A Norwegian Cruise Line Antarctica sailing is one of the most adventurous, expansive, and genuinely exhilarating offerings in NCL's global programme — a deep-south South American voyage that threads through Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and the Falkland Islands before venturing south to cruise the legendary waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. Norwegian Cruise Line goes beyond traditional sightseeing on its Antarctica sailings, offering immersive shore excursions that bring each destination to life — imagine spotting whales in Antarctica and swimming with sea lions in Argentina. NCL's Freestyle Cruising approach — no set dining times, no dress codes, complete scheduling flexibility — delivers its most relaxed and liberating expression on these extraordinary long-voyage South America and Antarctica itineraries.

Norwegian Antarctica Itineraries

17-Night South America & Antarctica from Rio de Janeiro

Norwegian Star sails 17-day cruises from Rio de Janeiro calling on ports in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, making its way to the South Pole to cruise Paradise Bay and Elephant Island in Antarctica. Additional itinerary stops include Montevideo, Uruguay; Puerto Ushuaia, Argentina; Punta Arenas, Chile; and the Falkland Islands.

This is NCL's most comprehensive Antarctica and South America itinerary — beginning in Rio de Janeiro, one of the world's most spectacular cities, and threading south through the cultural capitals and dramatic coastal landscapes of South America before reaching the Antarctic Peninsula. The 17-night duration allows for genuine depth in each South American port alongside multiple days of Antarctic scenic cruising.

14-Night Antarctica from Buenos Aires

From December through February, Norwegian Star sails 14-day voyages from Buenos Aires to Antarctica — the most frequently departed and most accessible NCL Antarctica itinerary. Departing from Buenos Aires allows guests to fly directly into one of South America's most extraordinary cities and spend two to three days exploring the birthplace of tango, the Recoleta neighbourhood, Teatro Colón, and the extraordinary steakhouses of Palermo before boarding. The 14-night sailing visits Ushuaia, cruises the Beagle Channel, crosses the Drake Passage, and reaches the Antarctic Peninsula before returning north. Cruiseline

Transatlantic to Antarctica - The Grand Adventure

Norwegian Star leaves from London (Southampton), travels to Lisbon, the Canary Islands, then Rio as she segues into Antarctica sailings — creating the opportunity for a grand transatlantic adventure that begins in Europe, crosses the Atlantic to South America, and ends in Antarctica. For travellers who want the most immersive and geographically comprehensive NCL Antarctica experience, combining the transatlantic crossing with the subsequent South America and Antarctica itinerary delivers one of the longest and most extraordinary voyages in the NCL programme. 

 Paradise Bay & Elephant Island

Paradise Bay is one of the most beautiful anchorages in Antarctica — a sheltered cove surrounded by glaciers and snow-covered mountains on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Ships sail into the bay and anchor briefly, allowing guests to absorb the extraordinary panorama of blue-white ice and silent Antarctic wilderness from the decks. The reflections of glaciers and icebergs in Paradise Bay's calm waters on a clear day are among the most photographed and most described natural spectacles in Antarctic cruising.

Elephant Island — the craggy, ice-capped island at the northeastern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula — is where Ernest Shackleton's crew of 22 men survived for 105 days in 1916 after their ship Endurance was crushed by pack ice. The sight of Elephant Island from Norwegian Star's decks is one of the most historically charged moments in any Antarctic sailing — a profound reminder of the extraordinary human endurance that defines Antarctica's exploration history.

South American Ports — Buenos Aires to Ushuaia

Buenos Aires is one of the world's great cities — the Paris of South America, with its European-influenced architecture, world-class steakhouses, vibrant tango culture, and the extraordinary Recoleta Cemetery. Montevideo, Uruguay's compact and charming capital, delivers a more intimate South American city experience alongside extraordinary beaches and the best beef on the continent. Punta Arenas is the gateway to Patagonia — with the extraordinary Torres del Paine National Park accessible by day excursion. Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city, serves as the staging point for the Drake Passage crossing — a city that deserves at least a day's exploration in its own right before the ship heads south. 

The Falkland Islands — an extraordinary detour on the 17-night itinerary — deliver king, gentoo, and rockhopper penguin colonies at Volunteer Point and Bleaker Island, the charming colonial capital of Stanley, and some of the most pristine and dramatic coastal scenery in the South Atlantic.

Why NCL Works for Antarctica

NCL's Freestyle Cruising model is particularly well-suited to long South America and Antarctica voyages. No fixed dining times means you eat when you want — critical on sea days when whale sightings, iceberg viewings, and deck wildlife moments can happen at any hour. No dress codes mean you can move freely from deck to restaurant to lounge in your expedition layers. And the flexible scheduling of activities, entertainment, and dining across 14 to 17 nights delivers a genuinely unhurried, self-directed long-voyage experience.

Best Time for a Norwegian Antarctica Cruise

Norwegian Star sails Antarctica from December through February — the peak of the austral summer. December sailings offer long daylight hours and the most dramatic Antarctic wildlife activity — penguins breeding, whales feeding, and seals lounging on icebergs throughout the Peninsula. January and February deliver the warmest conditions, most ice-free waters, and the greatest accessibility to Antarctic scenic highlights including Paradise Bay and the Gerlache Strait.