Sail to Antarctica

Every day on board is different and unexpected, due to continuously changing weather conditions and the watch system, but we’ll try to sketch how a day could look like: you get waken up at 4 am by another watch: It's your turn to stand watch with your watch mates. You check out the weather and put on your sailing gear. Then, you head outside and take turns keeping a lookout, steering, and handling the sails with the crew. After 4 hours, you wake up the next watch and its breakfast time. The cook has prepared a delicious buffet: fresh bread, yoghurt, granola, and all sorts of fruits. Then, you can catch up on sleep or hang out outside, chatting with your fellow travelers or helping the crew with ship maintenance. Once lunch is served, it's back to your watch duty. The weather and course may have changed, so you need to hoist or lower the sails accordingly. After dinner, you can either take a nap or grab a drink – the choice is yours. Read here to learn more about the watch system on board!

Yes. Guests are treated as voyage crew/trainees and take part in the watch system. That shared responsibility is a core part of the experience.

Yes. Guests are called voyage crew and actively participate in sailing the ship together with the permanent crew.

No sailing experience is required — what matters is curiosity, teamwork, and a willingness to take part in the adventure.

While sailing, EUROPA operates on a rotating watch schedule that keeps the ship running 24 hours per day.

Voyage crew are divided into groups and rotate through watches throughout the day and night. During watch you may steer the ship, assist with sails, keep lookout, or help with deck duties.

Once the ship reaches Antarctica, the watch system stops so everyone can fully focus on exploring the region.

Yes, guests can climb the rigging.

Climbing the mast is one of the most memorable experiences on board. From the yards high above the deck you get an incredible view of the ocean and the sails. For safety reasons, climbing is optional and not required to participate in the voyage.

Before climbing, the crew will explain the safety procedures and do a fitness test to make sure you feel comfortable and are ready to go aloft. Many guests try it at least once during the expedition.

A typical Antarctic expedition includes:

• 16–18 permanent crew members
• Up to 42 voyage crew (guests)

The group is international and includes both experienced sailors and complete beginners, all sharing a passion for exploration.

People from all over the world join Bark EUROPA voyages. Many travel solo, others as couples or with friends. Ages typically range from 15 to 72, and the group is a mix of beginners and experienced sailors. 

When you're not on watch, free time is often spent:

• relaxing in the lounge or library
• watching wildlife from the deck
• talking with fellow sailors
• reading or writing
• enjoying the incredible scenery

Many people say the sense of community on board becomes one of the most memorable parts of the voyage.

We're happy to welcome sailors from all over the world, ranging in age from 15 to 72. Each voyage brings together a unique mix of people, and we do our best to create a
balanced group in terms of gender, nationality, and age. This diversity is an important part of our expeditions.

The crossing of the Drake Passage usually takes 3–5 days each way.

Conditions vary from calm (“Drake Lake”) to more energetic seas (“Drake Shake”), which is part of the adventure of sailing to the White Continent!

Once the ship reaches Antarctica, the watch system will stop. We will start our activities, from zodiac cruises between icebergs, shore landings in the South Shetland Islands and on the Antarctic Peninsula, wildlife observations, lectures on board, ship cruises. Each day depends on weather, sea ice, and wildlife conditions.

Wildlife sightings often include penguins, seals, seabirds, and sometimes whales and orcas. Encounters vary with location and season, observing wildlife in its natural habitat is one of the highlights of the expedition.

Expedition travel requires flexibility. Weather, ice conditions, and wildlife activity can change plans quickly. We will sail from Ushuaia, across the Beagle Channel, crossing the Drake Passage, to the South Shetland Islands and further South to the Antarctic Peninsula.

On EUROPA, Plan A can become Plan B or C, and flexibility often leads to unexpected and unforgettable experiences. The best thing to pack is an open mind!

The Drake Passage is known for being one of the most dynamic stretches of ocean in the world.

Crossings typically take 3–5 days each way. Conditions vary from calm seas — often called the “Drake Lake” — to more energetic conditions known as the “Drake Shake.”

Whatever the conditions, crossing the Drake Passage is an important part of the Antarctic sailing adventure and often becomes one of the most memorable parts of the voyage.

Once the ship reaches Antarctica, exploration takes place using the zodiacs.

On most expedition days the plan is to attempt one or two landings, sometimes even three depending on conditions. From the zodiac we will go ashore to walk among penguin colonies, explore the coastline, and take short hikes guided by the expedition team.

Conditions in Antarctica change quickly, so landing opportunities depend on weather, ice, and wildlife activity.

You will always be briefed beforehand to ensure safe and environmentally responsible visits to this fragile ecosystem.

Antarctica’s weather is surprisingly variable. During the austral summer (November–February), conditions around the Antarctic Peninsula are generally cold but not as extreme as many people expect.

Typical conditions include:

Temperature
Temperatures are usually around –2°C to +3°C (28–37°F) near the Antarctic Peninsula. On sunny days with little wind, it can feel relatively comfortable, while windy conditions can make it feel much colder.

Wind
Wind plays a big role in how cold it feels. Calm days can feel pleasant in the sun, but strong winds can bring significant wind chill, especially during zodiac rides or while standing watch on deck.

