Table Of Content
Those who cruise with Holland America often typically enjoy the line’s point-to-point itineraries (as opposed to round-trip cruises). In Antarctica, the line sails 22-night cruises between San Antonio, Chile and Buenos Aires, with four full days in Antarctic waters. Added highlights include cruising Chilean fjords and ports of calls in Chile. With no set itinerary in Antarctica, this voyage offers adventurous travellers the chance to experience Antarctica as it was meant to be – flowing with the wind, sea and ice, and taking the best opportunities Mother Nature provides. This voyage departs in the first half of the brief Antarctic summer, when sea ice is at its maximum – this offers us ample opportunities to explore in the icy wilderness of the last continent.
NEW! The Americas & Antarctic Explorer
Families are welcome, too, with many activities designed for multigenerational cruisers to enjoy together throughout the Antarctic cruise season, not just during the December holidays. The casually elegant 148-passenger National Geographic Explorer, and more luxurious, newer vessels 126-passenger National Geographic Endurance and twin National Geographic Resolution sail Antarctica. Among the amenities are fine dining, hot tubs, yoga classes, spa services and fitness center. 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.
Our best Antarctic cruises
Trips to Antarctica directly support our foundation partner, WWF. There is a number to call the ship and you can purchase data for the wi-fi onboard, although the connection is intermittent and not to be relied on. Your cell phone will not work during your Antarctica cruise as the continent is still considered extremely remote and doesn't have the right telecommunication infrastructure in place.
Luxury cruise ship charging $33K per person stranded in freezing Arctic - New York Post
Luxury cruise ship charging $33K per person stranded in freezing Arctic.
Posted: Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Clothes and gear
Then we’ll provide you with our expert packing advice, insider travel tips, and more to ensure you are fully prepared for—and maximize your enjoyment of—your once-in-a-lifetime Antarctica expedition. Speaking of which, whilst no visa is required to go to Antarctica itself, you should also check whether you need a visa for the country (or countries) where you will embark (and disembark) your cruise. Always check with your local embassy for the latest requirements. The standard of your ship accommodations can have a significant impact on the cost of your Antarctica cruise, with the highest category cabins sometimes costing three times that of the lowest category cabins on the same ship. With the Antarctic cruising season during the austral summer being so short, you might be forgiven for assuming a flat cruise rate applies irrespective of when you travel.
When is the best time to visit Antarctica?
Cruising Antarctica on Ocean Endeavour With Intrepid [Review] - Upgraded Points
Cruising Antarctica on Ocean Endeavour With Intrepid [Review].
Posted: Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
This means that they rely on the ocean and marine ecosystems to survive and thrive. However, there are a few Antarctic animals that live entirely on land. These include the microscopic springtails, nematodes and tardigrades, which live amongst moss and lichen in areas which are not permanently snow-covered. Antarctica is so far south that most of the continent receives 24 hours of daylight during summer, and 24 hours of darkness during winter. If you are spending a night or two in Buenos Aires, Ushuaia or Punta Arenas before or after your cruise, account for the money you’ll need for sightseeing, eating out and getting around. In addition, packing the right medication, such as seasickness tablets and any prescription medicines, is important to ensure your health and safety during the trip.
How much does an Antarctic cruise cost?
In February 2024, @ruinedvacation posted on TikTok that a cruise line had made a last-minute name change to its itinerary via its app. Instead of visiting Paradise Bay on the Antarctic Peninsula, the Norwegian Cruise Line ship visited Admiralty Bay in the South Shetland Islands (an island group 75 miles north of the Antarctic Peninsula), before heading to the Falklands. These ends-of-the-Earth lands are tough to access and offer constant changes in scenery. These ends-of-the-Earth lands are tough toaccess and offer constant changes in scenery. We acknowledge the First Nations people of Australia as traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and travel, and we pay our respects to elders past and present. The ideal time to embark on an Antarctica cruise is during the austral summer, between early October and late March.
