A trip to Antarctica for two people usually costs between $20,000 and $46,000 once everything is paid for, with true luxury trips running past $100,000. The spread is wide because the cruise fare, which makes up roughly two-thirds of the bill, can double depending on the ship, the cabin and whether you sail or fly across the Drake Passage.
Most price guides quote a single per-person fare and leave you to guess the rest. That's not how couples budget. You're booking one cabin, one hotel room, two sets of flights and two insurance policies, and the small costs stack up faster than you'd expect. Below, every piece of the trip is broken into low, mid and high-end estimates for two travelers departing from the US, based on published 2026–27 season fares.
Quick answer · Total for two people
Low end: about $20,000–$26,000 on an older expedition ship with a shared twin cabin and economy flights.
Mid range: about $32,000–$46,000 on a modern ship with a window or balcony cabin and a paid add-on like kayaking.
High end: about $58,000–$104,000 for a suite on an all-inclusive luxury ship, business-class flights and five-star hotels.
The Basics
1. What "All-Inclusive" Actually Means in Antarctica
Two very different things share the same label.
When a cruise line calls an Antarctica voyage "all-inclusive," it usually means drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and sometimes a fly-cruise charter are rolled into the fare. Silversea, Seabourn, Scenic and Lindblad generally work this way. It does not mean your flights from home, your hotel in Buenos Aires or your travel insurance are covered.
When a couple asks what an "all-inclusive" trip costs, they usually mean the door-to-door number: everything you'll spend from leaving your house to getting back. That's the figure this guide builds. Every expedition fare already includes the basics you'd worry about most:
- Your cabin and all meals on board
- Zodiac landings and cruises with expedition guides
- Onboard lectures from naturalists and historians
- A loaner or keep-it expedition parka on most ships, plus rubber boots on many
Everything else is the gap between the brochure price and the real one.
Biggest Cost
2. The Cruise Fare
Roughly 60–70% of your total, and the line with the widest range.
Fares are quoted per person based on two people sharing a cabin, which is good news for couples. You avoid the single supplement, which often runs 50–100% extra for solo travelers. For the 2026–27 season, published starting fares on classic 10–12 day Peninsula voyages sit around $9,000–$11,000 per person on expedition lines like HX, Quark, Albatros and Oceanwide. Luxury ships start higher: Viking lists from about $18,000, Scenic Eclipse II from about $20,000 per person.
Low end$16,000–$20,000for two · $8k–$10k ppOlder or smaller ship, twin cabin with a porthole, shoulder-season or last-minute sailing.
Mid range$24,000–$32,000for two · $12k–$16k ppModern polar-class ship, window or balcony cabin, peak December or January dates.
High end$40,000–$70,000for two · $20k–$35k ppSuite on an all-inclusive luxury ship, or a longer South Georgia and Falklands voyage.
Timing moves this number more than most people expect. Early November and March departures often run 15–20% cheaper than the Christmas and New Year weeks, and the penguins don't seem to mind.
Flights
3. International Flights
Getting from the US to Buenos Aires or Santiago.
Nearly every Antarctica trip starts with a long-haul flight to Buenos Aires (for Ushuaia departures) or Santiago (for Punta Arenas and fly-cruise departures). From major US hubs, round-trip economy fares typically run $850–$1,500 per person. Miami, Houston, Dallas and New York usually price lowest.
Low end$1,700–$2,400for two · economyBooked 4–6 months out from a major hub.
Mid range$2,400–$3,400for two · economy / premiumSmaller home airport, better routing or premium economy.
High end$8,000–$14,000for two · businessLie-flat seats on a 10–11 hour overnight flight.
If you have airline miles, this is the place to spend them. Business class to South America is one of the more reachable award redemptions, and it can pull $10,000 off the high-end total.
Flights
4. Getting to the Ship: Domestic Flights & Fly-Cruises
The connecting leg people forget to budget.
