Polar Latitudes' Fly & Cruise Antarctica Voyages Launch for 2028

Polar Latitudes Expeditions has announced a new series of Fly & Cruise voyages to Antarctica beginning in the 2027–28 season.

The itineraries will be operated by the expedition vessel Ocean Nova starting in January 2028. The program includes charter flights between Punta Arenas, Chile, and King George Island in Antarctica, allowing guests to reach the continent much faster than traditional expedition cruises.

According to Steffan Danino, the company’s Director of Product Development, the new offering is designed for travelers who want to explore Antarctica without committing to the longer sea journey typically required.

“It’s also for folks who are nervous about sailing across the Drake Passage, which is famously some of the roughest waters on Earth,” he said during a webinar.

“They can skip that completely and still have that full Antarctica expedition experience,” Danino added, explaining that flights across the Drake Passage take about two hours, while the journey by ship can take up to two days.

Aside from the quicker arrival, guests will experience the same expedition-style voyage offered on other Polar Latitudes cruises.

“You’ll have our regular complement of expert expedition team members onboard the ship, in addition to our shoreside teams supporting you at the start and end of your flight-cruise voyage,” Danino explained.

The Fly & Cruise program also includes hotel stays before and after the voyage at the Cabo de Hornos hotel in Punta Arenas. Before boarding their flight to Antarctica, travelers will attend a briefing hosted by the expedition team in Chile.

“Essentially, they will get you ready so that when you step out of the plane in Antarctica, you are ready to get on the ship and explore.”

A total of five sailings are scheduled between mid-January and early February. Two of these itineraries will offer hybrid travel options, either arriving in Antarctica by air and returning by sea or vice versa.

Danino said the Ocean Nova was selected for the program because of its smaller size, which allows passengers to experience Antarctica’s ice, wildlife, and landscapes more closely. With capacity for just 80 guests, the ship also allows the entire group to travel together on a single flight.

He added that the overall operation has been designed with flexibility in mind to better handle the challenging and unpredictable weather conditions often encountered in Antarctica.