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 |  | 9-14 Days: $4,300-$15,000 Per Person |  | 19-24 Days: $10,000-$22,990 Per Person |  | 68 Days: $13,000-$33,000+ Per Person |
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Penguin rookeries, whale watching, and more than 20 hours of sunlight each day make sightseeing on an Antarctica[1] cruise an all-day adventure. Operating during the austral summer of the south pole -- November to February -- ships typically depart from South American ports. Cost varies by cruise line, sailing date and choice of stateroom.
Typical costs: | - Antarctica 9-14 day cruises cost about $4,300-$15,000 per person, double to triple occupancy, depending on cruise line, sailing date, length of trip and choice of stateroom. Larger cabins with private balconies cost about $16,000-$17,500, per person. For example, Polar Cruises offers a nine-day adventure for $4,295 per person, triple occupancy, while the Corinthian II[2] has a 400 sq. ft. penthouse suite with private balcony and sitting area for $17,495, per person, double occupancy.
- Antarctic cruises spanning 19-24 days cost about $10,000-$22,990 per person, double or triple occupancy, for a stateroom with a balcony, while larger suites cost $25,500-$38,150, per person, double occupancy, depending on sailing date and cruise line. On Abercrombie & Kent's[3] ship Le Boreal, cruises are limited to 199 passengers so all guests are offered rooms with balconies from $12,750-$19,450, or deluxe suites for about $24,275-$27,575 per person, double occupancy, depending on choice of stateroom size. Antarctica Explorer's Quest[4] sells the same length of trip at a starting price of about $10,000, per person for a standard triple cabin without balcony, or upgrade to a deluxe room or suite from $22,800-$37,800.
- A 68-day cruise, exploring both South America and Antarctica by Holland America[5] is about $13,000-$15,000 per person, double occupancy, for an interior or ocean view room and $25,00-$33,000 for a cabin with a balcony or suite. However, the only available views of Antarctica are those that may be seen from the ship's deck. The larger ships are unable to navigate many of the smaller inlets, and local ordinances limit the number of passengers allowed on land at any time to about 100.
Related articles: Alaska Cruise, Cruise, Passport, Travel Insurance
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What should be included: | - All meals, maid service, gyms--excluding spa services--and any onboard lectures or entertainment are included. Also, some ships will include an expedition parka, gloves and boots for chilly shore excursions.
- While the larger ships do not offer shore excursions, they do typically have multiple dining options, heated swimming pools, and are known to be a smoother passage. These massive vessels are better stabilized in the rough waters between South America and Antarctica.
- Triple occupancy rooms are also available on the smaller ships, configured either with two twins and an upper berth or three twins.
- Transferring from the ship to the continent is typically accomplished in groups of 8-10 in motorized zodiac boats, scheduled about twice a day. Cruises will include various ports of call along the Antarctic Peninsula and Elephant Island, weather permitting. Longer cruises typically add stops at the Falkland Islands, South Shetland or South Georgia. Smaller icebreaker ships like Quark Expeditions[6] cut through to more remote locations.
- Most cruises, like the 24-day National Geographic adventure[7] maintain a staff well versed on the history, animal life and geography of the region.
Additional costs: | - Alcohol may be included in the cost of the trip, depending on cruise line. Some cruise lines offer an added $99 all-inclusive beverage package, excluding premium wines, liquors and champagne. Purchased separately, expect to pay about $5-$7 per beer, $6-$11 for wine or $4-$10 for a cocktail.
- Tipping may be prepaid at a slight discount. Some cruise lines automatically bill the passenger's account for a set tip amount during the cruise, either daily or on the last day. Otherwise, tipping envelopes are either left in the stateroom during the last evening or may be picked up at the purser's desk. Expect to pay about $10-$12 per person, per day.
- Shore excursions vary by cruise line from visits to the penguin rookery and photography lessons, to kayaking, snowshoeing or bird watching. Depending on the cruise line, many of these shore activities will be included in the ticket price. Check with the ticket agent for added activity costs.
- Economy airfare to Buenos Aires, Argentina, costs about $1,000-$1,300 from major US airports. The added cost to fly or drive south to the embarkation point will vary.
- Pack sunscreen $8-$25 and sunglasses $10-$300 to protect against glare. Summer weather typically ranges from 20-50 degrees Fahrenheit, however winds can cut like ice, so an expedition parka $300-$1,200, rain pants $15-$65, boots $90-$300 and gloves $40-$80 are necessary when not supplied by the cruise.
Discounts: | - Booking early[8] typically results in a discount of 10-25% or about $400-$2,500, per person, depending on cruise line and sailing date.
Shopping for an antarctica cruise: | - The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators[9] recommends booking a cruise with a member company[10] that supports the continents ecological survival.
- Cruise Critic reviews Antarctic cruises[11] .
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External Resources: | - www.coolantarctica.com/
- www.travelweekly.com/Cruise/Travel-Dynamics-International/Corinthian-II/Schedule
- www.abercrombiekent.com/search.cfm?m=1
- www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/78
- www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/Main.action
- www.quarkexpeditions.com/antarctic-expeditions
- www.expeditions.com/destinations/antarctica/expedition-team
- www.abercrombiekent.com/travel_specials/
- iaato.org/frequently-asked-questions#why-should-travel-with-member-company /
- apps.iaato.org/iaato/directory/
- www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1327
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