Antarctic Peninsula (south of South America) and the Ross Sea (south of New Zealand). Where you go will shape when you can go, as the seasons differ between them.
Cruises visit Antarctica during the austral summer, generally from late October to March (weather permitting). Within that short window, the experience changes month to month — so the “best” time really depends on what you most want to see.
October – November. Spring in Antarctica, and often the best-priced departures. The landscape is at its most pristine and snow-covered, and the penguins are courting and nesting on their eggs.
December – January. The eggs begin to hatch and the humpback whales return to the Peninsula — the peak of the wildlife season, with the longest daylight hours. Ross Sea expeditions (south of New Zealand) begin to depart.
February – March. The best whale-watching period on the Peninsula, with beautiful light for photography. The penguin chicks begin to fledge and adults start to moult, and the last Ross Sea expeditions set out.
If you'd like more detail on matching the season to your interests, our guide on expedition cruising is a good companion read.
Because the season is so short, you'll generally need to book at least a year in advance — sometimes two — with usually only a deposit required when booking that far ahead.
It's also worth remembering that expedition ships are much smaller than traditional cruise ships. With only 100 people allowed on the ice at any one time, smaller ships are popular — but that also means they sell out more quickly, so the best cabins and departures go early. On occasion, last minute offers do appear for travellers able to make a quick decision; you can see what's currently available among our cruise special offers.
For cruises departing from South America for the Antarctic Peninsula, there are a few main ways to fly from New Zealand:
Auckland to Santiago. LATAM's direct service (codeshared by Qantas), connecting onward to the departure ports.
Auckland to Buenos Aires. China Eastern's nonstop service (operating as part of its Shanghai–Auckland–Buenos Aires route).
Via Australia. Qantas and LATAM both fly nonstop from Sydney to Santiago, with LATAM also serving Melbourne–Santiago — a flexible option, often with strong fares.
Once in South America, there's generally a further domestic flight to the ultimate departure port (commonly Ushuaia, in Argentina). Given the length of these flights, Premium Economy and Business Class are often preferred — and when those fares go on sale there are usually Economy specials we can access too. We publish the latest deals on our South America airfares page.
See our South America Business Class & Premium Economy fares →
Some cruise lines also offer a charter flight to the departure port (such as Buenos Aires to Ushuaia), and an overnight stopover is often required because of connection times. And if the idea of crossing the Drake Passage doesn't appeal, or you're short on time, Silversea offers a “fly the Drake” programme that flies you over the passage to join your ship, with a comfortable hotel stay near the departure point beforehand.
There's a remarkable variety of cruise lines offering itineraries to Antarctica — from luxurious “soft expedition” options (Ponant is one of the leading lines in Antarctica) through to authentic “icebreaker” ships, and plenty in between. A description you'll often see is “small ships”. You can explore a selection of itineraries on our Cruise Search Engine.
When it comes to choosing the right cruise line, ship and itinerary, Antarctica is a destination where our experience really helps. We can assist by:
• Sending you brochures to consider.
• Answering any questions about the lines, ships and regions.
• Compiling quotes and researching any special offers.
• Presenting comprehensive itineraries including airfares, the cruise, pre- and post-cruise accommodation and travel insurance.
Many of our specialist partners have been to Antarctica themselves, so we can also arrange first-hand answers from “on the ice”. Still deciding on the style of voyage that suits you? Our guide on how to choose a cruise that fits your style of travel is a helpful starting point.
Antarctica with Fine Travel
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