Practical Guide for your next Antarctica Cruise

Would you like to follow the steps of former explorers in an inhospitable frozen wonderland? Navigating on a cruise brings an exclusive opportunity to delve into the heart of Antarctica’s enchanting wilderness with top-end comfort. Witness glacial marvels including towering glaciers and ice formations. Prepare for close encounters with penguins, seals, whales, and diverse marine life. Besides, you can step ashore through the untouched landscapes for land expeditions, snowshoeing, ice camping, or take advantage of crystal waters for sea kayaking.

If you dare to start this journey, we recommend the following vessels strongly committed to sustainable travel:

• Ocean Endeavour encourages sustainable practices for limiting the impact on the environment, such as eliminating single-use plastics, or using eco-friendly products and assuring carbon offset expeditions. In line with onboard comforts, it offers all the amenities and facilities of a four-star hotel, including spacious social areas, health and wellness options, and 114 cabins (single, twin, and triple), with a capacity of 200 guests. Additionally, enjoy exciting outdoor activities and flexibility for solo travelers.
• Ocean Nova allows an intimate experience for 67 guests. It has an air-cruise journey to avoid crossing the rough waters of the Drake Passage, which reduces the trip time to reach the White Continent. Also, its voyages support specialized small-scale tourism in Chile, and the operations during the journey are carried out sustainably and responsibly based on international guidelines. The vessel features a Scandinavian design and offers top-end facilities and amenities, including 34 cabins, comfortable social areas, and a glass-enclosed observation lounge.
• Ocean Victory features an X-bow design that allows an unobstructed view for guests when standing on observation platforms to spot the wildlife in its splendor. It is a comfort class certified vessel for the lowest noise and vibrations, also clean ship certified, with the least polluting engines which use light fuels than other expedition vessels, and is committed to environmentally friendly practices. It includes 93 cabins, social and wellness areas, a lecture lounge, and entertainment activities, allowing 175 guests.
• Ocean Albatros has a sturdy construction and X-bow -Infinity class that provides stability in rough weather conditions. Besides, it has a Solas classification for its safety features. Also, it is a low-energy vessel that optimizes the speed and fuel consumption. As well as, it promotes eco-friendly practices and contributes to initiatives for the reduction of the carbon footprint on the planet. It allows 169 guests and includes 94 cabins, pleasant facilities, social and wellness areas, and many activities available.
  
  

General tips & recommendations for your Antarctic cruise

• How to get to Antarctica: According to your selected itinerary, you will arrive by flight to Punta Arenas (Chile), or Ushuaia (Argentina) one day earlier. In the afternoon, you will receive a briefing about the expedition and useful recommendations for your trip, then spend a night in Punta Arenas or Ushuaia. On the next day, you will start your journey to Antarctica, depending on your tour option. If you start at Ushuaia, you will often board your cruise directly at the pier. On the other hand, if you start at Punta Arenas, you will take a two-hour direct flight to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, then you will be carried out to board your cruise later.
• Best time to visit Antarctica: Due to the extreme weather conditions, the only time to visit Antarctica is from November to March during the summer season when the temperature is about 0 °C.
  If you plan a post-tour when you return from the Antarctica expedition, for the last day, it is recommended not to start until the late afternoon and spend a night in Ushuaia, as weather conditions may change.
• Purchase travel insurance, including medical evacuation and pandemic-related coverage. (Please verify all the specific requirements for medical insurance with your travel designer).
• What to wear for your trip: You need to dress appropriately to face the extreme conditions of the White Continent, click here to download the suggested packing list.
• Remember to book flights with flexible connections that allow changes, and also build a buffer in your travel plans in case of flight delays or problems with your luggage.
• Passport & Visas: Check your passport validity and any entry requirements, including visas for the country of embarkation (Argentina or Chile), and vaccinations, especially in those itineraries that consider visits to other countries.
  
  

Pure! Antarctica makes your travel experience as smooth as possible, with tailor-made itineraries and efficient operations that adjust to your needs and expectations. Due to that from your arrival until your departure, you will have a reliable partner in charge of providing the best pre-tour and post-tour services for your clients. Here you can find our top recommended itineraries for complementing your Antarctica journey: