90 Antarctic expeditions departing in December 2027, from $9,550 per person. Compare ships, cabins and operators for the month.
December brings peak season: the warmest temperatures so far (0 to +8 °C on the Peninsula), nearly 20 hours of daylight, and the first penguin chicks hatching around the solstice — colonies turn into noisy nurseries. Whale sightings pick up week by week.
Christmas and New Year departures are the most sought-after (and priciest) of the year; celebrating the New Year at midnight in broad daylight is a story in itself. Book these sailings 12–18 months out.
Quark Expeditions · World Voyager
Dec 14, 2027 – Dec 22, 2027 · 9 days · from Punta Arenas, Chile
Hiking & snowshoeingKayaking & paddlingPhotographyPolar plunge
5 cabin offers
Antarctica21 · Magellan Explorer
Dec 15, 2027 – Dec 22, 2027 · 8 days · from Punta Arenas, Chile
10 cabin offers
Lindblad Expeditions · National Geographic Explorer
Dec 15, 2027 – Dec 22, 2027 · 8 days
9 cabin offers
Polar Latitudes · Ocean Albatros
Dec 15, 2027 – Dec 27, 2027 · 13 days
CampingKayaking & paddlingPhotography
21 cabin offers
HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) · MS Roald Amundsen
Dec 16, 2027 – Dec 27, 2027 · 12 days
CampingHiking & snowshoeingKayaking & paddling
1 cabin offer
Aurora Expeditions · Sylvia Earle
Dec 16, 2027 – Jan 4, 2028 · 21 days · from Ushuaia
Diving & snorkellingKayaking & paddling
18 cabin offers
Silversea Cruises · Silver Endeavour
Dec 16, 2027 – Dec 22, 2027 · 6 days · from King George Island
9 cabin offers
PONANT · Le Commandant Charcot
Dec 16, 2027 – Dec 28, 2027 · 13 days · from Ushuaia (Argentina)
Hiking & snowshoeingKayaking & paddlingPolar plunge
8 cabin offers
Antarctica21 · Magellan Discoverer
Dec 17, 2027 – Dec 24, 2027 · 8 days · from Punta Arenas, Chile
8 cabin offers
PONANT · Le Lyrial
Dec 17, 2027 – Jan 3, 2028 · 18 days · from Ushuaia (Argentina)
Hiking & snowshoeingKayaking & paddling
9 cabin offers
Swan Hellenic · SH Diana
Dec 17, 2027 – Dec 27, 2027 · 11 days · from Ushuaia
4 cabin offers
Quark Expeditions · Ocean Explorer
Dec 18, 2027 – Dec 29, 2027 · 12 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina
Hiking & snowshoeingKayaking & paddlingPhotographyPolar plunge
8 cabin offers