Our 2024 Antarctica group trip was such a success we are doing it again in 2026! There’s nowhere on this planet quite like Antarctica, and we so hope you can come with us! Amanda Monique Brown (@amandamoniquebrown) & Amanda Meeks (@amanda_wanders) have scoped out the best itinerary on the best ship possible for the trip of a lifetime.
Quick Hit Info
Antarctica is the least visited and most remote place on Earth, and something about it truly feels like you’ve gone into space. Having been on this exact ship and trip before we will be able to fully prepare you for everything you can expect leading up to, and during the trip!
- January 28 – February 8, 2026
- Cruise line: Hurtigruten Expeditions, aboard the Fridtjof Nansen which is newly all-inclusive
- Get yourself to Buenos Aires and we’ll take care of the rest
- Solo-travel friendly
- Current discount codes:
EARLYPENGUIN – $250 off for the first 10 people to sign upthese have been all used up- AMANDAS – $100 off ongoing discount
Cost:
| Cabin | Our Cost | Cruise Line Cost | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polar Outside Cabin | $10,349 | $15,676 | 34% |
| Arctic Superior Balcony | $12,349 | $17,193 | 28% |
| Expedition Suite Balcony | $14,149 | $22,297 | 37% |
About Your Hosts • The Amandas
Amanda Monique Brown
Amanda Monique Brown worked as a pension actuary for 9 years, during which she took a 1 year break to travel the world. Sharing everything she learned during that year she developed a deep love of travel content and sharing how to do the things she did online. She ultimately left her job again to pursue content creation full time in 2023. Since her first international trip in 2015, she’s visited 6 continents (just Australia left!) and around 40 countries. She has a strong passion for hosting group trips to places people may feel intimidated to plan and/or book themselves, which is why her group trips so far have been to Antarctica, Zimbabwe, and Egypt.
Amanda Meeks
Amanda Meeks works remotely full time in IT consulting and is also a travel blogger, group trip host, and avid fantasy reader as well. She’s been to all 7 continents, around 30 countries, most of the states in the USA, and her favorite types of trips feature amazing scenery and wildlife in their natural habitat. Her lifelong bucket list had trips like Antarctica, an African safari, and the Galápagos Islands on it, so it’s no surprise she started hosting group trips to those places so others can fall in love like she did. She aims to make bucket list travel destinations more accessible for the everyday travel, and help eliminate the stress out of travel planning.
Testimonials
Itinerary
Day 1: Buenos Aires Day
Jan 28
Arrive in Buenos Aires, stay overnight in a hotel (included), meet the rest of the group for a happy hour.
Day 2: Ushuaia Day & Board Ship
Jan 29
Your adventure begins with an early morning flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. We’ll spend the day exploring Ushuaia, one of the world’s most southernmost cities and the capital of the Tierra del Fuego region, before we board the Fridtjof Nansen. From there, we’ll meet our hybrid electric-powered expedition ship, specially designed for sustainable cruising in polar waters.
After a briefing from your Expedition Team, you’ll have time to locate your cabin and explore the comforts and amenities on board.
Days 3 – 4: Cross the Drake Passage
Jan 30 & 31
Spend 2 days crossing the infamous Drake Passage! These days are full of as much or as little activity as you want. There’s dozens of interesting informative lectures (which can be watched in the lecture room, or streamed from the comfort of your bed), a gym, sauna, spa (subject to additional costs), hot tubs, and plenty of lounge areas to hangout in.
These days will also include mandatory safety briefings, sessions on the sustainability measures and rules of Antarctica through The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), and scheduled time slots to pick up your loaner boots.
Day 5-9: ANTARCTICA!
Feb 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5
After making it across the Drake Passage you’ll set foot in Antarctica. The days in Antarctica vary by weather, location, and time but generally you have two activities a day: a landing and a cruising. Each activity lasts around an hour to an hour and a half.
Our experienced Captain will continually monitor conditions to create the best possible itinerary for your adventure. Rest assured that each day will offer something different and thrilling.
The landing gives you a chance to get closer to penguin colonies (& their smells!) and observe them in their natural habitats. While everyone keeps a safe distance from the penguins, sometimes the penguins don’t follow these rules and may walk right past you!
The cruising allows you to zip around icebergs on zodiac boats looking for penguins, seals, and if you’re really lucky – whales! These small inflatable boats give you a chance to experience Antarctica from the water in a way you just can’t on the ship.
There are additional activities that are available on a lottery basis (as space is limited) with an extra cost, these include things like: kayaking, camping, snow shoeing, and a photography cruise.
Day 10-11: Return Across the Drake Passage
Feb 6 & 7
Sadly time to return back to the real world. The journey back across the Drake Passage includes relaxing days with entertaining ship events, lectures, and a recap video of everything we saw on the trip!
