Table Of Content
- Antarctica from New Zealand: Heritage Expeditions
- Our Best Tips for Choosing the Right Antarctica Expedition for You
- Best Antarctica Expedition Cruise: Hurtigruten MS Fridtjof Nansen Review
- Which cruises go to Antarctica?
- When is the Best Time to Go on an Antarctica Cruise
- American Cruise Lines Buys American Queen & Her 3 Former Fleetmates From Defunct American Queen Voyages
So, of course we tried our best to sample them all for a complete review of dining on this Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica Cruise. In warmer climates, guests can also enjoy the 7AFT Grill poolside which transforms into an open-air steakhouse by night. Heading to the very top of the ship (Deck 8), you will find the outdoor decks.
Antarctica from New Zealand: Heritage Expeditions
Each evening, the menu consists of a small plant-based section, always available items like steak and salmon, as well as a selection of rotating starters, main courses, and desserts. The small all-day lunch/dinner menu includes a few sandwiches and a burger. Cruisers can also order beverages, including alcoholic drinks, at no additional charge.
Our Best Tips for Choosing the Right Antarctica Expedition for You
Their trips however are on the pricier side, which is something to consider. In our opinion though the quality product that you receive with Aurora is worth the price, and they are known in the industry for being one of the top operators. Their focus leans towards a genuine and immersive experience rather than mere sightseeing, with activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving and stand-up paddleboarding available to purchase.
Best Antarctica Expedition Cruise: Hurtigruten MS Fridtjof Nansen Review
There are no ports in Antarctica that allows for a ship to dock, so the only way to get off the ship and explore land is on a small, inflatable boat called a Zodiac. As above, but with a few extra days to cross the Antarctic Circle. For those that are on a super tight schedule or really, really don’t want to cross the Drake, you can fly down to join your cruise to Antarctica. One thing to keep in mind though is that the length of time the companies advertise is not how much time you get to spend in Antarctica.
It allowed me to reflect on a dear Guatemalan friend who just died — I’d met him and his wife on my first Antarctica adventure and we visited each other many times and in many places over the years. Another serious matter is thorough boot and equipment cleaning and disinfection before and after setting foot on land. Before our first shore visit, we took any soiled gear to be decontaminated and had to sign to attest to this. Attendance was mandatory at Marieke’s briefing on safety and the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators’ (IAATO) visitor guidelines, including how to act around wildlife.
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Explorer Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - Cruise Critic
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Explorer Cruise: Expert Review ( .
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 16:14:50 GMT [source]
With such a significant investment of time, money, and anticipation, it’s crucial to make informed decisions. “That is why we are committed to delivering life changing experiences with the newest, most advanced technology available, and with the most experienced and passionate team in the industry,” he added. “AE Expeditions has pioneered expedition travel to the world’s most remote places for more than three decades, and we know that exploration is not just about what you see, but how you see it. One thing to note is that there isn’t really anything ‘different’ once you cross the circle – the landscapes and wildlife are more or less same.
What optional activities are available?
Here are three things you should be aware of before booking your trip. No, there are no hotels in the traditional sense, however, there are several camps for tourists which are the next best thing, some are very close to a hotel in terms of the level of luxury. The benefit of staying at a camp is that you can explore deeper into the continent rather than returning to the ship each night to sleep. See our full guide to camps and hotels in Antarctica for more information. Currently, Albatros operates a fleet of two ships, including Ocean Atlantic and Ocean Victory, which can accommodate 186 to 199 guests.
Accessible adventures
I'm up to 78 countries and 110+ cruises worldwide, and it's the small ship journeys that I love writing about most. And so QuirkyCruise.com was born, an excellent research tool for planning your own unforgettable small ship trip. I’m so lucky to have experienced this incomparable place, and somewhere that only Quirky (small) ships can land visitors. For the return, passengers disembark at King George Island and fly to Punta Arenas for an overnight hotel stay then continue on to Santiago for international flights home. It’s also why the itineraries are not fixed — the captain and expedition leader decide when and where it’s safe to land each day. This illustrates the need for flexibility if you’re taking an expedition cruise, especially in Antarctica where the weather’s unpredictable.
American Cruise Lines Buys American Queen & Her 3 Former Fleetmates From Defunct American Queen Voyages
Given the size of the vessel, the casual dining options were adequate; though, we would have liked a spot to grab a burger, grilled chicken sandwich, or pizza throughout the day. Similarly, grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches would be a great addition. Down on Deck 4, which is the hub of activity on the ship, there is the fitness studio. With some free weights and cardio machines, it will help you stay active during your time onboard the ship.
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.
Long underwear, socks, gloves and waterproof boots are highly recommended. Most cruise lines that disembark passengers in Antarctica will provide necessary gear, including thick outerwear. But like anything in Antarctica, you never known what to expect until you are there.
With the guidance of expert mountaineers, you can ascend icy peaks or navigate glacial routes for an epic bucket list adventure. Imagine sleeping under the Antarctic sky, surrounded by snow and ice, with the distant calls of penguins lulling you to sleep. As icebergs loom majestically overhead and seals laze on floating ice, you can navigate through a surreal world rarely experienced by others. You can wander around a predetermined path, set out by the expedition guides, to visit research stations and viewpoints, or get closer to penguin colonies. Setting foot on the Antarctic mainland, or one of its many islands, is an indescribable moment. Zodiacs not only allow you to step food on land, but they also let you get up close to icebergs, glaciers, and wildlife.
Ocean Victory’s equally luxurious sister ship, Ocean Albatros, is scheduled to sail in 2022. Albatros Expeditions is the polar expedition arm of the Denmark-based Albatros Travel conglomerate. The family-owned expedition company’s parent organization was founded by biologist Søren Rasmussen in 1986. Albatros started running Antarctic expeditions in 2017 and it has since become a leader in the industry.
In fact, their 11-day Antarctica Explorer trip is the highest-rated out of all the tours to Antarctica on leading booking site Tour Radar. Whether you cross the Drake Passage in a small expedition ship or do a "sail by" on a larger vessel, this magical voyage will not only impress your friends, the otherworldly scenery will touch your soul. While there are several options for visiting this White Continent, Atlas Ocean Voyages offers the ideal mix of a classic cruise experience and an enriching expedition program with time ashore. The weather was overcast and a bit gloomier than the day before. Still, our group was the first of the morning to board the zodiac boats for our expedition.
Exploring the seventh continent is on everyone’s bucket list, right? That’s what I told myself as I perused Antarctic cruises for the hundredth time in February 2022, anxiously refreshing to try and find an option that was reasonably priced. Fortunately for me — and now for all of you — I managed to snag a booking while it was on sale.
