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Cross the Drake Passage and explore expedition-style as we seek out remote landing sites for nature encounters. An HX trip includes everything from daily excursions and activities to our onboard Science Centre, meals, gratuities, drinks and more. 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.
Ocean Victory
A select few Antarctica expedition cruise ships are outfitted with helipads and helicopters to explore far from the ship. Typically used on specialty itineraries, such as those which visit emperor penguin colonies on Snow Hill Island, helicopters may offer heli-hiking, flightseeing and exploration of air-only accessible destinations. The Sylvia Earle is sister ship to the Greg Mortimer and clones the same impressive design, technology and activity offerings. This state-of-the-art ship honors the highly accomplished marine biologist and oceanographer Sylvia Earle. In keeping with Sylvia’s own vision and achievements, the Sylvia Earle expedition ship has a focus on marine education and conservation. If you want to take these new cruise ships to Antarctica, you’ll find Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle trading off departures between the same three Antarctic itineraries, so no matter what it’s a win-win.
Antarctic Express: Fly The Drake
Plan far ahead and research what the actual trip experience will be like. The only challenge was a very late night flight out of Santiago to Dallas. The downtime on that final day proved to longer than I would have liked. I would recommend to future travelers that they spend the night in Santiago, taking a morning flight out the following day in order to ensure a less exhaustive end to the trip. Santiago city center is worth seeing but not particularly engaging - at least at the moment.
Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Adventure
Incredibly, wildlife watching was even an important consideration in early expedition vessel design. Whilst the stability of the vessel itself is a major consideration for those susceptible to sea sickness, there’s also the question of the stability of the smaller boats used for shore excursions and wildlife spotting cruises around the iceberg-strewn shorelines. This closeness to nature (and your few fellow explorers) makes for a much more intimate and rewarding expedition experience, affording prolific and personal wildlife encounters, and enhancing the sense of wilderness and solitude in the vast polar landscape. Expedition vessels are considerably smaller than your typical ocean liner or river cruise ship, for several reasons. Such slow progress was very heavy on coal, so for many years Antarctic vessels were hybrids of wind and steam power, the former used whenever possible to conserve coal stocks for when the going got tougher. With Silversea, you can opt to sail the Drake Passage from Ushuaia or you can hop on a quick 2-hour flight from Punta Arenas and meet your ship in Antarctica.
Antarctic Explorer: Discovering The 7th Continent
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. To help you filter the Antarctic forays above, we’ve curated a series of Antarctica cruise themes, subdividing the expedition cruise sector into styles of exploration to suit your preferred type of experience. 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. 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.
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The Ocean Endeavour has its very own polar boutique equipped with every little knickknack and thingamabob you might need to help commemorate your journey to the seventh continent (think all the essentials, clothing and souvenirs). Our Ocean Endeavour is built tough; designed to handle the harsh Antarctic wilderness with ease while ensuring your safety at every step of the adventure. Explore the most popular routes to cruise Antarctica, its prized peninsula, and its equally alluring sub-Antarctic island neighbors below. Be the first to hear about our latest offers, exciting itineraries and inspirational articles.
I just jumped off a cruise ship in Antarctica and lived to tell the tale - The Points Guy
I just jumped off a cruise ship in Antarctica and lived to tell the tale.
Posted: Sun, 03 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
This up-to-date guide culls the best tips for a comprehensive look at Antarctica travel today. Ice breakers are specifically designed to keep shipping routes free of ice for other ships. Their round hull design and powerful engines lift the front of the ship onto sea ice before crashing down and breaking it. The rounded keel and lack of stabilizing fins make progress quicker through ice. Ice breakers are only operated a few times each year on specialty cruises. The cruise season for Antarctica begins in late October/early November and ends in mid-March.
The Best Antarctica Cruise Ship … For You?
Everyone who comes to this isolated continent must ‘earn it’, none more so than those embarking on an expedition cruise from South America’s “Land of Fire”, Tierra del Fuego, bound for Antarctica’s antithetical “Land of Ice”. Are you a spellbound solo traveler or shutterbug, captivated kith and kin, or enthralled nature or history buff? Perhaps you’re someone seeking more active adventure, a guaranteed White Christmas, or the high latitude high life? Whatever your preference, discover the draws of this pristine, primordial polar paradise your way.
What Makes A Good Expedition Vessel?
As icebergs loom majestically overhead and seals laze on floating ice, you can navigate through a surreal world rarely experienced by others. And if you like seals in their natural habitat, there’s southern elephant seals, weddell seals, ross seals, leopard seals, crabeater seals and Antarctic fur seals. 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.
The ship’s laboratory supports researchers and guests are encouraged to participate in citizen science projects. Back on board, relax in heated indoor and outdoor pools, or the spa that includes a snow room—an ideal complement to the sauna. Premiere suites offer options like a wraparound terrace, private Jacuzzi, butler service and even dual floors. Travel on this new polar expedition ship knowing her electric-hybrid engine, powered by liquefied natural gas, is the first of its kind for eco-friendly polar travel. Some Antarctica expedition cruise ships go above and beyond standard activity equipment and include extra tools for exploration and education.
Only every book a trip with a company that is registered of IAATO, which is an official organisation that designates Antarctica purely for the purpose of science and research. Details are often available in cruise itineraries, and early registration ensures you’re part of these enriching experiences. For those who wish to contribute to our understanding of this remote region, some companies collaborate with research institutions to allow passengers to participate in data collection and other scientific activities. You must be an experienced climber, and be able to prove it, before a company will accept your booking for these challenging adventures. Truth is it’s not comfortable at all, most people get anxious about it and there’s the fear of being too cold to sleep, but we’ll let you in on a little secret – Camping in Antarctica is nowhere near as bad as it sounds and is the ultimate experience. 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.
Heritage was founded in 1985 by a family of biologists and the company is still family-run out of its offices in Christchurch. G Expeditions is the polar branch of G Adventures, a global travel company. Founded in 1990, by Bruce Poon Tip, the Canada-based G Adventures offers small-group excursions to some of the world’s most fascinating places. An outstanding expedition ship with a hard-won reputation for navigating some of the Polar region's most challenging waters, carrying just 108 guests. I would recommend this trip to any one wanting to see the 7th continent.
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