antarctica travel guide

ANTARCTICA CRUISE ITINERARIES
Ushuaia is the leading departure port for Antarctica cruises
Most cruises sail from and return to Ushuaia, Argentina (see map below).

There are three basic sea itinerary routes from Ushuaia:



Short itinerary
You sail to the Antarctica Peninsula and, likely, will stop at one of the South Shetland Islands. Typical cruise duration is normally 7 to 10 nights. Note: One of the drawbacks of the short itinerary is you have to cross the sometimes stormy Drake Passage twice. It is 650 kilometers (400 miles) of open sea between South America and Antarctica.

Mid-length itinerary
The Falkland Islands is added to the short itinerary. Cruise duration averages 11 or so nights. As my map shows, it (and the long itinerary) makes only one straight-across trip through the Drake Passage.

Long itinerary
South Georgia Island is added to the mid-length itinerary. Cruises are normally 14 to 20 nights, though some last four weeks. Unlike the Falkland Islands, the rugged South Georgia Island scores high marks from both passengers and lecturers. It's renowned for spectacular wildlife.

Which is the best Antarctica cruise route out of Ushuaia?
I recommend taking either the short or long itinerary
The Falkland Islands has some interesting facets, but overall, not enough to warrant the extra sailing time.

However, if you're heading to South George Island, you might as well visit the Falkland Islands because the extra cruising time it entails is relatively small.

Other departure ports
A minority of Antarctica cruises depart from other South American ports, including
Buenos Aires  Argentina
Punta Arenas  Chile
 
Antarctica-bound cruise ships also leave from these three countries:
Australia
New Zealand
South Africa

These Antarctica destinations are especially popular
Half Moon Island
Named for its lunar-like shape. Visitors see a variety of wildlife, including chinstrap penguins and seals.

Hope Bay
Situated at the peninsula's northern point. There are many adelie penguins. The adjoining waters earned their sobriquet, "Iceberg Alley".

Lemaire and Neumayer Channels
Your ship sails through two narrow, steep-sided, spectacular icy waterways.
CLICK Lemaire & Neumayer

Paradise Harbor
Many a visitor calls it Antarctica's most photogenic spot.
CLICK Paradise Harbor

Wiencke Island
Home of Port Lockroy. Part of this former British military base was converted into a museum. Many gentoo penguins inhabit the area.

Frequently on Antarctica cruise ship itineraries
Deception Island
South Shetland Islands
It's a ring-shaped island with a super-sized natural harbor in its center. Tourists in bathing suits relish the thermal-heated waters.

Elephant Island
South Shetland Islands
Stranded crew members of explorer Shackleton's ship survived a cruel winter here in 1916. The isle was named for its large elephant seal population. There are penguins, too, including the chinstrap species.

Sea Lion Island
This small island teems with wildlife, including penguins and sea lions.

South Georgia Island
Millions of macaroni penguins breed here. The island has rugged, glacier-clad, snow-capped mountains - and was once a major whaling center.

Falkland Islands
They have wildlife, including rockhopper penguins and sea lions.


ZODIAK TIPS & INSIGHTS
Why a Zodiac is special
This small, inflatable, rubber motorized craft is swift, stable and maneuverable. It's ideal for navigating rocky shallow waters. You get close-up views of places regular boats cannot access.

The ship's fleet
Most Antarctica cruise ships that make landings have 8 to 12 Zodiacs. Each accommodates 10 passengers plus the skipper.

Number of trips
You normally make two Zodiac excursions per day, one in the morning, the second in the afternoon. Each lasts approximately 1.5 hours.

Types of Zodiac trips
Most are landings, others are sightseeing cruises through iceberg-dotted bays and channels.

Wet landings
There are no docks, so you have to make wet landings. This means you slide off the Zodiac into shallow water averaging a depth of 30 centimeters or 12 inches) and walk ashore.

What you see
You observe large rookeries of waddling penguins and their charming chicks, beaches spotted with lazing seals, cliffs sporting a myriad of seabird nests, and spectacular icebergs and landscapes.

A few more pointers
Outboard motor fumes
Try to avoid the rearmost Zodiac seats, which are next to the motor. The exhaust can be unpleasant to some people.

Toilets
There is none ashore except at some crude outhouse-style facilities at some research stations. Therefore, visit a restroom on the ship before departing.

If you're a photographer
Be on your group's first departing Zodiac so you can take your pictures reasonably free of red penguins (your parka-clad cruisemates). And, if you don't end up on one of the foremost seats, ask if you can switch so you can take non-obscured shots during the ride.

Max 100
That's the number of cruise passengers permitted ashore at any given location at any given time.

If a ship has more than 199 passengers, it divides its guests into two groups. Both get two Zodiac outings per day.


ANTARCTICA CRUISE PACK
Helpful Packing pointers
Not as cold as you may think
It's summer in the Antarctica Peninsula in January and February. Daytime temperatures are normally just above freezing. They are comparable to what you would experience in, say, Berlin or New York City in January and February. But Antarctica has an advantage - the air is drier and therefore you don't feel as cold.

Wear layers
The secret to warmth is wearing layers rather than a thick single-layer outfit. And layering makes it easy for you to put on or take off clothing as the temperature changes.

Fabric
Wool, silk, and polypropylene fabrics keep you warmer than cotton because they keep your skin drier.

Don't overpack
An Antarctica cruise is an adventure, not a fashion statement. For men, sweaters, open-collar shirts, and slacks are fine.

Dress policy
On luxury Antarctica cruise ships, it's smart, country-club casual, meaning no jeans in the evening. If the ship has a "formal" night, a sport coat will do (a tie is nice but not essential). No need to pack a suit or tuxedo.

Laundry / dry cleaning service
Take advantage of the one- and two-day onboard service. This will reduce the amount of clothes you need to bring.

Don't bring
Travel iron (a shipboard fire hazard) and hiking boots (you need rubber boots for the wet landings).

You may or may not need
Some ships provide you with a bathrobe, slippers, and basic bathroom amenities such as shampoo and lotion.

When in doubt
Check with your cruise line representative.