The ships we sail on are like floating luxury hotels, so you can visit unique and remote geological sites without touching your suitcase once you've settled in. Our ships are custom‐designed with a variety of inviting spaces that offer plenty of room for both relaxing and socializing. These ships are vastly smaller than most cruise ships, with up to just 150 passengers on our river trips and up to only 250 on our ocean trips. We sail with up to 30 Backroads guests.

If you're new to Backroads active cruise trips, there are a few things you need to know. Although our average group size is larger than a typical Backroads tour, our ship-based trips feel smaller and much more intimate than a typical cruise.

Being onboard a ship provides the benefit of being able to take advantage of ship amenities such as the fitness room and spa. In addition, there is the opportunity to relax in the inviting common spaces or the privacy of your room, complete with balcony. Your Trip Leaders will have information on the array of options to choose from.

If having longer routes or more flexibility to explore is important for you, we recommend choosing one of our River Cruise or Hotel trips. If you love meeting new people and having more time to relax aboard the ship, and enjoy the ease of unpacking once, you'll love our approach to active ocean cruising. Nobody does it like we do.

All meals are served onboard. On-ship meals, though delightful, are meant to appeal to a wide cross section of passengers and may at times feel more conventional for some, and less reflective of the region than on Backroads Hotel trips.

The combination of prolific icebergs, vast ice fields, vibrant landscape and cold ocean currents makes Antarctica like no other place in the world. Its climate can be as surprising as its terrain, with weather patterns and microclimates that can bring sun, wind, fog, sleet, rain and snow all in the same day (or hour!). Please be sure to bring warm layers and waterproof gear for every day of the trip.

Our daily itinerary is based on scheduled sailing and port arrival times, and as a result some days have limited or no access to shore while other days have more opportunities for exploring on land or by Zodiac. Our time spent on land will be optimized and filled with active pursuits, but be prepared for full days at sea with decreased physical activity (including four full days for our crossings of Drake Passage). However, the unique nature of this expedition and the small size of our ship affords us the flexibility to adjust our itinerary for landings on previously unplanned sites, or to possibly go in search of nearby humpback whales! In addition, when traveling in remote territory, things don't always go according to plan, particularly in a region like Antarctica. Its polar nature and fluctuating weather may result in delays to departures and itinerary changes or shifts mid‐trip. Regardless of what comes our way, know that your Backroads Trip Leaders are always prepared to make necessary adjustments to ensure a great trip while keeping safety the top priority. Expect the unexpected in this region—it's all part of the adventure!