Planning an Antarctic expedition type cruise

[love_the_life]

Is smelliness such a big thing? When I visit a penguin rookery, I expect it to small a lot ...

From memory drron mentioned using something under the nose to help - it will be in his TR I think. It is apparently quite overpowering.

 

[VPS]

Is smelliness such a big thing? When I visit a penguin rookery, I expect it to small a lot ...

I may have a tougher stomach but it didn't really bother me at all. I went in January and it just meant when I got back to BA it was in the high 30s that I'm not fond of but the whole trip was worth it and would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[JohnM]

I went in mid December. We couldn't get quite as far S as planned/hoped as the ice had not broken sufficiently, but it was all good.

Pushing uphill in Patagonia and chilling in Antarctica

I have finally gotten around to doing a TR of a Patagonia and Antarctica travel combination that I did in November-December 2013 that may be of interest to some folks. The plan: PER-xSYD-SCL for nearly two weeks in Patagonia (Chile and Argentina), followed by a 10-night cruise from Ushuaia to...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[luxury-lizard]

We left Dec 26 - 21 days - totally amazing - best for seeing penguin and albatross chicks - ice still clean. NYE on the ice was amazing. You must include South Georgia as others have recommended - we also visited the Falklands which was excellent.

 

[zig]

We went in late November 2018 -
plus points - still good ice coverage, ice was clean as not many other expeditions had been there yet at that time of year, not much smell (less poop from penguins with rookeries - ask drron about the smell as I think he knows), cheaper as non high season
con points - could not get as far south as later cruises (Flying Mermaid for example did cross the Antarctic Circle south but we couldn't get that far down).

I think, though, whatever month you go it will be amazing.

I also visited in late November and agree with the points made by @love_the_life . Ice was pristine and there were a few areas we couldn't get to due to ice.
I chose my voyage timing due to pricing as I also travel solo.
I loved the trip and would return to Antarctica at any time during the season. I would really live to see the penguin chicks which obviously aren't around in late November.
Agree with other comments that if you can financially manage it look for a trip to include South Georgia. I didn't include South Georgia when I went, but am rectifying that in March 2023, however this has meant 2 trips rather than one, so perhaps I should have just shelled out more $$s the first time.

 

[RooFlyer]

You'll see we have popped over to a fresh thread - thank you moderator(s).

Many thanks for the comments - all appreciated.

Like the query re the smell, another one - what is it that affects the 'cleanliness' or 'pristine' nature of the ice from beginning to later in the season? Animal excrement or past traveller's footprints at the landing areas, or something else?

Here is my dilemma so far. I need a voyage with no or minimal single supplement, as I travel solo. Seaborn - yes, would be a superior voyage and experience but is not only more expensive, but no NSSs that I can find. My TA also on the case of course.

Ponant - where I would get a 5% discount and has pretty transparent other discounts for early booking and has a number of NSS voyages.

My choice is this type :
https://au.ponant.com/antarctica-emblematic-antarctica-a011222-10 which is a 'dash down and back' with no Sth Georgia etc
. ..which is available with NSS from mid November to late December 2023 and mid January to early March 2024

or

https://au.ponant.com/antarctica-in-the-footsteps-of-shackleton-and-the-endurance-cc040324-10 which is a better trip, including Sth Shetlands, Sth Georgia etc.
BUT the only sailing offered is 3 March 24 to 21 March 24.

So: Earlier, briefer trip or longer, more encompassing but late season trip?

Comments & opinions welcome!! (I'll keep looking for other NSSs on other lines, but the same dilemma may appear.)

 

[kpc]

Bookmarked

 

[VPS]

Also be aware that even if the journey says South Georgia you may not get there because of bad weather which happened to us

 

[zig]

I cruised with Silversea and the single supplement was 25% on my voyage. Silversea only offers a 25% single supplement on a limited number of voyages in the season. I have never seen them offer no single supplement, the lowest I have seen in Antarctica is 25%. Likewise I have never seen a reduced single supplement on Seabourn in Antarctica.

 

[Port Power]

I am often told by expedition leaders to look at the size of the ship. 100 passengers or less is ideal so that they can all set foot on Antarctica. Ships with 200+ passengers I believe have more restrictions. Of course, less passengers equals higher price per person. Another consideration into the mix.

 

[zig]

Here is a Silversea cruise taking in the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica. It is 25% single supplement. If you don't want the flights included you can take the flight credit and arrange your own which you would be doing with Ponant anyway.
puerto-williams-to-puerto-williams-wi231219018.html

 

[RooFlyer]

Here is a Silversea cruise taking in the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica. It is 25% single supplement. If you don't want the flights included you can take the flight credit and arrange your own which you would be doing with Ponant anyway.
puerto-williams-to-puerto-williams-wi231219018.html

Thanks - yes, found that just this afternoon Asking my TA to price it now. It looks good, and earlier in the season, unlike the Ponant one, in March.

