RESOURCES

Polar Expedition Ship Comparisons

From rugged expedition vessels to ultra-luxury expedition experiences, find the perfect ship for your polar adventure. We’ll help you navigate the fleet and match you with the ideal expedition experience.

50-500

Guest Capacity Range

15+ Operators

Major Expedition Lines

PC6 to 1C

Ice Class Ratings

$400–$2,000+

Per Night Range

Why Ship Choice Matters

Unlike traditional cruises where the ship is the destination, expedition vessels are your gateway to the wilderness. The right ship affects how often you get ashore, how close you encounter scenery and wildlife, your comfort level on sea crossings such as the Drake Passage, and whether you’ll have access to activities like kayaking, helicopter flights, or submarine dives. Understanding ship categories helps you choose an experience that matches your priorities.

Ship Categories

Three Styles of Polar Expedition

Expedition ships generally fall into three categories. Each offers a different balance of adventure, comfort, and price point.

Ultra-Luxury Expedition

$800–$2,000+ Per Night

Ultra-Luxury

All-suite accommodations with butler service, multiple gourmet restaurants, champagne bars, and spa facilities. These floating five-star hotels deliver expedition adventure without sacrificing luxury.

Best For: Travellers wanting premium comfort, fine dining, and refined service alongside wildlife encounters.

Operators: Silversea, Seabourn, Scenic, PONANT

Adventure-Luxury Expedition

$500–$1,000 Per Night

Adventure-Luxury

Purpose-built expedition ships balancing comfortable cabins with serious exploration capability. Strong expedition teams, excellent naturalist programs, and quality dining—adventure first, luxury second.

Best For: Active travellers prioritising wildlife and exploration with comfortable (not opulent) accommodations.

Operators: Lindblad-National Geographic, Aurora, Quark, HX, Viking

Classic Expedition

$400–$700 Per Night

Classic Expedition

Authentic expedition vessels—often converted research ships—offering genuine adventure at accessible prices. Smaller cabins, simpler amenities, but maximum time in the wilderness with passionate guides.

Best For: Budget-conscious adventurers who prioritise wildlife access over shipboard luxury.

Operators: Oceanwide, Poseidon, G Adventures, Intrepid

Size Matters

Ship Size & Landing Regulations

IAATO regulations limit shore parties to 100 people at a time. This means ship size directly impacts your landing experience.

Small (Under 100 Guests)

Everyone goes ashore together. Maximum landing time, no waiting for rotations. Most intimate wildlife encounters. Higher staff-to-guest ratios.

Medium (100-200 Guests)

Split rotations: half ashore, half on zodiac cruises. Good balance of onboard amenities and landing frequency. Most common expedition ship size.

Larger (200-500 Guests)

Multiple landing rotations needed. More onboard amenities and dining options. Less time ashore per landing but often lower per-night costs.

Important: Ships over 500 passengers cannot make ANY landings in Antarctica. Large cruise ships (500+ guests) are classified as “cruise only” and may sail past Antarctica but passengers cannot disembark. For true expedition experiences with shore landings, choose ships under 500 passengers.

Operator Comparison

Major Expedition Operators at a Glance

Operator Style Ship Capacity/Antarctica Best For Price Level
Silversea Expeditions Ultra-Luxury 254/200 guests Butler service, all-suite, fine dining lovers $$$$
Seabourn Ultra-Luxury 264/200 guests All-inclusive luxury, Zodiac submarines $$$$
PONANT French Luxury 264-200 guests French cuisine, cultural enrichment, elegance $$$$
Scenic Ultra-Luxury 228/200 guests All-balcony suites, butler service, helicopters $$$$
Lindblad-National Geographic Adventure-Luxury 100-148 guests Wildlife photography, scientific focus, education $$$
Quark Expeditions Adventure 128-199 guests Polar specialists, helicopters, adventure activities $$$
Aurora Expeditions Adventure 130 guests Australian-owned, X-Bow ships, active adventures $$$
HX (Hurtigruten) Expedition 500 guests Science programs, hybrid ships, sustainability $$-$$$
Viking Expeditions Luxury-Expedition 378 guests Science labs, submarines, Scandinavian design $$$
Oceanwide Classic Expedition 108-196 guests Authentic adventure, value, passionate guides $$
Ice Class Ship

Understanding Ice Class Ratings

Ice class ratings indicate how well a ship can navigate icy waters. Higher ratings allow vessels to push further into pack ice and access more remote destinations. For most Antarctic Peninsula voyages, even moderate ice ratings are sufficient.

Polar Class 6 (PC2) The highest rating for any polar expedition ship boasting ability to break through ice of up to 2.5 meters. Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot is the only ship with this rating and puts the capability to great use benefiting all Polar expeditions – to the extreme!

