Expedition Guide Ratios Matter: How Terra Nova Delivers a More Immersive Antarctic Experience
In Antarctica, Your Guides Make All the Difference
When you travel to one of the most remote, awe-inspiring environments on Earth, you deserve more than just a tour. You deserve a true expedition.
At Terra Nova Expeditions, we believe the soul of any Antarctic journey lies in the quality of the guiding team and how accessible they are to each and every guest. That’s why we maintain one of the most generous ratios in the polar tourism industry:
14 highly experienced expedition staff for just 98 guests.
It’s a commitment that allows us to offer not only outstanding safety and logistical support, but also deeper connection, flexibility, and insight. Because in the polar regions, the more access you have to expert guidance, the more rewarding your experience becomes.
Industry Comparisons: Why the Numbers Matter
Let’s put this in context.
On many larger ships—carrying 150 to 200+ passengers—it’s common to see 8 to 12 expedition staff. While these teams are often talented and hardworking, their attention is inevitably stretched thin.
Smaller guide teams must juggle group management, safety oversight, presentations, and onshore logistics—leaving little room for personalised engagement or spontaneous exploration.
By contrast, at Terra Nova:
We maintain a ratio of 1 guide per 7 guests.
That’s nearly double the access compared to many vessels in the 150–200 passenger range.We never operate at full IAATO landing capacity.
With under 100 guests, everyone can land at once without needing to split into timed groups. No waiting, no missing out.More guides = more flexibility.
We can split into multiple activity groups: longer hikes, short strolls, photography outings, wildlife viewing, or scientific fieldwork. There’s something for every interest and ability level.
What Makes a Great Expedition Guide?
Our team is carefully curated to bring not only deep expertise but warmth, humour, and genuine passion for the polar regions.
Among them are:
Marine biologists and glaciologists
Historians and polar heritage experts
Wildlife photographers and ornithologists
Seasoned zodiac drivers and field safety specialists
This diversity ensures that no matter what piques your curiosity penguin behaviour, sea ice formation, Shackleton’s journey, or simply capturing the perfect shot you’ll find someone on board eager to share their knowledge with enthusiasm and confidence.
And because we travel in small groups, your conversations with guides aren’t confined to a daily briefing or a distant lecture. They happen during landings, over dinner, or while quietly watching the horizon for a whale spout.
Science Onboard: A Living Laboratory
Adding to this depth is something few expedition operators can offer: a dedicated science component on every voyage.
Each trip includes up to four working scientists conducting real-time research. This might include:
Cetacean monitoring programs
Penguin census work
Climate change studies
Oceanographic sampling
Guests are invited to participate in select research activities, joining what’s known as citizen science. Not only does this give a deeper understanding of the polar environment it allows you to contribute to it.
Imagine sailing through the Gerlache Strait while assisting with plankton tows, or landing on a remote beach to help record penguin nesting behaviour. These aren’t just passive encounters .. they’re immersive, meaningful experiences grounded in curiosity and stewardship.
Keep an eye on our website for announcements, or join our mailing list for updates.
Why It All Adds Up to a Better Journey
At Terra Nova, we don’t just take you to Antarctica .. we bring Antarctica to life.
Here’s what our guide-to-passenger philosophy enables:
Every guest ashore at once. No staged rotations, no time limits. Just you, the ice, and the freedom to explore.
Personalised engagement. You’ll know your guides by name, and they’ll know what interests you, whether it’s geology, birds, history or photography.
Flexible, guest-led itineraries. We’re not locked into a rigid plan. If orcas appear at midnight or conditions favour a rare landing, we’re ready to adapt because we have the team to do it.
Truly sustainable travel. Fewer people ashore means less wear on fragile environments and more time to foster understanding of how to protect them.
The Terra Nova Difference
The polar tourism industry is evolving and not always in the right direction. Larger ships with more passengers but fewer guides have entered the market, often prioritising volume over experience.
We’ve chosen a different path.
By keeping our vessel size deliberately small and our expedition team robust, we’ve created a model where quality, depth, and personal engagement come first. Every moment of your journey is led by people who are not only experts but passionate ambassadors for the White Continent.
Whether you're hiking a windswept ridge with a geologist, or listening to tales of Antarctic explorers from a seasoned historian while the ice drifts by you’ll feel part of something much bigger than a cruise. You’ll be part of a true expedition.
Join Us Aboard the St Helena
Explore our upcoming itineraries and be part of a new era of meaningful, small-ship Antarctic exploration.
