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Azamara offers a 17-night cruise on the 702-passenger Azamara Pursuit, which includes cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula and Elephant Island. (Note that many tour operators charter from Ponant, including Adventures by Disney, Smithsonian Journeys, Abercrombie & Kent and Tauck). Our guests reach Antarctica quickly by flight and cruise through icy and magical landscapes. Check all our available promotions for air-cruises and sea voyages across seasons.
Into the Antarctic Void: My Luxury Cruise to Breathtaking Desolation - Boston magazine
Into the Antarctic Void: My Luxury Cruise to Breathtaking Desolation.
Posted: Tue, 09 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Petermann Island
It’s the magic of the true Antarctic continent, which only few people will get to see in their lifetimes. Our experienced captain will continually monitor conditions to create the best possible itinerary for your adventure. You’ll spend an exciting 11 days busily exploring several of many possible landing sites. Rest assured, each day will offer something different and thrilling.
What is it like travelling solo on a cruise to Antarctica?
When the conditions are right, there's no better way to cross the frozen terrain than by wearing snowshoes. Our modern equipment makes it easy to walk on the soft snow, and the elements are usually best during our late spring and early summer Antarctica cruises. 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. We will explore the most impressive scenery and wildlife viewing spots on the historically significant South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. We’ll depart from here on our epic Antarctic Circle expedition cruise. Join the kayaking group and paddle close-up to icebergs and wildlife.
Antarctica Expedition Cruise Guide
It's not uncommon to encounter many seals, including subantarctic fur seals and elephant seals, as well as killer whales. See the Shetland Islands come into sight – the first glimpse of Antarctica. Cruise in small inflatable Zodiac boats to get up close to icebergs and see iconic wildlife such as penguins, seals and whales on your way south along the Antarctic Peninsula. Massive, rugged, gleaming white mountains—covered on all but their sheerest faces by permanent snow and innumerable glaciers—rise from deep blue waters to form protected bays and scenic passages. Floating everywhere in these pristine waterways are fragments of Antarctica’s frozen surface.
What You Need to Know About Antarctica Cruises
We also have a host of services and facilities available should symptoms befall you. It also might be possible to fly over the Drake Passage, so speak to one of our destination specialists for more information about this. This comfortable ship carries a maximum of 132 passengers, accommodated in 66 cabins all with private en-suite facilities. Your choice of expedition vessel will play an essential role in your overall Antarctic experience.
Exploration amenities include custom-made Zodiacs, paddleboards, kayaks, two seven-passenger helicopters and one seven-passenger submarine. All but Le Commandant Charcot showcase underwater multisensory lounges, located eight feet below the water line. Called Blue Eye, each lounge features two glass portholes shaped like a whale's eye looking out to the marine world. In inimitable French style, the vessels are simply gorgeous and sleek, conjuring up the ocean and its array of moods and colors. National Geographic devotees are at the top of the list -- from magazine admirers to those who've already toured or cruised with National Geographic -- who like the scientific bent. There's plenty of time to relax, so unwind in the spa and wellness area, enjoy some delicious cuisine and meet fellow travellers in the Explorer Lounge & Bar.
The Great Adventure
Embark on an extraordinary journey to Antarctica in 2023 and immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring beauty of the world's last pristine wilderness. Our carefully curated selection of cruises offers unrivaled experiences, from thrilling zodiac excursions to up-close encounters with penguins, seals, and whales. Explore the magnificent icy landscapes and witness the mesmerizing colors of the polar skies. Plan your expedition to Antarctica with Polartours.com, where our expert guides and comfortable expedition ships ensure a safe and unforgettable adventure. Shore landings are mainly for wildlife watching of penguins, seals and nesting birds although itineraries often try to include a visit to a scientific base. Certain cruises provide opportunities for activities such as snowshoeing, skiing, hiking, mountaineering and even overnight camping.
What will your next trip look like
While some activities may need to be rescheduled or cancelled due to weather, every effort is made to have a contingency plan should such conditions become a reality during your expeditions. We’ve been the experts in Antarctic travel for well over 10 years and use our vast experience and knowledge when picking the vessels we sell to provide you with an adventure that’s unforgettable for all the right reasons. Seabourn Venture is the line's first foray into full expedition ships cruising to Antarctica.
Think casinos, specialty restaurants and flashy entertainment when you aren’t out nature-watching. The mountains and high glaciers around Wilhelmina Bay ensure plenty of dramatic scenery and sculpted ice from tiny floating pieces to large bergs. The bay is a choice feeding ground for whales and seals and therefore was a rich hunting ground for the whalers of the past. It has since become one of the most popular sites in Antarctica and offers a unique peek into life in an Antarctic base in the 1950's. After a briefing from your Expedition Team, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin and explore the comforts and amenities on board.
If you are happy just to see Antarctica from your ship, then you have a number of much cheaper options available from the mainstream lines. Celebrity Infinity has 14-night sailings which include three nights sailing along the Antarctic peninsula, as well as stops in the Falkland Islands, Montevideo (Uruguay) and Buenos Aires. These ships all offer the chance to see Antarctica, but passengers won't step foot on the continent. The mountains and high glaciers around Wilhelmina Bay ensure plenty of dramatic scenery, from tiny floating bergy bits to large icebergs.
Any personal equipment, clothes, cameras, etc. need to be brought with you, with the exception of our signature Poseidon Expedition parka (which you can keep after the cruise). Additional activities such as kayaking and camping in Antarctica, as well as alcoholic beverages and gratuities to our team are not included. Next we visit the Gerlache Strait where immense glaciers, towering mountains, and blue icebergs form a picture-perfect setting for amazing marine mammal and penguin encounters.
Blue icebergs, sparkling towers of ice, an immaculate ice floe, imposing mountain ranges and thousand-year-old glaciers serve as backdrops to these dreamy views. Here, you'll be dazzled by shades of white, blue, grey, and sometimes purple. The sheer vastness of the setting and the 'noise' of the elements evoke moments of pure emotion.
Trust Polartours.com to handle every detail of your trip, from personalized itineraries to expert guidance. Join us in 2023 and create unforgettable memories on your Antarctic expedition. The weather may be getting colder, but there are plenty of wildlife highlights during the late season. February is peak whale spotting season, seal numbers are up on the peninsula, and penguin rookeries are bursting at the seams on South Georgia. The shorter days provide sensational sunsets, awesome night-time sky gazing and some of the best value-for-money expeditions of all.
Refurbished as part of the Norwegian Edge program in 2018, Norwegian Star shines with upgrades. The extensive enhancements include upgrades to staterooms, public spaces, restaurants, bars and lounges. Start the day at Mandara Spa, where you can revive, refresh and recharge. Enjoy delicious dining, from Irish pub classics at O'Sheehan's to classic hibachi at Teppanyaki. Take in the spectacular rainforest scenery of the Paraná Delta on this river cruise from Tigre.
