Finding an Antarctic Cruise

How to find and book the perfect cruise to Antarctica

Make sure whichever company you book your trip with is a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, or IAATO (www.iaato.org).

You can find dozens of operators specializing in Antarctica at InfoHub.com, or try these reputable companies:

Overseas Adventure Travel (800-493-6824, www.oattravel.com) - Great bargain: from $5,895 for 15 days, including roundtrip airfare from 19 U.S. cities. And, guaranteed no more than 32 passengers. Drawback: this two-week peninsula trip is the only one offered.

REI Adventures (800-622-2236, www.reiadventures.com) - Great variety—though watch out for extra fees, taxes, and surcharges. From $3,400 for a basic cruise out of Ushuaia. Adventure cruises (offering the opportunity to kayak, rock and ice climb, cross-country ski, or even camp on shore or take a dip—in a wet suit) start at $4,200. Icebreaker Adventures, exploring the Weddell Sea, start at $9,995. Max group size: 50–82 passengers, depending on the ship used.

G.A.P. Adventures (800-708-7761, www.gapadventures.com) - From $3,360 out of Ushuaia for a 10-day trip. Group sizes up to 106. (Yes, these are the guys who had a boat sunk by a tiny, submerged iceburg during the 2007/08 season. [interesting sidenote: the ship I had sailed to Antarctica the year before, the MV Nordnorge, was the one that rescued them]. Don't hold this against them. It could have happened to anyone, and, since that ship is curently at the bottom of the Antarctic Ocean, they aren't using it anymore.)

Norwegian Coastal Voyage (800-323-7436, www.coastalvoyage.com) - From $4,999, including airfare from the U.S. Group sizes up to 300 or so.

Adventure Center (800-228-8747, www.adventurecenter.com) - From $5,500 out of Ushuaia.