Is the Drake Passage rough? What to expect on the crossing
Yes. The Drake Passage has the strongest reputation of any regular passenger crossing, and the physics behind it are real. The picture is more mixed than the name suggests, though. Operators commonly report that roughly seven crossings in ten are calm to moderate, the so-called Drake Lake, with about three in ten living up to the Drake Shake.
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Passage · Southern Ocean · Reputation among passengers: among the roughest stretches of water crossed by passenger ships.
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Roughness summarises typical reported conditions for this crossing, not a forecast for any given sailing.
No land to stop wind, swell or current
In the Nausea Index table of the 121 sea crossings we cover, the Drake Passage is rated notorious, one of 6 in the top band. Full table: the roughest sea crossings, ranked.
Key facts
- The Drake Passage is a passage, and passenger reports place it in the very high roughness band.
- The mechanism behind that reputation: No land to stop wind, swell or current.
- Conditions are reported roughest in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November.
- It is also known as Mar de Hoces.
Why is the Drake Passage so rough?
Between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands there is no continental land in the way. South America has ended and Antarctica has not yet begun, so the Antarctic Circumpolar Current runs right round the globe unobstructed, moving on the order of 170 million cubic metres of water a second through this gap, the largest transport of any current on Earth. The same band of latitude carries the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties. Wind and current arrive having circled the planet with nothing to slow them.
When is the Drake Passage roughest?
The expedition season runs from about late October to March. December and January are commonly reported as offering the best chance of a settled passage, while the shoulder months at each end tend to be less reliable. Outside the season the passage is at its worst, but no passenger ships are crossing then. Within the season, luck matters more than the calendar.
| Roughest water in Jan | Roughest water in Feb | Roughest water in Mar | Roughest water in Apr | Roughest water in May | Roughest water in Jun | Roughest water in Jul | Roughest water in Aug | Roughest water in Sep | Roughest water in Oct | Roughest water in Nov | Roughest water in Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rough | Rough | Roughest | Roughest | Roughest | Roughest | Roughest | Roughest | Roughest | Roughest | Roughest | Rough |
Typical seasonal pattern, not a forecast. Any month can deliver a calm crossing or a bad one. Check the marine forecast for your sailing date. Select a month to see every sea and ferry crossing ranked for it.
Where to be on board
Front to back
- Bow (front)Avoid
- MidshipBest
- Stern (aft)OK
The crossing: About 48 hours each way
Roughest stretch: Open water, after the Beagle Channel until the Shetlands
Lowest passenger deck you can get, close to midship. Height above the waterline matters most here.
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The crossings that cross it
| Route | Typical duration | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Ushuaia-Antarctic Peninsula | About 48 hours each way | The standard expedition routing. The passage is roughly 800 km wide at this point. |
| Punta Arenas-King George Island | About 2 hours by air | The fly-cruise alternative, which skips the passage in one or both directions. |
What helps on this crossing
- The first evening out of Ushuaia is sheltered Beagle Channel water. Eat properly and settle in then, before the ship reaches open sea overnight.
- Consider a fly-cruise itinerary. Flying between Punta Arenas and King George Island takes about two hours and removes the sea crossing entirely.
- Some operators sell a one-way fly option, so you cross once by sea and fly the other leg. Worth asking about if the return worries you.
- Expedition ships are small and move a lot. Ask about a cabin's deck and position rather than its view when you book.
- The passage is crossed twice, out and back. Whatever routine works southbound, repeat it, because the return is the same water in reverse.
- Stairs and corridors get genuinely difficult in a shake. Ships fit handrails everywhere for a reason; move between fixed points rather than walking freely.
For the full toolkit see the seasickness guide, or what to do once it has already started. For what the trials actually say about the oldest trick on that list, see the verdict on looking at the horizon. If the rocking follows you ashore afterwards, that is land sickness, which is normal, and it passes.
Frequently asked questions
How rough is the Drake Passage really?
Reports vary, which is worth knowing before you set expectations. Operators commonly quote roughly 70% of crossings as calm to moderate and around 30% as rough. People who cross repeatedly tend to be less generous, describing a genuinely flat Drake Lake as uncommon. The likeliest outcome sits between the two: noticeable, tiring motion rather than either extreme.
What is the difference between the Drake Lake and the Drake Shake?
They are informal names, not measurements. Drake Lake describes a crossing with small swell and light wind, calm enough that people forget where they are. Drake Shake describes the opposite: large swell, constant motion, and most passengers staying in their cabins. Reported swell across the passage ranges from around two to three metres up to twelve or more.
Can you avoid the Drake Passage?
Yes. Fly-cruise itineraries fly between Punta Arenas in Chile and King George Island in the South Shetlands, a flight of about two hours, and you join the ship there. Some operators also sell a one-way version: sail the passage in one direction and fly the other. Those flights depend on Antarctic weather and can be delayed.
How long does the Drake Passage crossing take?
About 48 hours each way on a typical expedition ship, so roughly two nights at sea in each direction. The first few hours out of Ushuaia are in the sheltered Beagle Channel, and ships usually reach open water late that evening. Faster vessels shorten it. The passage is about 800 km wide at the crossing point.
When is the Drake Passage calmest?
Within the expedition season, December and January are commonly reported as the best chance of a settled crossing, with the shoulder months at either end less reliable. That is a tendency, not a guarantee. Weather systems move through the passage constantly, so two ships a week apart in January can have completely different crossings.
Is the Drake Passage rough in winter?
Usually, yes. Winter there runs from June to August. In a typical year, June, July and August are all rated roughest. This is the typical pattern, not a forecast for any sailing.
Other crossings
Sources & further reading
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_Passage
- https://poseidonexpeditions.com/about/articles/drake-passage-the-crossing-on-a-cruise-to-antarctica/
- https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/blog/crossing-the-drake-passage-how-to-prepare-for-the-drake-shake
- https://mylifesamovie.com/how-bad-is-the-drake-passage-tips-from-someone-whos-crossed-6-times/
- https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2016GL070319
Sea conditions described here are typical patterns drawn from published marine and operator information as of July 2026, not a forecast: conditions on any given sailing depend on the weather that day, and any month can deliver a calm crossing or a bad one. Route and operator names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Seasickness sensitivity varies from person to person; this page is informational and not medical advice.