From Buenos Aires, you still need a domestic flight to Ushuaia, about three and a half hours south. Round trips generally cost $200–$400 per person when booked early, more if you book late or need a checked-bag upgrade. Some operators include a charter flight in the fare, especially on luxury itineraries, so check before you book it yourself.
Low end$400–$700for twoEconomy on Aerolíneas Argentinas, booked early.
Mid range$700–$1,000for twoFlexible fares with checked bags, or the operator's group flight.
High end$1,000–$1,500for twoPremium seats, or often $0 if a charter is included.
Fly-cruises skip the two-day Drake Passage crossing each way by flying from Punta Arenas to King George Island. They typically add $2,000–$4,000 per person to the fare, and that premium is already baked into the cruise-fare ranges above. If one of you gets seasick, it can be money well spent. Our guide to Drake Passage seasickness remedies covers the cheaper option.
Ground Costs
5. Hotels Before and After
Plan at least one buffer night. Two is better.
Operators strongly recommend arriving at least a day early, because a missed connection means a missed ship. Most couples spend one or two nights in Buenos Aires or Santiago and one night in Ushuaia or Punta Arenas, for a total of two to four nights. Some fares include a pre-cruise hotel night, which trims this line.
Low end$300–$500for two · 2–3 nightsThree-star hotels or apartment rentals at $100–$170 per night.
Mid range$600–$1,200for two · 3–4 nightsFour-star hotels at $180–$300 per night.
High end$1,500–$3,000for two · 3–4 nightsFive-star stays in Buenos Aires plus Ushuaia's best rooms.
Want a real number for your dates?
We compare fares across every major polar operator and flag the cabins and sailings that give couples the most for the money.
Plan My Antarctica Trip
Required
6. Travel Insurance
Not optional. Most operators won't let you board without it.
Nearly every Antarctica operator requires proof of emergency medical evacuation coverage, commonly $200,000–$500,000 per person, and some ask for more. An evacuation from the Peninsula can easily cost six figures, so this requirement isn't bureaucratic box-ticking.
There are two ways to buy it. Evacuation-and-medical-only plans cost a few hundred dollars per person. Comprehensive plans add trip cancellation and interruption coverage, and generally cost 5–10% of the insured trip cost. For a couple with $30,000 in nonrefundable deposits, cancellation cover is usually worth having. You can get an Antarctica travel insurance quote here to price your own trip.
Low end$500–$900for twoMedical and evacuation only, no cancellation cover.
Mid range$1,200–$2,500for twoComprehensive plan covering cancellation on a mid-range trip.
High end$3,000–$6,000for twoComprehensive plus cancel-for-any-reason on a luxury trip.
On Board
7. Gratuities
Easy to overlook, easy to budget.
Expedition ships usually suggest $15–$25 per person per day for the crew and guides, pooled and paid at the end of the voyage. On a 10–12 day trip, that works out to a few hundred dollars for the two of you. Luxury all-inclusive lines like Silversea, Seabourn and Scenic include gratuities in the fare, which is one reason their prices look higher than they really are.
| Tier | For two | Basis |
|---|
| Low end | $300–$400 | ~$15 pp/day, 10–12 days |
| Mid range | $400–$600 | ~$20–$25 pp/day, 10–12 days |
| High end | $0 | Included on all-inclusive luxury fares |
Gear
8. Gear & Clothing
You probably own more of this than you think.
Most ships hand you a parka, and many lend rubber boots. What you need to supply is the layering underneath: base layers, a fleece or insulated mid-layer, waterproof pants, gloves, a warm hat and polarized sunglasses. Waterproof pants are the item people most often forget, and the one they regret most on a wet Zodiac ride. Our waterproof pants guide and full Antarctica packing guide cover what's worth buying.
Low end$200–$400for twoRent boots and pants, fill gaps with what you own.
Mid range$600–$1,200for twoNew waterproof pants, base layers and good gloves for both.
High end$1,500–$3,000for twoPremium outerwear plus camera gear or binoculars.
