When Pete and I set our goal to visit all seven continents, we knew that we were going to have to find a way to get to the seventh continent – Antarctica – at some point. Originally, we thought this was a far-off dream, something to pursue in our old age. But when we pulled our timeline for our seven continents goal into the next twelve months, it raised a stressful question: How on earth were we going to get to Antarctica on a budget?

After a lot of research, a few pulled hairs, and one fantastic travel agent, we found a way. It consumed about 25% of our funds for the year, but hey – I’d spend that money all over again. We only get to live once, and we’re thrilled that our lives have included standing in Antarctica.

Here’s everything I learned about how to get to Antarctica on a budget. I’ve included every option – and I mean every option – since most other guides only focus on the smaller expedition cruise ships. And that’s not the only way!

Turns out, there are options that get you to Antarctica starting at $2,000 per person, though you will easily spend more. Let’s take a look and I’ll tell you what we did.

How to Get to Antarctica on a Budget: All of the Options

Lowest Price: Large-Ship Cruise Lines

Imagine my surprise when, after days of doomscrolling through $6,000 – $15,000 per person Antarctica cruises, I found a few listings on VacationsToGo.com for Antarctica cruises under $2,000 per person.

Had I unlocked the secret Antarctica cruise cheat code?

Kind of, but kind of not.

Several major cruise companies, including Princess, Celebrity, and Norwegian, offer South American cruise itineraries with 4 days or so of “scenic cruising” in Antarctica. Their prices are fantastic, but you’ll never step on land. That’s right – large cruise ships with more than 500 passengers can’t land in Antarctica, and these mega-ships all carry 3,000-5,000 or more people.

But at least it’s a fantastic view.

An itinerary with specific locations for your Antarctic cruising may or may not be specified. If details are included, they usually list Paradise Bay (our favorite from our cruise) and Elephant Island.

If this is the only way you can afford to see Antarctica, I would not hesitate to book this option. It still counts as visiting the continent.

This option is best if:

• Budget is your number one priority. You will not find a cheaper price that gets you anywhere close to the Antarctic continent. These cruises also leave major ports in Chile and Argentina, so you’ll have an easier (and cheaper) time finding international airfare.
• You suffer from motion sickness but can’t afford to fly. Larger ships have better stabilization than smaller ships – and that matters in the awful, no-good Drake Passage. (You can find more of our tips to prepare for motion sickness in Antarctica and the Drake Passage here.)
• You also want to see South America in addition to Antarctica. Not gonna lie – the itineraries offered by these large-line cruise ships do look fun! If you want to see more of South America and Antarctica in one trip, this is a convenient way to do it.
• You want all the amenities of a traditional cruise ship. Casinos, entertainment, dances, pools, spas, buffet dining – these cruise ships have everything you’ve come to expect and more.

Cons:

• You don’t get to step on land. Cruise ships with more than 500 passengers are prohibited from landing in Antarctica. Most landing sites only allow 100 passengers on shore at any given time, so ships with 100-500 passengers have to rotate landing groups.
• Large ships are least able to access narrow channels and remote sites. The largest mega-liners won’t be able to access sites like Deception Island, which require navigation through narrow channels.
• You’ll be further away from wildlife and scenery. Don’t worry – you’re still going to have incredible views, but you’ll be further away than you would be on a small ship or shore landing.

Cost: $1,500 – $2,000 per person in a 2-person inside cabin before taxes and port fees. (Note that the Antarctica-only options listed below do not have taxes and port fees. These do, as you’re visiting other ports in South America.) Expect to pay more for an ocean view, balcony, or suite-sized cabin.

Lowest Price to Step on Land: Budget Small-Ship Cruise Expeditions

Small, Antarctic vessels with less than 200 passengers are probably the most popular way to visit Antarctica. These expedition ships will have fewer (if any) amenities compared to luxury Antarctic ships (mentioned below) and the large oceanliners (mentioned above), but they offer one important feature: the ability to stand on the Antarctic continent at some point during your journey. We went with a budget-friendly small ship for that reason and that reason alone.

While your ship crew will make every effort for you to actually land in Antarctica during your journey, a landing is never guaranteed due to unpredictable weather conditions. That said, it seems that most journeys are successful in at least one landing. When it wasn’t possible for us to get on the ground, our excursions consisted of short cruises in the zodiac boats, which brought us close to icebergs and wildlife.

Although we refer to this option as “budget small-ship,” there’s a fair amount of overlap between “budget small-ship,” “luxury small-ship,” “luxury large-ship,” etc. features and pricing. We recommend comparing pricing and amenities available. If an operator is having trouble selling their last few cabins, you may get a tremendous deal on a more luxurious ship than I’m describing here.

Budget Small-Ship Cruises are best if:

• You want the opportunity to step on land and see wildlife for the lowest possible price. This is it: the cheapest option to be able to brag to your friends that you set foot on Antarctica, hiked around, and stood within 15 feet of a penguin (but no closer, of course, per international Antarctic treaty rules).
• You want to be able to participate in every excursion. If you book a ship with less than 100 passengers, you’ll be able to disembark and join every single excursion. If your ship has more than 100 passengers, there will be a rotating schedule. Our cruise had around 60 passengers, which we enjoyed.

