Islands the maps forgot
1 / 16 · Sharon Jones
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Antarctica, Edge of the World · Antarctica
A silence you can feel in your chest
1 / 16 · Sharon Jones
A silence you can feel in your chest
Antarctica, Edge of the World · Antarctica
Penguins Ice Epic
Ready to make it real?
Browse sailings, or let a GoSmart specialist plan this one with you.
Browse cruises Talk to a specialistWhy you’ll love it
The continent of penguins and silence. Icebergs the size of cathedrals and not a sound. A GoSmart specialist tailors the route, the stays, and the pace to you.
Why it works
The engines cut, and the quiet is total, just the crack of distant ice and a colony of penguins braying across a bay ringed by mountains no photograph quite captures. Antarctica is less a place you see than one you feel.
Worth knowing
Almost every trip crosses the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, two days of open, often rough sea each way that earns its Drake Shake nickname. Fly-cruise options skip it for a price, and either way, come prepared for seasickness.
The season is short, roughly November to March, and each month differs: pristine snow and courting penguins early, fluffy chicks and whales at the tail end. Book far ahead, because berths are limited and go a year or more out.
This is an expedition, not a cruise. Days run on Zodiac landings governed by weather and ice, itineraries flex hour to hour, and the ship usually provides the parka and boots. Bring layers, a dry bag, and patience.
About the place
Trips depart from Ushuaia at the tip of Argentina, so budget a night or two there and a buffer for weather delays, since a missed flight can mean a missed ship.
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