Antarctic Cruise Cost

Alex Burridge – December 2025
MD Antarctica Travel Centre

Antarctic Cruises start from AUD$12,000 per person for a 10-Day Expedition Style Antarctic Cruise. Simply sailing a ship to Antarctica has a significant cost.

There are many factors that effect the price of an Antarctic Cruise – the following 6 are among the most important. Click on each factor to be taken to the corresponding section.

1.  Cruise Duration

2.  Cabin Type

3.  Ship Type / Style

4.  Number of Guests

5.  Where You Go

6.  When You Go

This factor is very simple: the longer your voyage, the greater the cost.

This factor is, again, relatively straightforward. Quadruple and Triple Cabins are the least expensive, while Single Cabins are the most costly. Beyond that, pricing depends on the specific cabin category you select. Most ships offer several cabin types, and generally, the larger the cabin, the higher the price. Cabins with balconies or large windows will also cost more than comparable cabins without these features.

How ship type / style influences pricing is a little more complex, as several elements come into play.

Older, Expedition-style vessels typically offer the lowest prices. New-build Expedition – Luxury ships sit a level above, and Luxury ships are generally priced higher again. (Fly-cruise voyages form a totally separate category.)

“Generally” is the key word here, because the number of guests a ship carries also affects the price you ultimately pay. Larger ships can spread their fixed costs across more passengers. For example, a ship will burn roughly the same amount of fuel whether it carries 100 guests or 200, so additional guests can actually help keep per-person prices lower.

Two ships of very similar size may also have different guest capacities depending on the size of their cabins. For example, the Douglas Mawson accommodates 130 guests, while the Ocean Albatros accommodates 180, despite being very similar in size. As a result, the ship with more guests can usually offer slightly lower prices (as it should!).

However, it’s important to keep experience in mind and not just price. Only 100 guests can go ashore at any one time so even if the cost is less, you will likely spend less time ashore when travelling on a larger ship.

The two largest operating expenses are the cost of the ship itself and the cost of fuel, both of which remain largely fixed regardless of how many guests are onboard. A variable cost such as food scales with guest numbers, but this is relatively minor by comparison.

As a result, it’s possible that larger, more luxurious ships can offer relatively good prices, as their fixed costs are spread across more passengers.

However, as above, please always consider when a ship has up to 200 guests, only 100 guests can go ashore at one time. It’s important to consider the value of more time ashore to explore – especially if it’s this is your one and only trip to Antarctica.

Where you go in Antarctica has a direct impact on cost. Longer routes require more time at sea which means higher fuel consumption. As a result, itineraries that venture deeper into the region or cover greater distances generally cost more.

Certain destinations also require specialised equipment or operations. For example, Snow Hill Emperor Penguin voyages use helicopters to access the remote colony, which can be over 100 km from the fast sea-ice edge. Helicopter operations are extremely costly to run and maintain, and those expenses are reflected in the voyage price.

The Antarctic season runs from early November to mid March. Whilst there’s not a bad time to go, demand varies throughout the season and this directly affects pricing.

More people choose to visit from mid December to the end of January, thus this period is considered peak season. These voyages tend to fill up first and due to increased demand, have higher prices.

Voyages departing in November, early December, February and March are classed as shoulder season and often have lower prices.

The above applies less to more specialist voyages such as those to the Ross Sea or to Snow Hill Island to see Emperor Penguins, in which prices are set by operational requirements rather than by typical supply-and-demand. These Antarctic Cruises only operate within very specific windows dictated by ice conditions and wildlife behaviour – for example, you can’t go to see Emperor Penguins in January as the colony has gone.

Antarctic cruises are a significant investment, but with a little planning, it’s possible to secure better value without sacrificing the overall experience. Here are a few key ways to get the best value from your Antarctic Cruise:

1. Take advantage of Early Booking Offers

Nearly all Antarctic operators release early booking offers when they release their new seasons. Consequently, booking early can help you save thousands while also giving you the widest choice of cabins and dates. Head to our Early Booking Offers page here to see any current offers.

2. Book your flights as early as possible

International flights can fluctuate significantly in price, but booking as early as possible (which is 11 months prior to departure) will usually mean securing the best price.

3. Talk to our Specialist Consultants

All offers made by the ships we work with can be access by our specialised team of consultants. Our team are experts in Antarctica and thus will be able to help you to maximise both value and experience when booking your Antarctic Cruise.

Call 1300 784 794 or email contact@antarcticatravelcentre.com.au to talk to one of our Antarctic Experts to find the cruise that is right for you.