Family Holidays in Antarctica

What to do

Family Holidays in Antarctica

A brief overview of what to expect from a family holiday in Antarctica ...

A cruise to Antarctica may not be your first thought for a family holiday, but as more and more families look at travelling to Chile and Argentina over the Christmas holidays, it’s worth thinking about incorporating an Antarctica cruise into your trip. With daily activities, incredible wildlife viewing, great facilities and wifi on-board, there’s definitely enough to keep both the kids and parents happy.

Many of the expedition cruises to Antarctica on offer combine a number of different options, so if one person wants to go off and do kayaking, while another does a landing and another wants to relax in the boat’s spa, you have complete flexibility to do so.

We probably wouldn’t recommend an Antarctica cruise for a young family, due to the number of landings and most boats have a minimum age policy of 12-years-old, but for older families, cruise ships offer a whole range of excursions to keep teenagers interested. If you’re a family who love being active, then there are opportunities to do zodiac landings, kayaking, ice walking and even spend a night camping on the ice.

On-board, there’s always something going on, with lecturers and guides explaining more about Antarctica’s fascinating ecosystem and always keeping an eye out for any wildlife to be spotted. With newly fitted luxury cruise ships, there are also plenty of facilities on board to keep everyone occupied, such as gyms, spas and Jacuzzis, perfect for when you have a bit of down-time and the ship is cruising between areas.

In terms of accommodation and sleeping arrangements, most ships offer quadruple cabins or suites, so it’s possible to accommodate you as a family and give you more space to be together. Most rooms will contain the same amenities as a hotel room or suite, with tvs and sofas for when you don’t want to use the boat's common areas.

We have a lot of experience in putting together family holidays and would recommend speaking to one of our consultants in order to help you choose the right cruise and itinerary for you as a family.

For more ideas, have a look at some of our example itineraries, or get in touch to speak to us directly.

When to go to the Antarctic:

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    At a glance…Antarctica

  • Size: 11.9m sq km
  • Location: Reached from the southernmost cities of Chile and Argentina
  • Recommended time: 6 to 12 nights
  • Time to visit: October to March
  • Go here for: Wildlife, photography and adventure
  • Further reading...

  • › What to do Cruise Antarctica
  • › When to go Antarctica
  • › Itinerary Finder
  • The best regions for Family Holidays: