New-build traditional hull expedition ship launched in 2026, carrying up to 76 passengers in Antarctica. Purpose-built, with 100% balcony cabins, 8 single cabins, 2 family suites, hybrid-electric propulsion, and Polar Class 6 ice rating.
Traditional hull expedition ship built in 2019, carrying up to 76 passengers in Antarctica. Antarctica 21's original vessel and sister to Magellan Discoverer, with 84% balcony cabins, hybrid-electric propulsion, and Polar Class 6 ice rating.
1970-built expedition ship refitted three times, carrying up to 88 passengers in Antarctica. The oldest active expedition ship in the Antarctic fleet, bilingual Spanish/English programming, and Starlink WiFi.
Traditional hull expedition ship built in 2021, carrying up to 196 passengers in Antarctica. 100% balcony cabins, 8 single cabins, in-room dining, water-level Zodiac boarding, and Ice Class 1B rating.
Sister ship to World Navigator, built in 2022, carrying up to 196 passengers in Antarctica. Atlas Ocean Voyages' second vessel, with 100% balcony cabins, 8 single cabins, in-room dining, water-level Zodiac boarding, and Ice Class 1B rating.
X-Bow expedition ship built in 2025, carrying up to 130 passengers in Antarctica. Aurora Expeditions' newest vessel, with Starlink WiFi, 80% balcony cabins, water-level Zodiac boarding, and Polar Class 6 ice rating.
X-Bow expedition ship built in 2019, carrying up to 130 passengers in Antarctica. Aurora Expeditions' flagship, with 84% balcony cabins, Starlink WiFi, triple share options, and Polar Class 6 ice rating.
X-Bow expedition ship built in 2022, carrying up to 130 passengers in Antarctica. Aurora Expeditions' second vessel, with 92% balcony cabins, Starlink WiFi, and Polar Class 6 ice rating.
1975-built expedition ship refitted three times (most recently 2025), carrying up to 128 passengers in Antarctica. G Adventures' sole vessel, with 7 triple cabins, no balconies, stairs/gangway Zodiac loading, and Polar Class 6 ice rating.
Luxury expedition ship built in 2019, self-imposing a 199-passenger limit in Antarctica. bilingual English/German, with 100% balcony and veranda cabins, in-room dining, water-level Zodiac boarding, and Polar Class 6 rating.
Luxury expedition ship built in 2019, self-imposing a 199-passenger limit in Antarctica. Sister to Hanseatic Inspiration, with 100% balcony and veranda cabins, in-room dining, special operations boats, and Polar Class 6 rating.
Luxury expedition ship built in 2021, self-imposing a 199-passenger limit in Antarctica. Sister to Hanseatic Nature and Inspiration, with 100% balcony and veranda cabins, in-room dining, and Polar Class 6 rating.
1991-built expedition ship refitted in 2022 and 2025, operating at a 100-passengers.8 single cabins, triple share options, Starlink WiFi, and Ice Class 1A Super rating.
Traditional hull expedition ship built in 2007, carrying up to 200 passengers in Antarctica. In-room dining, Starlink WiFi, water-level Zodiac boarding, and Ice Class 1B rating.
Hybrid diesel-electric expedition ship built in 2020, carrying up to 500 passengers in Antarctica as an IAATO Category 2 vessel. 5 family suites, 50% balcony cabins, and Polar Class 6 ice rating.
Sister ship to MS Fridtjof Nansen, built in 2019, carrying up to 500 passengers in Antarctica as an IAATO Category 2 vessel. Hybrid diesel-electric propulsion, 5 family suites, 50% balcony cabins, and Polar Class 6 ice rating.
X-Bow expedition ship built in 2020, carrying up to 126 passengers in Antarctica. Polar Class 5, plus 14 single cabins, 77% balcony cabins, and Starlink WiFi.
1982-built traditional hull ship refitted three times (most recently 2023), carrying up to 148 passengers in Antarctica. 14 single cabins, water-level Zodiac boarding, Starlink WiFi, and Ice Class 1A rating.
2003-built traditional hull expedition ship, carrying up to 102 passengers in Antarctica via fly-cruise only. Lindblad's smallest Antarctic vessel, with 4 single cabins, Starlink WiFi, and Ice Class 1A rating.
X-Bow expedition ship built in 2021, sister to NatGeo Endurance, carrying up to 126 passengers in Antarctica. Polar Class 5 ice rating, 14 single cabins, 77% balcony cabins, and Starlink WiFi.
1992-built classic expedition ship carrying up to 100 passengers in Antarctica. Noble Caledonia's sole vessel, with intimate no-frills expedition style, 40% balcony cabins, water-level Zodiac boarding, and Ice Class 1D rating.
Traditional hull expedition ship built in 2019, carrying up to 170 passengers in Antarctica. Oceanwide Expeditions' flagship, with water-level Zodiac boarding, quad and triple cabin share options, and Polar Class 6 ice rating.
1989-built expedition ship refitted in 2019, carrying up to 108 passengers in Antarctica. Oceanwide Expeditions' smallest vessel, with helicopter capability, quad cabin shares, and Ice Class 1A Super rating.
1976-built expedition ship refitted in 2023, carrying up to 108 passengers in Antarctica. Oceanwide Expeditions' oldest vessel, with quad cabin shares, stairs/gangway Zodiac loading, and Ice Class 1D rating.
1989-built expedition ship. Traditional hull, Ice Class 1A, carrying up to 140 passengers with 14 Zodiacs and twice-refitted interiors.
X-Bow expedition ship built in 2023, carrying up to 169 passengers in Antarctica. Sister ship to Ocean Victory. Featuring 81% balcony cabins, water-level Zodiac boarding, and zero-speed active stabilizers.
Small converted Danish ferry boat built in 1992, refitted in 2006, carrying up to 67 passengers in Antarctica. Traditional hull, no balcony cabins.
Sister ship to Ocean Albatros, built in 2021, carrying up to 174 passengers in Antarctica. X-Bow hull, 83% balcony cabins, water-level Zodiac boarding.
French luxury expedition ship built in 2011, self-imposing a 200-passenger limit in Antarctica. Ponant's oldest vessel, with 95% balcony cabins, 11 family suites, bilingual French/English programming, and Ice Class 1C rating.
Sister to L'Austral, built in 2010, self-imposing a 200-passenger limit in Antarctica. 95% balcony cabins, 20 family suites, bilingual French/English programming, and Ice Class 1C rating.
Luxury icebreaker built in 2021, carrying up to 199 passengers in Antarctica. The only Polar Class 2 passenger vessel in the Antarctic fleet, with LNG/electric hybrid propulsion, 100% balcony cabins
Luxury expedition ship built in 2015, self-imposing a 200-passenger limit in Antarctica. Third of the Ponant Fincantieri quartet, with 94% balcony cabins, 12 family suites, bilingual French/English programming, and Ice Class 1C rating.
Luxury expedition ship built in 2013, self-imposing a 200-passenger limit in Antarctica. Second of the Ponant Fincantieri quartet, with 80% balcony cabins, 20 family suites, bilingual French/English programming, and Ice Class 1C rating.
1991-built classic expedition ship refitted three times, carrying up to 114 passengers in Antarctica. Poseidon Expeditions' sole vessel, with 6 triple cabins, 2 singles, Starlink WiFi, and Ice Class 1D rating.
X-Bow expedition ship built in 2021, carrying up to 138 passengers in Antarctica. Quark Expeditions' newest vessel, with 93% balcony cabins, 7 single cabins, water-level Zodiac boarding, and Polar Class 6 ice rating.
Traditional hull expedition ship built in 2021, carrying up to 199 passengers in Antarctica. Quark Expeditions' flagship, with dual helicopters, 20 Zodiacs, water-level boarding, 60% balcony cabins, and Polar Class 6 ice rating.
Traditional hull expedition ship built in 2019, carrying up to 172 passengers in Antarctica. Quark Expeditions' mid-size vessel, with 100% balcony cabins, Starlink WiFi, hybrid diesel-electric engines, and Ice Class 1B rating.
Sister ship to World Explorer, built in 2020 and refitted in 2023, carrying up to 168 passengers in Antarctica. 100% balcony cabins, Starlink WiFi, hybrid diesel-electric engines, and Ice Class 1B rating.
Luxury expedition ship built in 2019, self-imposing a 200-passenger limit in Antarctica. One of only two ships in the Antarctic fleet with both a helicopter and submarine on board, with 100% balcony suites and Polar Class 6 rating.
Sister to Scenic Eclipse, built in 2023, self-imposing a 200-passenger limit in Antarctica. One of only two ships in the Antarctic fleet with both a helicopter and submarine on board, with 100% balcony suites and Polar Class 6 rating.
Luxury expedition ship built in 2023, sister to Seabourn Venture, carrying 264 passengers in Antarctica. One of two Seabourn ships with a submarine on board, 100% balcony suites, 24 Zodiacs, ABB Azipod propulsion, and Polar Class 6 rating.
Luxury expedition ship built in 2022, carrying 264 passengers in Antarctica. One of two Seabourn sister ships with a submarine on board, 100% balcony suites, 24 Zodiacs, ABB Azipod propulsion, and Polar Class 6 rating.
1994-built luxury expedition ship carrying up to 200 passengers in Antarctica. Butler service in all suites, near 1:1 staff-to-guest ratio, 80% balcony cabins, and a fly-cruise program.
Luxury expedition ship built in 2021 carrying up to 200 passengers in Antarctica, with 100% balcony suites, 22 Zodiacs, butler service, near 1:1 staff-to-guest ratio, and Polar Class 6 rating.
1995-built ultra-luxury expedition ship carrying up to 246 passengers in Antarctica. Sister to Silver Cloud, with three refits including 2021, butler service, 85% balcony cabins, 24 Zodiacs.
Swan Hellenic's largest vessel, built in 2023, carrying up to 192 passengers in Antarctica. Hybrid diesel-electric with Polar Class 6 ice rating, 80% balcony cabins, 15 Zodiacs, special operations boats, and extra-large active fin stabilizers.
Hybrid diesel-electric expedition ship built in 2021, carrying up to 152 passengers in Antarctica. Polar Class 5 ice rating, 80% balcony cabins, extra-large active fin stabilizers, and Helsinki Shipyard construction.
Sister to SH Minerva, carrying up to 152 passengers in Antarctica. Hybrid diesel-electric with Polar Class 5 ice rating, 80% balcony cabins, extra-large active fin stabilizers, and Helsinki Shipyard construction.
1989-built Scottish-built working ship refitted, carrying up to 98 passengers in Antarctica starting December 2026. The former Royal Mail Ship St. Helena, with 6 singles, 4 triples, 4 quads, and Ice Class 1C rating.
Premium expedition ship built in 2021, carrying 378 passengers in Antarctica. Submarine on board, 100% balcony cabins, U-tank stabilizers, and Polar Class 6 rating.
Premium expedition ship built in 2021, carrying 378 passengers in Antarctica. Submarine on board, 100% balcony cabins, U-tank stabilizers, and Polar Class 6 rating.
The Clear-Eyed Guide to Antarctica Travel