Atlas Ocean Voyages is expanding its "Fly the Drake" program for the 2027–2028 season, adding six dedicated fly-cruise departures to meet rising demand from travelers looking to maximize time exploring the Antarctic Peninsula.
The expanded lineup provides two expedition styles that reduce or completely bypass the traditional two-day open-ocean crossing of the Drake Passage. By utilizing direct private charter flights between Punta Arenas, Chile, and King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, guests can reach the polar environment in roughly two hours.
The upcoming schedule divides the six departures across two distinct operational formats:
Drake Express Expedition: A seven-night roundtrip voyage starting and finishing at King George Island, with private charter flights operating both ways to bypass the sea crossing entirely.
Drake Fly & Sail Expedition: A hybrid itinerary allowing travelers to sail across the Drake Passage by sea before returning on a chartered flight from King George Island back to Punta Arenas.
Comprehensive Base Inclusions: Every package includes charter flights, one-night hotel stays in Punta Arenas before and after the sailing, and six full days of Zodiac landings and shore excursions.
The scheduled departure dates for the Drake Express include November 28, 2027; December 5, 2027; February 12, 2028; and February 19, 2028. The hybrid Fly & Sail itineraries will depart on November 19, 2027, and February 3, 2028.
The announcement coincides with a key milestone for the cruise line, which recently marked five years since its flagship vessel, World Navigator, began operations in August 2021.
The company has since grown into a three-yacht polar fleet alongside World Traveller and World Voyager, while maintaining guest loyalty rates near 30 percent, according to reporting by Cruise Monitor.
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Atlas is also preparing for future expansion with the planned late-2028 launch of Atlas Adventurer, designed as the world's first luxury expedition sailing yacht to explore routes across Asia and Africa, as highlighted by Insider Travel Report.
Onboard all Antarctic departures, activities are guided by a 17-member expedition team of naturalists, marine biologists, and polar specialists. Early season voyages in November and December feature pristine ice formations and penguin nesting colonies, while February departures provide peak whale-watching opportunities as humpback, minke, and orca populations feed in coastal waters.
The 2027–2028 fly-cruise Antarctica expeditions are currently open for reservations through travel advisors or directly with the cruise line.
To support the deployment and mark the fleet's fifth anniversary, Atlas is offering promotional savings on select polar itineraries booked through September 30, 2026, including fare discounts, onboard credits, and airfare allowances. Standard expedition bookings continue to include private charter flights, gourmet dining, premium beverages, and complimentary polar parkas.
This story was originally published by TravelHost on Aug 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add TravelHost as a Preferred Source by clicking here.