Christmas in Antarctica

A White Christmas on the White Continent? Yes, please!

Doesn’t spending Christmas in Antarctica sound like a unique and wonderful way to enjoy the holidays?  This time of year falls in the middle of the austral summer in Antarctica. It’s a truly magical experience to spend the festive season exploring the wonders of the region during this special time of year.

Imagine snow-covered landscapes, massive icebergs, towering glaciers, and amazing wildlife encounters with penguins, whales, and seals. Enjoy time exploring the abundant wildlife and rich biodiversity of the seas and shores. Did you know that Christmas Day in Antarctica has 24 hours of daylight? The holiday falls just days after the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.

Our team is like a family, and we welcome guests into the fold and ensure that the spirit on board the ship is festive and fun. With music and glorious feasts, you’ll be able to continue many of your own traditions in the company of new friends.

Though days can be busy and packed full of excursions and activities, there is also time onboard to unwind. Jump into the heated pool onboard the MS Seaventure, the newest addition to our fleet, or relax with a hot sauna.

Each day you’ll choose your favorite activities to participate in, like hiking tours onshore, zodiac cruising, whale watching, and photography. For the more adventurous, overnight camping and sea kayaking options are available. Join our expert guides as they lead visits to historic sites and working research stations. Be sure to keep an eye out for Santa, who likes to make an appearance on his way through the region. He’s been known to take a break from his reindeer and sleigh to drive a Zodiac!

This special holiday expedition is a far cry from that of polar explorers over the years. Roald Amundsen, the famed Norwegian explorer and the first to reach the South Pole, divulged that he and his men enjoyed Christmas in 1911 with a tree, gramophone, decorations, and presents. Other historic adventurers weren’t so fortunate and were lucky to have a dry biscuit with a splash of milk.

Even if you’re at the bottom of the earth, surrounded by ice and snow and perhaps the farthest that you’ve ever been from home, the festive spirit finds its way and Christmas cheer is spread throughout Antarctica. Imagine too the opportunity to experience something quite different from your ‘typical’ Christmas. Spend your Holidays in Antarctica, surrounded by the wildest, most authentic, and raw beauty that mother nature has to offer. The ship, your new home, feels cozy and bright, and the warmth that the holiday brings is enough to heat even the coldest place on earth.