Snow and precipitation
Snow is common, and occasional rain can occur depending on the conditions. Weather systems move quickly in the Southern Ocean, so conditions can change within hours.

Sea conditions
The most dynamic weather is usually encountered during the Drake Passage crossing, where seas can range from calm (“Drake Lake”) to more energetic conditions (“Drake Shake”). Once in the Antarctic Peninsula region, the seas are often calmer due to the protection of islands and ice.

Daylight
During the Antarctic summer there is very long daylight, which gives plenty of time for landings, wildlife watching, and exploring.

Overall, you should prepare for rapidly changing weather. Layering waterproof and windproof clothing is essential so you can comfortably adapt to conditions on deck, during zodiac cruises, and on shore landings.

Guests sleep in shared cabins with 2*, 4, or 6 bunks.

Each cabin includes:

• Ensuite shower and toilet
• Bunks with curtains for privacy
• Sheets and towels provided
• EU power plugs for charging devices

Despite being a historic sailing ship, EUROPA offers comfortable accommodation for long voyages. 
*2 person cabins can only be booked by sailors traveling together

Every day on board is different and unexpected, due to continuously changing weather conditions and the watch system, but we’ll try to sketch how a day could look like: you get waken up at 4 am by another watch: It's your turn to stand watch with your watch mates. You check out the weather and put on your sailing gear. Then, you head outside and take turns keeping a lookout, steering, and handling the sails with the crew. After 4 hours, you wake up the next watch and its breakfast time. The cook has prepared a delicious buffet: fresh bread, yoghurt, granola, and all sorts of fruits. Then, you can catch up on sleep or hang out outside, chatting with your fellow travelers or helping the crew with ship maintenance. Once lunch is served, it's back to your watch duty. The weather and course may have changed, so you need to hoist or lower the sails accordingly. After dinner, you can either take a nap or grab a drink – the choice is yours. Read here to learn more about the watch system on board!

On board the Bark EUROPA, we offer 11 cabins for voyage crew, including three 2-person cabins, four 4-person cabins, and four 6-person cabins. With various common areas such as the library, lounge, poker corner, and deckhouse, the Bark EUROPA is ideal for ocean crossings and longer voyages. It allows you to do your own thing. Whether you wish to do some quiet reading or write in your logbook in the library in the aft of the ship or prefer to enjoy an active role in the social life in the deckhouse: there is a place for everyone. In the deckhouse you will also find the ships bar where you can enjoy a glass of wine with your fellow crewmates, play a board or card game or just enjoy a good talk. Below deck, you will find the lounge. Breakfast is served here but this area is also used by the guides to give their lectures and show their movies. Visit the page Inside the ship for an impression and the Virtual Tour of the ship!

We have taller bunks available for taller people, at the time of booking we ask for your height. On board we will make sure that you're allocated a berth you will fit in.

Yes, we have male and female separated cabins. In case the two person cabins are fully booked, on some voyages we also have shared couple cabins. 

Yes — many solo travelers join Bark EUROPA voyages, including women traveling alone. Life on board is highly structured, with an experienced permanent crew, shared routines, safety briefings, and a strong sense of community. Bark EUROPA voyages attract an international mix of solo travelers, couples, beginners, and experienced sailors, and English is spoken on board.

Only how much space you have in your cabin! We do ask guests to bring a duffel bag and no suitcase. Please follow our packing list to be sure you are not bringing too much. You can find our virtual tour for a good impression of the cabins and storage!

All meals are included during the voyage.

You can expect:

• Freshly baked bread every day
• Breakfast and lunch served buffet style
• Warm dinners prepared by the galley team
• Unlimited coffee, tea, and water

You can choose a vegetarian or non-vegetarian meal option for the entire voyage. 

We aim to accommodate food allergies wherever possible, however the conditions on board can make it challenging. Space in the galley is limited, and supplies are gathered before departure. If you have specific needs, like gluten or lactose intolerance, please discuss this with our team before booking. 

Similarly, the cooks will attempt to adapt dinners for those with lactose intolerance, but flexibility is necessary due to shared preparation areas. Multiple allergies or combinations, like both gluten and lactose intolerance, unfortunately, cannot be accommodated on board.

Please contact us at info@barkeuropa.com to discuss your food allergies.

Our experienced cook and cook's assistant will take care of all meals on board.

Our voyage crew is often surprised by the variety of dishes served on board during the voyages. The cooks try as hard/much as possible to use local ingredients from the ports we visit. Each day they will prepare a vegetarian meal (no fish and no meat) and a non-vegetarian meal. At the time of booking, you will choose one of these two options for your full voyage, so we can arrange the rights stores for your sailing expedition. We only offer a vegetarian or non-vegetarian option, we cannot cater to a vegan diet.

On most voyages we don't have the opportunity to get new supplies during our adventure, all shopping has to be done before departure. Therefore the cooks need to have an overview of the number of vegetarian and non-vegetarians on board and should be fully informed of any possible food allergies.

EUROPA offers a chance to disconnect from daily life.

