Holland America Antarctica Cruise: Is It Worth It?

Antarctica had been on my bucket list for years, but there was one fairly substantial problem: the price.

Most of the Antarctica trips I had looked at were expedition cruises, complete with Zodiac excursions and the chance to actually step foot on the continent. They looked incredible, but they also came with an incredible price tag.

Then I discovered another option.

Holland America Line offers cruises that include several days of scenic cruising in Antarctica as part of a longer South America itinerary.

You don’t get off the ship in Antarctica, but you do get to sail among the icebergs, look for whales and penguins and experience those incredible Antarctic landscapes from the comfort of a cruise ship.

That’s why I chose a Holland America Antarctica cruise for my first visit to the continent.

Our 22-day cruise sailed from San Antonio, the port used for Santiago, Chile, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, with four days cruising around the Antarctic Peninsula along the way.

Holland America still offers this style of Antarctica cruise, with current 22-day itineraries including four days of Antarctic scenic cruising. There are no landings in Antarctica, and exactly where the ship goes depends on permissions, ice, weather conditions and the time available.

So how does that compare with an expedition cruise? And, more importantly, is seeing Antarctica without actually setting foot on it worth it?

After doing it myself, I think for the right traveller, it absolutely can be.

This article may contain affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link, I may receive a small commission. Read the full disclaimer here.

Antarctica Scenic Cruise vs Expedition Cruise: What’s the Difference?

Before booking an Antarctica cruise, it’s important to understand exactly what sort of experience you’re paying for.

When most people picture an Antarctic cruise, they’re probably thinking of an expedition cruise, with passengers heading out in Zodiacs for wildlife viewing and shore landings. Depending on the itinerary and conditions, you may get the chance to walk among penguins, hike on the continent or try activities such as kayaking.

That is not what you get on a Holland America Antarctica cruise.

Holland America’s ships carry more than 500 passengers, which means they cannot make passenger landings in Antarctica under current Antarctic tourism rules. Instead, you stay onboard while the ship cruises through Antarctic waters.

That means no Zodiac trips and no setting foot on Antarctica.

But there are advantages.

You have all the comforts of a larger cruise ship. You can watch icebergs and wildlife from the outside decks, then head indoors whenever you get cold. There are comfortable cabins, restaurants and plenty of warm indoor spaces.

And importantly for us, this style of cruise was considerably cheaper than the expedition cruises we had been looking at.

The trade-off is simple: you can see Antarctica, but you don’t truly get amongst it.

For me, that was a compromise I was initially very happy to make.

Why I Chose Holland America for Antarctica

Holland America wasn’t new to us. We had already cruised with them in Alaska and enjoyed the experience, so when I spotted an Antarctica itinerary at a price that suddenly made the destination seem achievable, I started paying attention.

The itinerary was a big part of the appeal too.

Our cruise was 22 days, travelling from San Antonio in Chile to Buenos Aires in Argentina. Antarctica was obviously the highlight, but we also sailed around Cape Horn and visited other destinations in South America and the Falkland Islands.

So rather than paying purely for an Antarctica experience, we were getting a much longer trip and visiting several places we’d never been before.

There was another reason this style of cruise appealed to me: I really don’t like being cold.

I’d previously visited places such as Tromsø in Norway where I’d become so cold that after about twenty minutes outside, all I wanted to do was get back indoors.

The thought of being out in a Zodiac in Antarctica and getting colder and colder genuinely worried me.

On a larger ship, I had an escape route.

I could stand outside watching the scenery for as long as I wanted, then duck inside, warm up and head back out again.

As it turned out, that worked perfectly for me.

What Is It Actually Like Cruising in Antarctica?

We spent four days scenic cruising around the Antarctic Peninsula, with exactly where we went depending on the weather, sea and ice conditions.

Even without getting off the ship, there was plenty to see.

Huge icebergs floated past, mountains disappeared into low cloud and snow regularly fell around us. I found myself spending hours outside simply watching it all go by.

And then there was the wildlife.

We regularly spotted penguins and whales, along with the occasional seal and plenty of seabirds. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, of course, and from a large ship you aren’t going to get the close encounters you might have on an expedition cruise.

But there were still some incredible moments.

On one particularly calm day, the captain was able to manoeuvre the ship surprisingly close to a couple of enormous icebergs. Seeing their scale from the ship really brought home just how extraordinary Antarctica is.

Whenever I got too cold, I simply went inside, warmed up and came back out again.

For someone who had been genuinely worried about how I’d cope with the Antarctic weather, that was one of the biggest advantages of choosing this style of cruise.

What Is Holland America Like for an Antarctica Cruise?

Holland America tends to attract an older crowd than some of the big family-focused cruise lines. We were even told more than once that we were young for the cruise — and I was celebrating my 50th birthday!

For us, that wasn’t a negative.

