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How much does it cost to visit Antarctica?? If you’ve ever wondered this, you’ve certainly come to the right place! Assuming you’ve already read our article “How to visit Antarctica”, this is likely your next burning question. Well, my friends, I’m not here to tell you it’s cheap, but I am here to tell you it’s worth it!
In this article we’re getting super transparent with you and breaking down every aspect of our expenses traveling to Antarctica. Plus, we’re also spilling the beans on all of our top tips for cutting costs on a trip to the 7th continent. We hope this helps shed some light into how to budget for a trip like this and helps you plan for a trip of a lifetime!
Here’s everything you need to know about the cost to visit Antarctica!
How much does it cost to visit Antarctica?
The cost to visit Antarctica on a cruise typically starts around $7,000 USD per person and certainly goes up from there. Just like with any travels, there are different companies offering different levels of amenities, luxury, etc. Another thing that greatly factors into cost is the number of days your cruise is. There is a big difference between an 11 day and a 14 day cruise price, so take that into account.
Why is it so expensive to visit Antarctica?
Because of the Antarctic Treaty, only certain carriers can visit and they’re required to have a permit. This means that even though there are now quite a few companies offering these cruises, there is still limited supply. However, this isn’t just as simple as a supply/demand curve.
Going to Antarctica is expensive for companies when you think about the costs they endure. The military-grade ship, the equipment, the zodiac boats, the permits, the food, and everything else it takes to safely get to the 7th continent are all very high ticket items.
In addition, it takes a highly skilled crew to make the trips run smoothly. Between the ship crew, the expedition guides, the housekeeping staff, the restaurant crew and others, our boat had over 150 staff members on board. Our ship held 199 people so thats a 3 staff to 4 guest ratio – crazy! And since boats with over 500 guests are not allowed to land in Antarctica, cruise lines aren’t quite able to scale in order to bring those costs down.
Breakdown of the cost to visit Antarctica
Below is a breakdown of our costs to visit Antarctica. We were not working for anyone on this trip so this was all out of pocket. This is to give you an idea of the itemized costs and of course will vary person to person.
| Activity | Cost per person (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 11 day cruise with Quark Expeditions | $8,348 | We booked when they were running a 20% off sale so this is the price we got! This is also with the two of us sharing a room. |
| Round trip flights between the US and the Ushuaia port | $2,200 | This will of course vary depending on where you are flying from. |
| Hotel in Ushuaia | $100 | You need to arrive at least 1 day before the cruise embarks. We shared a room so this cost is not per person. |
| Kayaking excursion | $295 | This is optional but, in my opinion, totally not optional and absolutely worth it! Read all about it here! |
| Gear/special clothing | $150 | We had most gear already but had to get some extra layers to prepare |
| Medicines | $50 | We both got prescription medicines to deal with sea sickness and would definitely recommend doing so |
| Medical Insurance | ?? | For many companies you’re required to be covered up to $50,000 in medical insurance. This cost will vary depending on who you use and what country you’re from, and you’ll likely already be covered with your existing medical insurance. |
| Total | $11,143+ per person |
What’s included in the cost to visit Antarctica?
Here’s some good news – when you book an Antarctic cruise they’re pretty all-inclusive! For example, this is what was included in our cruise price:
- Our cabin room on the ship with daily housekeeping
- All shore landings, hikes and zodiac cruises with skilled expedition leaders
- The ULTIMATE Polar Plunge
- Our yellow expedition Parka (which is the most amazing jacket EVER!)
- Incredibly informative lectures and presentations by the expedition crew about the history, wildlife and ecosystem of Antarctica
- Unlimited 5-star meals, snacks, coffee, tea, cocoa (literally nothing tastes better than cocoa in Antarctica!)
- Unlimited beer and wine at dinner
A few things that weren’t included in our cruise price:
- Airfare to/from the port city
- Mandatory waterproof pants
- Internet
- Adventure options like overnight camping on Antarctica, kayaking, paddling, paddle boarding, heli-trekking, etc.
Ways to save money on a trip to Antarctica
Okay let’s be honest, no matter how you spin it this is going to be a pricier trip than normal. But don’t worry, we have a few tips that will help shed some of the cost of this once in a lifetime expedition!
Top money saving tips:
When to book to save money:
- Plan your cruise for March – it is the end of the season and typically cheaper to visit Antartica during this time. On the contrary, December and January are the priciest times to visit.
- Be on the lookout for sales – the cruise companies typically offer different sales throughout the year. For example, we got our Quark Expedition cruise on a 20% off sale we found here on their website. Companies also offer exclusive deals if you get on their email list, so sign up for those! (You can sign up for Quark’s mailing list here)
- Book far in advance – typically if you book 6-12 months out companies will offer early bird deals.
- Book last minute – if you have a flexible schedule you can keep an eye out for last minute deals that may pop up the month before. You can also call different companies on a frequent basis to check if they have any of these last minute bookings.
- Book really last minute – if you’re not picky on when/if you’ll be able to go, you can go ahead and book a trip to the port of Ushuaia. Once you get there you can start knocking on the doors of the different cruise companies and travel agencies asking for deals on cruises leaving in the next few days. While this is obviously risky, it’s definitely how people snag the best bargains!
Opt-in to cheaper options:
- Sail the Drake Passage – while there are options to fly over the infamous Drake Passage, it’s much less expensive to sail the passage. Plus, it makes for a great story to tell!
- Book your own air travel & hotel in Ushuaia – although some companies offer to bundle your air travel and hotel in Ushuaia with your cruise, you can definitely find better deals if you book those yourself.
- Choose a less expensive cabin – smaller cabins and cabins on the lower decks tend to be cheaper, and the cheapest tend to be interior cabins without windows. We went with the lowest deck twin porthole suite which happened to be the cheapest option at the time. Definitely give the company a call to book your cabin because they can help find you the best deal onboard!
- Share a cabin – sharing a room with someone certainly helps keep costs down. If you’re traveling solo, either try and convince a friend to join or call the company and ask if there are other solo travelers you can share with.
Is the cost worth it?
While it is undeniably expensive, we can wholeheartedly say that this experience was worth every penny. We’ve been traveling a long time, and no destination has ever had this much of an impact on us. Experiencing the wildlife, the untouched landscapes and the deafening silence of the 7th continent is just magical.
>> Psst.. Did you know? All of the photos in this article are edited with our Lightroom Presets that we use to edit our photos in 1-click! Check them out!
Antarctica vlog
We are currently working on all of our Antarctica vlogs for our YouTube channel, and this is our first! Watch us freeze our butts off jumping into the Antarctic water!
More Antarctica blogs are here!
- How to visit Antarctica – everything you need to know!
- Things to do in Antarctica – what do you actually do??
- Crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica – how bad is it??
- Kayaking in Antarctica – the epic adventure
- The ULTIMATE Polar Plunge – the story of diving into the Antarctic water
All of these blogs are coming soon…
- 10 Reasons to visit Antarctica
- What to wear in Antarctica and not freeze your booty off
- Quarantined in Antarctica – what’s the story??
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Kylie & Scott
(If you liked this article or have any questions, please comment below! And make sure to follow along on Instagram @LoveHardTravelOften)
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