Antarctica Cruises

• mv Discovery cruise ship
• Antarctica climate
• What to pack?

The number of ships cruising Antarctic waters has increased greatly in recent years. Many are converted commercial or scientific vessels that offer few luxuries and very little space on board. Other larger ships find their access restricted and cannot allow passengers ashore. Sailing aboard Discovery means you don’t have to compromise.

Her size, her proven, sturdy construction and her deep draft mean she is perfectly at home sailing Antarctic waters during the Austral summer. Small enough to sail through narrows like “Neptune’s Bellows” that lead to Deception Island’s flooded caldera, large enough to make light work of sailing the waters around Cape Horn and crossing the Drake Passage, Discovery has been expressly conceived for our special brand of ‘discovery cruising’.

On board, she wraps all of today’s modern, expected comforts within a sleek exterior reminiscent of the classic liners of yesteryear. You’ll find a choice of three restaurants. There are quiet places to relax, like our card room and our well-stocked library. As well as an Internet Centre, new this year are Wi-Fi connections around the ship. Tea is served in the leafy setting of the Palm Court. There are cosy bars where you can meet up for cocktails. And there’s our fabulous twin-deck health and beauty spa with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows.

You will also wake up to a wonderful view. Most cabins are outside cabins and all feature colours and furnishings that have been carefully selected to ensure you don’t feel crowded. As we head for warmer climes around South America and beyond, open-air Jacuzzis invite you to dip in on her Sun Deck. You can relax at the Lido Bar and Buffet with their all-weather roof that retracts out of sight, letting you dine alfresco by the pool amidships. There’s another pool on the Riviera Deck, while just a few steps away are the airy surroundings of the Discovery Lounge and the Explorer Bar.

Levels of service and the welcome from our crew and staff will make you feel completely at home. In the evening, the Yacht Club and the Seven Continents Restaurant invite you to savour classic favourites and a host of imaginative confections that reflect many of the destinations we visit. You’ll sample sizzling Argentine steaks and some of the finest Chilean and New World wines. Later, talented entertainers tread the boards in the Carousel and Discovery Lounges. There are popular choices like a reprise of a favourite West End show, tasteful cabaret productions, lively jazz sets, classical concerts and more.

The expansive Carousel Lounge plays host to our wide selection of on-board workshops and masterclasses. You could brush up on talents you haven’t exercised in years or put your mind to something entirely new. Do it all or leave it at arm’s length. Whether you decide to go exploring or stay on board, a daily programme lets you decide exactly how you’ll spend your day.