35 Antarctic expeditions departing in December 2028, from $11,520 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.
Silversea Cruises · Silver Wind
Dec 21, 2028 – Dec 27, 2028 · 6 days · from King George Island
8 cabin offers
Silversea Cruises · Silver Endeavour
Dec 24, 2028 – Dec 30, 2028 · 6 days · from King George Island
9 cabin offers
Quark Expeditions · Ultramarine
Dec 27, 2028 – Jan 7, 2029 · 11 days · from Buenos Aires, Argentina
CampingHelicopter & flightseeingHiking & snowshoeingKayaking & paddling
9 cabin offers
Quark Expeditions · World Voyager
Dec 27, 2028 – Jan 4, 2029 · 9 days · from Punta Arenas, Chile
Hiking & snowshoeingKayaking & paddlingPhotographyPolar plunge
5 cabin offers
Lindblad Expeditions · National Geographic Resolution
Dec 27, 2028 – Jan 7, 2029 · 12 days
9 cabin offers
Lindblad Expeditions · National Geographic Orion
Dec 27, 2028 – Jan 4, 2029 · 9 days
8 cabin offers
Silversea Cruises · Silver Wind
Dec 27, 2028 – Jan 5, 2029 · 9 days · from King George Island
8 cabin offers
Quark Expeditions · Ocean Explorer
Dec 28, 2028 – Jan 10, 2029 · 14 days · from Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hiking & snowshoeingKayaking & paddlingPhotographyPolar plunge
8 cabin offers
Silversea Cruises · Silver Cloud
Dec 28, 2028 – Jan 9, 2029 · 18 days · from Puerto Williams
8 cabin offers
Lindblad Expeditions · National Geographic Explorer
Dec 29, 2028 – Jan 8, 2029 · 10 days
9 cabin offers
Silversea Cruises · Silver Endeavour
Dec 30, 2028 – Jan 5, 2029 · 6 days · from King George Island
9 cabin offers