There is no Wi-Fi on board, creating a digital detox experience. However, it is possible to send emails to family and friends, and in emergencies the office can always be contacted. 

On board and in Antarctica especially, no drones are permitted. The same goes for Starlink, since we want to have a real offline experience together. On board you have the option to send and receive emails through our on-board email system. 

On board, there is no internet access. This creates an environment where you can escape the digital world and fully immerse yourself in the experience of sailing at sea and embracing the moment. However, if you still wish to keep your loved ones informed, there is an option to send and receive small text emails. Additionally, a designated person from your home front will have access to the captain's phone number in case of emergencies.

When you decide to join us one of our voyages, you will be doing so as part of the voyage crew. This means that EUROPA’s permanent crew will train you to be a sailor. No experience is needed, our crew will learn you everything along the way. Everyone is welcome to take the helm, set sails, assist with maneuvers, navigation, weather observations, furling the sails on the yards and much more. The permanent crew will give lectures and instruct you during the voyage in steering, navigation and sail handling. This will be done in a ‘Dutch’ style, so without yelling, blowing whistles or uniforms.

It sometimes happens that people experience seasickness while sailing. Fortunately, there are many simple solutions available nowadays that can provide significant relief. Additionally, we have a doctor on board who is always ready to assist you.

At Bark EUROPA, we warmly welcome sailors between the ages of 15 and 72 to join our voyages, including ocean crossings and Antarctica expeditions. All those under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Please contact the shipping office to discuss the possibilities. 

Are you 65 years old or over? We kindly ask you to fill in the additional health statement that needs to be signed by your physician. This statement will be discussed with our team of ships doctors before we can make a final decision. To ensure the safety and comfort of all on board, the upper age limit for new guests is 72 at the time of embarkation. Guests who turn 73 during the voyage are welcome to join.

Sailors aged 73 to 75 who have recently sailed with us may be considered for shorter coastal voyages, when healthy and fit, based on individual assessment.

You should be comfortable moving around on a ship at sea and capable of basic physical tasks.

Examples of recommended abilities include:

• Walking one mile within 15 minutes
• Performing a few squats and push-ups
• Maintaining balance on a moving ship
• Climbing in and out of zodiacs and bunks

These guidelines help ensure everyone can move safely around the vessel.

Yes. Basic swimming ability is required for safety during our voyages.

Seasickness can happen to anyone, even experienced sailors.

Most people who experience seasickness adjust within two or three days as their bodies adapt to the movement of the ship. The crew can offer advice on how to manage it, and many guests find that staying on deck, getting fresh air, and keeping active helps.

Once your “sea legs” settle in, most people feel comfortable for the remainder of the voyage.

Our voyages are very remote and far away from direct medical help, we do have a doctor on board. In case of emergency we will take all measures to evacuate if necessary. However, since we are in a very remote area, it takes time before help can arrive. Therefore we have a strict booking process and health and fitness requirements. 

It depends a bit on the medical conditions. We kindly ask you to send in your booking form and give a good explanation of your situation. After that we will come back to you with additional questions and discuss the answers with our team of ship's doctors to make sure we can safely welcome you on the expedition.

If you are 65 or older at the time of sailing, we ask that you submit a health statement signed by your physician. Please email the document to info@barkeuropa.comwhen you book. Our ship’s doctor, along with the captain and shipping office, will review your statement to ensure readiness based on safety, fitness, and health.

Layering is key. Conditions can range from a warm lounge inside the ship to windy deck watches and snowy landings.

Typical essentials include:

• Merino wool base layers
• Waterproof outer layers
• Insulated mid-layers
• Knee-high boots for landings
• Waterproof gloves

Your outer layer should always be windproof and waterproof.

Typical footwear includes:

• Knee-high boots for landings
• Waterproof hiking shoes for deck work
• Comfortable indoor shoes for below deck

This combination keeps you prepared for both wet landings and daily life on board. 

Gear is not provided on board, we recommend buying a (second-hand) sailing jacket either through our own Marketplace or online. There are limited gear rental options available in Ushuaia.

We advise to arrive at least two days before embarkation — this gives enough time to travel and some room in case of flight delays. For the return, please also allow buffer
time when booking flights home.

We advise to leave 1 or 2 days between disembarking and flying home. However, in the last years it has rarely happened that we've missed our disembarkation date. We usually arrive near the port the evening before disembarkation.

You do not need a separate visa for Antarctica. However, you may need a visa or travel authorization for Argentina, depending on your nationality and passport. All travelers will need a valid passport, and if your nationality requires it, you must arrange the correct Argentine entry visa or authorization before travel. We recommend checking the requirements with the relevant Argentine consulate well in advance of departure.

Use the button below to submit your booking form for your preferred expedition date!

We are unfortunately not taking volunteers with us to Antarctica — you are welcome to join as a guest! We are unfortunately not offering any discounts for working on board either. Our crew schedule is complete for 2026.

Prices are per person and include accommodation and all meals on board & all lectures & landings in Antarctica.

If you are interested in a specific voyage but need time to decide or make arrangements, we can hold a bunk for you for two weeks. Just let us know your preferred voyage!