This Epic 20-day Antarctica Cruise Includes a Week on Board a Small Sailing Yacht

Travelers seeking a more intimate Antarctica cruise have a new option from Terra Nova Expeditions: a hybrid trip combining a cruise on a larger expedition ship with a mid-trip, multi-night sailing on board a small yacht.

The company’s new Ultimate Antarctic Adventure, which opens bookings today for voyages in December 2026 and January 2027, is a 20-day sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina. Guests will cross the Drake Passage on board the converted cargo liner St. Helena for expedition activities in the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. They’ll spend their days hearing from expert naturalists on the Antarctic environment, kayaking among icebergs, and exploring ashore from the ship’s fleet of zodiacs, accompanied by an expedition guide for every eight passengers. 

On the eighth day of the voyage, a group of up to just six passengers will vacate their staterooms on St. Helena and disembark to the purpose-built polar sailing yacht Icebird. The much smaller ship has the flexibility to enter the narrow channels and remote anchorages St. Helena and larger expedition ships cannot reach, and being closer to the water will put passengers virtually as close to the marine life as they would be in a zodiac.

“The yacht allows us to experience Antarctica at a human scale; quieter, slower, and far more personal. It also gives us the freedom to follow conditions—not schedules—and that changes everything in Antarctica,” Greg Carter, CEO and Founder of Terra Nova Expeditions told Travel + Leisure. 

On board Icebird, guests can do a polar plunge into the freezing Antarctic waters if conditions permit, and can spend the rest of their time in Antarctica floating among glaciers and icebergs, keeping their eyes open for whales, penguins, seals, and a variety of seabirds—either on the open decks or in the comfort of the heated, double-glazed pilothouse saloon. The yacht is fully climate controlled and designed with thoughtful comfort items like heated towel rails in guest baths. Daily conditions will dictate where the ship sails. “A sailing yacht gives us the flexibility to respond to weather, ice, and wildlife in real time, making every moment a truly personal, once-in-a-lifetime journey,” Carter adds. 

Because of limited space on board Icebird, passengers will take a smaller bag with them for that portion of the journey, storing their larger luggage on board St. Helena until their return. 

A new operator in Antarctica, Terra Nova has applied for Provisional Operator Membership in the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), the primary oversight body for cruise and tour operators in Antarctica. The company’s application for membership (which will also cover the ship St. Helena) is under review, but they expect to complete the admission process prior to their inaugural sailing. Icebird is operated under a charter agreement.

For passengers not wanting to spend several days onboard Icebird, the yacht will still be available on other Terra Nova itineraries in the region as a daytime excursion. On those trips, passengers will board the yacht for a six-hour adventure for eight guests, looked after by three crewmembers. 

Terra Nova’s other Antarctic trips range from 10 to 20 days; some itineraries also include visits to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.