A New Year expedition to Antarctica. A cruise beyond the Antarctic Circle aboard the SH Vega
Two weeks beyond the edge of the inhabited world: the thundering Drake Passage, the moment your ship crosses the Antarctic Circle, Zodiac landings among penguin colonies, the spouts of whales beside the hull, and New Year celebrated amid icebergs thousands of years old.
About the cruise
There are journeys, and then there is Antarctica. A continent that changes everyone who has once laid eyes on it.
There are no cities here, no roads, not a single permanent resident — 98% of the land lies buried beneath kilometres of ice. Antarctica belongs to no one: it is the last continent on Earth still ruled by the elements. And that is precisely why everything you witness beyond the Antarctic Circle is found nowhere else on the planet.
Thousands of penguins bustling a step from your feet. A humpback whale surfacing without a sound beside the Zodiac. An iceberg the size of a house, glowing blue and turquoise from within. A leopard seal drowsing on an ice floe. And a deafening silence, suddenly torn by the boom of a splitting glacier.
For all these days your home is SH Vega — a five-star expedition vessel for just 152 guests. The round-trip route from Buenos Aires, by way of Ushuaia and the Drake Passage, leads to the Antarctic Peninsula, and New Year falls on the most spectacular days of all — among icebergs and penguins. Between landings, a panoramic restaurant, a spa with sauna, a heated outdoor pool and a Jacuzzi beneath the polar sky all await you.
Highlights
What awaits you
on the journey
A New Year fairy tale in Antarctica
Picture New Year where ice giants stand in place of fir trees, and the glow of icebergs stretches to the horizon in place of city lights. You glide by Zodiac along shining glaciers, climb a snow-covered summit and take in a panorama that catches your breath — a landscape words cannot capture and nothing else resembles.
Landings on the continent
The Zodiac noses gently into the shore — and you step onto the seventh continent, where the snow has never known a human footprint. Your expedition guides tell the story of the wildlife, the climate and the great polar explorers, while the route of every landing is born anew, dictated by the wind, the ice and Antarctica herself.
A Zodiac safari
The motor falls quiet — and you drift a few metres from a humpback whale, follow a leopard seal on its ice floe, and watch a clamouring penguin colony on the shore. Skilled helmsmen steer the boat surely through the iceberg maze, your gear is already waiting, and the frames you carry home will never be repeated anywhere else.
The polar plunge
A few seconds you remember for the rest of your life. The icy water stings like a thousand needles, your heart stops for an instant — and then comes an extraordinary clarity and lightness, as if the whole world had suddenly turned brighter, sharper and louder. This is the polar rush people come back for, again and again.
Kayaking among the icebergs
You glide silently by kayak between towering walls of ice, and the only sounds are the dip of the paddle and the distant crack of ice somewhere far off. In these moments you feel, more keenly than ever, like a tiny part of a primordial world — where the icebergs shimmer through every shade of blue and turquoise, and time itself seems to stand still.
Walks among the penguins
You walk across crisp snow surrounded by hundreds of penguins: they waddle busily from foot to foot, call to one another in soft, low clucks, and hurry about their business without paying you the slightest attention. Before you know it, you fall in with their unhurried rhythm, forgetting everything left thousands of kilometres behind.
Whale season in Antarctica
Late December and January mark the height of the southern summer and the very peak of whale season: humpbacks gather off the shores of the peninsula, and again and again their spouts rise above the water just beside the hull. Sharing these waters with them are orcas, seals and countless seabirds.
Itinerary
The expedition route
Day 1 · 21 December
Buenos Aires – Ushuaia
Welcome at Buenos Aires airport
Your expedition begins in Buenos Aires: a transfer meets you at the airport and takes you to a 5-star hotel in one of the city’s most elegant districts. The evening is yours. Wander the broad boulevards of the Argentine capital, where European polish meets Latin American spirit, and settle into the journey you may have waited a lifetime to take. And tomorrow — the southernmost edge of the inhabited world, and the road to the seventh continent.
