If you love sharing your passions with your children and exploring new places together, it is natural to want them to travel with you. While undertaking a journey with your kids is a rather different experience to setting off with your partner or friends, it's also sure to be a time that enriches both yours and your children's lives.
A journey to the frozen landscape of Antarctica isn't your average family holiday, but it is one that your family will never forget! So you may be wondering how suitable such an expedition may be for your kids.
Here's what you should know about booking an Antarctica adventure as a family.
Are children allowed on Aurora Expeditions' Antarctica tours?
We welcome children aged from 6 years on our Antarctica voyages.
It's important to bear in mind, however, that for such a once-in-a-lifetime experience, they should be mature enough to appreciate such a special journey and enjoy the experience.
Please note that any children under the age of 18 must also travel with their legal guardian.
Not all classrooms have four walls.
Some classrooms have glaciers. Some have whales. Some have ancient cultures waiting to share their stories. At Aurora Expeditions, we believe the greatest lessons aren't always found in a textbook. They're found standing on a windswept shoreline, watching a humpback whale breach, learning from Indigenous communities, or witnessing wildlife in its natural habitat.
Our small-ship expeditions bring families together through moments of shared discovery, creating memories that last a lifetime while inspiring a lifelong love of exploration and stewardship for our planet. Whether you're exploring the polar wilderness, discovering remote coastlines or immersing yourself in vibrant cultures, every journey is designed to ignite curiosity in travellers of every age.
What considerations are made for children onboard?
Families should be aware that while our expert expedition crew are happy to accommodate children on board our Antarctica cruise ship, there are no child-specific facilities or child-minding services. This means that parents or guardians will need to be able to supervise them at all times.
If you think it would be appropriate, you can reduce the amount of time your family spends at sea by opting for our Fly/Sail expeditions. It would mean there is only one Drake Passage crossing, with another leg of the journey completed by air.
What will life be like onboard for children?
You can be sure that every day on board your Antarctic cruise will be a thing of wonder, and something both you and your children are unlikely to ever forget.
In addition, it introduces your child to a new awareness of their environment and the wider world, and gives them the opportunity to see things most people won't see in their lifetime. Most children who embark with us are just as eager – if not more – than most of the adults onboard!
It is also a learning experience, which can spark a curiosity and hunger for knowledge about our natural environment, something that will serve them well in a world where it is all too easy to forget about the power and awesome forces of nature.
Can I travel with my extended family?
Intergenerational travel is a great opportunity for families to explore together, creating unforgettable experiences across generations.
Whether it's grandparents sharing a lifelong passion for travel with their grandchildren or parents inspiring the next generation of adventurers, our small-ship expeditions bring families closer through shared discovery.
From spotting penguins and whales to learning from world-renowned expedition guides, every day offers moments that spark curiosity, conversation and lasting memories. Because some of life's greatest adventures are the ones shared across generations.
What will a trip to Antarctica with my family cost?
With our Aurora Young Adventurers program, we want to make these unforgettable adventures more accessible. Young adventurers receive:
- 50% off* the Best Available Fare when travelling with two adults in one cabin.
- 25% off* the Best Available Fare when travelling with one adult in one cabin.
Applicable for up to two children (aged 6–12 years), or one to two teenagers (aged 13-15) per cabin.
Because the greatest gift we can give the next generation isn't simply seeing the world. It's inspiring them to protect it.
