Antarctica Travel Forum

Two of us will be traveling to Antarctica on the Orlova in mid-December 2007. Our origination city is in the eastern U.S. Our tour company recommends an overnight in Buenos Aires, but a quick check on airline travel web sites revealed that we can get to Ushuaia without the overnight in BA. Even if doing so means an overnight in Ushuaia on top of the one already planned (probably much needed for rest), it seems as if we could save nearly $1,000 in airfare and hotel by NOT staying in BA. Our goal for this trip is Antarctica, not playing tourist in South America. Any comments from travelers who have done it either way -- with and without an overnight in BA?

Two of us will be traveling to Antarctica on the Orlova in mid-December 2007. Our origination city is in the eastern U.S. Our tour company recommends an overnight in Buenos Aires, but a quick check on airline travel web sites revealed that we can get to Ushuaia without the overnight in BA. Even if doing so means an overnight in Ushuaia on top of the one already planned (probably much needed for rest), it seems as if we could save nearly $1,000 in airfare and hotel by NOT staying in BA. Our goal for this trip is Antarctica, not playing tourist in South America. Any comments from travelers who have done it either way -- with and without an overnight in BA?

We are booked to go to Antarctica in mid feb 08 with Noble Caledonia on Explorer II. Any comments on this ship/operator? Is this a good time to go? Can anyone also advise me whether they supply wellingtons, and whether normal good quality sunglasses are ok for Antarctica, or are specialist sunglasses required?

Thanks for any replies!

We are booked to go to Antarctica in mid feb 08 with Noble Caledonia on Explorer II. Any comments on this ship/operator? Is this a good time to go? Can anyone also advise me whether they supply wellingtons, and whether normal good quality sunglasses are ok for Antarctica, or are specialist sunglasses required?

Thanks for any replies!

ms nordnorge passenger

please, does anyone have/know any info about the details of the offer of the compensation of a 100% refund of the cruise package of the holiday and the addition discount on a future voyage to antarctica

also, any information about the arrangements for the compensation and new offer

thank you very much for input

I will be on the Explorer from Feb 27th and am wondering if anyone else is coming?:))

I can't waiiiiit!!!!!

My husband and will be boarding Bark Europa on 28 February for the 53 day trip to Antarctica, Georgia Islands, Tristan DeCuhna, and disembarking in Cape Town South Africa. I would be interested in conversing with other passengers.

As for packing list, we got a nice one from our travel agent. We plan on packing everything into two duffle bags and carrying a soft backpack for overnight and carry on stuff. We have our "foulies" (wet weather gear), non-cotton long johns, fleece, wool sweaters, etc. I could email our list to others that are interested.

Anybody travelling on the above ship to Antarctica in the next week or so? It has just run aground at Deception Island, the Royal (UK) Navy and Nordnorge have been to the rescue! Passengers have been transferred to the Nordnorge, and non essential staff to the HMS Endurance.

More details here: http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.7919

You may want to check with your travel agent to make sure your trip is still on - I feel for the people who were just on their way into the Antarctica, I'm guessing they will now travel out with the Nordnorge.

Shim

I am from Pakistan. Is it possible for me to see South Pole?. The Passport, visa, the route etc.

What was the most effective medication taken to cross the Drake passage. I'm leaving for Antarctica next week and haven't taken care of that yet.

not that I plan on going to Kerguelen anytime before I die, but out of curiousity, anyone know how to get there if your a tourist type person as compared to a scientest type person? Just wondering.

Hi there,

if I would go to Antarctica in December/January time, what would be my chances to see whales?

thanks!
Marieke

Hi everyone,

I would like to go to Antarctica in December 2007 / January 2008 and I would like to see emperor penguins.

Do I need to go further south than the "usual" Antarctica tour to see emperor penguins? Do I need to go on a smaller ship?

