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You must be able to walk on loose, uneven surfaces such as gravel or pebble beaches. You must also be able to get into your inflatable kayak at knee level. Although our Paddling activity requires no prior experience to participate, you are more likely to enjoy the experience more if you are mildly fit and undertake some regular gentle exercise at home, such as walking.
Featured Shore Excursions
On your all-inclusive cruise to Antarctica you'll get closer to the Seventh Continent than you ever dreamed. Experience the magic as you step off your expedition boat and feel the crunch of snow beneath your boots. For a lucky few, camping in tents overnight is the ultimate Antarctic experience. John Kernan has been working in the expedition cruise industry for the past 24 years as a lecturer, naturalist, Zodiac driver, and expedition leader. He has led trips to all seven continents and over one hundred countries, with a keen focus on the polar and tropical regions.
At Sea, crossing the Drake Passage Southbound
You’ll usually have one full day in Punta Arenas, Chile, then schedule to fly to King George Island the next day. Then you’ll have 4 days on the ship, before flying back for another night in Punta Arenas. Either way, it’s paramount to really look into what’s included in your package. Some voyages may seem very cheap upfront but then charge extra for essentials like shore excursions, gear rentals, or even certain onboard facilities.
Your guide to cruising Antarctica
If you love the idea of kayaking but don’t want to do it every single day on your trip, many companies now offer what’s called ‘day paddle excursions’, where you sign up for a once-off and jump in an inflatable kayak for an hour or two. Most expedition ships that offer kayaking in Antarctica have a limited number of kayaks, so early reservation is crucial. 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. As icebergs loom majestically overhead and seals laze on floating ice, you can navigate through a surreal world rarely experienced by others. Of course Antarctic wildlife watching is always free and included in your trip.
If you want the ultimate bragging rights after your trip to Antarctica make sure you don’t miss the polar plunge. For those that are on a super tight schedule or really, really don’t want to cross the Drake, you can fly down to join your cruise to Antarctica. The length of Antarctica cruises vary quite a bit, with options ranging from a week right up to an entire month. And if you have some flexibility in your travel plans, there’s a big potential to lock in some remarkable last-minute deals. Smaller ships have much better manoeuvrability, which allows them to navigate through narrow channels and into tight bays to allow you to access Antarctica close up.
Having experienced a helicopter excursion from the vessel, I can say that it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Known for its posh eponymous river cruise line since 2008, Scenic next conquered the ocean by debuting Scenic Eclipse in 2019, with near-twin Scenic Eclipse II making its splash in 2023. Billed as "six-star discovery yachts," the glam ships feature 114 all-veranda suites (200 passengers in polar waters), 10 dining experiences, nine lounges and bars, gym and even a yoga and Pilates studio. As we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start our lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment.
Antarctica Cruise Atlas Insider Expeditions - Not Quite Nigella
Antarctica Cruise Atlas Insider Expeditions.
Posted: Thu, 11 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
National Geographic devotees are at the top of the list -- from magazine admirers to those who've already toured or cruised with National Geographic -- who like the scientific bent. Combine Lindblad Expeditions' 50-plus years of experience with National Geographic's iconic photographers, experts and, often, researchers and scientists, and we're talking a match made in an educational adventure heaven. Among the big-ship cruise lines sailing to Antarctica, Princess Cruises sits right about in the middle of the pack with pricing that is highly flexible, allowing you to add all-in style fare options that make your cruise almost all inclusive. Book early enough with a sale in place and you might find the deal of the century. Refurbished as part of the Norwegian Edge program in 2018, Norwegian Star shines with upgrades. Our Paddling Activity is suitable for novices and no prior experience is required to participate.
What is the best time to cruise to Antarctica?
Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature. A transfer to Ushuaia airport or to your hotel is included in the voyage fare. Encompassed by the Antarctic convergence (an uneven line of latitude where the cold waters of the Antarctic merge with the warmer waters of the world's oceans), Antarctica is both cold and remote, located in the Southern Hemisphere.
All members — regardless of status — will enjoy a $250 onboard credit to use on incidentals. We always recommend booking Antarctic cruises sooner rather than later. Book Celebrity with the right timing and you might find getting to Antarctica is more affordable than you thought. Celebrity typically doesn’t devote a ship to an extended season in Antarctica, which may narrow your opportunity to only one month. But the good news is that the reservation window is typically roughly two years in advance.
Because of the remoteness of Antarctica, connections can be slow, so all ships charge for data used rather than time spent online. Please refer to your detailed pre-departure information for more information on Internet facilities on your ship. Antarctica is best visited in the summer months from November to March when the weather is warmer and the sea ice has melted enough to get closer to the island shore. Antarctica was formed around 35 million years ago and remained undiscovered until around 1820 when Russian explorers spotted the mainland. However, this may have only been the first documented discovery of Antarctica, as it's believed that Pacific Islanders may have reached the white continent in 650 AD. You’ll find out everything you want to know from our Antarctic experts, including naturalists and ornithologists.
You can wander around a predetermined path, set out by the expedition guides, to visit research stations and viewpoints, or get closer to penguin colonies. 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 length of your voyage determines not only how much of Antarctica you get to explore but also how much time you spend on the open sea versus the continent itself. Adventure activities, such as kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding and camping, usually have an additional cost no matter which company you’re with too. They have some pretty unique offerings, including a submarine that you can book for seeing Antarctica beneath the surface, and really fun activities.
On 24 April 1916, they piled into the James Caird, the most seaworthy of their lifeboats, to attempt this perilous journey to South Georgia, some 1290 kilometres (802 miles) distance. There he would enlist the help of the whalers to return to Elephant Island and rescue the men who had been left behind. This question is something we thought long and hard about before deciding to run our own ship in Antarctica. We’re deeply committed to being a responsible business and understanding the impact we have on the places we visit. All Intrepid trips are 100% carbon neutral, but we are driven to do more, from committing to science-based decarbonisation targets to and recently updating our Seven-point Climate Action Plan. Alternatively, there may be a ship-based email system where you will have an email account to stay in touch with family and friends.
For that reason, I am partial to the older but more intimate Hurtigruten polar vessel Fram, which carries just 200 passengers when operating in Antarctica. But Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen have one big advantage versus that ship and many others operating in Antarctica, which is that their starting rates for trips to the region are significantly lower. High-tech touches include a GPS that lets it hover in sensitive areas without dropping anchor. 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. French-speaking passengers or Francophile cruisers who love Gallic flair and cuisine will find their bliss with Ponant. Passengers who want to see and hear Antarctica's underwater life over cocktails or enjoy major pampering after their day of exploration will adore cruising with Ponant.
No ship that carries more than 500 passengers can land passengers in Antarctica, while smaller ships can land no more than 100 passengers at a time. The best Antarctica cruise line will depend entirely on your budget and your goals. Want to spend the most time possible with boots on the ground in Antarctica?
Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favorite spots along the peninsula. Jeff has worked making films with National Geographic, Mission Blue, the Toronto Raptors NBA team, and in over 60 countries around the world. He has shot everywhere from inside the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to the seas beneath Darwin's Arch in the Galapagos islands.
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