Polar Class 6 (PC6) : Purpose-built for heavier ice. Can navigate first-year ice. Ships: Scenic Eclipse & II, Seabourn Pursuit and Venture, NG’s Ultramarine, Hondius, Silver Endeavour, Viking Octantis

Polar Class 5 (PC5): Strongest civilian rating. Full icebreaker capability. Ships: National Geographic Endurance/Resolution

Ice Class 1A/1A Super: Heavy first-year ice. Excellent polar capability. Ships: Ortelius, many expedition vessels

Ice Class 1C/1D: Light first-year ice. Standard for summer voyages. Ships: PONANT’s Explorer series, many luxury vessels

Features & Amenities

What’s Included & What’s Extra?

Varies by Operator

Service / Inclusion Scenic Silversea Expeditions Ponant Seabourn Aurora Expeditions Quark Expeditions
Accommodation ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
All meals on board ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Zodiac excursions & landings ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Expedition parka ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Snow boots ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Port charges & taxes ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Gratuities ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✖
South America charter flights ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Alcoholic beverages ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ◐ ✖
Wi-Fi ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Kayaking ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Camping ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✔ ✔
Helicopter ✔ ✖ ✔ ✖ ✖ ✖
Submarine ✔ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖
Average per day price

Premium Features

Special Equipment & Experiences

Helicopters

Aerial views and access to otherwise unreachable locations. Available on Quark’s Ultramarine, Scenic Eclipse, PONANT Le Commandant Charcot.

Submarines

Explore underwater worlds beneath the ice. Available on Viking Octantis/Polaris, Scenic Eclipse. Typically $500-$1,000 per dive.

Science Labs

Hands-on citizen science and research facilities. Available on Viking, HX Hurtigruten, Lindblad-National Geographic ships.

X-Bow Design

Patented hull design for smoother Drake Passage crossings. Featured on Aurora’s Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle, Douglas Mawson.

Need Help Choosing Your Ship and Cruise?

Our polar specialists live and breathe expedition cruising and have done for years. Streamline your research by calling our friendly team for an obligation free chat 1800 000 130. Once they understand your objectives, preferences and criteria, recommendations can be made that will save you greatly on cutting though all the options out there – not to mention learning about what exclusive savings offers might also suit and save you potential thousands.

Flagship Vessels

Popular Expedition Ships Compared

Ship Operator Guests Ice Class Special Features
Ultramarine Quark 199 PC6 2 helicopters, 20 zodiacs, adventure-focused
Silver Endeavour Silversea 200 PC6 Butler service, all-suite, ultra-luxury
Le Commandant Charcot PONANT 245 PC2 True icebreaker, North Pole capable, LNG powered
Scenic Eclipse II Scenic 228 PC6 Submarine, helicopter, all-suite, butler service
National Geographic Endurance Lindblad 126 PC5 X-Bow, Nat Geo experts, undersea specialist
Greg Mortimer Aurora 130 PC6 X-Bow design, Australian operator, snorkelling
Viking Octantis Viking 378 PC6 Submarine, science lab, Scandinavian design
MS Roald Amundsen HX 500 PC6 Hybrid power, science centre, sustainability focus
Hondius Oceanwide 196 PC6 First PC6 civilian ship, value expedition
Ocean Victory Various 189 PC6 X-Bow, infinity pool, chartered by multiple operators

Operator Spotlights

Leading Expedition Operators

Silversea Expeditions

Silversea Expeditions

Ultra-Luxury | All-Inclusive

The gold standard in luxury expedition cruising. All-suite ships, butler service, multiple gourmet restaurants, and an all-inclusive experience including beverages, gratuities, and excursions.

Lindblad Expeditions

Lindblad-National Geographic

Adventure-Luxury | Education-Focused

Pioneers of expedition cruising since 1966. Partnership with National Geographic brings world-class experts, photographers, and conservationists aboard every voyage.

Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions

Adventure | Polar Specialists

Polar-only operator with the most diverse fleet including helicopter-equipped ships. Maximum off-ship time, adventure activities, and access to remote polar destinations.

Aurora Expeditions

Aurora Expeditions

Australian-Owned | Adventure

Founded by Australian adventurers, featuring X-Bow ships for smooth crossings. Active adventure focus with kayaking, snorkelling, and diving options. Climate-neutral certified.

PONANT

PONANT

French Luxury | Cultural Enrichment

French elegance meets polar expedition. Exceptional cuisine, open bars with champagne, and the only true icebreaker (Le Commandant Charcot) capable of reaching the North Pole.

HX Hurtigruten

HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions)

Expedition | Sustainability Leader

Pioneering polar travel since 1896. Hybrid-powered ships, comprehensive science centres, citizen science programs, and the world’s largest provider of Antarctic expeditions.

