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Our Antarctica Express Air-Cruise was designed for travelers looking for a quick and affordable visit to the White Continent. This expedition offers you the chance to visit Cape Horn, cruise the Drake Passage, land in Antarctica, and fly back.
Highlights
• Enjoy a day in Antarctica exploring the landscape.
• Enjoy the privilege of seeing penguins, whales, seals, and many species of antarctic birds in their native habitat.
• Enjoy a day exploring Antarctica on a Zodiac boat on our most affordable air-cruise.
• Fly from Antarctica back to Punta Arenas, Chile, and avoid one crossing of the Drake Passage.
• Visit legendary Cape Horn during your Antarctica Express Air-Cruise.
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Day 1: Start of the Air-Cruise
Your journey begins in Ushuaia, Argentina, at the pier. Board your ship in the afternoon and sail along the Beagle Channel towards Puerto Williams, Chile, the southernmost town in the world. Explore the surroundings before setting sail to Cape Horn.
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Day 2: Cape Horn and Drake Passage
After an overnight crossing of Nassau Bay, you awake in full view of legendary Cape Horn! Weather permitting, board a Zodiac and be one of the few privileged adventurers to step foot on this famous and rarely visited island. Back on board, set sail towards Antarctica and cross the famous passage named in honor of Sir Francis Drake, the great 16th-century British explorer.
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Days 3: Drake Passage
As you sail through the Drake Passage en route to King George Island, in the South Shetland Islands, attend an engaging program of lectures and presentations. In the company of expert guides, watch for wildlife from the lounge or the outside decks. You may spot magnificent seabirds, such as albatrosses and petrels, as well as different species of whales on their way south to Antarctica.
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Day 4: Drake Passage and Antarctica
After crossing the Antarctic Convergence, the environment changes noticeably. Keep your camera ready, as this is the time to watch for the first icebergs and the first sight of Antarctic land. Reaching the South Shetland Islands, sail in ice-filled bays, while enjoying the company of seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales. Board a Zodiac for your first memorable shore visit to a penguin colony. Exploration will continue well into the evening taking advantage of the long Antarctic daylight.
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Day 5: Antarctica and scheduled return flight
Upon reaching King George Island, disembark at Fildes Bay. A 2-km (1.25-mile) walk takes you through Chile’s Frei Station and Russia’s Bellingshausen Station to the aircraft. Bid farewell to Antarctica as you board the flight back to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for the night. (Note: Meals in Punta Arenas are at your leisure and not included in the program).
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Day 6: End of the Air-Cruise
After breakfast, transfer to the Punta Arenas airport for your onward flight.
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Please Note:
Every effort will be made to adhere to the planned program. However, with this type of adventurous travel to Antarctica, changes to the itinerary may occur due to severe and unpredictable weather. We need to emphasize the fact that weather conditions are unpredictable and that safety is always the paramount concern on any Antarctic voyage.
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18 November, 2025 to 23 November, 2025
Size: 440 ft2 -40 mt2. 2 twin beds and 1 queen-size sofa bed, 2 private balconies with sitting area
Size: 220 ft2 -20 mt2. 2 twin beds or 1 king-size bed
Size: 220 ft2 -20 mt2. 2 twin beds or 1 king size bed, private balcony with sitting area
Size: 220 ft2 -20 mt2. 2 twin beds or 1 king-size bed, private balcony with sitting area
Size: 330 ft2 -30 mt2. 2 twin beds or 1 king-size bed, private balcony with sitting area
Size: 220 ft2 -20 mt2. 1 king-size bed, private balcony with sitting area
Size: 440 ft2 -40 mt2. 2 twin beds or 1 king-size bed, 2 private balconies with sitting area
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14 January, 2026 to 19 January, 2026
150 ft2 – 14 m2 - Bathroom, window, desk and chair, 2 lower twin beds and 1 upper bed.
106 ft2 – 10 m2 - Bathroom, window, desk and chair, and 2 lower twin beds.
87 ft2 – 8 m2 - Bathroom, window, desk and chair, single lower bed.
