The archipelago consists of 11 major islands and numerous smaller ones. They are mainly mountainous and more than 80% glaciated. The islands are of volcanic origin. Although the islands might have been sighted before, the first recorded sighting is that of William Smith, a British sailor whose ship was blown off course while rounding Cape Horn in 1819. Soon after, seal hunters frequented the islands in search of Fur Seals.
Cruises to the South Shetland Islands
Weddell Sea - In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters
Searching for the Elusive Emperor Penguins
OTL22-23 A true expedition, our Weddell Sea cruise sets out to explore the range of the Emperor Penguins near Snow Hill Island. We will visit the area via helicopter and see a variety of other birds and penguins including Adélies and Gentoos.
m/v Ortelius
Cruise date:
10 Nov - 20 Nov, 2023
Price:
12100 USD
Weddell Sea - In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters
Searching for the Elusive Emperor Penguins
OTL23-23 A true expedition, our Weddell Sea cruise sets out to explore the range of the Emperor Penguins near Snow Hill Island. We will visit the area via helicopter and see a variety of other birds and penguins including Adélies and Gentoos.
m/v Ortelius
Cruise date:
20 Nov - 30 Nov, 2023
Price:
12100 USD
Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage
Classic Antarctica including Deception Island
HDS24-23 This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins.
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
7 Dec - 17 Dec, 2023
Price:
7900 USD
Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage
Classic Antarctica including Deception Island
OTL27-24 This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins.
m/v Ortelius
Cruise date:
5 Jan - 15 Jan, 2024
Price:
8650 USD
Antarctica
Classic Antarctica including Deception Island
HDS27-24 This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins.
m/v Hondius
Cruise date:
22 Jan - 1 Feb, 2024
Price:
8650 USD
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Customer story
Antarctica and My Old Friend, Ortelius: Passenger Story by Ann Lane
I was on the recent Antarctic trip on Ortelius, 16 Feb - 7 March. This has been my third expedition with Oceanwide, and
Blog
Adding Antarctica to Your Seven-Continents Bucket List
It’s a common pursuit among serious travelers to visit all seven continents. And indeed, the term “bucket list,” which b
Highlights
See the highlights you may experience:
Wildlife
See the highlights you may experience:
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South Shetland Islands cruise reviews
Best trip of my life
Overall, the trip was extremely enjoyable. I was happy with all the landings, but would have liked much more time spent in Antarctica which only had one mainland landing. I appreciated being able to walk amo
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Oceanwide basecamp: an unforgettable trip in the most awe-inspiring pristine landscape on earth
Awe-inspiring, astounding, magic, massive, magnificent… There are not enough words to describe the wonder of Antarctica and I truly believe there's no better way to see and experience this with an
Weather and Whether
Our expedition was one with challenges from beginning to end with those being primarily high seas and wind. Then too there some passengers who didn't seem to read the fine print that they weren't tra
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Fantastische Natur und Tierwelt in der Antarktis und eine bewölkte Sonnenfinsternis
Das war eine sehr schöne Kreuzfahrt mit vielen tollen Tierbeobachtungen und Begegnungen. Leider war das Highlight der Tour, die Sonnenfinsternis, den Wolken zum Opfer gefallen. Das Essen war überau
Read full review »South Shetland Islands FAQ
What is the Time in the South Shetland Islands?
The South Shetland Islands follow Greenwich Mean Time +12 (GMT +12). This means that if it is 9:00 GMT +12 (9 a.m.) during your trip to the South Shetland Islands, it would be the previous day at 17:00 (5 p.m.) in New York City, USA and 22:00 (10 p.m
Read more »What is the Temperature and Weather Like in the South Shetland Islands?
The climate in this area is typically very cool and corresponds well with the rest of the northern Antarctic Peninsula.The average summer temperature only reaches 1.5 degrees Celsius (34.7 degrees Fahrenheit), and the typical winter temperature hover
Read more »What Wildlife Can I See in the South Shetland Islands?
A visit to the South Shetland Islands will reveal a surprising amount of life for such a harsh environment. South Shetlands wildlife such as, seals, penguins and seabirds utilize the surrounding water as a feeding spot, and they can often b
Read more »How Many People Live in the South Shetland Islands?
The number of people living in the South Shetland Islands is extremely hard to say. Research stations may only have a skeleton crew - if any at all - during the winter. During the summer months it's booming with scientists and support crew.
Read more »Who Owns the South Shetland Islands?
The South Shetland Islands are not under the control of any nation. Instead, the Antarctic Treaty enables all signatories to utilize the region for any non-military related purposes. This has led to 13 countries establishing research stations and fie
Read more »What Unique Features Does the South Shetland Islands Have?
The South Shetland Islands are volcanic, primarily mountainous and approximately 80 percent glaciated. A voyage to the South Shetland Islands will often provide visitors with the opportunity to see penguins and seals. Deception Island is always a hig
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About
South Shetland Islands Weather
Be prepared for some chilly weather on your South Shetland Islands cruise. The summer months’ average temperature only ever gets up to around 1 or 2°C, and that’s without factoring in the wind which can carry away your body heat.
Facts about the South Shetland Islands
- If the Antarctic region has any sort of bustling cosmopolitan centre, it’s the South Shetland Islands. There are 10 bases on the Islands populated the year round and another 8 that see activity in the summer months.
- The South Shetland Islands are made up of many tiny islands and rocks and 11 main islands – Clarence, Deception, Elephant, Greenwich, King George, Livingston, Low, Nelson, Robert, Smith, and Snow.
- Deception Island is considered an active and ongoing “significant volcanic risk.”
- Only about 3% of the Islands are ice-free, along the coasts. That’s where your South Shetland Islands holiday will find all of the Islands’ life – including the humans.
- Famous explorer Shackleton and his crew survived more than four harsh months on Elephant Island.
- 12 different countries have bases on King George Island – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, Germany, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Uruguay, and the U.S.
- The Islands were initially discovered on February 19, 1819 when the British ship Williams was blown of course while trying to make its way around Cape Horn.
Travel to the South Shetland Islands
A cruise including South Shetland Islands takes you to the gateway of the Antarctic. The South Shetland Islands, just a half a day’s cruise away from the Antarctic Peninsula, is home to stunning scenery and astounding amounts of wildlife.
Get ready to bird watch as the islands are the home breeding grounds of terns, skuas, shags, gulls, and thousands of penguins of different kinds.
Your South Shetland Islands trip gives you the chance to explore the Islands through a wide range of activities including snowshoeing & hiking, kayaking and diving.
