Table Of Content

It’s included in most trips, weather permitting, and you’ll get to come home with some cool photos to prove you did it. Once you’ve used a zodiac to get to shore you have a few other included activities – landings and hiking. If you have a month up your sleeve you can either take the historic Ross Sea trips from New Zealand or Tasmania, or be a real adventurer and jump on tall ship to sail down to Antarctica. 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. These ships focus on the adventure and Antarctica expedition with an authentic flare, where you feel encouraged to be out on deck or in the lounge areas when you’re onboard rather than sprawled out in your cabin.
Wildlife in Antarctica

Viking Octantis is designed to carry 378 passengers, which is on the high side for Antarctica cruise ships. Like Hurtigruten's Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, it isn't able to land all or even most of its passengers at once in Antarctica. In September 2021, Ponant unveiled an even tougher polar vessel, the 270-passenger Le Commandant Charcot. Equipped with ice breaking capabilities, it's able to sail to polar areas that most other polar cruise vessels can't reach. Note that, currently, its Antarctica sailings are being mostly marketed by Ponant itself, which means they may draw mostly French-speaking travelers. High-tech touches include a GPS that lets it hover in sensitive areas without dropping anchor.
NEW! The Americas, Chile & Antarctica

Some embarkations require passengers to book flights at preferred times. Silver Endeavour, the line’s newest expedition vessel, takes both adventure and pampering to new heights. It touts a PC6 ice-class rating, one-to-one crew-passenger ratio and Otium, a new spa concept that debuted on Silver Dawn driven by decadence. Outings are twice-daily in 18 Zodiacs led by a 20-member expedition team or in the 14 onboard kayaks. Silversea manages to combine an ultra-luxury cruise ship experience with an adrenaline-charged expedition.
A symphony of ice and sky
Think casinos, specialty restaurants and flashy entertainment when you aren’t out nature-watching. Want more of a taste of what an adventure to the Great White Continent would be like? Our free guidebook shows you what wildlife you might see, the places you might go, how to be a responsible traveller, gives you tips on what to pack and more.
How fit do I need to be to travel to Antarctica?
When you cruise to Antarctica, you get to take in breathtaking views and infinite beauty from the comfort of your balcony or the top-deck. Set your eyes on whale-abundant waters and catch a glimpse of penguin colonies as you sail past and feel free to experience all the wonder that surrounds you. The focus is always on full immersion in the destination on a highly comfortable ship featuring excellent food.
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]
Learn more about Antarctica
Snow Hill Island, in the ice-choked Weddell Sea, is the site of one of the world’s largest colonies of Emperor penguins. The sub-Antarctic destinations of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia are equally rich with wildlife. It would be the obvious first choice of devotees of Viking’s ocean liners and river cruises.
How to Cruise Antarctica Without Sailing the Drake Passage - TravelAge West
How to Cruise Antarctica Without Sailing the Drake Passage.
Posted: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
There’s everything from Magellanic penguins to military history to pique the interest of polar travelers. Patagonia is a sparsely-populated, wildlife-rich region in the southern part South America. The Andes Mountains form the natural divide between Argentine Patagonia and Chilean Patagonia, where Quark Expeditions focuses its explorations. This western part of Patagonia that lies in Chile is known for its glaciers, fjords, mountains, channels, waterfalls, lakes, verdant forests and abundant wildlife. Torres del Paine National Park, the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, Cape Horn and the Diego Ramirez Islands are popular destinations for visitors to Patagonia. Plus, anyone fearful of embarking and disembarking exploration boats can take comfort in the sheltered Hangar where passengers easily get in and out of Special Operations Boats from inside the ship, well protected by elements.
Antarctic Peninsula
For many, exploring this vast, frozen continent is a once-in-a-lifetime dream. To cross the Drake Passage and reach the last great frontier - a place where sun glints off pristine ice and wildlife reigns supreme - is truly life-changing. At HX, we've been exploring Antarctica for over 20 years, and we do so in a sustainable style, with a world-leading science programme that actively helps the fragile ecosystems we explore.
Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Other unusual features include a full-blown science center with state-of-the-art gadgets and underwater drones for passenger use. World Navigator is the first of five nearly identical sister vessels that Atlas Ocean Voyages will roll out by late 2024, many of which will sail regularly to Antarctica. Be the first to hear about our latest offers, exciting itineraries and inspirational articles. On the southern-most tip of the planet rests one of the world's most massive and mysterious landmasses - the frozen realm of Antarctica. Named after the legendary Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen - the first man to traverse the Northwest Passage in 1903, and reach the Geographical South Pole in 1911.
On the downside, the helicopter pad and hangars eat up a lot of space on the vessel's top deck, as do the suites along the vessel's sharply sloping front. The result is a ship with less outdoor space for viewing scenery than is typical for small vessels operating polar trips. Like Scenic river ships, Scenic Eclipse is a high-end vessel with all-suite accommodations (and we're talking real suites, with separate living rooms), butler service for all and a wide range of onboard dining options including a sushi restaurant.
Like Holland America, Princess has a long history of providing non-expedition, yet stunningly beautiful cruises to its guests in Alaska. That fact translates to expectations of a high-quality experience in Antarctica, therefore a high value for the price paid. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) regulates ship schedules, but more importantly, ship size and passenger landing numbers. 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. Whether you want a full-on expedition cruise with hiking, kayaking and polar plunges, or are looking for a slightly less intense Antarctica cruise, there’s a cruise line that suits your needs.
Despite its seemingly unforgiving, yet hauntingly beautiful landscape, legions of tuxedoed-looking penguins waddle across the rocky terrain while giant elephant seals lounge on its shores. Get ready to set sail aboard Norwegian Star and discover the southernmost edge of the South Pole, Antarctica. Embark on an expedition cruise and witness breathtaking icebergs and penguins by the beach from the top deck, all as you take in once-in-a-lifetime moments.
No comments:
Post a Comment