The Call (and Cost) of Antarctica Cruises
For many travelers, Antarctica epitomizes the polar regions. Its sprawling white landscapes yield an almost limitless supply of otherworldly vistas, much of its wildlife can be found nowhere else on the planet, and its complete lack of an indigenous human population imparts a sense of pristine seclusion few other locations can provide. But while embarking on an Antarctica cruise can be a life-changing experience, it can also be a bank-breaking proposition – though it doesn’t have to be. Here are three cruise deals, each offering their own unique experience, that will provide you the Antarctic adventure you’ve been dreaming about while minimizing the likelihood you’ll have to take out another mortgage to afford it.
1. Antarctica by Air: Weddell Sea Cruise (Including Helicopters)
Penguins don’t fly, but that doesn’t mean we have to stay grounded. Our 10-night Weddell Sea cruise provides you a bird’s-eye-view of some of the most dramatic landscapes in the Weddell Sea, in addition to likely encounters with emperor and Adélie penguin rookeries. But although this voyage provides you the opportunity for truly rare sightings of terrain that is otherwise inaccessible, it’s important to remember that weather calls the shots in the polar regions – especially when you’re flying in it. Rough conditions sometimes keep our interests closer to the ground, embarking on land-based activities rather than air.
2. The Grand Antarctica Tour: Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Antarctic Peninsula
For travelers who want to enjoy the most wide-ranging series of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic destinations, this trip was made for you. Our expansive 19-night Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Antarctic Peninsula cruise goes light on activities so it can go heavy on travel, delivering you to numerous locations chosen for their distinct scenery and wildlife. You’ll meet upwards of six different penguin species, visit the historic Falklands capital of Port Stanley, walk the breathtakingly picturesque shores of South Georgia, and conclude with a thorough expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula itself. By the time you return, you’ll indeed be a newly minted Antarctic explorer.
3. Icy Shores, Volcanic Islands: Antarctic Peninsula with South Shetland Islands
This itinerary borrows some of the activities from our basecamp cruise and some of the destinations from our Antarctic Peninsula cruise to create an adventure wholly its own. Far from a mere sightseeing trip, the 10-night Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland cruise focuses on land-based activities that give you the utmost contact with Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic. You’ll have the chance to snowshoe, camp, and kayak, experiencing the volcanic islands of the South Shetlands as well as the glacial banks of the Antarctic Peninsula in the most intimate way possible: by foot, paddle, and sleeping under the stars.
