What is a gay cruise to Antarctica like?

Thermals packed? Tick!
March of the Penguins downloaded? Tick!
Frozen Planet binge-watched? Tick!
Tickets booked? Tick!

ANTARCTICA, HERE WE COME!

Ever since Seby and I began our adventures as the Nomadic Boys, we’ve had our eyes on the ultimate bucket-list destination: Antarctica!

After a decade of publishing gay travel content online and publishing our book, we finally got to experience our 7^th continent in December 2024 with Out Adventures. It was utterly life-changing.

We embarked on this adventure aboard the stunning Ultramarine Ship, operated by Quark Expeditions, a team of polar legends who know their ice like drag queens know their contouring. This wasn’t just another trip. It was THE trip, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit the most remote place on Earth with a fabulous group of gay travelers.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to stand on the edge of the world, surrounded by glaciers and a queer community, let us tell you. Antarctica is awe-inspiring, humbling, and, above all, unforgettable.

Why go on a gay cruise to Antarctica?

Antarctica might not be the first destination that comes to mind for a gay holiday. It’s not Fire Island or Mykonos – there are no rainbow flags, no thumping basslines, and certainly no drag queens strutting across glaciers.

What Antarctica does offer is an adventure on an epic scale. It’s raw, untouched, and unlike anything else. And let’s face it, the LGBTQ+ community knows how to make any experience extraordinary. We bring camaraderie, humor, and style to everything we do, even when we’re bundled up in 500 layers of thermals.

Traveling with Out Adventures transformed this trip. There’s something magical about sharing such an epic journey with people who just get you. Whether we were laughing about the Polar Plunge or swapping penguin jokes over dinner, the sense of camaraderie made every moment special.

In recent years, gay travelers have been embracing more unique experiences, from safaris to Arctic expeditions. Antarctica is the pinnacle of those adventures. It’s a place that few people ever get to see, let alone with a group of LGBTQ+ explorers.

And trust me, when you’re standing on a glacier with penguins waddling close to your boots, you’ll feel like you’ve truly arrived!

Fast facts about Antarctica

Antarctica isn’t just the coldest continent, it’s also the windiest, driest, and home to the world’s largest desert (yes, a desert!).

Covering 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square kilometers), Antarctica is the 5th largest continent: Europe and Australasia are smaller.

Antarctica has no permanent residents. Only scientists, adventurers, and, of course, penguins. Speaking of penguins, there are 7 species here, including the Emperor penguin, which can grow up to 1.2 meters tall.

How cold does it get? The lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth was here: a bone-chilling −128.6°F (−89.2°C) in 1983 at the Soviet Union's Vostok Station. Despite its frigid reputation, Antarctica’s ice holds 70% of the planet’s freshwater and 90% of its ice, so melting even a fraction of it would dramatically raise global sea levels.

Oh, and let’s not forget—it’s so remote that it even has its own time zone-free system. Time in Antarctica? It’s whenever you want it to be!

What to expect on a gay Antarctica cruise

Tourist visits to Antarctica can only be made on board an expedition ship. No one is allowed to stay on the continent except for scientists camping at one of the research centers. Tourists are only allowed to visit the continent on a day trip from their ship for a few hours and then return to the ship. In addition, the part of the continent open to tourism is the small piece of land that juts off the continent (reaching toward South America) called the Antarctic Peninsula.

Most expeditions to Antarctica follow the same itinerary, starting/ending in Ushuaia, crossing the Drake Passage, and then docking in places in and around the Antarctic Peninsula. Some cruises sail a little further to places like the South Georgia Island or the Falkland Islands.

Ushuaia

Our gay Antarctica cruise began exploring the gay scene of Buenos Aires, then flying south to Ushuaia in south Argentina, known as the End of the World. This charming little town sits at the tip of the South American continent and is where most cruises to Antarctica start and end. If you're traveling further afield in the country be sure to use our Argentina gay travel guide to plan your trip.

We had a few hours to kill here before boarding our ship to explore this cutesy place, wandering its streets, buying souvenirs, and mentally preparing ourselves for the infamous Drake Passage…

Drake Passage

Ah, the Drake Passage. This treacherous stretch of sea separates South America from Antarctica and is known for its mood swings. It’s either calm and serene (“Drake Lake”) or wild and stormy (“Drake Shake”). Ours leaned more toward “Shake,” with waves that had Seby dramatically clutching his seasickness patch.