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17 November, 2026 to 22 November, 2026
Size: 440 ft2 -40 mt2. 2 twin beds and 1 queen-size sofa bed, 2 private balconies with sitting area
Size: 220 ft2 -20 mt2. 2 twin beds or 1 king-size bed
Size: 220 ft2 -20 mt2. 2 twin beds or 1 king size bed, private balcony with sitting area
Size: 220 ft2 -20 mt2. 2 twin beds or 1 king-size bed, private balcony with sitting area
Size: 330 ft2 -30 mt2. 2 twin beds or 1 king-size bed, private balcony with sitting area
Size: 440 ft2 -40 mt2. 2 twin beds or 1 king-size bed, 2 private balconies with sitting area
Size: 220 ft2 -20 mt2. 1 king-size bed, private balcony with sitting area
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04 March, 2027 to 10 March, 2027 (reverse)
560 ft²
52 m²
Two-room suite with sitting
area and balcony
560 ft²
52 m²
Two-room suite with sitting
area and balcony
280 ft²
26 m²
Cabin with sitting area
and balcony
280 ft²
26 m²
Cabin with sitting area
and balcony
409 ft²
38 m²
Suite with sitting area
and balcony
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Magellan Discoverer
Magellan Discoverer
Vessel Type: Small Ship Expedition
Length: 94 m
Passenger Capacity: 76
Built: 2026
Antarctica21's New State-Of-The-Art Polar Vessel
We are thrilled to announce an exciting development in the world of Antarctic exploration. Building on our legacy of providing boutique, small-ship expeditions to the White Continent, Antarctica21 is proud to introduce the latest addition to our fleet: Magellan Discoverer, set to embark on voyages in the 2026-27 Antarctic season.Magellan Discoverer is a promise of innovative design and environmental stewardship, crafted as a sister ship to the esteemed Magellan Explorer. While mirroring its sibling in elegance and style, Magellan Discoverer charts its own course with remarkable enhancements.
Magellan Discoverer will be built at the ASENAV shipyard in Valdivia, Chile, the same shipyard that built Magellan Explorer.
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Magellan Explorer
Magellan Explorer
Vessel Type: Expedition
Length: 90.7 m - 298 ft.
Passenger Capacity: 100 (only 69 passengers for Air-Cruise operations)
Built: 2018
MV Magellan Explorer features 50 passenger suites and cabins in five categories of accommodation, including dedicated single cabins. The cabins are very spacious, ranging in size from 40 m2 (440 sq. ft.) to 20 m2 (220 sq. ft.). All double cabins have two twin beds that can be configured as one queen-size bed, offering great flexibility to our guests. 42 cabins feature a large window and a private balcony, while 8 cabins feature a porthole. All cabins feature a private bathroom and a sitting area.
Public areas include a large, forward-facing observation lounge, an observation deck, a dining room that accommodates all guests and expedition staff in a single sitting, two meeting rooms, a gift shop, a protected outdoor barbecue area, a gym, and a sauna. The bow of the ship is accessible to guests to offer expansive views during exploration. Optional adventure activities, such as kayaking and snowshoeing, are available.
Specific measures have been taken to minimize MV Magellan Explorer’s carbon footprint, including state-of-the-art engines that meet MARPOL’s stringent Tier III emission standards. To minimize fuel consumption, a waste heat recovery system recycles the heat produced by the ship’s engines and repurposes it to power the ship’s heating system and to warm the water used on board.
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Ocean Nova
Ocean Nova
Vessel Type: Expedition
Length: 73 metres
Passenger Capacity: 86
Built / Refurbished: 1992 / 2006
The Ocean Nova, built in Denmark in 1992 and fully refurbished in 2006, is a small yet comfortable expedition vessel accommodating up to 84 passengers. Cabins are spread across two decks and include single, double, and triple accommodations, all with sea views and private facilities. Designed with Scandinavian light woods, the cabins feature ample storage, desks, and flexible bedding arrangements, ensuring a practical and cosy retreat after a day of exploration. Passengers can relax in the Panorama Lounge, which offers panoramic views, daily briefings from the expedition team, and lectures on subjects ranging from ornithology to geology, while the library, small gym, and medical facilities enhance onboard comfort.
Dining aboard the Ocean Nova is informal yet enjoyable, with a single-sitting dining room offering a combination of table service and buffet, allowing all guests to dine together while taking in views through the portholes. Life on board is relaxed and immersive, often spent on deck watching for wildlife or simply admiring the surrounding landscapes. With one of the highest ice classes (1B) and a powerful 2000 hp diesel engine, the Ocean Nova is equipped to navigate icy waters or tranquil lochs with ease. A crew of 34, including North European officers, ensures both passenger safety and an enriching expedition experience, complemented by fully enclosed lifeboats and an onboard medical clinic.
Optional tours/excursions/packages available. Please get in touch for more information.
