Family-Friendly Vacation & Cruise to Antarctica

Emperor penguin colony on Snow Hill, Antarctica

What to expect on this itinerary

Wonder will engage you all during your family-friendly tour to Antarctica. Explore together with a cruise that promises to unveil the picturesque drama of the Seventh Continent as you pass through iceberg rattled channels and into the depths of the Weddell Sea. Enjoy the historical tales of shipwrecks around Elephant Island, and then listen to emperor penguins call out from the rocky beaches of Snow Hill Island. Watch for whales as they migrate through the Drake Passage and slap their tails against the water’s surface. Your Antarctic cruise will combine excitement and learning during a family-friendly journey into the thrilling seas that are decorated with ice, snow, and hidden wildlife all to be found and explored.

Countries Visited

Antarctica

Places Visited

Ushuaia, Drake Passage, Weddell Sea, Deception Island, Paradise Bay, Gerlcache Strait, Snow Hill Island, Tabarin Peninsula, Antarctic Sound

Suggested Duration

12 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Ushuaia – Arrive in Ushuaia and Embark on the Beagle Channel

The port at the southern tip of the South American continent bustles with life unique with dramatic weather and a fascinating landscape shaped by the waters of the Beagle Channel. A briny aroma sweeps through the streets of the city and surprises newcomers with contemporary comforts set amidst the backdrop of snow-capped peaks hiding the Martial Glacier. Fishing trawlers and large ships depart and enter the port bound for either the Pacific or Atlantic seas. The Selk’nam Indians arrived in the land of Tierra del Fuego over 10,000 years ago and succumbed to British settlements of the region in the 19th century, mostly British missionaries who founded the city of Ushuaia. The slopes of the Andes Mountains run along the southern edge of the Tierra del Fuego National Park and plunge into the sea. The climate reaches an average temperature of 49 degrees Fahrenheit in summer and 34 degrees Fahrenheit in winter.

Your private transfer will greet your family at Malvinas Argentinas International Airport and escort you to the port to board your luxurious cruise ship that is limited to around 100 passengers. The aroma of the briny water will grow stronger as you walk along the deck, and the view of the foothills of the Martial Range lead into the northern tip of the Ushuaia’s suburbs that sprawl away from the seaside. The ship weighs anchor, and your family will wave goodbye to the southerly tip of the South American continent and the last signs of civilization you will expect to see during your family-friendly cruise to Antarctica.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Dinner, Breakfast
Day 2

Drake Passage – Marine Life in Fascinating Waters

Day 3

Drake Passage – Hear Intriguing Lectures and Search for Wildlife

Day 4

Weddell Sea – Pass Tabular Icebergs and Discover Antarctic Ice-Shelves

Day 5

Weddell Sea – Travel Antarctic Sound, Hope Bay, and Esperanza Station

Day 6

Weddell Sea – Search for Whales and Seals near the Peninsula

Day 7

Antarctic Peninsula – Explore Paradise Bay and Cuverville Island

Day 8

South Shetland Islands – The Unique Caldera of Deception Island

Day 9

South Shetland Islands – Dramatic History on Elephant Island

Day 10

Drake Passage – Sail along the Drake Passage back to Argentina

Day 11

Drake Passage – Make the Relaxing Journey to Ushuaia

Day 12

Ushuaia – Departing for Home

Trip Highlights

  • Reach the secluded waters of the Weddell Sea situated against the northern edges of the Antarctic Peninsula and pass over the Arctic Circle
  • Explore the narrow, watery passageways and towering coarse icebergs on zodiac tours that will connect your family to the shores of Antarctica
  • View four different species of penguins as you visit the distinctive islands around the Arctic Peninsula, including the famous emperor penguins
  • Relish the unforgettable family moment of plunging into a thermal hot spring on Deception Island in view of the tepid waters of the volcanic caldera
  • Visit the residents of Esperanza Base, one of two permanent civilian settlements on Antarctica
  • Search for whales, seals, penguins, dolphins, and birdlife as you sail across the infamous waters of the Drake Passage
  • Delight in the stories and tales of the Antarctic, including the memorable story of Ernest Shackleton and the Yelcho at Elephant Island

Detailed Description

Your family will receive the gift of a lifetime with unforgettable memories of time spent adventuring across the iceberg-laden waters and snowy shores on your 12-day Antarctica tour. Whether familiar with the wildlife and whaling legends of the Arctic Circle, or just eager to travel along the mythologized waves of the Drake Passage, your cruise between Ushuaia, Argentina, and the Antarctic Peninsula will offer the perfect blend of custom-tailored excitement and fascinating, immersive information. Discover the daily habits of Antarctic seabirds, seals, whale, and bustling penguin colonies. Pass towering icebergs and mesmerizing mountain ranges blanketed with snow. Capture picturesque scenery, engage in specialized zodiac tours, and indulge in the family-friendly ambiance shaped by your welcoming captain and his crew.

Your luxury experience will begin with your arrival in Ushuaia, Argentina. Your private transfer will escort you from the airport to the port of Ushuaia to board your modified Antarctic ship that is meant to hold less than 100 passengers for an intimate and informative adventure. Travel through the Beagle Channel, named for the ship on which Charles Darwin first sailed around South America. Enter into the famous and infamous waters of the Drake Passage, known to many around the southern continent as Mar de Hoces in a dispute about which European navigator first traveled across the waterway, Sir Francis Drake or Francisco de Hoces.

Listen to family-oriented seminars on the intriguing life of whales, penguins, seals, and dolphins, and learn about the ways in which the current of the passage affects the waves and climate in the area. Watch for icebergs and passing minke or humpback whales as you travel closer to the Antarctic Circle at Antarctic Sound and Hope Bay. Stop at Esperanza Station to meet local families in one of the world’s most southerly civilized settlements before traveling northbound to visit Paradise Bay and Cuverville Island.

Venture into distinctive straits and view chinstrap, Gentoo, Adelie, and emperor penguins. Use the zodiac boats to travel through the South Shetland Islands, including the Deception and Half Moon islands. Depending upon the seas, you may have time to stop at Elephant Island to learn more about the 1916 shipwreck of the Endurance and the ways the crew survived the stranded on the shores before traveling back through the Drake Passage to reach Ushuaia, ending your adventure on the open waters and beaches of the Antarctic continent.  Begin planning your dream Antarctica tour by connecting with one of our Antarctica travel specialists.

Starting Price

$12,500 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

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The excursions were fantastic. I especially enjoyed the cooking class at a farm in Tuscany and the Vespa tours in Rome. There was a nice mix of private excursions for the walking tours and boat rides, to a few shared excursions, such as the cooking class.

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We had a wonderful family trip!

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We had an excellent experience with Zicasso's travel company. We are a family of four and spent 18 nights going through Italy and France. We worked with the company to make arrangements to see the cities and sites we wanted to visit. They offered great options for hotels and activities. They stayed in close contact with us during the trip and made additional arrangements upon request. The company provided outstanding service making arrangements and during the trip. We were very satisified and have already recommended them to our friends.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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