Once you survive the Drake (and you will, with some anti-nausea meds and plenty of ginger tea), the magic begins.

The reason for the Drake Passage's rough waters is because it is where the Pacific, Atlantic, and Southern oceans converge. In addition, there is no landmass to create resistance as well as high winds. All these combined make for some extraordinary waves!

To avoid the Drake Passage, you can instead charter a flight from Punta Arenas in Chile to King Georgia Island in the South Shetland Islands, which lie off the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. From here you can board your expedition ship to continue your exploration of the Antarctica Peninsula.

The Antarctica Peninsula

Once we passed the Drake Passage and sailed into the Antarctic Peninsula, we spent a week cruising around looking for spots that our captain deemed safe to dock near to allow day trips to be made via the Zodiac Boats.

We visited Deception Island, a volcanic caldera surrounded by black sand beaches and ice. Paulet Island was another highlight, home to 400,000 Adélie penguins – yes, we counted every single one…

Every day brought new adventures, from Zodiac landings to wildlife sightings. The itinerary remained flexible, allowing us to chase the best weather and wildlife.

Our experience onboard the Ultramarine Ship

The Ultramarine is no ordinary ship. This sleek vessel was purpose-built for polar exploration, with everything from luxurious cabins to helicopters. Yes, helicopters! More on that later…

The evenings were a highlight. After a day of adventure, we’d gather for dinner with our Out Adventures group. The food was delicious, the wine was flowing, and the conversation was full of laughs. It felt like a floating gay Thanksgiving family reunion, minus the awkward uncle.

Our cabin was a cozy haven with a massive window that let us wake up to views of seals and icebergs. The ship also had a sauna (essential after freezing on landings), a gym, and lounges where we could sip a few cocktails while swapping stories with fellow travelers.

Wildlife in Antarctica

Antarctica is often called the last great wilderness, and its wildlife is a big reason why. Despite the continent’s extreme conditions, it’s teeming with life, mostly of the waddling, swimming, and soaring kind! From penguins and seals to whales and seabirds, the animals here have not only adapted to survive in one of the harshest environments on Earth but thrive in ways that left us completely awestruck.

The penguins are, without question, the stars of the show. With seven species calling Antarctica home, including Gentoo, Adélie, chinstrap, and the iconic emperor penguins, it often feels like the continent belongs more to them than to anyone else. One of our most memorable moments was stepping onto Paulet Island and being greeted by a colony of 400,000 Adélie penguins. The noise was deafening, the smell… let’s call it, pungent(!), and the sight? Utterly unforgettable. Watching fluffy penguin chicks wobble around their nests felt like a scene out of a nature documentary, except we were in it!

But penguins aren’t the only wildlife you’ll encounter. Seals are a common sight, too, from crabeaters lounging on ice floes to massive elephant seals grunting along the shore. And let’s not forget the whales! Humpbacks, orcas, and minke whales are regular visitors during the summer months, breaching and feeding in the nutrient-rich Antarctic waters. On one Zodiac ride, a humpback whale surfaced so close to us that Seby almost dropped his camera in shock (and I had to remind him to breathe).

Above it all, the skies are alive with seabirds, including albatrosses and petrels gliding gracefully over the waves. It’s a reminder that Antarctica’s wilderness isn’t just on the ground, it’s all around you, in the air, the water, and the snow-covered cliffs. Being surrounded by this incredible array of wildlife felt like stepping into another world, one where nature reigns supreme.

Adventure options in Antarctica

Most ships offer the following adventure options in Antarctica. Some, like the Ultramarine Ship, offer extras like a helicopter ride because they have two of those tucked away on board!

Kayaking and paddling in Antarctica

If you’ve ever wanted to feel like the star of your own nature documentary, kayaking in Antarctica is the way to do it. Picture this: Seby and I bundled up in matching thermal gear (we looked like marshmallows with paddles) gliding silently through icy waters surrounded by towering glaciers. The only sounds? The drip of melting ice, the occasional crack of a calving glacier, and Seby’s dramatic, “Oh my God, I think I saw a whale!”…

One particularly surreal moment happened in Charlotte Bay. As we paddled past a massive blue iceberg, a curious seal popped its head out of the water and stared at us as if to say, “What are you two doing here?” Seby tried to make friends with it by waving like it was a long-lost cousin. The seal blinked once, unimpressed, and promptly disappeared beneath the surface.

