Atlas Ocean Voyages has opened up its 2028/29 Antarctica programme, and the headline change is choice. There are 25 yacht-style expeditions on the calendar, running from October 2028 through March 2029, with several different ways to tackle — or skip — the Drake Passage.
The Drake is the great filter of Antarctic travel: some sailors love the ritual, others would rather not spend two days rolling through it. Atlas now covers all bases. The Drake Fly & Sail option, which pairs a sea crossing with a private charter flight on the other leg, doubles from two to four departures. Drake Express does the flying in both directions, meaning two seven-night trips that hand over six full days on the Antarctic Peninsula. Traditionalists can stick with the nine-night Antarctic Discovery, sailing the Drake round trip.
For those wanting more than the peninsula, there are two 12-night Crossing the Antarctic Circle expeditions pushing south of 66°33’ — the latitude most Antarctic cruises never reach — with seven expedition days built in. The showpiece is the 18-night Grand Antarctica departure on 7 January 2029, linking the peninsula with South Georgia’s famous king penguin colonies and the Falkland Islands’ birdlife and rugged coast. Select sailings also line up with Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year or Valentine’s Day, if spending a festival on ice appeals.
One departure has history on its side. On 16 November 1928, Sir Hubert Wilkins and Carl Ben Eielson made the first powered flight over Antarctica from Deception Island. Exactly 100 years later — 16 November 2028 — Atlas’ Antarctic Discovery sailing marks the centenary.
Timing shapes what you see. Early-season voyages catch penguins courting and nesting; as the austral summer progresses, chicks hatch and whale numbers build. Days are planned on the fly by an expedition team of up to 17 specialists covering wildlife, geology and history, with Zodiac safaris and guided shore landings as standard. Kayaking and Antarctic camping are optional extras on some departures, and yes, the Polar Plunge is included if you fancy the coldest dip of your life.
Fares at launch come with up to 10% Bonus Savings plus a choice of perks: up to $2,000 in air savings per suite, a one-night hotel package or upgraded unlimited Wi-Fi. Book before 31 December 2026 and you lock in current published fares before repricing on 1 January 2027.
Why it matters: small-ship Antarctic berths sell out far in advance, and 2028/29 is already a season people are planning around. If you want the Drake crossed by air, want to reach the Circle, or have always fancied South Georgia, this is the moment to get a deposit down — ideally through a travel adviser, before the new pricing kicks in.