How much do these tours where you can see emperor penguins cost? I know Antarctica isn't cheap, but how much is the least expensive tour that includes emperor penguins? Any recommendations?

Thank you very much for your help.

Kiki

Hi,

My girlfriend and I havve sailed to the Arctic a couple of times now including completing the Northwest Passage in 2003. I am now involved in singlehanded yacht racing and Zoe is looking for boats and various ways in order to work a passage to Antarctica.

Has anybody had any experiance of this or any suggestions, we would be very happy to hear of your ideas. Many thanks,

Andrew Wood

My husband and I have just decided to add a trip to Antarctica to our round the world trip. Very excited! We are spending four months travelling around South America, and it makes most sense to do the trip either at the beginning of the trip in November, or at the end in late Feb. From my understanding November will have more spectacular scenery/ice, but there may be problems with accessing certain areas (we won't be on an icebreaker). Febuary will have more whale watching opportunities, but the ice will be less pristine etc.

Which end of the season do you suggest?

I'd like to contact travelers of the Andrea regarding Cabins.

Can anyone who has been on the Antarctic Dream cruise from Ushuaia to Antarctica please provide recommendations - for or against. My husband and I are in Ushuaia and trying to decide on a "last minute" cruise. We have been advised that Antarctic Dream - a young ship/company, Ushuaia and larger Quark ship are available around the 18th November. Any suggestions or comments?

People connected to cruise companies need not comment / thanks.

Cheers

Lissy

I have an interest in going to Antarctica next year. i would like to combine it with a South American trip as well but no nessesary. Where would be a good budget (realizing it isn't a shoestring trip) tour to go there. I can go from any point south. Any recommendations?

I am travelling to Antarctica on the Bark Europa in February 07 and looking for advice from someone who has sailed from Ushuaia to the Antarctic peninsula on a tall ship. Anyone know this ship or going to be on the trip in February?

Has anyone gone to Antarctica on the Sarpik Ittuk this November? We are taking this trip at the end of the year...just looking for some firsthand experience with this cruise/boat. Thanks!

Hi I'm seeking peoples views on the quality/value of their trip to antartica and the standard of the ship its self,I'm trying to compare whats on offer and workout which suits me best. It seems the general size of the ships accomodate either 56 or 122 passengers, am interested in your views on the pros & cons of ship size and the facilities they offer.
Thanks 4 your response

Hello

Would like to avoid the tourist cruises and get to Scott's hut and other more remote places. Saw a travel company that leaves from New Zealand and does such an exped some years ago but cannot find it.

Any suggestions?

I am taking an Antarctica trip on the Nordkapp shortly. I know that the ship has internet access and I assume that it is fairly expensive.

I will be taking my WIFI equipped laptop so that I can work on my photos on board. Is there any chance that I will be able to get on the ship network without having to pay for the service. If I can do this, it would also probably pay for me to add a Vonage setup to the laptop so that I could make phone calls to my kids.

DON

gday all,

Id like to do a two week cruise to antartica. whats the cheapest way from melbourne? do I have to fly to sth america to do this?

thanks guys

I would like to know some opinions about the size of video or photo equipment. Considering the size of a reflex camera or a shoulder held size video camera for visiting antarctica what is the best. As i know we have just one hour for landing, so a small equipment is the best choice, but some times the quality of the photos or video shouldn't be so good . Or if you take big equipment with us when we see the conditions we see that it would be difficult to held the equipment at landing.
Thanks for suggestions.
HRod

hello,

has anyone out there actually gotten a last minute berth on an antarctic ship? i keep hearing it's possible to get a much lower price than the usual US$4000 or so, i just never hear any first-hand stories. if so, how much cheaper does it actually get? and how did it happen? (did you have to hang around the docks for a month or something?) thinking of going to patagonia this coming feb, hoping to go to antarctica as well.

thank you in advance.

