Fly-the-Drake
Antarctica21 Magellan Explorer
Classic Antarctica Air-Cruise · Door-to-door Feb 1–11, 2027; air-cruise Feb 3–10 (Punta Arenas ⇄ King George Island); also Jan 14/19/24/29, Feb 8
- Bed
- 🛏 King — confirm in writingCabins have two twin beds that are made up as one king on request.
- Ship
- Magellan Explorer
- Operator
- Antarctica21
- Guests
- 88
- Built
- 2019
- Stabilizers
- Yes; Polar Class 6
- Drake Passage
- Fly both ways
- Cabin
- Porthole from $18,995 pp (A21 list; agencies show lowest available $23,495–25,495 → confirm); most cabins balcony, king or twin
- Adventure
- Sea kayaking add-on (max 20/voyage, ~US$895–950 pp, verify); hiking & snowshoeing add-on; no camping
- Hot tub & spa
- Sauna and gym; no hot tub.
- Reviews
- Swoop 4.7/5 (292 reviews); Tripadvisor Antarctica21 4.5/5 (203 reviews). Praise: no Drake, boutique service, Chilean wine; complaint: weather flight delays, price.
Why
- Eliminates the Drake (2-hour flight)
- ≤88 guests, all ashore together
- Modern 2019 ship, balconies
- Punta Arenas = Torres del Paine gateway
Trade-offs
- ≈ $11.5k over the cap
- Not a cure: flights can be weather-delayed and the Bransfield Strait can still be rough
- No verified fly-the-Drake offer under $30k today — ask agents for a private cabin ≤ $12k pp
- The “from” fare may be triple occupancy; one agency brochure shows ≈ $23.5k pp for two in a Veranda cabin
Sources (9)
- antarctica21.com https://www.antarctica21.com/booking/find-your-expedition
- antarctica21.com https://www.antarctica21.com/ship/magellan-explorer
- antarctica21.com https://www.antarctica21.com/journal/announcing-our-2026-27-antarctic-air-cruise-season
- antarcticacruises.com https://www.antarcticacruises.com/trips?region=2743&viewType=search-departures&departures=…
- swoop-antarctica.com https://www.swoop-antarctica.com/cruises/ships/magellan-explorer
- tripadvisor.com https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297401-d5888899-Reviews-Antarctica21-Punta_…
- expeditions.com https://www.expeditions.com/expeditions/antarctica-cruise-fly-the-drake-passage
- quarkexpeditions.com https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/expeditions/antarctic-express-fly-the-drake
- google.com https://www.google.com/travel/flights?q=Flights%20from%20BOS%20to%20PUQ%20on%202027-02-07%…
Photos of Magellan Explorer (40)
★ Our cabin marks the cabin category we’d book. Click any photo for full screen (← → or swipe; Esc to close).