Cruises to Antarctica

[Flying mermaid]

8

It really is just to warn about ships after a major dry dock or when new.
Here is a much more typical thread since Explorer's dry dock on it's way to Ushuaia.
Live - SIlver Explorer October 25 2017, Guayaquil to Valparaiso

yes that sounds a lot better . (Thank you)

 

[zig]

8
yes that sounds a lot better . (Thank you)

I would just echo the advice from drron and mrsdrron - take the posts on cruise critic with a large pinch of salt and don't let it put you off Antarctica as it is a wonderful destination. I did it on Silver Explorer last year and it is not to be missed. I was also on the Guayaquil to Valpariso cruise in October that drron referred you to. Silver Explorer is a very comfortable ship and the expedition team and crew do a wonderful job.

 

[drron]

I have just read that prices for 2020 Antarctic SS cruises have been posted and the price is less per day.Still expensive.
Apparently at least 18 new ships in 2020 putting pressure on prices.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Sounds like going sooner is better - that sounds like it will get quite crowded, even if there is a limit on the number who can actually land at one time.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

In December 2020 and January 2021 the Silver Explorer will be doing Antarctica from NZ

Silver Explorer Luxury Adventure Cruise | Silversea

 

[kpc]

In December 2020 and January 2021 the Silver Explorer will be doing Antarctica from NZ

Silver Explorer Luxury Adventure Cruise | Silversea

Eye watering prices ex Dunedin.....still cheaper to fly and start from Ushuaia!

 

[zig]

In December 2020 and January 2021 the Silver Explorer will be doing Antarctica from NZ

Silver Explorer Luxury Adventure Cruise | Silversea

I think the new Crystal expedition ship is also doing this around the same time.

 

[tgh]

Heading down into the Ross Sea is a little more adventurous than the Lemaire peninsula.
The slots in the Lemaire are full to the brim and there are ships everywhere
South from Dunedin it is serious open ocean miles and a chance that the weather will destroy many of the planned landings.
Otoh.. it is really a road less travelled ( atm) and that makes it a genuine adventure rather than the more common faux variety.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Heading down into the Ross Sea is a little more adventurous than the Lemaire peninsula.
The slots in the Lemaire are full to the brim and there are ships everywhere
South from Dunedin it is serious open ocean miles and a chance that the weather will destroy many of the planned landings.
Otoh.. it is really a road less travelled ( atm) and that makes it a genuine adventure rather than the more common faux variety.

Totally agree ! We did it from Dunedin on the Orion (before they went broke !) and we had waves breaking over deck 5
Also you get to go to the AUSTRALIAN part of Antarctica !!
We have been in Mawsons Hut !! There are potatoes in a box there - just as they left it.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Eye watering prices ex Dunedin.....still cheaper to fly and start from Ushuaia!

we are paying 22k per person on an 11 day silverseas cruise ex Ushuaia (plus airfares to SCL), so these don’t look too bad and you don’t have to cross the drake passage......

 

[drron]

The real jewel on those cruises is Macquarie Island.One of the best attractions Tasmania has to offer-it is officially part of tassie.You can see the Antarctic wildlife without the ice and snow.On our cruise we had a Linblad captain on board.he described Macquarie Island as australia's South Georgia.

 

[ExpeditionCruiser]

For those wanting to see more of Antarctica than just the peninsula, Oceanwide Expeditions operate a great 32 day itinerary from Ushuaia to Bluff (or vice versa) aboard the Ortelius. She's not a luxury vessel like some of the new polar ships being launched, but she is tough and has a great expedition team - also carries a couple of helicopters that are utilised to take guests 'inland' during the voyage (included in cruise fare). Of course they have zodiacs as well. The next voyages of this programme are in Jan/Feb 2020 (one in each direction).

DISCLAIMER:
Can I just point out that I am employed by Expedition Cruise Specialists. You can find out more information on our website if you choose and of course I am happy to answer any questions. As per the AFF member special offers, we also offer a 2.50% discount on expedition cruises for AFF members and also happily accept MC / Visa & AMEX without a surcharge.

 

[kpc]

I have always wanted to do an Antarctic cruise but +1 gets terrrible sea sickness. Another option I have recently discovered is the fly cruise option where you fly from Punta Arenas in Southern Chile over the 'infamous' Drake Passage directly to King George Island where you pick up the cruise...+1 said she would think about it!!!

 

[Flying mermaid]

I have always wanted to do an Antarctic cruise but +1 gets terrrible sea sickness. Another option I have recently discovered is the fly cruise option where you fly from Punta Arenas in Southern Chile over the 'infamous' Drake Passage directly to King George Island where you pick up the cruise...+1 said she would think about it!!!

we have never been on a cruise and we all suffer motion sickness from mild to very bad. Very apprehensive as January gets closer. If we survive it then I reckon anyone can do it.

 

[casanovawa]

Its on the list to do at some point... Problem with cruising if your single as its even more expensive than for per person in couples unless you can find a deal or someone else wanting to do the same journey...

 

[casanovawa]

we have never been on a cruise and we all suffer motion sickness from mild to very bad. Very apprehensive as January gets closer. If we survive it then I reckon anyone can do it.

Have you seen those glasses which are meant to stop motion sickness??

 

[ExpeditionCruiser]

Its on the list to do at some point... Problem with cruising if your single as its even more expensive than for per person in couples unless you can find a deal or someone else wanting to do the same journey...

These days some of the operators will accept you as a half share of a twin cabin (or a quarter of a quad share etc) and they then try and find someone of the same gender to share with you. Takes the hard work out of you having to convince someone to go with you! Of course it means a bit of 'pot luck' as to whether you will enjoy the company of your cabin mate, but the upside is if they can't find someone then they will often allow you to have the cabin to yourself without paying the supplement.

 

[VPS]

I'm not willing to risk having to share a cabin with someone else. They might even want to talk to me in the morning and that's just not on.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Have you seen those glasses which are meant to stop motion sickness??

That’s a new one. I have collected patches, which I had to get from New Zealand and have some prescription stuff and was planning to add ginger and contemplating wrist bands, but haven’t heard of glasses. Will need to investigate

 

[kpc]

I have collected patches, which I had to get from New Zealand

Can you tell me where and how you got those patches? I found this from NZ: Scopoderm TTS 1.5 Scopolamine Patches 2
When we did a cruise around the Galapagos Islands a few years ago, + 1 couldn't eat for 24 hours and confined herself to our room despite trying all the oral tablets we had brought from Australia. Another guest gave her one of her patches she got prescribed from her doctor in the US,. and it worked wonders but it is not available in Australia....too bad she got blurry vision and couldn't read for the rest of the trip