October 8, 2026 — Atlas Ocean Voyages has unveiled a 2028–29 Antarctica season of 25 expeditions and will double its Drake Fly & Sail program, which replaces one crossing of the Drake Passage with a charter flight, from two departures to four.
The season runs from October 2028 through March 2029, Cruise Industry News reported on October 8. The report does not name the ships assigned or the embarkation ports, and fares are TBA.
The season by program
| Program | Length | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Drake Fly & Sail | 9 nights, four departures | One Drake Passage crossing by sea, the other by private charter flight |
| Drake Express | 7 nights, two departures | Fly both ways, with six full days on the Antarctic Peninsula |
| Antarctic Discovery | 9 nights | Sail the Drake Passage in both directions |
| Crossing the Antarctic Circle | 12 nights, two departures | Seven expedition days, reaching south of the Antarctic Circle |
| Grand Antarctica | 18 nights, departs January 7, 2029 | Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands |
Holiday departures cover Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day, with specific dates TBA. An Antarctic Discovery sailing on November 16, 2028 marks 100 years since the Wilkins and Eielson flight from Deception Island on November 16, 1928.
Booking offer
Atlas is offering bonus savings of up to 10 percent plus one extra from a list: up to $2,000 in air savings per suite, a one-night hotel package or upgraded unlimited Wi-Fi. Guests who book by December 31, 2026 keep current published fares. New pricing takes effect on January 1, 2027.
What it means for airline travelers
- Fly-cruise options shorten the trip. The seven-night Drake Express skips both sea crossings, which makes Antarctica possible within a single week of leave.
- Charter flights depend on weather. Flights to and from Antarctica are often delayed, sometimes by a day or more. Do not list for a tight connection home, and leave buffer days at both ends.
- Getting to the start is the hard part. Atlas has not named embarkation cities for this season. Antarctic gateways in southern South America are reached through Buenos Aires or Santiago, where standby loads in the austral summer are heavy. Plan to arrive at least two days early.
- The air credit may not help you. Up to $2,000 in air savings is aimed at guests buying tickets. If you fly on pass benefits, the hotel night or Wi-Fi upgrade is probably the better choice.
- Price deadline: December 31, 2026 is the last day for current fares. Ask Atlas or your agent whether a travel-industry rate exists for these sailings, since none was announced.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News — Atlas Ocean Doubles Drake Fly & Sail Program for 2028–29 Antarctica
Get NonRev Travel News by email
A weekly recap newsletter, sent out every Sunday, with the airline, airport, cruise and travel-warning news that matters to airline employees and retirees. Free.
Subscribe free
