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Antarctica: Choosing a Trip

Luxury or Adventure; What Ship and Route for Cruise to the Far South

May 30, 2008

View from cabin on Research Vessel, Helen Krasner

There are now many different cruise ships which visit Antarctica, and many different things to see and do when one arrives. Which is best, and how should one decide?

Cruises to Antarctica are becoming more and more popular. There are now many different of types of ships, a variety of routes, and varying activities, designed for the adventurous, luxury loving, and those in between. So which should the traveller choose?

Luxury Ship, Research Vessel, or Icebreaker?

Three main types of vessel take travellers on visits to the ‘White Continent’:

Luxury Expedition Ships

This is a choice for those seeking 5-star amenities and service. Most programs are quite gentle, and focus more on the onboard experience than the off-board exploring. These ships have shallow drafts and ice-hardened hulls. Many use Zodiacs (small inflatable boats powered by outboard motors) for exploration, but not all. Onboard programs are usually educational, with a focus on natural and cultural history. These ships can carry over 100 people, often many more.

Russian Research Vessels

Originally built for scientific research, the Russian research ships hold no more than about 70 passengers, and have ice-strengthened hulls. Cabins are simple and comfortable, but not luxurious, often with bunk beds. Onboard service tends to be friendly and casual. These ships often offer more activity and a greater variety of shore visits, and feel more like a private expedition than a cruise.

Icebreakers

As their name says, icebreakers are specifically designed for breaking through sea ice, and these ships were working vessels prior to taking on passengers. Travel to very remote regions requires one of these vessels. Icebreaker programs generally focus on natural history and culture, and have on-board educational programs.

Comfort and Economy, Adventure, or Expensive and Unique?

For the person who just wants to visit Antarctica quickly, or someone who likes their comforts, a trip on a luxury expedition ship will be quite adequate, and these are also the cheapest trips. The ship will make a number of stops, there will be some visits ashore, and the traveller will see a certain amount of wildlife. However, these larger vessels cannot get to some of the smaller anchorages which the Russian research vessels can reach. Also, only a certain number of people are allowed ashore in Antarctica at any one time, so visits are likely to be quite short.

Research vessels, on the other hand, will stop at many more places, and visits ashore will be longer and often more flexible as to time and place. On trips using these ships, it is sometimes possible to camp overnight on Antarctica, and some carry kayaks for passengers’ use – a great way to get close to seals and whales. For the adventurous traveller, these can offer the ideal way of seeing and doing a lot in Antarctica. However, they tend to be more expensive than the luxury vessels, and of course they offer less in the way of comfort

Those who want to travel much further south, or perhaps take one of the trips which follow the route of Sir Ernest Shackleton, will need to take an icebreaker voyage. These are a fantastic way to do a once-in-a-lifetime voyage. However, they tend to be very expensive.

Tour Company, Specialist Antarctic Agent, or Last Minute Deal?

Some tour companies only use one type of vessel and offer one type of trip. However, a certain number of specialist companies act as agents for all the trips to Antarctica, and will offer advice as to the best trips for each traveller. These companies are often small, but offer a high degree of personal service. They will also often help to arrange transport to the starting point of the cruise, if the tour company does not offer it.

For the traveller looking for a cheap Antarctic cruise, it is sometimes possible to pick up last minute deals in Ushuaia, Argentina, which is where most cruises leave from. But as with all last minute offers, this is not a reliable way of doing things!

And now….prepare for the trip of a lifetime, to a unique continent….

Antarctica: Preparing for a Trip

Antarctica: A Typical Cruise