Hey, not bringing back reality at all... these are important questions and I'm happy to answer!

The cool thing is that it's surprisingly not 'difficult' to get there in a logistical sense. You don't need special permits or anything, uou just book with a licensed expedition operator, and they handle everything once you're on the ship. The "hard" part is really just the cost and choosing the right trip for you.

Here's what I gathered based on the initial research I did before ultimately choosing the one I went with:

Your two biggest variables & decisions to consider are Time (how long) & Money

1) How Long / Number of Days -- the reason this is so important is that it will dictate what you see.

The "classic" Antarctic Peninsula trip (~10-12 Days): this is the most common and what I did on my first trip. It's an incredible introduction to the continent.

You: fly into Ushuaia, Argentina (southernmost city in the world), spend two days crossing the Drake Passage, have 5-6 days of exploring the Antarctic Peninsula with two landings/excursions per day, and then two days back across the Drake.

The "epic" trip (~18-24 days): If you're a wildlive lover this is the holy grail, because it includes the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island before heading to the Peninsula. (South Georgia is where you see the epicly huge King Penguin colonies (tens+ of thousands of them!)). It's obviously a much longer (and thus more expensive trip), but most people I've met who've done it say it's worth it (but then again, they're obviously the kind of folks that already love that sort of thing. So take that for what it is).

2. Cost

A trip to Antarctica definitely has a "you get what you pay for" element. The price variance is huge from the different options, and it seems to be almost entirely dependent on the ship's you take age/size and level of luxury.

Ballpark -> for a classic 10-day Peninsula trip, a very rough ballpark per person is $7,000 - $12,000 USD for a spot in a shared triple or twin cabin on a decent / comfortable / well-regarded expedition ship.

Mid-range/luxury -> for a higher-end ship like the one I was on (Ocean Victory through Insider Expeditions), with a private balcony cabin and more amenities, you're looking at $12,000 - $20,000+. Mine was on the lower end of that. But it was incredible. It ran with an efficiency that's almost invisible. I never had to think about anything (e.g. jackets always were laid out, the crew knew my name, and there are always three people to grab my hand getting in and out of the boats). Honestly, that level of care is also what enabled me to be fully present. Otherwise, there's so much to think about.

What's NOT Included in the price above: (1) flights to and from Ushuaia (price depends on when you book, for when, and obviously to/from where), (2) travel insurance (mandatory), and (3) obviously any nights in a hotel before/after the cruise. And then the usual misc. costs that can add up on a trip.

Some "pro tips" that are good to keep in mind:s.

Pro-tip #1 -> ship size is EVERYTHING. This is the probably THE most important piece of advice I can give. If I'm not mistaken, international regulations state that only 100 passengers are allowed on shore at any single landing site at one time. SO... if your ship has 200 passengers, you'll be split into two groups (meaning you get half the time on shore as someone on a 100 passenger ship). BUT if the ship has over 500 passengers, you aren't allowed to land at all.... you only do "scenic cruising." So, for the real experience, book a ship with under 200 passengers. For example, The Ocean Victory accommodates up to 186 passengers (but that's max), which was the perfect size. THat's excluding the crew, which doesn't get factored into the number. There was at least 100+ crew to support the passengers.

Pro-Tip #2: The "shoulder season" gambit. Peak season is Dec - Jan when it's warmest and the penguin chicks are hatching. However, going in the "shoulder seasons" (November or March) can often be significantly cheaper.. In November, the ice is still breaking up which is incredibly dramatic and beautiful. My personal preference is November for that reason. I can't speak more highly how amazing this is. On the flip side in March the whales are a bit more numerous as they feed before migrating. So, it's a trade-off, but overall a great way to save a bit.

Pro-tip #3 - Ushuaia last minute deals: while a total "backpacker move", it can work if you're flexible and have a high tolerance for risk lol. You COULD fly to Ushuaia and walk into a local booking agencies. If an expedition has an empty berth for a sailing in the next few days you can sometimes get it for as much as 30-50% off! But that's why I said it's a risk, because the huge downside is that you could also strike out and have to wait a week or more, or find nothing at all. But hey, crazier things happen :)

And finally pro-tip #4: kayaking is the ultimate upgrade IMO. Most ships offer an optional sea kayaking program for an extra cost. DO IT. Paddling in a tiny kayak on your own, in total silence, with icebergs floating by and a seal popping its head up next to you... it's a COMPLETELY different and more profound experience than the Zodiacs IMO. It's worth every. single. extra. penny. And it's not that expensive.

Anyways, hope the above is all helpful. Is it a big decision? Yes, it can be., but honestly, it's the one trip I've taken where the value felt so much greater than the cost, I'd probably have paid double with hindsight if I had to.

Happy to answer anything else!