How to Choose your Antarctic Ship

At Antarctica21, we have a fleet of jets and two boutique ships that combine a direct flight to Antarctica with an expedition cruise. Thanks to our small polar vessels, our wilderness adventures offer privileged access to Antarctica, where larger ships cannot go. However, the first question many of our guests ask when deciding their polar adventure is: “Which is the right Antarctic ship for me?”.

Magellan Discoverer

Magellan Discoverer features a sophisticated hybrid-electric propulsion system and sustainable engineering innovations, ensuring efficient operation in one of the world’s most pristine environments. With an elegant yacht-like design and all-balcony accommodations, the small Antarctic vessel is the ideal choice for guests seeking adventure, style, and a closer connection with Antarctica. Magellan Discoverer is set to embark on voyages during the 2026-27 Antarctic season. Read more about Magellan Discoverer here.

Artist’s Rendering

Magellan Explorer

New, modern, and stylish, Magellan Explorer is a state-of-the-art expedition vessel, a custom-designed Antarctic ship for our air-cruises. It offers spacious accommodations with private balconies and a wide range of technical solutions designed to enhance our guests’ expedition experience. It is one of the most energy-efficient Antarctic ships due to an energy-recovery system that recycles the heat produced by the engines to warm the ship and its water supply.

Some of the ship’s new features include a glass-enclosed observation lounge, dining room, bar, library, and a gym designed and built by Anytime Fitness, a leading health and wellness company with boutique gyms in all seven continents. Read more about Magellan Explorer here.

Magellan Explorer in Antarctica. Photography by Ana Carla Martínez on a Classic Antarctica Air-Cruise.

Penthouse Suite Cabin on board Magellan Explorer. Photography by Tom Arban.

Ocean Nova

The next Antarctic ship in our fleet is for the pure adventure traveler. Ocean Nova has a sturdy, ice-strengthened hull, ideally suited for expedition travel in Antarctica’s icy waters. It is capable of handling challenging ice conditions, giving our guests memorable adventure experiences.

Fully refurbished in 2006 and with yearly upgrades, Ocean Nova offers comfortable, albeit smaller accommodations than our other two vessels and is priced more economically. It offers guests three cabin categories: dedicated single, twin, and triple cabins and features a picture window in all the rooms. One of our favorite places on this ship is the outer Observation Deck, above the bridge, where you can take great landscape photography. Read more about Ocean Nova here.

Ocean Nova in Antarctica, photography by Sandra Walser

Single cabin on Ocean Nova vessel. Photography by Tom Arban.

Antarctic Itineraries

Now that you have the information on our Antarctic ships, it’s time to choose where you will go with us! At Antarctica21, we have four different itineraries to choose from, including Classic Antarctica, Polar Circle, and a route that combines Antarctica and South Georgia. Our most economical itinerary is our Antarctica Express Air-Cruise, combining a visit to Cape Horn with a short visit to Antarctica.

Finally, the choice of an itinerary will also influence the choice of the ship as not all of our three ships sail to each of our polar destinations. Read more here about the differences between cruise ship sizes in Antarctica and why sailing on a small ship has its benefits. 

During every expedition, guests can disembark daily by Zodiac boat and explore stunning landscapes with a team of expert polar guides. There will be the chance to see penguin colonies, magnificent icebergs, and various species of whales. There is also the option to participate in kayaking, snowshoe excursions, and several other Antarctic adventure activities.

Book a call with one of our sales representatives to start planning your adventure to Antarctica!