A new way to reach the White Continent is one step closer. The Magellan Discoverer, a 100-passenger expedition ship under construction in Chile, has finished its sea trials in the South Atlantic, according to shipbuilder ASENAV. Delivery is expected later this year, with paying guests stepping aboard from December for a maiden season in Antarctica.
The trials saw representatives from various authorities come aboard to test navigation, safety and technical systems as the vessel finishes final construction work in Valdivia. Once complete, it will claim a notable first: ASENAV says it will be the first hybrid-electric expedition ship ever built at a shipyard in the Americas. It also carries a Corvus battery package as part of a push to meet top environmental standards.
Ordered by expedition operator Antarctica21 in early 2024, the 5,900-ton ship is built for icy conditions with a PC6 ice-class hull. Onboard, the focus is on comfort and views: every cabin is larger than typical expedition fare and comes with a private balcony, and a wraparound walking deck gives 360-degree sightlines over the ice.
The Discoverer will sail alongside its sister ship Magellan Explorer, which ASENAV also built and which entered service in 2023. The project has drawn political attention too — Chile's president recently toured the yard and highlighted government efforts to encourage domestic shipbuilding.
For travellers, the practical hook is Antarctica21's signature fly-cruise format. Instead of crossing the notoriously rough Drake Passage by ship both ways, passengers start in Chile, take a chartered flight to King George Island, and board the ship there for their Antarctic expedition. It saves days of sailing and skips some of the worst seasickness risk on the planet. The line's 2026-27 season has already kicked off, with the Magellan Explorer sailing itineraries from Puerto Montt covering Patagonia and the Chilean Fjords alongside Antarctica.
Anyone weighing up an Antarctica trip should keep an eye on the Discoverer's launch fares — new ships on their maiden season often see strong demand, but also some introductory pricing. With just 100 guests, landings and Zodiac time tend to be smoother than on big-ship operations, and private balconies are a genuine luxury in polar waters where most expedition vessels offer basic porthole cabins. If a shorter, flight-based Antarctic trip sounds like your pace, this could be the most comfortable way to do it.
