How to Take a Cruise to Antarctica
Antarctica is the last frontier on Earth. It is at the bottom of the planet with no indigenous human population, no government and very little life. It is essentially penguins, seals and ice. You cannot imagine how spectacular endless ice flows are until you see them for yourself. Antarctica has a dramatic landscape unlike any other. You will get a chill when you feel a giant chunk of ice break off an ice shelf and crash into the sea. You will get a thrill as you dodge icebergs that dwarf your ship.
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Instructions
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Understand what you will see in Antarctica. At the bottom of the Earth, there is lots of ice. As far as the eye can see, there are glaciers and ice shelves. Some of it is blue. Some of it is the whitest white you will ever see. All around your cruise ship there is floating ice. Some of the icebergs are the size of mountains. Some chunks of ice hold penguins and seals basking in the sun. It is a relatively unspoiled wilderness virtually untouched by man. When you see an occasional scientific hut or another ship, it looks bizarre against the backdrop of the vast wilderness. Antarctica is also disappearing. Global warming is shrinking the Antarctic ice cap. You can see first-hand what is happening.
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Consider the cost. It will be expensive. Only about 35,000 people visit Antarctica every year. 5000 of them are scientists. The only way for tourists to get to Antarctica is on a cruise ship, and it is no ordinary cruise. First you need to get to South America, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand then you must board a specially outfitted ship that will protect you on the long journey to Antarctica and back. Only about 25 ships make the trip. As a result, there is little competition to bring prices down.
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Make your plans for the Antarctic summer. That is when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Cruises to Antarctica happen from November to March. There is too much ice to go any other time of year. The good thing about going at that time of year is that it is dark for just a few hours per night. Be sure to book an Antarctic cruise for at least 2-3 weeks. Any less, and you will waste most of your time traveling to and from Antarctica with little time to enjoy being there.
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Decide what kind of cruise you want. Is it more important to have comfort or adventure? There are large cruise ships from major cruise lines that sail to Antarctica. They usually include several other Southern Hemisphere ports with the itinerary. You will enjoy all the comforts you would expect from a luxury cruise on these ships including fine dining, entertainment and spa treatments. However, large ships are not allowed to disembark passengers in Antarctica. The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators limits tourists at any single landing site to 100. If you actually want to walk on Antarctica you must take a small cruise ship. These tend to be converted scientific vessels. They will not have the comforts of a luxury cruise but allow you a much more intimate visit to Antarctica. The experience will be drastically different depending on your choice, so choose carefully.
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Book your cruise. If you want a luxury cruise that will sail to Antarctica but not disembark, then find a travel agent who specializes in cruises. They handle all the major cruise lines who would send a luxury ship to Antarctica. If you prefer an expedition on a smaller ship, then search the Internet for an adventure vacation company. Some of them specialize in high-end cruises with small groups. Others specialize in adventure travel all over the world. Either way they can set you up with a cruise with less than 100 passengers. That way you can disembark on the Antarctic continent. Some of the best known are polarcruises.com and expeditiontrips.com.
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Pack for cold weather. Even though it is summer in Antarctica, it is still Antarctica. It is always cold at the bottom of the Earth. Bring your heaviest winter jacket, thick gloves, good snow boots and waterproof gear. Good sunglasses are also a must since light reflecting off the ice can be blinding. Also don't forget your camera and binoculars. There are not very many souvenir shops in Antarctica. Your souvenirs will be photographs and memories.
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