There are Antarctica trips and ships to fit every budget and style. 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. With the extra time to explore and a vessel with a PC6/1A ice rating, gain access to areas off-limits to most ships, offering a more immersive experience of Earth’s last frontier. Given the high cost and remote nature of an Antarctica trip, not to mention the wildly unpredictable weather conditions—which can often lead to travel delays and sometimes cancellations—good (cruise) travel insurance is a must.
Round trips from Ushuaia to Antartic Peninsula are typically about 9-10 days, giving you 5 full days to explore Antarctica. Quark's 172-passenger World Explorer’s amenities include all-suite accommodations, polar library, gym, pool, sauna and spa, plus activities such as kayaking, camping and stand-up paddleboarding. Quark also offers options for those fearful of the roundtrip two-day Drake Passage crossing, which may involve turbulent seas with a “fly the Drake” cruise.
Travellers may need to schedule an appointment with a private GP or family doctor and pay a fee for the necessary medical evaluation before setting sail. We paid £55 per person before our Highlights of Antarctica cruise with Hurtigruten. So these additional expenses should be factored into the overall budget for the Antarctica expedition. Most Antarctica cruises start in South America – crossing the Drake Passage is the quickest (and cheapest) way to get to the Antarctic Peninsula. Some of the cruise lines offer a package starting in Buenos Aires in Argentina with transfer flights to Ushuaia, where you will board a ship, others will take you from Punta Arenas in Chile (a longer and more expensive option).
From the Falkland Islands to the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctic cruises are an opportunity for unforgettable encounters with marine mammals. It's not uncommon to encounter many seals, including subantarctic fur seals and elephant seals, as well as killer whales. When the humpback whales arrive, it truly is the icing on the cake. A true sanctuary for wildlife, Antarctica is home to a diversity of marine mammals and birds that have come ashore to breed. In the water, Weddell seals, Minke whales, humpback whales, sea leopards, and subantarctic fur seals put on an enchanting show for travellers. Both on the ground and in the air, king penguins, gentoos, southern rockhoppers, and chinstraps, along with albatrosses and petrels, jump and frolic to complete the show.
The number of days, the time of year, when you book, the ship itself and cabin category are the primary factors influencing Antarctica cruise price. Before embarking on an Antarctica cruise, travellers may need vaccinations, depending on their departure location, and undergo medical screenings to ensure fitness for the journey. Given Antarctica’s remote location, most cruise lines mandate a medical check-up for passengers. However, accessing this service might entail an extra cost, as most public health services do not provide it for free.
Experience the tranquility of vast panoramas and sail among the sublime frozen icescapes of Antarctica, as we pass between icebergs, close to calving glaciers, and past huge ice floes in the Southern Ocean. While we aim to provide accurate and up-to-date information, Antarctica Cruises makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information in our guides or found by following any link on this site. Please note that all the estimated costs mentioned below are in USD. You can contact us 24 hours 7 days a week, with any burning (or shall we say freezing?) questions. WWF-Australia is a well-established conservation organisation helping protect our natural environment. Donations from our trips help their pioneering whale research and conservation efforts to establish marine protected areas around Antarctica and save whale species from extinction.
Even better news is that there is an option to travel solo without increasing Antarctica cruise costs at all, as almost all operators give the option to share a cabin with a fellow solo traveler of the same sex. You simply choose which type of cabin you want and the ship operator then pairs you up. Sharing the wonder and elation of an Antarctic expedition with loved ones is probably one of the most emotive experiences imaginable. Well that depends on how far in advance you are booking your trip. If your cruise departs sooner rather than later, usually within 120 days, then you’ll be expected to cough up the entirety of the total amount due in one fell swoop. However, should your cruise depart beyond that timeframe, typically a deposit of 25% will need to be made to secure your booking, with the balance payable 120 days prior to departure.
No comments:
Post a Comment