Hi group,

Just about to pay for my trip aboard the Nordnorge for the 23rd January 2007 trip. Thanks to Diane S for her help and pics from earlier this year and look forward to hearing from anyone on the same trip prior to departure.

Any recommended highlights in Buenos Aires (not Tango dancing!!) I should consider? Also Santiago, I recall Michael Palin visiting "The City of the Dead" in Santiago, the impressive city-esque mausoleum/cemetary and wonder if anyone here has visited it? Not morbid, just interested in architecture and history.

Regards

Justin

Anybody successful with getting a standby at Ushuaia?

Good day all!

I spent the day yesterday reading through all the pages of the Antarctica forum. Great help there!

I had read a couple posts talking about getting on a standy ship to Antarctica at Ushuaia for a cheaper cost.

I am in BsAs for some time and feeling I may not be in this neck of the woods again down the road, I'd really like to see the amazing frontier of Antarctica late Nov./Dec - and yes, to gee, at least say I even simply stepped on that mass of land would be quite exciting. ;)

But, I really don't want to spend more than $1000US, $1,500 MAX to take a short boat trip from Ushuaia (apprx. 4-10 days).

I have some plans down the road to check out Brasil and Peru, but I feel these can wait and that it's more key now to get to Antarctica as I am closer now, and maybe not be down here again.

I AT LEAST plan to get to Ushuaia either way. That in itself would be cool to check out the earth's southern-most city/town from what I've read (I may be wrong about that).

So I am looking for a bit of help from fellow VTers.

1) So, has anybody here been successful at getting on a standby for a really good cost? If so, of course, could you give a short report of doing so? (I've read some posts here of course of people talking about it in the past, just wondering if anyone has done it - and are still reading VT where they could report.)

I just checked what has been recommended as a cheaper tour company, GAPadventures and their cheapest (not including any airfare, not that I need it) is $4000US! I just can't swing that. I'm sure it's a great trip. But honestly, I'd be fine with sleeping on the floor of a cargo ship and at least just stepping on the land and snapping a few shots. If I could do this for $1000, I would. To pay another $3000 for the extras, I just can't do.

2) To save some cash to possibly put towards the ship, I was planning on busing from BsAs to Ushuaia. Not sure anyone has done this here, but do you feel that it is sensible to do so based on maybe some other bus travel you've done or heard about in Argentina? I still have to find out who, if anyone, handles this route.

I can handle a long bus ride if it's going to be worth the cost saved vs. flying.

3) Getting to Ushuaia, I'll of course look for standby opportunities. But I am not sure where to go for this. Anybody know?

And while there, I'll stay at a hostel. From what I've read, I could be sticking around from 1-2 weeks so I don't want to rack up too large of an expense for nightly stays. I suppose I could always bus over to Chile somewhere in the meantime to break up the stay a bit.

4) Based on what anybody knows, is this plan completely out there; farfetched, or fairly sensible in achieving? Meaning, is $1000-$1500 quite possible as a standby and are the chances of getting a standby fairly good in late Nov./Dec.?
I would say - I just don't want to waste time going down there, but like I stated, I plan on going to Ushuaia either way so it's not a waste. I was just curious to see what I might expect.

Well, basically I was just looking for any recent input. If anybody is out there who as successfully done this or has known someone who has I sure of course would love to hear from you and also from anyone that has any input/help/advice etc.

Thanks a million! Your help is much appreciated! :)

Can anyone help us out with these questions:

1. is it possible to buy bottles of wine at a reasonable price on board ship or to bring bottles on board?

2. we have 24 hr. each in BA and Santiago. We are not into shopping or touristy things. What would you recommend? Are there walking tours?

3. your favorite local restaurant in BA and Santiago. We are staying at the Pan Americano in BA and Intercon in Santiago

Many thanks!

A couple of years ago, we went to Buenos Aires, Argentina. While there, we saw some advertisements for half day trips, by helicopter, into Antarctica. Do you have any information about these? I want to do this for my birthday in January.