Tricky bit in flying myself is that the port is only serviced by DodgyAir from Punta Arenas. The SS group get a charter in, by the look of it. I could do worse.

 

[RooFlyer]

I am often told by expedition leaders to look at the size of the ship. 100 passengers or less is ideal so that they can all set foot on Antarctica. Ships with 200+ passengers I believe have more restrictions. Of course, less passengers equals higher price per person. Another consideration into the mix.

Yes, I was wondering about how they handle 200+ pax zodiac landings on either the Ponant or SilverSea vessels I'm looking at. I saw the Ponant Antarctic cruise sistership (not the icebreaker class one) during the Kimberley cruise and it only loaded zodiacs from the stern of the ship. I know they'd be well practiced, but I guess it might take all morning to load everyone onto a zodiac for an excursion.

Can't be worried about that - its what most people do and the mini-ship class is out of my price range.

 

[tgh]

puerto-williams-to-puerto-williams-wi231219018.html

Looks good… sadly @240 persons I think the " Icy Wind" .. will be doing shore excursions in shifts alla same the Cloud
It's a pita, but par for the course with all these bigger ships.
Silver Explorer, the new SS expedition ship ex Crystal will also be joining the crowd on the LeMaire
It looks a very flash little tub and the PaII tragic's are in thrall .
Mega $$ to play , no reduced single fares ….but likely no shore shifts either…..money talks...

 

[Port Power]

Yes, I was wondering about how they handle 200+ pax zodiac landings on either the Ponant or SilverSea vessels I'm looking at. I saw the Ponant Antarctic cruise sistership (not the icebreaker class one) during the Kimberley cruise and it only loaded zodiacs from the stern of the ship. I know they'd be well practiced, but I guess it might take all morning to load everyone onto a zodiac for an excursion.

Can't be worried about that - its what most people do and the mini-ship class is out of my price range.

Now my travel taste buds are tingling and I might have to look at that Silversea one. The Australian Top End next year cruise has NO reduction at all, so only 25% solo supplement sounds very good.

 

[zig]

Now my travel taste buds are tingling and I might have to look at that Silversea one. The Australian Top End next year cruise has NO reduction at all, so only 25% solo supplement sounds very good.

Exactly why I have had to book Ponant for the Kimberly next year. I have spoken to my Silversea agent many times and have been told that they won’t do a reduced single supplement in the Kimberley. Makes no sense to me as they offer a reduced supplement in the Arctic, Antarctica and the Galapagos, but not the Kimberley?!

 

[Port Power]

Exactly why I have had to book Ponant for the Kimberly next year. I have spoken to my Silversea agent many times and have been told that they won’t do a reduced single supplement in the Kimberley. Makes no sense to me as they offer a reduced supplement in the Arctic, Antarctica and the Galapagos, but not the Kimberley?!

Want to share?

Maybe that reflects just how popular the Kimberley is? The ship could be filled twice over or more, so SS does not feel the need to discount.

 

[zig]

Want to share?

Maybe that reflects just how popular the Kimberley is? The ship could be filled twice over or more, so SS does not feel the need to discount.

Perhaps, but I would think that SS could fill their voyages in the Arctic, Antarctica and Galapagos as well, but a number of reduced single supplement options are available in those destinations.
Anyway, despite being a SS stalwart I have jumped ship in the Kimberley to Ponant

 

[Port Power]

Perhaps, but I would think that SS could fill their voyages in the Arctic, Antarctica and Galapagos as well, but a number of reduced single supplement options are available in those destinations.
Anyway, despite being a SS stalwart I have jumped ship in the Kimberley to Ponant

Yes, I agree those other destinations are just as popula. Who knows why some lines offer low single supplements in one place and not another? I am on Silver Explorer from Cairns to Broome in May next year. Coral cancelled that itinerary this year as NT wouldn't allow landings in remote areas and I really want the Cape York/Torres Strait Islands experiences as well. Always worth experiencing the way various companies operate.

But I like the Silversea Antarctic itinerary!

 

[zig]

puerto-williams-to-puerto-williams-wi231219018.html

Looks good… sadly @240 persons I think the " Icy Wind" .. will be doing shore excursions in shifts alla same the Cloud

Silver Explorer, the new SS expedition ship ex Crystal will also be joining the crowd on the LeMaire
It looks a very flash little tub and the PaII tragic's are in thrall .
Mega $$ to play , no reduced single fares ….but likely no shore shifts either…..money talks...

I am on Silver Explorer from Cairns to Broome in May next year. Coral cancelled that itinerary this year as NT wouldn't allow landings in remote areas and I really want the Cape York/

Lucky you. I have had my eye on that itinerary for some time but haven’t been fortunate to see a reduced single supplement. I hope you enjoy