Day 2 · 22 December
Ushuaia
Tierra del Fuego
A short morning flight carries you from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, the southernmost city on the planet, wedged between the ocean and snow-capped peaks at the very tip of Argentina. You are met on arrival and taken to the port, where SH Vega is already waiting at the quay. Embarkation, a glass at the welcome cocktail, introductions to the crew and the expedition guides — and the ship casts off. The Beagle Channel carries you slowly out into the open ocean, towards Antarctica.
Days 3–4 · 23–24 December
At sea
Crossing the Drake Passage
Ahead lie two days on the open sea — the legendary Drake Passage, the frontier between two worlds. South America falls away astern, and all around there is nothing but ocean and sky. From the deck you follow albatrosses with a three-metre wingspan and petrels skimming the crests of the waves. On board, the polar experts begin their lectures — on ice, on whales, on the history of the great expeditions. The spa, the sauna, the library, the first captain’s cocktail — and an anticipation that grows with every mile south.
Days 5–12 · 25 Dec – 1 Jan
Antarctic Peninsula
Exploring the Antarctic Peninsula
And there it is — the seventh continent. Eight days among glaciers, fjords and icebergs the size of a city, where the Antarctic dream finally becomes real. Twice a day you board the Zodiacs and land where ordinary travellers never reach. The ship presses ever further south — and on one of these days she crosses the Antarctic Circle, the line at 66°33′S that only a handful of expeditions ever pass. Awaiting you: a polar plunge into Antarctic waters, kayaking through a labyrinth of icebergs, and New Year surrounded by penguins, seals and whales — a celebration you will never forget.
Days 13–14 · 2–3 January
At sea
The return crossing of the Drake Passage
Antarctica falls away astern, and SH Vega sets her course back across the Drake Passage towards Tierra del Fuego. Now is the time to exhale: climb to the captain’s bridge, scroll back through the thousands of frames you have taken, and trade impressions with the fellow travellers who, over these days, have become close friends. A farewell cocktail with the captain — and the first conversations about where the next expedition might lead.
Day 15 · 4 January
Ushuaia – Buenos Aires
Return to Buenos Aires
Through the Beagle Channel the ship returns to Ushuaia — to where your journey to the end of the world began. On the horizon, the mountains rise once more above the harbour. A charter flight carries you back to Buenos Aires — with a phone full of photographs and memories that will stay with you for life. And if you are not yet ready to part with Argentina, plan ahead for a trip to the Iguazú Falls or the Mendoza wine region.
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About the vessel
The SH Vega expedition vessel
An expedition cruise aboard SH Vega is for those who want to reach the most remote corners of the planet without giving up the comforts they are used to. The ship was built for polar latitudes, yet inside she carries the standard of a five-star hotel.
Aboard SH Vega, just 152 guests are accommodated in comfort across 76 spacious cabins, while a crew of 117 delivers a genuinely personal level of service. A polar-class reinforced hull and modern stabilisers keep even the crossing of the Drake Passage steady and assured.
On board
Amenities aboard the icebreaker
Dates and prices
Antarctic cruise cabins
Prices are quoted per person.
Included in the price
Not included
Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions
An expedition cruise lets you reach remote and difficult-to-access places without giving up a reasonable level of comfort. You see, in person, what most people only see on television.
The whole point is to land — repeatedly — on shores with no infrastructure. That is why expedition vessels are smaller: they reach places that standard cruise ships cannot.
For polar landings you will need warm waterproof clothing: thermal base layers, a fleece, a waterproof jacket and trousers, and warm boots with non-slip soles. Gloves and a hat are essential.
On board — comfortable everyday clothes. For the farewell dinner with the captain you may wish to bring something more formal. We recommend confirming the full packing list at the time of booking.
No special physical preparation is required. General fitness is enough — being able to walk on uneven surfaces and transfer in and out of Zodiac landing craft during shore landings.
Medical restrictions are minimal, but we recommend consulting your doctor, especially in the case of chronic conditions.
Yes — children are welcome from age 6. The expedition gives children a unique educational experience: lectures by polar scientists, wildlife observation and the chance to stand on the Antarctic continent.
