It is a land like no other in the world…

There are many reasons why adventurers of all types travel to Antarctica. Most of us are inspired by the opportunity to experience unique wildlife—penguins, seals, whales—going about their lives in a pristine, natural setting far from civilization. Set against a backdrop of ethereal icescapes, towering mountains and calving glaciers, these species beckon visitors to the northward-jutting Antarctic Peninsula and its adjacent islands – “ground zero” for Poseidon’s Antarctic expeditions.

Other travelers come to see this frozen land as the giant laboratory it’s become, where science and international cooperation have created a “natural reserve, devoted to peace and science,” according to the Antarctic Treaty System that governs the continent. Changes in the global climate play out here in dramatic fashion, and an Antarctic tour provides a unique opportunity to learn first-hand the dynamics at work, and how they are affecting indigenous species and the complex food chain they depend on.

Firsthand discovery with naturalists and historians

On board Poseidon’s Antarctic expedition vessels, our international English-speaking staff provides a welcome, unpretentious environment, leaving you to set your own pace. Naturalists, historians and other experts—veterans of many Antarctic trips—will engage and entertain you by providing informal lectures and inviting your questions.

Using our fleet of rugged Zodiac landing craft, they’ll guide you ashore to secluded coves where colonies of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie penguin often dominate the landscape. Photograph whales, hear the bellows of unruly seals and the calls of seabirds overhead. Our aim is to provide you with an incredible wilderness experience, yet one that puts safety and environmental stewardship first and foremost.

Our Classic Antarctic and Holiday programs

On these 12 day/11 night Antarctic trips, you’ll embark/disembark in Ushuaia, Argentina, cross the Drake Passage and spend five days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. These expedition cruises are planned for the height of the Austral summer, when waterways are open to navigation and wildlife is at its most active. Numerous Zodiac landings are scheduled, but are determined by weather conditions and our experienced captain and expedition team.

Polar Circle program

Scheduled for February 2016, this 13 day/12 night Antarctica cruise provides an extra day of exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, and takes you south of 66? 33’ 44”, the latitude of the Antarctic Circle. This puts you among a very elite group of adventurers ever to travel this far south.

Antarctic cruises including South Georgia and the Falklands/Malvinas Islands programs

These expedition cruises—ranging from 20 to 23 days in duration—include not only the best of the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, but also visits to other storied Southern Ocean destinations. Isolated at the edge of the submarine Scotian Ridge, South Georgia is covered with jagged, glaciated peaks, and is home to a colony of more than 100,000 breeding pairs of King penguins. View whaling artifacts at the small settlement of Grytviken and walk to the nearby museum and cemetery where Sir Earnest Shackleton, the great English explorer, is buried.

Excursions and landings in the Falklands/Malvinas will include Stanley, a bit of Old England in the South Atlantic, with its fiercely independent spirit. Other calls here may include New Island and West Point Island where we’ll hope to spot Magellanic, Gentoo and Rockhopper penguins, as well as the Black-Browed Albatross.