Day 12: Ushuaia > Buenos Aires
Feb 8
We will arrive back to Ushuaia and will board our flight back to Buenos Aires.
What’s Included?
- Hotel Overnight in Buenos Aires before the expedition cruise, including breakfast
- Charter Flights to/from Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, including a checked bag up to 23kg
- Transfers from the hotel to airport in Buenos Aires
- Transfers between Ushuaia airport and the ship
- Expedition Cruise:
- All meals
- Wine, beer and spirits available at meals and throughout the day and evening (subject to licensing laws; excludes premium drinks)
- All day coffee, tea, and soft drinks
- Meals and takeout available throughout the day during Fredheim restaurant opening hours
- A polar expedition jacket
- Complimentary Wi-Fi (expect to be able to keep up with email at best, nothing at worst)
- Use of sauna, hot tubs, pool, fitness room, lounges and more
- Gratuities included. Fantastic service is standard at HX (though if you’d like to leave something extra, it’s always appreciated).
- Landing Activities and Zodiac Cruises (all planned activities are subject to weather and ice conditions)
What’s Not Included?
- International flights
- Additional overnight(s) if required due to international flight timings
- Travel insurance
- Optional additional activities (kayaking, camping, show shoeing, photography cruise)
- These are also available on a lottery system once we are on the ship; you will pick one or two activities you’d like to participate in but there is no guarantee you will
- However, everyone in our 2024 trip (with the exception of 1 person) was able to do AT LEAST one optional activity that they signed up for
- Optional treatments in the onboard wellness and spa area
About the Ship • Fridtjof Nansen
We will be traveling on the stunning luxury Hurtigruten expedition ship, the MS Fridtjof Nansen. The MS Fridtjof Nansen was built in 2020, and brings top of the line amenities and beautiful Scandinavian interior designs. With less than 500 passengers on board it’s a relaxing and intimate way to explore the planet’s most remote continent. To learn more about the MS Fridtjof Nansen you can read about it here.
Restaurants
There are 2 standard restaurants onboard that are included in all fares. There’s a third restaurant, the Lindstrøm, which has an additional fee to dine in (unless you are in an Expedition Suite room, then it’s included).
Additionally, alcoholic drinks such as wines, beers and spirits are also available throughout the day and evening in the restaurants and bar, and are included in your all-inclusive voyage.
Amenities
Our ship features a large walk in sauna with glass windows where you can relax while watching penguins swim by, a full service spa (additional fees apply), a gym, hot tubs, and pool. There are also multiple bars on site with areas to relax with a glass or wine or hot chocolate and a book after a day spent watching penguin chicks.
Cabins
All have a private bathroom with a shower as well as a double bed that can be divided into two single beds.
FAQs
How many days are we actually in Antarctica?
We will have 5 full days in Antarctica (weather permitting). Every day we will move to a different area meaning if conditions are right we will have 5 landings and 5 zodiac cruisings.
What is a zodiac boat?
It is a small inflatable boat that fits around 12-18 people usually. You use a zodiac boat to get from the ship to land, as well as for cruisings.
How bad is the Drake Passage?
It’s not *as* bad as you might think! And with the proper medications it’s very doable, especially since once you actually get to Antarctica you have virtually calm waters and can barely tell you’re on a boat!
Drake’s Passage is famous for being one of the most difficult waterways to pass, which is why you can only visit in the Antarctic summer when the waters are calmer. The time of year we are going provides the best conditions, but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel any movement.
The ship we are on has massive stabilizers that extend under the water, taking away a lot of the movement and providing a much more comfortable passage. I’d highly recommend you bring plenty of motion sickness medications (we will talk more about which ones in the packing list we provide before the trip!).
What food and drink is included?
All meals are included in your package (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks). There is a fine dining restaurant on board, the Lindstrøm, for an additional fee if you choose to dine there. Wine, beer, and spirits are available at meals and throughout the day. All day coffee, tea, and soft drinks are also included.
How cold is it?
It’s probably not nearly as cold as you think! The temps tend to be around 32 F (0 C). When the sun is out it’s wonderful, but it can also be quite chilly when the wind starts to blow. When we went in February 2024 it was colder in Atlanta than Antarctica!
How much gear do I need to buy before the trip?
Probably a lot less than you’d think! You’ll need a few good base layers, gloves, hats, scarves, socks, waterproof pants and a cozy middle layer jacket. But our ship provides a warm outer shell that keeps your body heat in and the wind out (that you get to keep and take home!), and you will be given loaner boots that are warm and waterproof for activities. We will provide an in-depth packing list ahead of time to help you pack efficiently! Here’s my packing list for reference!
What if I have dietary restrictions?
Vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, gluten free can all easily be accommodated. Most other dietary restrictions can be accommodated, but if you have any specific concerns just let us know and we will talk with the ship to confirm we can meet those needs.
Is there WiFi on board?
Yes, but please keep in mind we will be in remote areas and access to WiFi can be unreliable. But it is free which is amazing because some other ships charge up to $600 for WiFi access. While we did have some trip attendees working remotely while in Antarctica on our 2024 trip, I’d plan to be okay being completely disconnected from WiFi. Conditions aren’t always right for the WiFi to work well, but generally you can access messaging and emails. Just don’t expect to be able to stream Netflix or scroll TikTok.
What type of animals can I expect to see?
AHHHH!! The best part! Antarctica is basically an ice safari, in what feels like outer space to me. While we cannot guarantee any animal sightings since nature is the one in control, we can expect to see LOTS of penguins, while looking out for various Antarctic birds, seals (like Antarctic fur seals and leopard seals), and whales! February and March are the best months to see whales in Antarctica and we can look for humpbacks, orcas, fin whales, minke whales and more.
Where does the cruise depart from?
The cruise departs from Ushuaia, a city on the southern tip of Argentina. A huge perk of this trip is we will all meet up and start together in Buenos Aires, so you don’t have to worry about transport down to Ushauaia. The trip cost includes a 1 night hotel in Buenos Aires, and a round trip charter flight together from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, and of course transport in Ushuaia from the airport to the ship.
Where do I fly into and out of?
You will fly in and out of Buenos Aires, Argentina. There are 2 major airports, AEP and EZE. Most flights will be in and out of EZE (and the charter flight is typically in and out of EZE, but will not be fully confirmed until a few weeks before the trip). But you can fly in and out of either AEP or EZE.
On the return flight home after the trip, if the charter flight flies into EZE but you need to head straight to the AEP airport to fly home, we will help you arrange a transport between the airports.
Is there laundry available?
There is laundry service available on the ship for a fee (unless you are in an Expedition Suite, then it’s included in the room rate). You can also bring travel laundry packets and do your own sink laundry if you’d rather do that!
If I come alone will I be assigned a roommate?
If you are traveling solo you will be assigned a roommate of the same gender! In the case that we have an odd number of solo travelers of one gender we may have 1 triple room available. Unfortunately we don’t know if solo supplements will be available until ~6 months before the cruise, and we can’t guarantee there will be any so HX recommends if you are really wanting to go on this trip NOT to wait for a solo cabin that may never come and go ahead and book with a roommate. Before the expedition we will host a Zoom call so everyone can meet and get comfortable before the trip!
When is the final payment due?
The final payment is due October 15, 2025.
Are there payment plans available?
Yes! You can pay a monthly payment from the time you book up until the total payment is due October 15, 2025.
What is the cancellation policy?
The deposit to reserve your spot is non-refundable (25% of the total cabin fare).
The additional cancellation policy is as follows:
| Cancellation Timing | Refund Amount of Fare Beyond Deposit |
| >120 days prior to departure (before September 30, 2025) | 100% |
| 120 – 90 days prior to departure | 80% |
| 89 – 60 days prior to departure | 70% |
| 59 – 28 days prior to departure | 40% |
| 27 – 14 days prior to departure | 10% |
| < 14 days prior to departure | 0% |
No refund will be made for cancellations received within 14 days of sailing, no shows, or for guests who do not complete their cruise.
Do I need trip insurance?
Yes, trip insurance is mandatory on all Hurtigruten Expeditions to Antarctica, and are required to cover medical evacuation and repatriation. If you have any questions, reach out and we will be happy to help you. Amanda Brown used this company before for Antarctica trip insurance and Amanda Meeks uses this company to compare rates and decide what works cost and coverage-wise.
Are there any age restrictions?
There is no maximum age limit. The minimum age allowed for children is 5 to go to Antarctica, and children must be 12 to go on the ice walks for liability purposes.
Are there any mobility restrictions?
The ship is fully accessible. To be able to get in the zodiac boats for landing activities you’d need to be able to get yourself in/out of a bathtub with minimal assistance.
Are there any size restrictions?
No, all sizes can be accommodated.
Why will I have to do a Medical Screening?
(https://www.travelhx.com/en-us/support/faq/)
On this expedition we explore some of the world’s most remote areas and as such sophisticated medical services are few and far between. Medical care at sea is limited, and often emergency sea and air services may also be inaccessible, particularly in the polar regions. It is therefore vital that you make us aware of any current or past health issues, and as such we require a Medical Screening Form to be completed for Expeditions to Antarctica.
Reach Out with Questions
Have any questions about this Antarctica group trip with the Amandas that wasn’t in the FAQs? We’ve already done this before and can answer all of the questions you might have about an Antarctica group trip. Feel free to reach out and let’s chat!