We recommend confirming accommodation details and family-friendly aspects of the programme with our manager in advance.
The day starts with a briefing where the team outlines the upcoming landings and weather conditions. Then come the expedition activities: shore landings by Zodiac, wildlife observation and naturalist talks.
In the evening — lectures by polar experts, dinner and informal time together. The programme is flexible and adapts to the weather and ice conditions.
The main factor when choosing your clothing is comfort. Casual and informal clothing is fine. For the evening events — the captain’s cocktail and the farewell gala dinner — we recommend bringing something more elegant.
Unlimited Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship.
Yes. A professional ship’s doctor is on board and a medical station is fitted out. Helicopter evacuation is possible if required. We recommend bringing any necessary medication and arranging insurance with evacuation cover.
The IMO ranks ocean cruising among the safest forms of leisure travel. All vessels meet strict international certification, and crews regularly drill emergency procedures.
A full set of safety and rescue equipment is available on board.
The expedition programme may be adjusted depending on ice conditions, weather and decisions of the captain. This is the nature of polar expeditions — nature dictates the route.
The team always aims to deliver the full programme, and any changes are compensated with alternative activities.
Shore and ice landings are made by Zodiac — agile, reliable and safe, the standard for expedition cruises.
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Reviews
What guests say
about our Antarctica cruises
guest rating
our club’s expeditions
Have you ever stepped into a fairy tale? Aleksandr sent us into one. A cruise to Antarctica is a magical world. So many extraordinary creatures: seals and penguins, all of them just steps away, while the icebergs leave you in childlike awe. The cruise was organised professionally, comfortably and with great care.
We loved the cruise to Antarctica — we travelled as a family with our 10-year-old son. Unforgettable impressions. We saw stunning icebergs up close and crossed the Drake Passage — pure magic. I won’t even start on the seals we observed at arm’s length.
I have to share my impressions of the Antarctic cruise. It was something genuinely extraordinary. Everything was perfectly organised, from the route to the service on board. The professionalism of the lecturers and guides who accompanied our expeditions was particularly striking. I am already looking at the next cruise.
A cruise to Antarctica was a long-held dream I finally fulfilled. Everything went flawlessly, from booking to return. None of my other journeys compares — worth every euro, as they say.
I am deeply grateful to the team who arranged our cruise to Antarctica. My husband and I wanted to celebrate our anniversary somewhere unusual, and this trip exceeded our expectations. I have never seen such beauty anywhere. Thank you for the work you do.
Not the cheapest option, but worth every penny. The memories will stay with you for life. We sailed as a family last winter on a two-week Antarctic cruise and absolutely loved it.
We had long dreamed of a journey to Antarctica. This agency offers good cruise prices, an interesting programme, and a great deal already included. When we approached them, we did not even have foreign passports. They arranged everything end-to-end, helped us prepare and explained exactly what to bring.
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About the company
The Expedition Cruises Club
A trusted guide to the world of expedition travel — helping you reach the most remote corners of the planet.
“Achievers” with Oscar Konyukhov
Oscar is the son of Fyodor Konyukhov — the Russian explorer who has reached both Poles, summited Everest and sailed solo around the world. Guests on the show are people with global ambitions: polar explorers, entrepreneurs and researchers. Topics include leadership, resilience and the experience of trailblazers.
Operating expedition cruises since 2013. Thousands of clients have visited the most inaccessible places on the planet.
The North Pole, Antarctica, the Arctic, the Russian Far East, the Galápagos, French Polynesia and round-the-world voyages.
A small group means every guest receives personal attention. No crowds — only like-minded travellers.
We work directly with the world’s leading cruise operators. No hidden mark-ups — you pay only what the journey costs.
We work with Poseidon, Swan Hellenic, Ponant and other leading operators — only proven vessels and professional expedition teams.
Our managers stay in touch at every stage — they will help you choose a route, prepare your documents and answer questions at any time.
Officially registered tour operator under Russian law, with mandatory financial liability cover. Russian Tour Operator Registry: РТО 022681
All trips are fully protected — financial responsibility and client insurance are guaranteed by law.