The stillness of the water was incredible, almost sacred. It felt like the world had paused just for us. No phones, no distractions—just the vast beauty of Antarctica.

The Polar Plunge!

Ah, the infamous Polar Plunge. If jumping into freezing Antarctic waters sounds like madness to you, you’d be 100% correct! But Seby and I are firm believers in trying everything once (except pineapple on pizza, obviously). So when the time came, we stripped down to our rainbow Speedos, braced ourselves, and took the leap.

I’ll admit, standing on the edge of the ship clad in swim trunks and thermal-induced courage, I questioned my life choices. Seby, ever the dramatist, declared, “This is how they’ll write us out of the Nomadic Boys story!” before plugging his nose and cannonballing into the water.

The second my body hit the water, it was like my brain hit the pause button. There’s cold, and then there’s Antarctic cold. My skin screamed, my heart raced, and all I could think was, “Why am I doing this?!” But as soon as I surfaced and heard the cheers from our group, it all made sense. I’d never felt more alive, or more desperate to get back onto that boat!

Seby emerged seconds later, gasping, laughing, and declaring, “I’m never showering again – I’ve been baptized by Antarctica!” (Don’t worry, he showered.) We wrapped ourselves in towels, shivering and smiling from ear to ear.

The Polar Plunge is pure madness, but it’s the kind of madness you’ll talk about for years. It’s exhilarating, ridiculous, and completely unforgettable—and we’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Helicopter flights

When we heard the Ultramarine had helicopters, Seby and I immediately imagined ourselves as polar James Bonds, soaring over Antarctica in sleek choppers, looking effortlessly cool. The reality? Picture two giddy kids in oversized headsets, gripping the armrests like they’d won a ride at the most exclusive theme park on Earth.

The helicopter flights were, hands down, one of the most jaw-dropping experiences of the trip. As we lifted off from the deck of the ship, the view transformed from incredible to are-we-even-on-this-planet levels of stunning. Below us, endless glaciers stretched out like an icy labyrinth, dotted with sapphire-blue pools of meltwater.

Seby spent the first few minutes glued to the window, snapping photos like his phone was about to run out of battery. Meanwhile, I just sat there, completely speechless (a rare occurrence, as Seby will tell you), soaking in the sheer scale of it all.

Flying over Antarctica gives you a perspective you simply can’t get from the ground. It’s humbling, awe-inspiring, and made us feel like tiny specs in a world so vast and untouched.

The best time of year to visit Antarctica

Antarctica is not your typical year-round travel destination—it’s accessible only during the austral summer months, from December to February. These are the warmest months, with average temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula hovering around 32°F (0°C), occasionally creeping slightly above freezing on particularly mild days. This is when tourist expeditions operate, making it the ideal time to visit for wildlife sightings, 24-hour daylight, and easier access to the continent.

Winter in Antarctica, on the other hand, is a completely different beast. From May to September, temperatures plummet to an average of -40°F (-40°C) in many areas, with the interior of the continent getting even colder. The seas freeze over, the sun completely disappears for months, and the harsh conditions make human visits impossible. Only the hardiest scientists and researchers remain.

Exploring Antarctica responsibly!

Visiting Antarctica is a bit like meeting Beyoncé: you want to show up looking your best, keep your cool, and leave without messing anything up. Standing on this pristine, icy continent surrounded by waddling penguins and towering glaciers, Seby and I couldn’t help but feel both privileged and protective. This place isn’t just breathtaking—it’s fragile. And if there’s one thing we learned on this trip, it’s that responsible tourism is key to keeping Antarctica as untouched and raw as possible.

Thankfully, Quark Expeditions leads the way when it comes to sustainable travel in polar regions. From the moment we set foot on the Ultramarine, it was clear that protecting Antarctica’s environment wasn’t just a nice idea for Quark, it was a mission baked into every part of the experience.

IAATO guidelines: the rules of the ice

Quark is a founding member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), which is basically the Antarctic travel bible. IAATO has strict rules designed to minimize human impact, which Quark ensures are followed to the letter.