You won’t find the same emphasis on waterslides, go-karts and endless children’s activities that you’ll see on some cruise lines. Instead, the experience tends to be quieter and more focused on the destinations and traditional cruising.

That suited this particular itinerary perfectly.

We also enjoyed the talks and presentations connected to the places and wildlife we were seeing. I love learning more about a destination while I’m actually there rather than simply watching it pass by outside the window.

We’ve since cruised with Princess too, so I now have something to compare Holland America with. You can read my Princess vs Holland America comparison if you’re deciding between the two.

For Antarctica, Holland America’s quieter style suited us very well.

What You Miss by Not Taking an Expedition Cruise

This is the biggest thing to consider before booking.

On our Holland America cruise, we did not get off the ship in Antarctica.

There were no Zodiac trips, no walking among penguin colonies and no opportunity to stand on the Antarctic continent. We experienced Antarctica entirely from the ship.

Before the cruise, I thought I’d be completely happy with that.

And while I was there, I was.

I loved watching the icebergs, spotting whales and penguins and seeing those enormous Antarctic landscapes.

But something unexpected happened.

Instead of ticking Antarctica off my bucket list, the cruise made me want to go back.

Next time, I’d like to do an expedition cruise. I want to get into a Zodiac, get closer to the wildlife and finally put my feet on Antarctica. I’d also love to include South Georgia, which wasn’t part of our Holland America itinerary.

So if stepping onto the continent is important to you, or your dream involves close-up wildlife encounters and Zodiac excursions, I wouldn’t choose a scenic cruise and hope it will feel the same.

It won’t.

But if your priority is to see Antarctica and you’re comfortable doing that from the ship, a cruise like this can still be an incredible experience.

Who Is This Type of Antarctica Cruise Best For?

I think a scenic Antarctica cruise is particularly worth considering if:

• an expedition cruise is outside your budget
• you have mobility concerns or don’t feel comfortable getting in and out of Zodiacs
• you’re worried about spending long periods outside in Antarctic conditions
• you enjoy the comfort and facilities of a larger cruise ship
• you want to combine Antarctica with other destinations in South America
• you’re happy to experience Antarctica from the ship rather than going ashore

But there’s one question I’d ask yourself before booking:

Will you be disappointed if you travel all the way to Antarctica and don’t actually step onto it?

If the answer is yes, save your money for an expedition cruise.

If the answer is no, scenic cruising could be a more affordable and comfortable way to finally see Antarctica.

How Cold Is an Antarctica Cruise?

This was one of my biggest concerns before the trip, but the reality was much easier than I’d imagined.

Yes, Antarctica is cold. We had cloudy weather, some snow and plenty of chilly time out on deck. But we weren’t standing outside all day.

I’d stay outside as long as I was comfortable, then go inside to warm up. If another whale appeared or we approached an impressive iceberg, I’d pull all my layers back on and head outside again.

Of course, Antarctic weather can change quickly, so you still need to pack properly. Warm layers, a waterproof outer layer, gloves, a beanie and suitable shoes are important.

But if fear of the cold is making you hesitate about Antarctica, don’t automatically rule out a scenic cruise.

As someone who really doesn’t cope well with cold weather, I found it far more manageable than I’d expected.

Is a Holland America Antarctica Cruise Worth It?

For me, absolutely.

Would an expedition cruise have given me a more immersive Antarctica experience? Yes. But it also would have cost considerably more, and at the time I wasn’t sure how well I’d cope with the cold or whether I really needed to set foot on the continent.

Holland America gave me a way to experience Antarctica that suited both my budget and my travel style at the time.

We had four days surrounded by Antarctic scenery, watched whales and penguins, cruised past enormous icebergs and visited other destinations in South America as part of the same 22-day trip.

But I wouldn’t describe it as a substitute for an expedition cruise. They’re two different experiences.

If Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime trip and your dream is to step onto the continent, ride in Zodiacs and get closer to the wildlife, I’d save for the expedition.

If you simply want to see Antarctica, you’re comfortable staying onboard and you like the idea of combining it with a longer South American cruise, Holland America can be an excellent alternative.

For me, it was the perfect introduction to Antarctica.

The only problem?

Now I want to go back.

Planning Your Own Holland America Antarctica Cruise

If you’re considering this style of trip, you can read my full 22-day Antarctica cruise review for more detail about our itinerary, ports and what the whole cruise was like.

Holland America continues to offer South America cruises that include several days of scenic cruising in Antarctica. Check the itinerary carefully before booking so you understand exactly what is included — particularly that these cruises do not include landings in Antarctica.

Check current Holland America Antarctica cruises here.

For me, seeing Antarctica this way didn’t tick it off the list.

It simply convinced me I need to go back.

Read these to get ready for your shore days during your cruise
Falkland Islands Shore Day – Penguins, Beer and Red Phone Boxes
11 Things to Know Before You Go to Argentina
Money in Argentina – It’s Complicated

Like this post? Please share with your friends and pin for later