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Travelers must navigate the icy Weddell Sea by icebreaker and then take a helicopter flight before completing the trek on foot to reach the penguin rookery. Atlas will also offer two sailings of an 18-night "Grand Antarctica & Beyond" expedition, featuring calls to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and the South Orkney Islands. Protect the unique wildlife, stunning environment and exploration history of one of the world’s most spectacular places by selecting a reputable company to travel with, like the ones we recommended in this article.
Is it dangerous to visit Antarctica?
Crossing the 800-km Drake Passage where the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans converge, is a rite of passage for many travelers. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Finally, remember that it’s a privilege to visit Antarctica and you should always make sure you do so responsibly. There’s also only a couple of companies that are equipped for this and it’s quite expensive.
A New Adventure – We’re Going Back To Antarctica!
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 traveler, gives you tips on what to pack and more. The cost of an Antarctica cruise largely depends on the departure date, how long the cruise goes for, and the type of cabin you book on the ship but most cruises start from USD$4,500.
Silversea: Expeditions Offer Door-to-Door Luxury on Antarctica Cruises
With Antarctic regulations limiting landings to 100 people at a time, these ships only can land a small fraction of their passengers at any given time. Each of the ships has a polar class rating of PC 5 Category A (a notch above many Antarctica vessels), allowing them to travel through icy areas with ease. They're also loaded with observation areas for viewing the passing scenery. They carry kayaks, snowshoes and cross-country skis for polar exploring in addition to Zodiac boats for landings, and they have remotely operated vehicles -- just in case you want to see what's going on down below. As the sea cools, wildlife multiplies; these are some of the most biologically productive water on Earth, so expect to see petrels, albatrosses and potentially penguins, seals and whales in abundance.
Explore Antarctica
THE 25 BEST 10 Day Cruises to Antarctica (Prices & Itineraries) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST 10 Day Cruises to Antarctica (Prices & Itineraries) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 04:31:24 GMT [source]
For that reason we do not recommend flying over the Drake Passage to Antarctica unless you are 110% positive that you mentally cannot handle the sea crossing. Seasickness might be a concern, but there’s medication to help with that and every trip has a doctor onboard. The most common itinerary to Antarctica is a trip to the Antarctic Peninsula, most often departing from the port of Ushuaia in Argentina, at the very southern tip of South America. All commercial operators that run trips to Antarctica during the Southern Hemisphere’s spring and summer months, stretching from late October to March, with the majority being between November and February.
What to Wear in Antarctica – Ultimate Travel Packing List
For centuries this glistening, glacial-encrusted continent has been a siren for sealers, scientists, and adventure seekers alike, a brilliant white beacon for brave explorers and pinnacle of polar odysseys exalting from pack ice. Expedition cruise vessels are a world apart from your average ocean cruise liner; small, agile and exclusively designed for intrepid exploration, built to withstand the most extreme environs and climatic conditions around the Southern Ocean. South Georgia, which is 1,300 km (800 miles) south-east of the Falkland Islands, has a handful of temporary human inhabitants. The crescent-shaped, mountainous island is known for its diverse wildlife (including a massive king penguin colony at Salisbury Plain), glaciers and fjords. South Georgia is often called the “Galapagos of the Poles” because of its biodiversity. Speak to a Polar Travel Advisor who can explain where your voyage will embark and the nearest airport.
Unveiled in 2019, this super-swanky, 228-passenger "discovery yacht" was the first oceangoing vessel for luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours -- a brand better known for river cruises. Named after famous Norwegian polar explorers, the ships are the cruise industry's first to run on electric hybrid engines. This not only saves fuel but also allows for noiseless operation in sensitive polar areas where silence can make all the difference (near a penguin rookery, for instance, or a calving glacier).
Travellers will feel a true sense of accomplishment and joy as they follow in the footsteps of the great explorers. Viking Octantis also has what may be the most stunning lecture hall ever at sea. Located at the back of the vessel, the high-tech room has sliding walls behind the spot where lecturers will stand that can open to reveal the surrounding scenery through floor-to-ceiling glass. There's never been a better time to travel to Antarctica -- at least when it comes to getting there in comfort and style.
More about Antarctica
Wherever we go on the Antarctic Peninsula, endemic wildlife, tantalising history and breathtaking natural beauty abound. With 119 cabins, she is one of the smallest ships in the fleet and spends her time between the Arctic in the summer (May-August), before heading south to Antarctica for the winter (November-March). Her small size, allows her to bring you closer to nature - and with key expedition features such as smaller expedition boats and Science Center, she is perfect for creating an unforgettable expedition experience. Nowhere on Earth feels as remote as Antarctica, yet the wildlife here is abundant and spectacular.
To see a list of all your many options, check out our dedicated Antarctica cruise page. It is the snowy southern islands as well as the lush, bird-filled flora of the sub-Antarctic. And Antarctica is the snowy peaks, vast penguin colonies, and whale-abundant waters of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Having experienced a helicopter excursion from the vessel, I can say that it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 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. Marvel at the massive icebergs and vast glaciers on a Zodiac cruise in Paradise Bay. Be moved by penguins tenderly caring for their precious eggs, and fiercely defending their nests on Cuverville Island. Watch cataracts of ice tumble into clear blue ocean on a hike over the active glaciers of Neko Harbour.
One of the most famous names in polar travel, Hurtigruten, hailing from Norway and originally started as a ferry company, offers excellent budget-friendly trips to the Antarctic and Arctic. Aurora has a small fleet of luxury ships and a fantastic team of seasoned expedition guides, so travellers are in good hands. Be they tabular, blocky or pinnacled, icebergs all have a tendency to leave travellers speechless. As majestic as they are worrying, their silhouettes rise up with the waves and plunge deep into the waters with a colourful blend of thousand shades of blue, from light turquoise to the darkest navy, all sparkling under the icy sun of Antarctica. Launched between 2010 and 2015, these four sister ships are regular visitors to Antarctica -- both under the banner of Ponant, a French brand, and as vessels chartered to high-end, U.S.-based tour companies Tauck and Abercrombie & Kent. These Lindblad Expeditions ships may be my favorite all-around picks for an Antarctica cruise.
The cruise includes time to explore Buenos Aires, a visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park and up to nine full days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula. 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.
Large enough to offer excellent stability and a spacious onboard experience, yet small enough to get off the beaten track, you'll discover that HX ships are the perfect balance for the ultimate Antarctic adventure. 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.
Brave the infamous Drake Passage and marvel at the abundance of seabirds, albatrosses, and whales as you sail through its nutrient-rich waters. Explore the South Shetland Islands, home to ice-covered islands, dormant volcanoes, and diverse wildlife. Journey to the awe-inspiring Antarctic Peninsula, where your itinerary adapts to wildlife sightings and weather conditions. From mighty tabular icebergs in the Weddell Sea to far-flung shores south of the Antarctic Circle, every day brings jaw-dropping scenery, unforgettable landscapes, and incredible wildlife encounters.
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. These cruises are ideal for luxury cruisers who want every ounce of Seabourn indulgence coupled with spine-tingling adventures. Also count foodies, who, with eight dining experiences to choose from, will never grow tired of the cuisine. And the list must include travelers who dreamed of exploring Antarctica while residing in a two-story suite. Quark is also favored by those who prefer flying over the Drake to either save time with a shorter vacay or avoid seasickness concerns.
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