Antarctica21 Sells 92% of Berths in 2025-26 Season
Guests represented 53 nationalities, while charter flights of about two hours carried travelers from Punta Arenas to King George Island to board expedition ships.
Antarctica21 sold 92 percent of its berth inventory during the 2025-26 expedition season, carrying 2,847 travelers on 42 voyages to Antarctica, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and the Chilean Fjords. The Antarctic air-cruise operator said guests represented 53 nationalities, with 40 percent from North America and 60 percent from other markets.
The season closes with a fleet transition. Ocean Nova has ended its Antarctica21 service after 15 seasons, while the 76-guest Magellan Discoverer is scheduled to join the program next season.
International mix and the air-cruise model
“Welcoming travelers from 53 countries confirms that the Antarctic air-cruise has become a global category,” said Brigitte Lämmle, sales and marketing director at Antarctica21. “That growth carries responsibility, and this season’s results show we are delivering on it.”
Antarctica21’s air-cruise model uses charter aircraft from Punta Arenas to King George Island, where guests board an expedition ship after a flight of about two hours. Depending on the itinerary, that structure replaces the outbound or return Drake Passage sea crossing.
The company’s season covered both Antarctic and sub-Antarctic routes, including South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, alongside Chilean Fjords departures. Antarctica21 did not provide a year-over-year comparison for berth sales, passenger counts or voyage numbers.
Sustainability work tied to Punta Arenas
Antarctica21 renewed its CarbonNeutral certification for a seventh consecutive season. The company also completed a second season using synthetic e-fuel from HIF Global to power the Zodiac fleet aboard Magellan Explorer, its 76-guest air-cruise vessel. HIF Global’s Haru Oni e-fuels facility is located about 40 kilometers north of Punta Arenas.
Guest contributions to the Antarctica21 Foundation exceeded $100,000 during the season. The company said the funding supported community projects in Punta Arenas, Antarctic science programs and education initiatives.
Ocean Nova exits as Magellan Discoverer prepares to enter service
Lämmle said the season also brought the departure of Ocean Nova, “a vessel that shaped our story across 15 seasons and helped define the air-cruise experience as we know it.”
Ocean Nova is a 1992-built, ice-strengthened expedition ship built in Denmark, commonly listed at about 2,183 gross tons and roughly 73 meters long. The vessel has typically carried about 78 passengers with a crew of about 38, depending on operator configuration and certification.
Magellan Discoverer is under construction at ASENAV in Chile and will be managed by V.Ships Leisure when it joins Antarctica21. The 94-meter vessel is designed for 76 guests on air-cruises or 96 on sea voyages, with 67 crew and expedition staff, a PC6 ice-class rating and hybrid diesel-electric propulsion intended to allow quieter operations and lower emissions in Antarctic waters.
