How to Book a Last Minute Antarctica Cruise from Ushuaia

Travelling to Antarctica is not a low-budget. In fact, it may be the most amount of money you spend on any singular travel experience! However, it’s also easy to overpay. When we were planning our second year of backpacking in South America we knew that we would want to try to visit the 7th continent in as budget friendly a way as possible. There are last minute travel deals everywhere and expedition cruises sailing to Antarctica are no exception. If you’re also dreaming of cruising to the White Continent but want to do it as cost-effectively as possible, then booking a last minute ticket can easily save you thousands.

Whilst in theory it sounds easy enough, in reality there are a few things to bear in mind before you pack a bag and make your way to the ‘end of the world’. So, we’ve created this guide, including our personal tips on how we managed to save over 50% on our 11-day classic Antarctica cruise by booking it “last minute”. We use that term loosely as, whilst the booking itself happened just before we set sail, the preparation started way before that.

If you’d like to see our Antarctica adventure, make sure to watch the two-part Antarctica series we shared on our YouTube channel Kitti and Jon.

Last Minute Antarctica Cruise FAQs

How Much Can You Really Save on a Last Minute Deal to Antarctica

Depending on which month of the Antarctic season you go in, what expedition ship and operator you pick, the type of room you want and the length of your cruise, you can save anywhere between 40 to 50% if you book last minute. Looking back at our receipt, we saved exactly 54%!

Now, it’s worth highlighting that even a half-price cruise to Antarctica is going to cost you thousands of dollars. And that’s just the cruise itself! You’ll also have many additional expenses including flights to Ushuaia, travel insurance, tips and extra activities on board to mention a few.

Our Personal Opinion. Whilst we generally live by the whole “Travel. Your money will return, your time won’t” , we would never go into huge debt over a cruise to Antarctica.

Do You Have to Be in Ushuaia to Book a Last Minute Antarctica Cruise?

The short answer is no. However, you also have to be ready to travel to the southernmost city in the world on short notice.

Nowadays, bigger savings are already available 2 to 3 weeks prior to departure dates. We actually booked our cruise 3 weeks before we set sail and got a whopping 54% off. If you’re booking a deal from your home, 2-3 weeks should still give you a sufficient amount of time to travel to Ushuaia. This is especially true if you have a flexible schedule, have done your research, made an Antarctica specific packing list and already have a rough travel itinerary that just needs booking. Alternatively, you can also book flights and accommodation that you can cancel or modify if needed.

If you’re already in Ushuaia, then you can wait a bit longer, although note that last minute deals do sell out very quickly.

🌆Read my complete guide on things to do in Ushuaia.

Preparing to Book a Last Minute Antarctica Cruise

Research Early and Book Last Minute

One of the most important pieces of advice we can give you is to do your research way in advance. Antarctica cruises are getting popular, which means more cruise companies are starting to offer itineraries to the White Continent. However, not all ships and operators are made equal. We’ve summarised everything you should know before booking an Antarctica cruise in a separate guide.

In short, we suggest starting to do your research on different itineraries, companies, dates and ships at least one season before your potential “last-minute” trip. Read reviews, check social media, join Facebook groups, watch YouTube videos of people who’ve travelled there before. We signed up to different agencies and expedition companies’ direct newsletters almost 2 years before our trip. You can also email agencies to notify you about last minute deals.

This will help you to make your decision quickly at the end and gives you a better chance to go with one of the most reputable companies.

Best Months to Book a Last Minute Antarctica Cruise

Whilst discounts are offered throughout the Antarctica season, you can usually get much bigger savings if you book your cruise either at the start or towards the end of the season.

The first ships set sail to the White Continent in November, which is when prices are generally cheaper. Then the cost will increase in December and January, especially around Christmas. This is because wildlife is at its peak, with whales arriving and penguin chicks hatching. More people have the chance to take extended time off around the holidays. Therefore, finding a good last minute deal during these months will be much harder, although not impossible.

In February and March, prices start to drop again and more deals will be available, with operators trying to fill up their cabins. Our last minute Antarctica cruise departed in mid-February and we had some incredible wildlife encounters including countless whale sightings, orcas, seals, penguins and more.

How to Actually Book a Last Minute Antarctica Cruise

Online

If you’ve been in contact with an agency, then they can send you personalised last-minute deals for close to your preferred dates and preferences. For example, if you travel solo, then you’ll be able to see whether shared rooms have male or female occupiers already. This is also helpful if you’re looking for a deal for two or more people. It saved us from having to look through too many options.

Now, if you like the sound and price of any of the listed deals, they can usually hold your spot for 24 hours. This way you have some sort of security and a little extra time to think before making the final decision. However, once both you and the operator accept the deal, you’ll have to pay the whole amount within 24 hours.

Top Tip. Have your money ready in advance and let your bank know the amount that will leave your account to avoid any hold ups. Speaking from personal experience, it’s also good to time your payment on a weekday for the same reason.

In Person

If you’re already in Ushuaia, then you can visit the agencies in person and ask about available deals. For this, you may need to be in Ushuaia for quite a few days prior to your intended departure though.

Last Minute Antarctica Cruise: Pros and Cons

Below, we’ve summarised the pros and cons of booking your Antarctica cruise at the very last moment.

Pros:

• Huge savings. Last minute deals can offer up to 40–50% off the original price, saving you thousands of dollars.
• Discount on nicer rooms. Companies trying to fill up empty cabins means you may be able to book a nicer room for much less. Imagine getting a room with a balcony for the price of a porthole room.
• Great option for spontaneous travellers, self-employed or retired people with flexible schedules.
• Discount on longer cruises. Shop around because you may get a massive discount on some longer cruises that also sail to the Falkland Islands or South Georgia.

Cons:

• Limited availability. There are less options available closer to departure, as well as in the peak season.
• Requires flexible schedule. Having a strict work schedule and other life commitments may not be suitable for a last minute cruise booking.
• Short preparation time. You’ll have less time to make travel arrangements, gather necessary gear and sort out insurance, visas, etc.
• Have to pay all at once. Booking in advance means you usually just pay a deposit and then the rest later, with instalments also available. If you book last minute, you have to pay the whole amount within 24 hours.
• Extra activities may be sold out. If you wanted to do kayaking or camping, the last minute deals may no longer have availability for these extra activities. Having said that, we could sign up for a waiting list in case someone cancelled on the cruise.
• Higher cost of travelling to Ushuaia. Getting to the ‘end of the world’ is not cheap. Flights can be expensive because it’s also the peak season in Patagonia.
• Extra cost of being in Ushuaia. Depending on how everything works out, you may need to spend longer in Ushuaia before departure. We ended up being in the city for two weeks before we set sail. Being self-employed, it wasn’t an issue for us, but it still involved additional costs like accommodation and food.
• Can’t pick your exact cabin. Whilst you can choose from the remaining types of rooms, you’ll have little say in which room you’ll stay in exactly. Now, this can be a bit of a con, especially if you get seasick easily because where you are located in the ship does matter to a certain extent. Sometimes a ship will have multiple of the same types of rooms left, so it’s worth asking before booking.

Other Ways to Get a Discounted Antarctica Cruise

Booking a last minute cruise may not be a viable option for you. However, you can still get a decent discount if you sign up for newsletters and message agencies to send you personalised updates.

Many companies offer early-bird discounts for the upcoming season, have special deals around Black Friday, or just general early and late season offers.

Despite already having been to Antarctica, we’re still subscribed to many newsletters and receive email deal alerts on a regular basis. You never know…