Benefits of Small Ship Cruising in Antarctica

If you’re planning a cruise to Antarctica, our top piece of advice is to book a small ship cruise! Small ships, or expedition ships, are perfectly designed for the unique conditions of the polar regions and these voyages will maximise your time off the ship and on the ice. You’ll leave the ship and spend time on land, amongst the penguins, wildlife, and epic glacial landscapes.

Here’s everything you need to know about small ship cruising to Antarctica, helping you plan your dream voyage to one of the world’s most remote and inspiring landscapes.                

First, what is expedition cruising?

The terms small ship and expedition ship are thrown around often, but what do they actually mean? Small ships are generally built to accommodate 200 guests or less, a stark change to the mega cruise liners that take upwards of 5,000 travellers, commonly seen in places like the Caribbean and Mediterranean.

While large cruise ships follow a regimented itinerary, with strictly controlled entry and exit times in ports, expedition ship cruising is all about flexibility. Your captain and expedition crew will work together to decide on each day’s landing sites, based on factors like weather, wildlife, and optimal conditions.

Although there will be a plan in place, it’s subject to change - expeditions are all about maximising your adventure, using zodiac boats to get off the ship and visit remote landing sites, beaches, or bays. When you expedition cruise, the focus is not on the ‘cruise’ but more so on the destination itself.

Chimu specialises in small ship cruising to Antarctica, focussing on ships taking fewer than 200 guests. However, some of our favourite ships, such as the Ocean Nova (80 guests) and the MS Seaventure (138 guests) take smaller numbers for a truly intimate Antarctic experience.

These are the top reasons why expedition cruising is the best way to experience Antarctica.

Access to more remote Antarctic locations

The beauty and inspiration of Antarctica is found in small bays and inlets that larger ships simply can’t fit into. With small ship cruising, your captain can manoeuvre the vessel into tighter areas, allowing not only close viewing of wildlife and icebergs, but also quick zodiac access to shore when you visit Antarctic landing sites. 

And because your small ship has flexibility with itineraries, your crew has the option to add on additional landings (in peak summer, Antarctica has almost 24 hours of daylight, which means lots of time for exploring!), or change around the day’s schedule to make the most of it.  

Increased opportunities to get off the ship and onto the ice

You won’t forget that special moment when you step out of your zodiac and onto the Antarctic continent for the first time. The seventh continent is completely unlike any other, and travellers naturally want to spend as much time as possible exploring its icy wilderness. This is where cruising on a small ship becomes key! Here’s why:

IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) is the member organisation responsible for promoting ethical tourism on the continent. They maintain strict guidelines on Antarctic landing sites, with a requirement that a maximum of 100 guests can visit a landing site at one time.

If you’re on a ship of 200 guests, this means everyone can easily be off the ship at one time. Half the group might be enjoying a zodiac cruise, while others go onto shore or enjoy an optional activity, like kayaking. This means everyone can enjoy two landings per day, weather permitting.

However, on larger ships, not everyone will be able to get off the ship at once. This means you may have to alternate, with each guest limited to one landing per day, or even one every other day. Ships with over 500 passengers are not permitted to make any landings, which means your Antarctic experience will be limited to what you can observe from the ship.

And small passenger numbers mean zodiac loading and unloading can be done quickly, saving you time waiting around - which means more time to be off the ship, immersed in the beauty of Antarctica.

Reduced environmental impact

Fewer guests means the ship’s impact on the landscapes and ocean is reduced. Although no form of travel is without environmental impact, small passenger numbers create a smaller carbon footprint. The carbon that is produced is offset completely by Chimu Adventures on all of our voyages, at no additional expense to travellers.

Small ships, in addition to meeting IAATO’s strict guidelines on biosecurity, waste disposal, and recycling, often go further with initiatives such as meat-free nights and jackets made from recycled materials. Many newer ships also use technology to reduce fuel consumption, like the Ulstein X-Bow, an innovative hull design that streamlines performance and lowers emissions.

In addition, research is being done into biofuels and more sustainable power sources. While the infrastructure and ships are not yet ready for biofuelling, today’s research will create improved sustainability for tomorrow’s Antarctic cruises.

Onboard, Antarctic expedition ships also offer citizen science programs, inviting passengers to help collect data that will be used by researchers to better understand the region’s wildlife, weather patterns, and biodiversity. This is paired with educational lectures onboard and often voyages host a fundraising auction, raising vital funds for research and conservation.

Small ships create a friendly and welcoming onboard atmosphere

Small ships in Antarctica are so inviting and friendly, with lots of opportunities to chat and get to know your fellow travellers. Daily activities like daily debriefings, morning teas, and lectures make it easy to mingle with others, and many ships will also offer a special meet-up early in the voyage for solo travellers to get to know one another.

This is in stark contrast to mega ocean liners, which are so large that you’re likely to see completely different passengers (and crew) each day.

And if you are a solo traveller and are nervous about being alone, or are hoping to reduce costs, we can pair you up with another solo traveller of the same gender to share a cabin.

With small guest numbers, you’ll see the same friendly faces throughout the day, so don’t be shy - strike up a conversation with someone about that epic wildlife sighting, the delicious dessert served last night, or your excitement about going ice camping! The ship’s expedition crew are likely having just as much fun as you are and are often happy to join you for a morning cuppa or a chat about their scientific research projects.

Kieron Tebbutt, Chimu’s Reservations Manager, shares some great advice on the joys of expedition cruising, “Be open to the adventure, the randomness of an expedition. Itineraries change constantly in Antarctica; you are in the hands of experts, and they will craft the best itinerary to suit the conditions.

It is an amazing destination so don’t get fixated on what you want to see, as I have no doubt you will love what you get to see”.

If you have questions about expedition cruising in Antarctica, or need help in finding your perfect ship, our friendly team is always here to assist - please reach out and we can get started.