Why I'm unlikely to ever "Cruise" (At least on a large ship)

[zig]

If I get to kick a rock anywhere there I'll be thrilled.

You will get to kick rocks - lots of them.

 

[latawiec]

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Agree again - of course - every experience outdoors for any type of travel is whether dependent. People want to see Mount Fuji in Japan but can’t because of the weather. Skiiers may get rained out. I won’t bother you with lots of other examples; we can disagree on the extent of this particular problem.


I don’t understand that last bit, but anyway, one thing about cruises to Antarctica and many other places is that they can dynamically change their schedule in response to weather conditions. We have four days around the Antarctic peninsula, and while there’s a itinerary, reports of this and other cruises to Antarctica, show that they can go virtually anywhere around the place with shelter and other things if the weather isn’t favourable for the scheduled stop.

Now I’ve never looked at flying to Antarctica, but it may be a problem if there’s a delay because the authorities strictly control the number of people who are authorised in advance at one time. Might be possible but again I’m not sure how you organise overnight accommodation there so it’s a day flight in and same day flight out, weather permitting, as opposed to being on a cruise liner were at the very worst you can float around, beverage in hand and admire the scenery and nearly always you just divert to where you can land somewhere.

I think that it is possible to see Antarctica from above. In winter there are organized some flights from Perth to see Antarctica from above.

Maybe... that is the way to Antarctica by
I never heard about landing flights in Antarctica with tourists...
...but maybe I am wrong

 

[RooFlyer]

I never heard about landing flights in Antarctica with tourists...

Yes, its a thing; and I see you can overnight - open minds can learn new things . This is the same mob that is flying us down to Cape Horn from Santiago. There are also cruises where you fly down and join the cruise there, avoiding the sometimes rough Drake passage.

Antarctic Adventure - DAP Airlines

dapairline.com

At A$10K for one day there and back, you can judge whether that's good value compared to the c $23K for my 19 day cruise on an expedition vessel, on a premium cruise line, including flights down from Santiago and back.

A$12K to stay overnight in a tent. I'd rather stay several nights down there in my suite, with lovely food and wines.

 

[latawiec]

.

I think that it is possible to see Antarctica from above. In winter there are organized some flights from Perth to see Antarctica from above.

Maybe... that is the way to Antarctica by
I never heard about landing flights in Antarctica with tourists...
...but maybe I am wrong

I mean the European winter, and the Australian summer.

 

[justinbrett]

Well, in 'Antarctica' many of the stops will actually be on the ice shelf around islands and ice surrounding the 'mainland'. If I get to kick a rock anywhere there I'll be thrilled.

And that was my point.

I never heard about landing flights in Antarctica with tourists...
...but maybe I am wrong

It's quite new (the one I was talking about). Started in 2021. The tour company built and owns the runway (White Desert - a British company)

 

[VPS]

And this is my schedule; more the 'island experience' . Flights to/from Santiago included; open bar, vacant middle seats; Mandarin Oriental in Santiago pre and post cruise.

View attachment 354858

Skeptics can note that we cruise down the Antarctic peninsula over 4 days and can stop at many allowed places down that coast (and they do vary it, looking at 'trip reports' from those who have done this cruise before, to lessen human impact).



Well, in 'Antarctica' many of the stops will actually be on the ice shelf around islands and ice surrounding the 'mainland'. If I get to kick a rock anywhere there I'll be thrilled.

We missed South Georgia because of the weather but went to another of the Falkland Islands instead.

 

[Lynda2475]

Anyone with a useful trade/skill and 6 months to spare can apply for a job at the Aussie base and if accepted they will fly you in or put you on a boat. Guaranteed to get onshore and pays pretty well. Obviously not an option for those without a clean bill of health or who need to see family regularly. They were advertising for cooks and mechanics just last week.

 

[jb747]

There are huge, medium and smaller ships.
I also don't like the huge crowded ships.

But I found some smaller, with below 1200 passengers, that are quite reasonable.

Choose your cruise boat. My smallest for a 10 day cruise at Galapagos was 30. Heck, you can get down to 10 if you want to pay. Same for the cruises along the Kimberlies.

No, my only problem is people. I have no problem with large ships, and don't like small ones. So, something in the order of 30,000 tonnes, with about 5 passengers would be fine.

 

[RooFlyer]

No, my only problem is people. I have no problem with large ships, and don't like small ones. So, something in the order of 30,000 tonnes, with about 5 passengers would be fine.

Just become a mate of the Sultan of Oman and you and +1 could probably have these all to yourselves (with crew of 100 or so to serve, natch). Just a couple from his personal yacht squadron. He wouldn't miss one or the other for a few months.

This is only 20,000 t, but possibly adequate



Or if that's a bit much, this would be cosier.

 

[Quickstatus]

Skiiers may get rained out

It's normal in Australia ski resorts. It's the only way to test the waterproofness of the expensive gear before heading overseas.

White desert

Sounds desolate nothing but white?. More interesting at the ice edge?

 

[Lynda2475]

The problem with the joy flight over Antarctic departing from Australia is that you can not be guaranteed a window seat and are then relying on the kindness of other passengers to let you have a go of looking out the window. Very expensive for maybe a quick view from a long way up. Not worth the $ IMO, YMMV of course.

 

[SYD]

The problem with the joy flight over Antarctic departing from Australia is that you can not be guaranteed a window seat and are then relying on the kindness of other passengers to let you have a go of looking out the window. Very expensive for maybe a quick view from a long way up. Not worth the $ IMO, YMMV of course.

I’ve had two “free” Antartica viewings - flying home from Sth America. The best was a J tix but old F seat 1A on QF B744. Four windows and clear skies!

These days, the dreaded B787 window shade override is probably in play and you won’t see sh_t. I’ll find out in Feb….

 

[latawiec]

The problem with the joy flight over Antarctic departing from Australia is that you can not be guaranteed a window seat and are then relying on the kindness of other passengers to let you have a go of looking out the window. Very expensive for maybe a quick view from a long way up. Not worth the $ IMO, YMMV of course.

Disagree, as your above view is preemptive, without researching.

Seats would be swapped, and I like you to read a fresh review of person who took a such flight .

Antarctica Flights Review: Is A Sightseeing Day Trip Worth It?

My Antarctica flights review details what to expect on a Qantas sightseeing flight from Sydney, honest truth about seats & more!

www.theinvisibletourist.com

 

[latawiec]

I’ve had two “free” Antartica viewings - flying home from Sth America. The best was a J tix but old F seat 1A on QF B744. Four windows and clear skies!

These days, the dreaded B787 window shade override is probably in play and you won’t see sh_t. I’ll find out in Feb….

Your opinion on your experience from the February's flight will be very helpful and welcomed.

 

[Lynda2475]

Disagree, as your above view is preemptive, without researching.

Nope sorry a colleague did the flight with Qantas, and although you were supposed to swap seats he said it was not well enforced and not everyone got equal viewing time. As you know some people can be dicks and hogged the windows with their giant cameras well beyond their fair share.

I trust his review more than a strangers and saw the photos and video he took on board, and based on that do not think it is worth the cost. As I said YMMV, we all value experiences differently, but my view did have a real basis and the value is not there for me personally.

Flying over (but not landing) is a poor substitute to actually visiting a place. Its like when people say they have visited a country but in reality have only been to the airport or driven through without stopping - that does not count imo.

FYI @SYD is not doing a dedicated Antarctica joy flight, they are just flying home from South America on a commercial flight, something I have done myself a few times, and yes if you are lucky you can get a free glimpse out the window, but given passengers no longer have control of the window shades (these are typically overridden by the crew) it is far from guaranteed, which is fine since the purpose of that flight isnt to see the southern continent but to get home from SCL. But if you pay for a joy flight you should be guaranteed viewing time and IMO you should be able to book a window seat for the whole flight.

 

[RooFlyer]

Lots of unhappy looking P&O passengers walking around Hobart today.

 

[XWu]

Lots of unhappy looking P&O passengers walking around Hobart today.

Bingo!

was attracted to the thread due to the weekend news of pax being hijacked to Tassie when they paid for a NZ experience.

suprised no mention of it here for at least 5 pages back (didn’t bother to check further)

was wondering if if anyone knew how much notice the pax actually got of the change in itinerary (if any); didn’t want to rely on the media spin and quotes from pax

certainly they don’t use the bundle of rights playbook like QF

 

[latawiec]

Lots of unhappy looking P&O passengers walking around Hobart today.

Because they landed in Hobart instead in NZ.
They may see the Mawson's Hut (a copy) near the port.

 

[Lynda2475]

Because they landed in Hobart instead in NZ.

This is at least the second time this year a P&O ship has been denied entry to NZ for biohazard reasons, last time was in March. Seems to be a recurring issue and a brand to avoid epseically if NZ is your desired destination.

For somewhere so close, just fly and then use local options to get to the sights so your transport isnt turned away.

 

[latawiec]

This is at least the second time this year a P&O ship has been denied entry to NZ for biohazard reasons, last time was in March. Seems to be a recurring issue and a brand to avoid epseically if NZ is your desired destination.

For somewhere so close, just fly and then use local options to get to the sights so your transport isnt turned away.

Thanks Lynda,
Good suggestion for your demographic (suspect that you are 1975 born?).
However, older demographic for number of reasons prefers the "floating hotel" option which is cruising.

For new bookings on cruise to NZ it would be desired to avoid this cruise company.

I already purchased the 7th cruise in this season to NZ on the Queen Elizabeth starting on 1 Feb 2024.
And hope that such bio-security will not emerge.