Cons:

• Small ships are the worst option for motion sickness. If you are going to go this route despite your motion sickness, you might ask how recently the ship was renovated and therefore what kind of stabilization it has. Otherwise, prepare for the worst.
• You may have limited on-shore excursion options. Our ship was not equipped for camping, kayaking, or similar types of Antarctic excursions. We found that the ships offering these excursions had both a higher base price and an additional fee for the excursion itself. Inquire with your travel agent if you want to participate in one of these activities.

Cost: $3,500 – $5,000 per person in a 2-4 person room. Cabins at this price point may share a bathroom and often have a window.

This method is how we chose to get to Antarctica on a budget. In 2023, we paid $4,605 per person for our budget small-ship cruise. We booked about three months in advance.

The lowest price we saw advertised for the entire 2022-2023 season was $3,500 for a triple cabin only 2-4 weeks before the ship’s departure (very last minute). Many last-minute deals are more expensive than that, so you need to consider whether the cost of last-minute airfare and hotels is worth the savings.

Best Ship Experience: Luxury Small-Ship or “Large”-Ship Cruise Expeditions

I’ll be honest that our budget ship was lacking in the decor and amenities side of things. That didn’t bother us, but if it bothers you, you’ll want to book a luxury cruise to Antarctica. You’ll find luxury expedition ships with anywhere from less than 100 (small ship) to 200-500 (large ship) passengers. You’ll still be able to join shore excursions and attempt a landing in Antarctica.

This option is best if:

• You want a comfortable ship experience while still being able to land on the continent. Spas, jacuzzis, saunas… if there’s an amenity you want, at least one luxury ship probably has it. You’ll be more comfortable everywhere else on board, too, compared to the budget-friendly ships.
• You want to camp, kayak, ski, and/or polar plunge in Antarctica. Higher-priced and more luxurious ships are more likely to be equipped for adventure sports excursions. Inquire with your travel agent and make sure to book in advance if sleeping under the Antarctic stars is a must for your expedition.
• You want to step on land and get close to the wildlife. Same as the budget ships, you’ll be able to step on land and participate in daily Antarctic excursions as part of your fare. If your ship has fewer than 100 passengers, you’ll be invited to participate in every excursion; if it has more than that, there will be a rotating schedule.

Cons:

• It’s the most expensive option. But you get what you pay for.
• It’s not the best for motion sickness. Depending on the size of your ship, you’ll still rock quite a bit through the Drake Passage, but you may have better stabilizers than the budget option.

Cost: $4,000 – $15,000+ per person. The sky’s the limit with pricing here. When they’re advertising last-minute deals, the pricing on more luxurious ships may be very close to budget ships. Always make sure to work with your travel agent to compare the amenities offered!

Best for Motion Sickness: Fly and Cruise

Did you know you could fly to Antarctica? You can!

Unlike the cruise-only options, these itineraries depart from Punta Arenas, Chile, and take a 2-3 hour flight to the Chilean Air Force base, avoiding the Drake Passage. There you’ll board a small or large expedition ship for the remainder of your time in Antarctica, cruising through mostly calm waters to reach different excursion sights. (No, there isn’t a hotel in Antarctica – a ship is your only accommodation option.)

This option is best if:

• You suffer from severe motion sickness. Not gonna lie: when I was vomiting in the Drake Passage, I sure wished I was flying over it instead. If you suffer from severe motion sickness like me, the fly and cruise option is your best bet. You may still encounter mild motion sickness on the ship after your flight, but the waters around Antarctica are normal and mostly calm.
• You’re short on time. Fly and cruise itineraries are 5-8 days versus the 10-day minimum for a cruise-only.
• You want to step on land and get close to the wildlife. Same as the other expedition ship options!

Cons:

• Fly and cruise itineraries are shorter and may cost more per day. If you want to fill a longer vacation, or if you’re trying to travel for an extended around-the-world trip like us, fly-and-cruise options may have a higher cost per day due to their shorter duration.

Cost: $6,500-$15,000+ per person in a two-person cabin.

Bonus Option: Work in Antarctica

Can you get paid to visit Antarctica? Yes!

There are only three industries allowed to operate on the white continent:

1. Fishing
2. Science
3. Tourism

Getting a job in any of these industries will allow you to be paid to visit Antarctica. For example, you might become:

• a fisherman on an Antarctic fishing vessel
• a scientist, research assistant, or support personnel (nurse, doctor, electrician, plumber, tradesperson, airfield or transportation manager, etc.) at one of the Antarctic research stations
• a crew member on an Antarctic expedition vessel

You can visit the US Antarctic Program or the Australian Antarctic Program for more information about employment opportunities in the science industry. These jobs range from 3-12 month contracts to permanent positions.

If you wish to work on a ship, your best option is to contact individual operators about employment opportunities. You can also search through job aggregators like Cruise Job Finder.

