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Antarctica cruise scenery

Best time to cruise · No regular sailings

Antarctica cruises in May

You can’t cruise Antarctica in May. Darkness grows each day, sea ice spreads rapidly, and the wildlife summer visitors see has largely left: penguins disperse to sea and whales migrate north to warmer breeding grounds. If you want polar scenery now, look at Svalbard, Greenland or Iceland voyages in the Northern Hemisphere instead.

  • No regular sailings
  • Avg high 52°F
  • 9 hrs daylight

Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Antarctica in May: No regular sailings

You can’t cruise Antarctica in May. Darkness grows each day, sea ice spreads rapidly, and the wildlife summer visitors see has largely left: penguins disperse to sea and whales migrate north to warmer breeding grounds. If you want polar scenery now, look at Svalbard, Greenland or Iceland voyages in the Northern Hemisphere instead.

Across Antarctica cruise ports, May brings average highs around 52°F (11°C) and lows near 45°F, with about 2 inches of rain over the month and roughly 9 hours of daylight.

Verdict
No regular sailings
Season
Late October or November to March; penguin chicks December to February, whales peak February to March.
Average high / low
52°F / 45°F
Rainfall (month)
2 in
Daylight
About 9 hours
Typical cruise length
10 to 12 nights from Ushuaia; 18 to 23 nights with the Falklands and South Georgia

How May compares with the rest of the year

Antarctica in AprilAntarctica in June

Antarctica weather in May

Average monthly weather in Antarctica cruise ports
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F (°C)661966196317581452114894784995211561361166418
Low °F (°C)54125412521148945741539441542645749105211
Rain in (mm)1.8451.8462.2552.1532.0511.8451.7421.7441.3331.4351.8471.742
Daylight (hrs)151413119991012141516
Average daily highs and lows and monthly rainfall for 2015–2024 from NASA POWER for the area around Antarctica cruise ports, adjusted to sea level; daylight is calculated for mid-month. Real weather on any given day varies.

May weather port by port

PortAvg highAvg lowRainDaylight
Ushuaia42°F36°F2.0 in8 h
Stanley (Falkland Islands)44°F39°F1.9 in9 h
Punta Arenas45°F38°F1.9 in9 h
Buenos Aires63°F56°F2.8 in10 h
Santiago (San Antonio & Valparaíso)60°F55°F1.2 in10 h
Puerto Madryn59°F44°F2.1 in10 h

Average daily highs and lows, 2015–2024, from NASA POWER, adjusted to sea level. Rain is the average monthly total.

Other great cruise destinations in May

See every destination for May, with a port weather map →

Antarctica in May: FAQs

Is May a good time to cruise Antarctica?

Generally not: there are few or no regular sailings. You can’t cruise Antarctica in May. Darkness grows each day, sea ice spreads rapidly, and the wildlife summer visitors see has largely left: penguins disperse to sea and whales migrate north to warmer breeding grounds. If you want polar scenery now, look at Svalbard, Greenland or Iceland voyages in the Northern Hemisphere instead.

What is the weather like on a Antarctica cruise in May?

Across Antarctica cruise ports, May brings average highs around 52°F (11°C) and lows near 45°F, with about 2 inches of rain over the month and roughly 9 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.

When is the best time to cruise Antarctica?

Late October or November to March; penguin chicks December to February, whales peak February to March.. The best months are usually January, February, December.

Where else can I cruise in May?

May is also a top month for Bahamas, Bermuda, Hawaii, Pacific Coastal, Galápagos Islands.

Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.

Sources: NASA POWER climate data.