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It's not so big that it can't let guests disembark onto Antarctica's snow-covered shores, nor is it so small that it can't offer creature comforts like spacious cabins, multiple dining venues and that expansive spa. Although all our landings and zodiac cruises were included with the price of the booking, there were optional add-ons. Lengthier cruises include visits to such destinations as the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. To bypass the notoriously rough waters of the Drake Passage, passengers can book an Antarctica Bridge sail.
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Plus, anyone fearful of embarking and disembarking exploration boats can take comfort in the sheltered Hangar where passengers easily get in and out of Special Operations Boats from inside the ship, well protected by elements. And for kayaking couples, Viking makes it easy to snap wildlife photos while in hands-free two-seater kayaks powered by pedaling. It would be the obvious first choice of devotees of Viking’s ocean liners and river cruises.
Zodiac Cruises
Unlike most other Antarctic expedition companies, Heritage doesn’t regularly offer voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula. Rather, all of the organization’s month-long voyages sail from New Zealand and stop over at the Subantarctic Islands and the historic Ross Sea region. 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. Flying to Antarctica on one of the company’s “Antarctica Bridge” packages lets you skip 4 days at sea—a popular choice among adventurers that tend to get a little seasick. Known for its upscale and luxury voyages, Silversea is a well-known cruise company that’s recently broken into the Antarctic expedition industry.
10 of 79 Silversea Expeditions Antarctica Cruise Reviews
The 13-day cruises sail roundtrip Buenos Aires; 19-day voyages include South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, while 22 days include the Chilean fjords. Scenic also offers a 24-day Antarctica and the Ross Sea sailing deep inside the Antarctic Circle. High-tech touches include a GPS that lets it hover in sensitive areas without dropping anchor. There is one restaurant on board that provides takeaway if you prefer to eat in your room or elsewhere on board.
So, after scouting the coast, the expedition team was not able to find a suitable landing spot along the beach. But, they decided to offer a zodiac ride, which would still allow us to “touch” the continent. Atlas Ocean Voyages is a relatively new luxe-adventure cruise line from the parent company Mystic Cruises. World Voyager joins Atlas’ two other luxury yachts, World Traveller and World Navigator. These adventure yachts measure in at just 10,000 gross tons with a max capacity of 198 guests.
Top reviews on Antarctica cruises
See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Instead, the expedition vessel acted as our trusty tank as it carried us from the southern tip of Argentina through the treacherous Drake Passage, which rocked the boat for two days straight. I cruised in a three-person cabin on the Ocean Endeavor, a 200-passenger expedition vessel — meaning I had two random roommates. Some 100,000 people visited last year, and tourist numbers are expected to be in the six figures again this season.
All commercial operators that run trips to Antarctica during the Southern Hemisphere’s spring and summer months, stretching from late October to March, with the majority being between November and February. We’ve been travelling and working in Antarctica since 2017, first as photographers and content creators, then as tour guides taking our own groups to this beautiful part of the world. Viking Octantis also has what may be the most stunning lecture hall ever at sea.
From our stateroom, we could see countless penguins dotting the coast. It wasn’t long until we were ashore for our second landing of the day where we got to see these irresistibly adorable Gentoo penguins up-close. While technically not part of the archipelago of the South Shetland Islands, Deception Island is not far from here. Our day started early at 6 AM with a scenic cruise into Neptune’s Bellows.
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The staterooms are large and well-appointed, making for a luxurious and comfortable home away from home. The restaurant and lounges are simple yet elegant, offering the ideal space for dining, socializing, and entertaining. If that wasn’t enough, the day was punctuated with a polar plunge! While many had lost hope that this ceremonial event would occur, Mother Nature cooperated during this final afternoon in Antarctica. We eagerly watched from the back of the ship as others made it to shore. This afternoon, we were going to make another attempt to get to Orne Harbor for a continental landing.
These Lindblad Expeditions ships may be my favorite all-around picks for an Antarctica cruise. The last few years have brought a stunning new crop of small "expedition" cruise vessels specifically designed for Antarctica sailings that are far more upscale and elegant than anything seen before. If you do the math, you would need to drink 4-5 drinks per day in addition to the beer and wine included with your lunch and dinner in order to get your money’s worth. Individual drinks can be charged to your room and paid for at checkout. They are geared towards outdoor activities, photography, and educational experiences. If you are looking for live music, theater, or other entertainment you may be disappointed.
I ordered ahead waterproof pants that were waiting with the parka and backpack in my suite. The ship carries 18 Zodiacs, a number that will increase to 22 next year when 10 suites are added (some in the former helicopter hangar, which Silversea doesn’t use, so the ship’s capacity will go up to 220 passengers). Avail of the self-service passenger laundry, or opt for the ship’s washing and dry-cleaning service. Silver Endeavour also has a spacious, multi-room ocean-view fitness center with treadmills, stationary bikes and weight machines.
As we were underway to our afternoon landing site, I bundled up to check out the Deck 6 bow, one of several ship’s lookout points. In Antarctica, strong, fast-flowing katabatic winds from the coast can expose the water to extreme heat loss, sparking intense sea-ice production. Typically there were two landings a day, one in the morning and one again after lunch. Silversea provides a packing list, boots to use during the trip, and a parka and backpack to wear and take home.
Public areas feature the same elegant Scandinavian design found on Viking's ocean ships and river ships, as well as such familiar Viking venues as Italian restaurant Manfredi's and a top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers' Lounge. It has a whiskey bar stocked with more than 110 whiskies and other high-end liquors, plus a spa and a yoga studio. In all cases, these are ships specifically built for "expedition cruising" -- a type of cruising that involves traveling to remote, hard-to-reach places on small, hardy vessels that carry their own landing craft. All of them sail with a large number of rigid inflatable Zodiac boats for landings and have strengthened hulls and other design features that let them operate in icy areas. The MS Fridtjof Nansen is a modern ship, built in 2020 in Norway, and is named after a Norwegian explorer most famous for his attempt to reach the geographical north pole in the late 1800’s.
Current prices are $200 for kayaking, $150 for standup paddle boarding, and $750 for camping. These activities have limited availability and require reservations. They are also very weather-dependent; thus, they did not happen at all during our shoulder season cruise. Unlike contemporary cruise lines that have been cutting back service, Atlas Ocean Voyages offers twice daily cabin service. In the late afternoon/early evening, cruisers could enjoy a cocktail with piano music from the resident musician, Dan.
It was a rather steep and slippery path up to the viewing point. But, it was well worth it once we reached our final destination. Another nice touch was that the Captain opened up the bridge for Q&A during set times of the voyage. Of course, we couldn’t pass up checking out the inner workings of the yacht. Besides the enrichment offerings, we were surprised that World Voyager offered limited additional activities and entertainment.
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