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Luxury Antarctica Cruises

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    I have been trying to do some research on what are the best options and accommodations for doing a cruise to view Antarctica and it's been a little difficult to find something that is not only safe and sturdy but is also luxurious.

    I suppose it's possible that those two requirements might not exist in the same boat, since my understanding is that the trip between South American and Antarctica is pretty rough and dangerous. I've seen photos of some smaller boats that offer decent accommodations but my thinking is that even someone who doesn't get seasick easily would have trouble on such a small ship.

    On the other hand, I've heard that a small ship has advantages over a large one because it can get to places that other ships can't.

    So, let me be clear. Seeing Antarctica up close and personal safely is my number one priority. Luxurious accommodations are a close second. If anyone here happens to have made the trip and has tips on what to avoid or what was worth doing again, I'd be interested to hear what you have to say.

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    We went to the Antarctic Peninsula in December, 2001, with Quark, on the icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn. This ship is no longer leased by Quark, but the Kapitan Khlebnikov is still in service. The rooms were not luxurious, but they were practical. The Southern Ocean lived up to its reputation, and when we were rolling on the swells during our crossing (our maximum "tilt" was 43 degrees) we were very glad for how the ship was outfitted and the expertise of the crew. We used scopolomine patches, and didn't miss a meal. Lucky for us, as the food was great and the dining room staff really friendly and accommodating. The educational program was good, and kept us well-occupied when we were confined on-board during the crossings and inclement weather. Our helicopter rides were a special benefit of being on an icebreaker. Whether "flight-seeing" or getting ship-to-shore this way, I can highly recommend it. The shore excursions to walk with the penguins were the most memorable part of the trip for us. Breaking ice, and then walking down the gangplank to experience being right on the ice were awesome. The ice and special lighting effects make Antarctica unique. We met a group of wonderful people on our cruise: everyone was really into the spirit of "opportunity of a lifetime" and accepted temporary discomforts in stride. Our ship had 100 passengers, and the crew had us organized into groups of 10. We pulled off shore excursions with almost military precision with their expert coaching. I wouldn't recommend any ship larger than this if you want to optimize your time on shore. The weather can change quickly and often, so your time on shore is never guaranteed, and can be cut short for your safety. I hope you find the trip that is right for you. You'll never forget it if you go!

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    I saw a 1-hour show about the Kapitan Khlebnikov on the Hi-Def Discovery Channel a few weeks ago. Other than the potential for seasickness, it looked awesome. And the Kapitan Khlebnikov is a huge ship!

    Carol, if you had another chance to go to Antarctica, would you want to go on the Kapitan Khlebnikov again or a different kind of ship altogether?

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    I seasickness is an issue and you don't mind the $30,000 per-person price tag, you might want to consider a 10-day Antarctica safari at White Desert. You fly to Cape Town, South Africa, and they take you on an IL-76 Intercontinental Jet and touchdown 5 and a half hours later on blue-ice runway.

    After experiencing the coastal region of Antarctica for a couple of days in what has to be the most luxurious accommodations on ice (next to the Scandinavia's Ice Hotel, of course) they fly you in on a Turbo-prop for the remainder of the trip to do more exploration of the mountain ranges by ski and snowshoe. Their tents are much nicer than anything you might see on the National Geographic Channel, and one of the nicer features is that you can do as much or as little as you like while you're there. There's no pressure to go kite skiing if that's not for you. But it's an option if you do.

    http://www.white-desert.com

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    Forager asked about my next trip to Antarctica. Our icebreaker trip to the Peninsula did whet my appetite for more. There are two more trips I'd like to take. The itineraries that go to the Ross Sea from Australia/New Zealand would give me a view of the other side of the continent and a chance to visit additional current and historical research stations. And I'd love to take one of the trips out of Ushuaia that include visits to Emperor and/or King Penguin colonies. Both of these additional trips will be longer and more expensive, so I'm saving up!

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