How Do I Book My Trip to Antarctica?

We highly recommend Freestyle Adventure Travel!

This isn’t sponsored – we used Freestyle Adventure Travel to book our budget Antarctica cruise, and we could not have been more impressed. Sarah, Carolina, and the rest of the Freestyle Team took great care of us!

Freestyle sends out regular cruise deal newsletters that we found to be the most comprehensive lists of the best travel deals. I signed up for a bunch of Antarctica-related emails, and Freestyle’s was the only one that provided regular, timely, and useful information about cruise availability. Save yourself some time: sign up for their emails at the bottom of their deals page.

Other travelers on our ship attempted to get the best deals by contacting cruise operators directly via email, phone, or WhatsApp with their travel dates. None of these travelers seemed to receive a better price than us, and they did a lot more work to book their trips. Your mileage may vary.

What else do I need to budget for?

Our cost ranges above are for the cruise fare only. You’ll also need to budget for:

• Airfare
• Hotels before and/or after your cruise
• Food before and/or after your cruise
• Gratuities for the crew (US$15 per person per day was recommended for our voyage. This may increase for more expensive ships.)
• Travel Insurance (We recommend SafetyWing.)

You may also want to budget for the following optional expenses:

• Alcohol and beverages
• Activities in your departure port
• Vaccination, COVID testing, and related expenses, if any
• Visas if you aren’t a US or EU citizen (None required for US citizens.)

In total, we suggest adding US$2,000 per person on top of your cruise fare if you’re going to pay cash for everything and stick to budget-friendly options. You can easily spend less if you use points and miles for your hotel and flight.

Other Money-Saving Tips for Traveling Antarctica on a Budget

Ensure That Your Cruise Fare Includes Clothing and Gear

Some budget cruise lines do not include clothing or gear in your fare, including your parka, snow pants, and other layers. Our budget cruise did include uninsulated waterproof boots.

If you book through Freestyle Adventure Travel, you’re covered – they include access to their free rental clothing for the duration of your cruise. Other travel agents and direct bookings may not include rental gear. If you need to rent gear, it can add up to $400 to the price of your trip.

Luxury cruises, on the other hand, often include all of your gear and may even let you keep the parka at the end. Make sure to ask in advance.

Consider Fares That Include Flights and Hotel

Some Antarctic cruise fares will include your round-trip flights to Ushuaia and/or a night in a hotel before your cruise departs. It’s worth considering whether this option is more economical than booking your inbound and outbound travel on your own.

Flights to Ushuaia, Argentina, or Punta Arenas, Chile, are more complicated than other destinations, especially if you’re booking close to your cruise departure. We use points and miles for most of our flights, but we were unable to find any good points and miles options to Ushuaia due to the lack of airline coverage. You can learn more about how we ended up booking our flights here.

If you’re flying round-trip to/from Ushuaia or Buenos Aires, then booking your Antarctic cruise fare with the airfare included may be an easy and economical option.

If you intend to explore Chilean or Argentinian Patagonia before or after your cruise – and therefore need one-way flights or other transportation – airfare-inclusive cruise fares won’t work for you.

Hotels aren’t as challenging. Ushuaia has a variety of hotels and AirBnBs that range from budget hostels to luxurious hotels. We spent around $60 per night for an AirBnB with a washer and dryer in Ushuaia before and after our cruise, and later in our travels, we spent around $55 per night for an AirBnB in Punta Arenas, Chile. Again, do the math on whether a hotel-included option is good for you.

Pack Your Own Snacks and Alcohol

Check your cruise line’s individual policies about alcohol. Then, feel free to bring aboard whatever you’d like to drink as long as it’s within the rules!

You can buy alcohol for a better price at either of the supermarkets in Ushuaia (Carrefour or La Anónima) than you can on board.

That said, our budget ship had the most affordable prices for alcohol that I’ve ever seen on a cruise ship. A beer was US$5-6; mixed drinks were no more than US$10.

Serve the alcohol that you brought on board in your room. Do not walk around the ship with bottles, especially if they’re made of glass.

You can also inquire with your travel agent about purchasing a drinks package in advance.

We do recommend bringing some of your favorite snacks on board in case you want something outside of mealtime. You should also stock up on anything you need to treat motion sickness in advance.

Use Cash for All Purchases in Ushuaia, Argentina

Do not use your credit card in Argentina! We wrote a whole article about this, but here’s the TL;DR: Converting American dollars to Argentine Pesos at Western Union allows you to access the black market exchange rate and get 50% more pesos than the official rate.

That’s right: using cash is an automatic 50% discount on everything.

Use cash in Argentina! Additionally, book any tours or other items that you can in person once you arrive. Booking in advance online using a credit card will result in you paying – you guessed it – about 50% more.

(This advice does not apply to Punta Arenas, Chile. Feel free to use your credit card there.)

Antarctica Can Be Visited Within Your Budget

While there’s no way that Antarctica is going to be the cheapest destination on your bucket list, you have a variety of options to get to Antarctica on a budget. We hope this guide helps you get started.