Antarctica
Dec 31, 2006 | 5:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 5
Antarctica
I am planning a cruise to Antarctica for January or February, 2008. So far my research has found that there is little, if any, cost difference between the major tour companies offering trips. They all seem to use the same set or subset of vessels. My question is, how does one choose from among the companies selling cruises?
BobZ
BobZ
Dec 31, 2006 | 7:31 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Melbourne, FL
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 263
Landing on Antarctica is Great
We did the Antarctica cruise in 2004 and loved it.
After looking at the options and talking to several people that had done it, we selected the Marco Polo cruise ship. It is the Orient lines only ship (www.orientlines.com). It can hold 800+ passengers, but is restricted to 400 for the Antarctica.
The ship is larger and more stable than many that go to the Antarctica, which makes crossing the Drake passage better. It also has a helicopter to check out the water and which is available if there is an emergency on land. They have been doing the landings for many years and the crew does a great job. Go to the boards section of www.cruisecritic.com for more info.
Select one of the larger on line cruise travel agents such as www.cruise.com or www.buycruises.com for your booking.
After looking at the options and talking to several people that had done it, we selected the Marco Polo cruise ship. It is the Orient lines only ship (www.orientlines.com). It can hold 800+ passengers, but is restricted to 400 for the Antarctica.The ship is larger and more stable than many that go to the Antarctica, which makes crossing the Drake passage better. It also has a helicopter to check out the water and which is available if there is an emergency on land. They have been doing the landings for many years and the crew does a great job. Go to the boards section of www.cruisecritic.com for more info.
Select one of the larger on line cruise travel agents such as www.cruise.com or www.buycruises.com for your booking.
Jan 1, 2007 | 6:31 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AA, UA, DL,
Posts: 588
Hello OP,
I am on the MS Endeavor in Antarctica right now on a Lindblad/National Geographic tour and it is fantastic. Spent NYE in the lounge and it complete daylight.
We are in the middle of the Weddell (sp) Sea. This type of cruise is more expedition.. so if something fancies the expedition director or the ship's captain, we do it. There's no forced ports of call.
The crew is wonderful, the food is great... we are in the Antarctic itself for six days before we return to Ushuaia before flying home.
See ya.
david
I am on the MS Endeavor in Antarctica right now on a Lindblad/National Geographic tour and it is fantastic. Spent NYE in the lounge and it complete daylight.
We are in the middle of the Weddell (sp) Sea. This type of cruise is more expedition.. so if something fancies the expedition director or the ship's captain, we do it. There's no forced ports of call.
The crew is wonderful, the food is great... we are in the Antarctic itself for six days before we return to Ushuaia before flying home.
See ya.
david
Jan 1, 2007 | 7:03 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 2,872
It's been six years since I did Antarctica, but as I recall, the ships are only allowed to land 100 passengers on shore at a time, right? So on one of the bigger cruises, you wouldn't get much time ashore among the penguins and elephant seals as you would on a smaller ship carrying only 100-200 passengers.
Jan 1, 2007 | 8:12 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 336
Antarctica
You should read the great trip reports under Antarctica. When you open up the "Travel & Dining" page scroll down to the very bottom. Because there have been no really recent posts, bring up the previous posts for the last year. Wonderful reading.
Jan 1, 2007 | 9:39 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Melbourne, FL
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 263
It's been six years since I did Antarctica, but as I recall, the ships are only allowed to land 100 passengers on shore at a time, right? So on one of the bigger cruises, you wouldn't get much time ashore among the penguins and elephant seals as you would on a smaller ship carrying only 100-200 passengers.
Yes, the Marco Polo divided the cruisers into A, B, C, and D groups with 100 each. On day one group A went first, day two group B, etc. Each group was scheduled for an hour, but no one timed them. Some people landed, walked around briefly and returned to the ship. Others stayed longer. Four days of landing are scheduled, but weather can change that. We landed on only 3 days.
My wife gets sea sick, so she wanted a big ship.
Jan 1, 2007 | 12:54 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AA, UA, DL,
Posts: 588
....dateline MS Endeavor 5 pm Antarctica, Lindblad/Natl Geographic,
It is true about the number of people allowed on any land. Fortunately, with about 100 passengers, all passengers get on land for around 3-4 hours.
Unfortunately, the Drake's Passage crossing is not for the faint hearted. But we all survived. From the 11 year old to the 80-something year old.
David
It is true about the number of people allowed on any land. Fortunately, with about 100 passengers, all passengers get on land for around 3-4 hours.
Unfortunately, the Drake's Passage crossing is not for the faint hearted. But we all survived. From the 11 year old to the 80-something year old.
David
Jan 2, 2007 | 7:44 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,752
I suspect, though, that our selection of landing places was also limited by the numbers involved.
Nevertheless, the Marco Polo is a lovely and friendly ship in addition to her sea-keeping qualities, and I paid a great deal less for my week on board her than I would have had to on the expedition cruises - whether the "hard" experience of an icebreaker or the "soft" luxury of an A&K-type ship.
Jan 6, 2007 | 7:17 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Redondo Beach, CA USA
Programs: UA 1KMM, Bonvoy LTE, HH D, Hertz Plat, Avis PC
Posts: 4,040
I'm going to Antarctica next December on Holland America's Rotterdam. No landings on the white continent, but plenty of days of scenic cruising, and there's a shore excursion that offers a lengthy overflight.
Regent also operates a cruise or two there each year on a small ship they only operate for that particular itinerary.
Regent also operates a cruise or two there each year on a small ship they only operate for that particular itinerary.
