Using points for Antarctica cruise?
 

Does anyone know if it is possible to use points to book a cruise to Antarctica? I can't seem to find any previous threads about this. I'm interested in point --> cruise redemption, not using points for cash value (like Cap One, for instance). Thanks!

I think it's unlikely, since most of the cruises down there aren't part of the major cruise lines IIRC. Even if it was possible, it would almost certainly be a massive amount of points.

That said, I did a trip there my senior year of college, and it's an absolute highlight of my life. Simply extraordinary.

ETA: I seem to recall hearing the you could often find last minute prices that were much lower, if you were willing to go on like 2 weeks notice.

As a travel agent, there are no main cruise line that does a true Antarctic cruise. I know some will go through the region like Princess buts its a quick sail through with no stops.

An adventure cruise like Linblad, Hurtigruten, National Geographic offer a true Antarctic cruise. Any questions, send me a PM.

Like other folks already told you, there are no programs that would allow you to redeem on Antarctica "cruise". Moreover, those "cruises" are not luxurious. Many of the ships are hastily redesigned Russia's-built research vessels, so Spartan would be more like it, and they sail through a very, very rough sea. What you could do, however, is redeem miles for flights to Ushuaia--the Argentine's southernmost city where most of those cruise lines sail from.

Little different than what you want, but I earned 10k miles taking a cruise with Quark expeditions to antarctica last year.

I've thought hard about this, however it was always the cost that prevented me from doing a tour. At any point did you think it was just a mountainous area with snow?

Also what animals did you see?

Are there even any points -> cruise redemptions anywhere which don't equate to cash value? I know of lots of ways to redeem points for cruises, but they all "devaluate" to simply being a redemption of the points for the cash value of the cruise. Thus no "high value" to be gotten out of it (the way you can because hotel point prices are not proportional to hotel cash prices, and airline miles prices are not proportional to airline cash prices).

If I'm mistaken, please point me to some existing thread(s) about cruise redemptions not proportional to cash value.

Has anyone tried the Qantas flight over Antarctica?

Um...I'm sure the thought crossed my mind at one point or another, but it left just as quickly. The most impressive part to me (bear in mind this is several years ago) was the simple fact that humanity doesn't exist there. Yes, I know that we have research stations and such, but there's absolutely no doubt when you're visiting that we don't belong and aren't part of it. It's really quite something, especially if you live in a big city and spend most of your time surrounded by people. The scenery is consistently stunning, and incredibly expansive. Some of our pictures from the trip are at http://www.udel.edu/globalagenda/ant...ages/showcase/ if you want to get an idea. If you're the nautical type at all, it's fun to hear about the adventures getting there as well (the Drake Passage can be a major downside - just go into it assuming you'll get seasick, and there's a chance you'll be lucky and won't).

animals...we saw a bunch of different types of penguins and seals; whales; birds. Interesting fact that surprised me: penguins stink! They poop wherever they want, including on each other, and it smells terrible. But very unimportant :).

it's an incredibly expensive trip, and I can't honestly say that it was worth the expense compared to other trips that money could have sent me on. but I don't for one second regret going, and I'd jump at the opportunity to return.

It sounds like you CAN say it was worth it! :D

lol...true, I suppose. I've been lucky enough to feel the same about several trips that I've taken. Still, when a trip costs $10k+ for one person, it had better be pretty damn special.

Looked into it several times, but by TCC rules you have to touch down to count a country so a flight down from South America is more likely the route I will go. To be honest, the Australian flight would probably be a more fun experience than landing for a day.:cool:

Stunning pictures. Just stunning!

+1.........thanks for sharing

Yes, both QF and LA flights SCL-SYD. The view depends on good weather and is actually very brief, but I have managed to see it several times on this route.

