 | Low: $3,600-$11,000 |
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 | Medium: $9,000-$32,000 |
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 | High: $14,000-$38,000 |
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| Popular among adventure travelers, Antarctica cruises offer the chance to interact with coastal wildlife and rainbow-colored glaciers only scientists typically see. Cruises sail between December and February, when temperatures range from 20 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit and daylight can last 20 hours. From 12 to 31 days, most often two weeks, these cruises depart from Buenos Aires, Argentina or Punta Arenas, Chile among other South American ports. | | |
| Typical costs: | - At the low end, large mass-market ships offer South America cruises that visit Antarctica starting at $3,600, maxing out at $11,000 for an ocean-view with a verandah. This rate represents a 24-day Holland America cruise. (All prices are per person for double occupancy.)
- Small-ship Antarctica cruises aboard Cruise West run from $14,000 to $25,000 for a slightly larger cabin on 19-day voyages.
- A luxury cruise aboard Silversea Cruises runs from $9,000 for an "Adventurer class" room to $32,000 for a 650-foot Grand Suite for 12 days.
- Quark Expeditions offers cruises aboard icebreakers, ships specially designed to cut through ice and travel to remote places. These cost $14,000 to $38,000 for a 2-week to month-long cruise.
What should be included: | - Before choosing to sail on a large ship line like Norwegian, know that large ships cannot land at all ports like smaller vessels. The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators created guidelines that prevent more than 100 passengers from entering at one time. Holland America cruises sail past the Antarctic Sound and South Shetland Islands, but travelers only get scenic views, not personal encounters when sailing on a 1,200-passenger ship.
- Small ships can travel where large sips cannot, offering stunning views and wildlife encounters; however, they don't include the onboard entertainment and activities larger ships offer.
- Luxury lines like Silversea Cruises offer in-room amenities like flat screen TVs, plush bathrobes and mini-bars, while these are only found in the highest-end suites on large ships and small-ship lines like Cruise West.
- Travelers aboard icebreakers encounter scenery inaccessible to other ships. A trip may include visits to the wildlife-rich South Orkney Islands or a trek to Snow Hill Island's Emperor Penguin rookery.
Additional costs: | - A $10 daily tip is generally required on all but luxury lines. (This per-person amount is split between the room attendant and food service staff). In addition, tip bartenders $1 or $2 per drink, unless a 15% gratuity is included, like on Holland America.
- Shore excursions are optional activities you pay for when you get off the boat. These range from $50 to thousands and might entail birdwatching, raft tours, or a $3,000 plane ride to a wildlife research station inhabited by penguins and elephant seals.
- These cruises start in South America. At press time, a round-trip ticket from Miami to Buenos Aires was $700, while travel from New York City cost $1,000 with taxes and fees.
- Though meals are included in the cruise cost, bottled drinks, specialty coffees and soft drinks are usually $2 to $5 extra on large ships while cocktails can cost $6 to $8 each. Silversea and Polar Cruises do not charge extra for drinks, while Cruise West only charges extra for alcohol.
- Travel insurance costs 4-8% of the trip cost and can protect travelers against illness, natural disasters or other approved circumstances.
Discounts: | |
Shopping for an antarctica cruise: | - Visit Priceline or Kayak to compare airfares to your departure port.
- For specific ship reviews, visit Polar Cruises.
- Cool Antarctica offers travel tips, including information on travel seasons and what type of ship to choose.
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Article updated January 2010 |
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