Common Questions

Ship Comparison FAQs

It depends on your priorities. Smaller ships (under 100 guests) mean everyone goes ashore together—no rotations—maximising your landing time. You’ll also have more intimate wildlife encounters. Larger ships (200-500 guests) offer more amenities, dining options, and often lower per-night costs, but you’ll spend time waiting for your landing rotation. Most experienced polar travellers recommend ships under 200 guests for the best balance.

Not necessarily. All passengers on expedition ships get the same wildlife encounters, landings, zodiac excursions, and expert guides—regardless of cabin category. The difference is in onboard comfort: space, view, and amenities. If you’re out exploring all day and only sleep in your cabin, a lower category may be fine. If you enjoy relaxing aboard, a suite with a balcony adds significant value.

Luxury ships (Silversea, Seabourn, Scenic) prioritise onboard comfort: butler service, gourmet dining, spacious suites, spa facilities. Expedition ships (Quark, Aurora, Oceanwide) prioritise off-ship experiences: more zodiacs, longer landing times, adventure activities. Modern “adventure-luxury” ships (Lindblad, Viking) blend both. All legitimate expedition ships offer quality wildlife encounters—the difference is what happens between landings.

Flying over the Drake saves approximately 4 days at sea, ideal for those with limited time or seasickness concerns. However, sailing the Drake is part of the expedition experience—crossing where great explorers sailed, with albatross following the ship. Modern ships with stabilisers and X-Bow designs make crossings more comfortable. Flying costs extra (typically $3,000-$5,000) but guarantees a calm start to your Antarctic experience.

Not necessarily. IAATO regulations apply to all ships equally, and most operators—luxury or otherwise—aim to maximise shore time. The difference is often in the details: smaller ships can be more nimble responding to wildlife opportunities, while larger ships may offer more structured rotations. Ask your specialist about specific ship schedules and staff-to-guest ratios for meaningful comparisons.

Standard zodiac excursions and shore landings are included on all expedition ships. Extra-cost activities typically include: sea kayaking ($500-$1,000), camping on ice ($200-$400), helicopter flights ($500-$800), submarine dives ($500-$1,000), and scuba diving. Some ultra-luxury operators include certain activities; always check what’s included in your fare.

All legitimate Antarctic expedition ships are ice-strengthened to some degree. Look for the ice class rating: PC6/PC5 (Polar Class) or 1A Super/1A (Finnish-Swedish ice class) indicate serious polar capability. Even 1C/1D rated ships are fine for standard Antarctic Peninsula voyages during summer. Only PONANT’s Le Commandant Charcot (PC2) is a true icebreaker capable of breaking through thick pack ice.

Lindblad-National Geographic ships are renowned for photography programs with National Geographic photographers aboard. Aurora and Quark offer excellent expedition teams with photography expertise. Ships with larger zodiac fleets (Ultramarine has 20) and longer landing times give more shooting opportunities. For serious photographers, smaller ships with fewer guests mean less crowded wildlife shots.

All Ships & Operators

Access to every major expedition line—we find your perfect match across the entire fleet.

Best Price Guarantee

Same price as booking direct with the cruise line, plus exclusive perks and onboard credits.

Unbiased Advice

We don’t represent any single operator—we recommend the best ship for YOUR priorities.

Expert Support

Specialists who’ve visited these ships and can share firsthand insights on each vessel.

Still comparing ships?

Take our quick quiz and we’ll narrow down the perfect vessel based on your priorities, travel style, and budget. In just 2 minutes, get personalised ship recommendations.

Ship Finder

Ready to Book Your Expedition?

Speak with our polar specialists who know every ship in the fleet. Get expert recommendations, exclusive perks, and the same price as booking direct.

Service / Inclusion Scenic Silversea Expeditions Ponant Seabourn Aurora Expeditions Quark Expeditions
Accommodation ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
All meals on board ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Zodiac excursions & landings ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Expedition parka ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Snow boots ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Port charges & taxes ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Gratuities ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✖
South America charter flights ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Alcoholic beverages ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ◐ ✖
Wi-Fi ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Kayaking ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Camping ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✔ ✔
Helicopter ✔ ✖ ✔ ✖ ✖ ✖
Submarine ✔ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖
Average per day price

Your Content Goes Here

Service / Inclusion Scenic Silversea Expeditions Ponant Seabourn Aurora Expeditions Quark Expeditions
Accommodation ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
All meals on board ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Zodiac excursions & landings ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Expedition parka ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Snow boots ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Port charges & taxes ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Gratuities ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✖
South America charter flights ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Alcoholic beverages ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ◐ ✖
Wi-Fi ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Kayaking ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Camping ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✔ ✔
Helicopter ✔ ✖ ✔ ✖ ✖ ✖
Submarine ✔ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖
Average per day price