Silversea seems to have regular cruises from Ushuaia and they seem to be very luxurious. Maybe other people with better knowledge can tell us whether they can be booked with miles or, more likely, how to earn miles when booking them.

http://www.silversea.com/expeditions...ca/?region=010

Didn't know that. However i was talking about this:

http://www.antarcticaflights.com.au/

Wow...I'm in awe. I would love to do a trip like that!:cool:

Well those pictures aren't all mine, but I'll say thank you on behalf of the group :). It was pretty amazing.

There's a lbook and TV series that's come out recently:

How To Travel The World For Free (by Michael Wigge)

http://www.howtotraveltheworldforfree.com/

and in fact his final destination was Antarctica. But I don't know for sure whether or how he made it there "free". (And "free" is not in the FTer sense; for example, I know from the one TV episode I did catch so far that he made it across the Atlantic by signing up for work on a commercial container ship. He didn't start out with having points, he started with having no money.)

from his website: My problem with working a job like that, is you really wouldn't get any opportunity to just relax and enjoy the place you're visiting.

Doubt it. I know one could (theoretically, at least) redeem United miles for the flight to space, but I don't think there is a similar option for Antarctica.

My problem would be working on vacation, period. I would make an exception for working on my own computer, though.:D

I’ve traveled to Antarctica, for only the cost of airfare to/from Ushuaia, 3 different times on Quark Expeditions expeditions. I did it as the Expedition Physician and I’d do it again as almost any staff member, including the boot cleaner. It is an amazing experience and any of the staff jobs allow ample time to enjoy the experience. It’s more than mountains and snow although you could certainly see it that way, just as you could see ANY place as just trees and/or buildings and/or waterfalls or whatever.

BTW, if you choose to go, and can spend an extra week and few $$$$, the Falklands and particularly South Georgia Island (SGI) are absolutely amazing. Prior to my visit, I had never even heard of SGI. After my first trip, which was the usual 21-22 day Falklands/SGI/Antarctica trip, if I could choose just one place to re-visit, it would be SGI. Not many places where you land on a beach in a Zodiac, walk for 15 minutes past hundreds of seals, over a small rise and are confronted by several hundred thousand pairs of penguins. Incredible.

Now that Aerolineas Argentinas (AA) will be joining Skyteam, getting to Ushuaia using miles should be much easier as AA is the major airline in and out of Ushuaia.

Been that route in the '80's as a guest lecturer cruising. Not a bad way to tag a dozen countries.:cool:

So I was just checking out the website for Quark, and they have a deal right now: "Special Offer: Save 20%* on all Antarctic cruises, plus earn 3X MileagePlus award miles on all bookings. Promo Code: MK12" at http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/united-airlines. Not perfect, but better than nothing!

I also get 10k bonus miles with Quark last year when I booked. I was able to get around 40% off though.

You can negotiate these prices?

Thanks very much for your link ^

Three of us will be in Ushuaia one month from now for this event.

Would love to make an excursion across the passage to the other side and will try and find out about one with Quark - if possible during the timeframe we'll be there.

Trip to USH itself is highly expensive - especially for tight budgets like mine - but I managed to get all of us on DL/AR award tickets - despite being so despised, their Skypesos made it possible :D

Not sure they are negotiable but Quark does offer discounts sometimes (between occasionally and frequently). Suggest subscribing to their email newsletters/updates/PR stuff.

Unsure exactly what you are referring to, sounds like you might be thinking about a quick (day or 2) trip across the Drake and back. Very unlikely. The Antarctica tourist season is during Southern hemisphere summer, approximately November through March. The Drake is about 600 miles across, my 3 trips averaged about 14 knots, which means the trip is a full 2 days EACH way. I’m not sure any other ships do it very much more quickly. Even in season I’m not aware of any company which offers quick trips across and back just so someone could say they visited Antarctica. Minimum trip duration on Quark is 8 or 9 days. I believe Quark offers the most cruises to the area.

A quick look at and quote from their website says the following:

This is pretty cool opportunity if one thinks they will never get a chance to actually land and tour.

I believe as of this year Quark has started the option of flying across the Drake instead of cruising across it.