Quick answer
- What you get: the whole yacht — a dedicated captain, expedition crew, onboard chef, and Zodiacs for your group of 12 to 20 only.
- The real difference: your itinerary flexes daily with ice, weather, and wildlife — no fixed schedule shared with 200 strangers.
- Season: November to end of March only. There is no charter outside that 5-month window.
- Base rate: real Peninsula yachts run from roughly $245,000 to $750,000 per week, plus APA and gratuity on top.
- Not included: fuel, food and drink (via APA), flights, port fees, and crew tip — budget 50 to 55% over the base.
- Access: sail the Drake from Ushuaia, or fly Punta Arenas to King George Island to skip 3 to 4 days at sea.
Louis Lamprell, Charter Broker, Active CYBA Member at DMA Yachting
What a crewed Antarctica charter actually includes
A crewed Antarctica yacht charter means you take the whole vessel — captain, expedition crew, chef, and all — for your group alone. That is the core distinction from an expedition cruise ship: on a charter, the boat carries only your party of roughly 12 to 20 guests, and the daily plan bends to your group rather than a printed schedule shared with a full ship.
The base charter fee covers the yacht, its crew, insurance on the vessel, and use of the tenders and Zodiacs. Everything you actually consume and move on — fuel, food, wine, port fees — sits outside the base rate under a system called APA, which we explain below.
Charter vs cruise ship
Am I getting a truly private experience?
Yes — that is exactly what a crewed charter buys you. On a small expedition ship you may share the vessel with 100 or 200 other passengers, land in scheduled groups, and follow a fixed route. On a private charter, the landings, the wake-up calls, and the pace are yours.
That privacy has a tradeoff. Cruise ships carry more onboard infrastructure and absorb the heavy Antarctic bureaucracy for you — they deliver roughly 90% of the wildlife value with a fraction of the planning burden. A charter costs far more per head but gives you control a ship simply cannot.
| Option | Best for | Not ideal for | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private crewed yacht | Families and groups wanting total flexibility and privacy | Solo travelers or couples on a fixed budget | $245k–$750k+/week base |
| Small expedition ship | Couples wanting expedition access with less planning | Groups wanting a private, flexible itinerary | From ~$50k for a private full-ship charter |
Jessica Edmunds, Charter Broker at DMA Yachting
What the vessel has to be
The Antarctic Peninsula requires a polar-ready expedition yacht — the same practical, ice-capable class we place clients on in Svalbard and use across our wider expedition destinations. These are self-sufficient boats built for range, hosting 12 to 20 guests, with reinforced hulls and a high ice classification.
At the full-spec end you get expedition superyachts with stabilisers, a spa, a cinema, and sometimes a heli deck. A boat like the 69.5m Sherakhan — 13 cabins, from $595,000 to $750,000 per week — sits in that category, offered for the 2026/2027 winter season. Smaller polar yachts such as the 48m Hanse Explorer start nearer $245,000 per week for 12 guests.
What you actually do onboard
A typical 10 to 11 day charter covers around 600 nautical miles, working areas like the Weddell Sea, the Danco Coast, and Crystal Sound. The days are built around the ice and weather, with an expedition team briefing you each morning on what is possible.
- Zodiac cruises among icebergs and to shore landings
- Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding in sheltered bays
- Guided hikes and visits to penguin colonies and historic huts
- Whale watching and iceberg cruising, often in near-24-hour December daylight
- On premium yachts: helicopter flights, submersible dives, and glacier skiing
Chris de Kock, Charter Broker, Sales Broker, Active CYBA Member at DMA YachtingWhat’s not included — and how to budget
The base rate is roughly 60% of your total spend. On top sits the APA — the Advance Provisioning Allowance, a running fund that covers fuel, food, drink, and port fees. For motor yachts in Antarctica, APA runs 30 to 40% of the base rate because of heavy fuel burn; sailing yachts sit nearer 20 to 25%.
Then add crew gratuity, typically 15 to 20% of the base rate, plus flights to Ushuaia or Punta Arenas. All in, a $500,000 base week realistically lands well over $700,000. Flying the Drake instead of sailing it adds roughly $2,000 to $4,000 per person but saves 3 to 4 days at sea.
FAQ
How many guests can a crewed Antarctica yacht take?
Most polar expedition yachts host 12 to 20 guests. A larger expedition superyacht like Sherakhan carries more across 13 cabins, but genuine ice-capable charter boats rarely exceed roughly 26 guests while actually cruising.
Do I have to cross the Drake Passage?
No. You can sail it from Ushuaia, or fly from Punta Arenas to King George Island and board your yacht there, cutting out 3 to 4 days of open-water crossing. The fly-in option adds cost but is the choice we usually steer time-limited or seasickness-prone guests toward.
When is the Antarctica charter season?
November through the end of March only — 5 months. There are no charters outside that window because of ice and weather. Because our other popular regions like Alaska and French Polynesia run on different seasons, boats relocate between regions across the year, so availability is tight — book 12 to 18 months before you sail.
Are permits included in the charter?
In practice, yes — a properly operated yacht handles authorization through the vessel’s flag state and complies with IAATO tourism rules, some of which require permits months in advance. Non-authorized visits carry heavy fines, which is another reason to charter a boat with real Antarctic experience rather than a repurposed motor yacht.
Is a charter worth it over a small ship?
For a family or private group wanting flexibility and privacy, yes — you control the route and pace and land as your own party. For a couple happy to share a small vessel and skip the planning burden, a private full-ship charter or a berth on a small expedition ship gives most of the wildlife for far less. We help place both.
Plan Your Charter With Real Experts
Tell us how you like to travel and our charter team will hand-pick the right crewed yachts, dates and route — no obligation.
Our Top Recommendations
We put these shortlists together because most travellers don’t need to weigh up every yacht on the water — just the handful that consistently get this kind of trip right. Each guide below digs into the boats, the best months to go, and the trade-offs worth knowing before you book.
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