Choosing the Right Antarctica Expedition
Is a visit to the white continent on your bucket list? I hate to break it to you but not all Antarctica trips are the same. Choosing the right operator for your trip to Antarctica will make all the difference! Here are some tips to make sure your trip to Antarctica is the best it can possibly be.
🚢 Size does matter - Due to the Treaty of Antarctica, only 100 people per ship are allowed on land at once. This means smaller ships allow all or most of their guests on land at once, but larger ships only allow for a limited time slot or do a lottery, and only some people get to go on land. Using the lottery system, you also may not get to do any excursions if your room is not chosen. Smaller ships can take you to remote areas that larger ships simply can’t reach. Most indigenous settlements, for example, cannot accommodate huge numbers of visitors from larger expedition vessels.
🐧 Is seeing penguins one of the reasons you want to go? If so, it’s important to choose an itinerary with the right stops to see the specific type of penguins you are interested in. A few of the most popular penguin species and where you should stop are:
Emperor penguins >> Snow Hill Island
King penguins >> South Georgia
Chinstrap, Adelie, and Gentoo penguins >> Antarctic Peninsula
🚤 What activities do you want to do while there? Snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, camping, Zodiac cruises, and helicopter excursions are all possible, but not all ships offer all activities. Some cruise lines include many activities in the price, while others charge extra for all activities. Choose wisely!
✈️ You don’t HAVE to cross the Drake Passage. If you suffer from severe motion sickness and are as scared of crossing the Drake Passage as I am, several operators offer you the chance to fly over the Drake Passage. Or if you want a truly luxe experience, check out White Desert for the ultimate adventure to visit Antarctica. This adventure departs from Cape Town so it’s perfect to combine with a safari trip!
🌐 Book with a travel advisor! Travel advisors (aka me) can help you sort through all the available options, let you know which operators have the best client feedback, help you with all the complicated pre and post trip logistics, and can give you access to VIP perks and non-public promotions. What kind of VIP perks can you gain access to when using a travel advisor? Here are some examples, which are typically COMBINABLE with whatever the current promotion is for the expedition operator.
Lindblad Expeditions: Up To $200 USD Shipboard Credit Per Stateroom
Quark Expeditions: $250 USD Shipboard Credit Per Person
Aurora Expeditions: $250 USD shipboard credit per person
Seabourn: $250 USD Shipboard Credit Per Person
Ponant: $100 USD Shipboard Credit Per Person
Silversea: Onboard host and welcome aboard reception or a shipboard credit of up to $600 per suite on select voyages
Hurtigruten Expeditions: $100 USD shipboard credit per person
Ready to get started discussing your trip to Antarctica? Reach out here.