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The duration of an Antarctica cruise can vary based on factors like the departure point and the specific itinerary chosen. When planning the ultimate trip to the Last Continent, there are many options to weigh and factors to consider for the best Antarctic expedition. We have compiled a list of 10 steps to help you craft your perfect Antarctic expedition cruise.
Best Time To Go
Once you’ve used a zodiac to get to shore you have a few other included activities – landings and hiking. Zodiacs not only allow you to step food on land, but they also let you get up close to icebergs, glaciers, and wildlife. Starting in Buenos Aires or Ushuaia, you then have one sea day to make it to Falkland Islands, then usually have two days exploring around the British archipelago.
The ‘Trio’ – Antarctica, South Georgia and Falkland Islands
It's not for everyone: 3 things to know about Antarctica expedition cruises - USA TODAY
It's not for everyone: 3 things to know about Antarctica expedition cruises.
Posted: Sun, 14 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The 200-passenger Ocean Endeavour is a comfortable, well-appointed small expedition ship expertly engineered to explore the polar regions. The ship has an ice-strengthened hull, Zodiacs for exploration and remote landings, generous deck space and advanced navigation equipment. Antarctica21 operates Fly & Cruise Expeditions to Antarctica and Sea Voyages to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, and Antarctica. Our trips are boutique wilderness adventures taking you to Antarctica and beyond.
Antarctica travel FAQs
A Zodiac is a small inflatable power boat used to ferry guests from the ship to the shore. A larger number of Zodiacs can expedite the landing process, resulting in more time in Antarctica and less time waiting. Zodiacs are also used for exploration and guided marine excursions to visit glaciers and icebergs, and view whales and wildlife.
Best Time To Visit Antarctica: Wildlife & Weather By Month
Norwegian Cruise Line passengers claim Antarctica voyage was rerouted mid-trip - ABC News
Norwegian Cruise Line passengers claim Antarctica voyage was rerouted mid-trip.
Posted: Wed, 14 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
When you book a sea kayaking package you are given a dry suit and instruction from your experienced guides, and the goal is to get out as much as possible during your itinerary. If you’re ready to step up the adventure, here’s a guide on what’s on offer and how to ensure you don’t miss out. It’s included in most trips, weather permitting, and you’ll get to come home with some cool photos to prove you did it.
The total surface of Antarctica is 14.2 Million square kilometres (about 5.5 million square miles) in summer. Be the first to hear about our latest offers, exciting itineraries and inspirational articles. Antarctica isn't part of one single country, rather it is a continent governed under a series of recognized guidelines and agreements called the Antarctic Treaty System. Antarctica refers to the seventh continent of the world and is largely situated in the Antarctic Circle - a line of latitude sitting at around 66.5° south of the equator - at the base of the globe. While plenty of animals live in Antarctica (such as various species of whale, penguin, seal and bird), there are very few humans that call Antarctica home, instead using the region as a base for research.
While Antarctica may not be hospitable to human life, there are plenty of animal species that call the seventh continent their home. Antarctica’s shores echo with the travails of the great polar explorers from Shackleton and Mawson, to Amundsen and Scott. Follow in their frosted footsteps, feel their pioneering spirit of adventure on the sea air, and imagine their plight forging their way through pack ice on a creaking wooden boat or hauling sledges lionheartedly across the Polar Plateau. As purveyors of pioneering, small-ship expeditions that optimize a passenger’s polar experience, we promise to minimize your time on ship and maximize your time on shore for a more immersive and authentic Antarctic adventure.
Antarctica Expedition Cruise Ships
Sea birds also make part of the abundant wildlife, with albatross, skuas, petrels and terns commonly found. Some of the animals you could see are many penguin species such as gentoos, adélie penguins, Magellanic penguins, rockhoppers, chinstraps, king penguins, emperors (if you’re super lucky) and macaronis. You wander down the gangway, strap a harness and rope to you, and literally jump off a perfectly good (and warm) ship into the icy water. One thing to keep in mind though is that the length of time the companies advertise is not how much time you get to spend in Antarctica. Or get in touch with us for the best price possible with our current favourite operator, Quark Expeditions, even better than what they advertise to the public.
Feel the spray of water from the blow of a humpback whale on a Zodiac safari in Wilhelmina Bay. Wonder at awe-inspiring scenery on a ship cruise through the Lemaire Channel. Watch city-sized tabular icebergs drift silently past the ship in the Antarctic Sound. Wherever we go on the Antarctic Peninsula, endemic wildlife, tantalising history and breathtaking natural beauty abound.
Whilst our suggestions above are just possible routes and landings, we can be sure that this will be the ultimate Antarctic experience. Explore this vibrant Patagonian city, or stretch your legs in the surrounding forests. Alternatively, consider a day trip off the beaten path into the raw nature of Tierra del Fuego. The island of Tierra del Fuego is a hiker’s paradise with rugged snow-capped mountains, glaciers, flower-filled meadows and rich boggy wetlands. In the afternoon, we board our vessel, waiting to welcome us in port. This question is something we thought long and hard about before deciding to run our own ship in Antarctica.
Naturalist guides and science-based tools for exploration, such as video microscopes and underwater rovers, are the best available. Lecture rooms are like modern theaters bringing presentations to life. A fleet of modern luxury ships has emerged in recent years, offering an increase level of comfort and efficiency. Newly launched luxury ships with upscale cabins, the latest amenities, the finest cabins and superb service will cost more. Each Antarctica cruise ship in our list features a detailed description, deck plan, cabin configurations and a firsthand review. Contact our Antarctica expedition cruise ship experts for a free consultation to find the best ship and trip for your interests, ability and budget.
Witness some of Earth’s most beautiful scenery in one of Earth’s least hospitable environments. Antarctica is the coldest, highest, windiest, and driest of all Earth’s continents, though it grants our cruise passengers access to many of the most dazzling sights our planet has to offer. Gray rock peaks punch out of the wind-carved snow, passing icebergs dot the dark blue waters, and wildlife abounds that can be seen nowhere else – all serving to remind us that we are truly in another world.
Having experienced a helicopter excursion from the vessel, I can say that it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Lindblad was the original pioneer of tourist trips to Antarctica, and it has years of experience in the region that has helped shape the way it designed these nearly identical vessels, both specifically built for polar travel. There are more small ships than ever cruising Antarctica with vessels and itinerary options for every style and budget.
See all Antarctica cruise deals for a comprehensive list of current savings on these and other adventures. The 170-guest M/V Hondius was built exclusively for cruises in Antarctica and the Arctic. She is one of the strongest ice-strengthened vessels currently cruising in the polar regions.
At HX, we've been exploring Antarctica for over 20 years, and we do so in sustainable style, with a world-leading science program that actively helps the fragile ecosystems we explore. Embark on one of the longest Antarctica-only cruises, this 13-day Antarctica Explorer voyage, and discover in depth the breathtaking scenery, glacier-clad peaks, and extraordinary wildlife of the Great White Continent. Experience a genuine exploratory expedition with no predetermined schedule, allowing you to discover Antarctica as it was meant to be.
I've sailed on nearly all of these new vessels, in many cases in polar regions, and have been consistently amazed by just how much of an upgrade they really are. A couple of suggestions - make sure you have enough hiking poles for everyone on each hike. One of them the first wave of people took all of the poles and for us there were none left and the snow was quite deep. We were on the first landing and the staff caught on for the 2nd landing and notified those folks to please just take 1 pole so everyone has at least 1 pole. Cabin was quite comfortable and staff took good care each time we were out. The only thing I was upset about was that there were not enough bivvies for all 60 people who signed up for camping and we literally had to make a run for it to be one of the lucky ones.