For starters, they only operate small ships of 200 or fewer. They also limit how many people can be ashore at any given time. On our trip, landings were staggered into small groups, which not only protected the wildlife but also made the experience feel intimate.

We were also carefully briefed before every landing. These weren’t your usual dull safety talks; they were packed with fascinating tips. For example, did you know you can’t bring any food ashore because even a single crumb could disrupt the ecosystem?

Biosecurity: the boot scrubbing ritual

One of the most memorable parts of the trip was the boot-scrubbing stations. Before and after every landing, we had to scrub our boots to make sure we weren’t bringing any invasive species onto the ice, or back to the ship. It felt a bit like going through security at the airport, except instead of confiscating our liquids, they were making sure we weren’t accidentally smuggling moss.

Seby loved this process because it made him feel like an Antarctic spy on a covert mission: “Scrub the boots, save the world!” he cried out dramatically when it came to his turn to clean. I rolled my eyes, but honestly, the whole system is brilliant. It’s these small actions that add up to big protections for Antarctica’s delicate ecosystem.

Renewable energy: keeping it clean

The Ultramarine is one of the most eco-friendly ships in Quark’s fleet, and it shows. The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to minimize its carbon footprint, including advanced water filtration systems and a hybrid propulsion system that reduces emissions.

The ship also has a MAGS System (Micro Auto Gasification System), which manages organic waste by turning it into usable energy through a process called gasification (heating the waste to high temperatures in a controlled environment to break it down and convert it into gas, which is then used to power the ship). MAGS destroys waste on-site, reducing its volume by 95%.

Education: knowledge is power

One of the things we loved most about traveling with Quark Expeditions was the emphasis on education. Every evening, the expedition team hosted presentations about Antarctic wildlife, glaciology, and climate change. These talks weren’t just informative, they were inspiring. We walked away with a deeper understanding of just how fragile and interconnected this ecosystem is.

Did you know Antarctica holds about 70% of the world’s freshwater? Or that penguin populations are directly affected by melting sea ice caused by climate change? These facts hit differently when you’re staring at a penguin colony or watching a glacier calve into the ocean. The educational aspect of the trip wasn’t just about filling our heads with facts. It was about inspiring action. By the end of the trip, Seby and I were determined to reduce our carbon footprint back home.

Respecting wildlife: the Penguin Code of Conduct!

Of course, the real stars of Antarctica are the penguins, and Quark Expeditions made sure we knew exactly how to interact with them responsibly. The rule of thumb? Stay at least 15 feet (5 meters) away and let the penguins approach you if they’re curious.

On one landing, a particularly bold gentoo penguin waddled right up to Seby, who froze as he’d just been handed a glittery award at a drag show. The penguin tilted its head, stared at Seby for a moment, then waddled off, clearly unimpressed. “I’ve been judged by a penguin!” Seby whispered dramatically.

These encounters were magical, but they were always on the penguins’ terms. Quark’s guides were vigilant about ensuring we never disturbed the wildlife, whether it was a seal snoozing on the ice or a penguin waddling back to its nest.

Why responsible tourism matters

Standing on the icy shores of Antarctica, surrounded by its raw beauty, we realized just how precious this place is. It’s not just about preserving the environment for future travelers. It’s about ensuring that Antarctica continues to thrive for its wildlife, as well as for the health of the planet.

Traveling with Quark Expeditions gave us a renewed sense of purpose. They showed us that responsible tourism isn’t just possible. It’s essential. Every small action, from scrubbing our boots to attending a lecture, was a step toward protecting this incredible continent.

So, if you’re planning a trip to Antarctica, make sure you do it with a company that cares as much about the environment as they do about creating an unforgettable experience. Trust us, it makes all the difference!

Read more travel adventures like this in our book!

We've published our very own gay travel book called, ‘Out in the World'. It has all our practical safety tips, first-hand advice, and travel stories from some of our favorite destinations.

We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!

Click on the book to order:

For more inspiration be sure to check out:

• The best gay cruises in Antarctica including Out Adventures
• The best gay cruises coming up in the next few years
• Our experience chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland
• What it felt like swimming with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands
• Our visit to Australia snorkeling with manta ray in the Great Barrier Reef
• That one time we dressed up like geisha in Tokyo