Add-Ons
9. Optional Activities
Where a mid-range trip can quietly turn into a high-end one.
Standard fares cover Zodiac landings and cruises. The extras are sea kayaking, a night camping on the ice, snowshoeing and photography workshops. Some lines, like Oceanwide's basecamp voyages and several luxury ships, include these. Others charge per person, and spots are limited, so they often sell out months before departure.
| Activity | Typical price (per person) | For two |
|---|
| Overnight camping | $200–$500 | $400–$1,000 |
| Sea kayaking program | $800–$1,800 | $1,600–$3,600 |
| Photography workshop | $500–$1,000 | $1,000–$2,000 |
Low end$0for twoStandard landings only. Still spectacular.
Mid range$1,000–$2,500for twoOne paid activity, usually camping or kayaking.
High end$2,000–$4,000for twoKayaking plus camping, or included in the fare.
Incidentals
10. Onboard Extras & Incidentals
The bar tab, the Wi-Fi and the penguin plush toy.
Expedition lines vary here. Some include house wine and beer with dinner, others charge for every drink. Wi-Fi packages, laundry and the ship's shop fill out the rest. Ashore, you'll spend on airport transfers, meals in Buenos Aires or Ushuaia, and a steak dinner you'll tell everyone about later.
| Tier | Onboard extras | Meals & transfers ashore |
|---|
| Low end | $200–$400 | $200–$400 |
| Mid range | $500–$1,000 | $400–$800 |
| High end | $0–$500 | $800–$1,500 |
On luxury ships the onboard number drops, because drinks and Wi-Fi are already in the fare. The spending shifts ashore, to better restaurants and private transfers.
Saving Money
11. How Couples Cut the Bill
Small choices, five-figure differences.
- Sail in the shoulder season. Early November and March departures often run 15–20% below peak. November brings pristine snow and courting penguins, March brings whales.
- Book early or very late. Early-booking discounts of 10–25% are common 12–18 months out. Last-minute cabins sold from Ushuaia can be cheaper still, but you need flexible dates.
- Consider a triple cabin with a friend. Triple-share fares can be $2,000–$3,000 lower per person.
- Compare all-inclusive fares carefully. A $3,000 difference in fare can shrink to almost nothing once tips, drinks and Wi-Fi are added to the cheaper option.
- Use points for long-haul flights. It's the easiest place to save thousands on a high-end trip.
Full Antarctica Budget for Two People
Every line from above in one place. Totals assume two travelers sharing a cabin and hotel room, departing from the US, on a 10–12 day voyage.
A useful rule of thumb: take the cruise fare for two and add 25–35%. That lands close to the real door-to-door number on most expedition ships.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost for a couple to go to Antarctica?
Most couples spend $32,000–$46,000 in total on a mid-range 10–12 day expedition cruise, including flights, hotels, insurance and tips. Budget trips come in around $20,000–$26,000, and luxury trips can pass $100,000.
Are Antarctica cruise prices per person or per couple?
Almost always per person, based on two people sharing a cabin. Double the advertised fare for the cost of the cabin for two.
Which Antarctica cruises are truly all-inclusive?
Silversea, Seabourn and Scenic generally include drinks, gratuities and Wi-Fi, and some of their fly-cruise fares include the charter flight. Lindblad includes gratuities. None of them cover your international flights or travel insurance.
Is it cheaper to fly or sail across the Drake Passage?
Sailing is cheaper. Fly-cruises typically add $2,000–$4,000 per person, but they save roughly four days of sea time and spare you the Drake's rougher crossings.
Do I really need travel insurance for Antarctica?
Yes. Most operators require proof of emergency evacuation coverage before you board, and a medical evacuation from the Peninsula can cost well over $100,000.
About these prices
Figures are estimates for two US-based travelers, drawn from published 2026–27 season fares and typical market rates as of September 2026. Fares change with demand, exchange rates and promotions, so treat these ranges as a planning guide and confirm current prices before booking.
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