Antarctica

Destination Deals
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From
AU $28,975GRAND ANTARCTICA & IGUAZU
Fly, Expedition Cruise & Stay 23 nights with Ponant`s Le Lyrial on a grand Antarctica and Argentinian adventure in late 2021. CTV
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From
AU $28,795TOTAL ECLIPSE IN THE WEDDELL SEA - Fly Cruise 2021
Join the new Le Commandant Charcot expedition cruise ship on an Antarctic journey with a difference as you witness the total eclipse in December 2021. CTV
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From
US $15,196ANTARCTICA, SOUTH GEORGIA & FALKLANDS - 7th Jan 2022 - Adventure Canada
Cruise on a family run expedition operation with the team at Adventure Canada to Antarctica in 2022. CTV
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From
US $11,196JOURNEY TO THE CIRCLE - 26th Jan 2022 - Antarctic Expedition - Adventure Canada
Cruise on a family run expedition operation with the team at Adventure Canada to Antarctica in 2022. CTV
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From
US $8,796ANTARCTIC WHALE JOURNEY - 16th Feb 2022 - with Adventure Canada
Cruise on a family run expedition operation with the team at Adventure Canada to Antarctica in 2022. CTV
Antarctica is the last discovered continent where wildlife and nature exist without excessive pressures of man.
The dramatic mountains, glaciers, icebergs and ocean provide a backdrop to the lives of the wildlife who have adapted to living here. During the brief summer months of light, an astounding abundance of life returns to crowd the headlands and beaches. Many varieties of penguins and seals as well as a huge number of bird species can be seen during your visit. Watching whales is a great bonus.
The "heroic age" of Shackleton, Amundsen and others a hundred years ago opened Antarctica to the world.
Cruise types
There are two very different cruise types to Antarctica – firstly the larger cruise ships that visit here are restricted to scenic cruising through the area and generally include a visit to the region with longer cruises around the South American coast.
However the majority of cruises here are provided by smaller specialty ships that allow passengers to disembark onto the Antarctic islands and the continent itself. These ships tend to be sturdy expedition style ships and do not offer all the extras associated with modern cruise ships. These cruises are dedicated to the experience and feature experts in the region and the wild life who give lectures and lead shore excursions. Visits to the Islands are usually by Zodiac inflatables.
The contrasts in temperature are striking as summer in the Falklands and Ushuaia can sometimes be quite warm, while summertime in Antarctica hovers at the freezing mark.
Cruise seasons
Cruises here operate from October to March in the southern summer months when the days are longer - there are upto to 20 hours of daylight in high summer.
Main Ports
Larger cruise ships tend to depart either Valparaiso or Buenos Aires and include an Antarctic experience within their ‘round the horn’ cruise.
Specialty ships generally depart from Ushuaia, the most southerly city in the world located on Tierra del Fuego. These cruises often combine visits to Port Stanley in the Falklands with visits to uninhabited islands to enjoy the remarkable sea and bird life.
Weather
Weather in the sub Antarctic islands is cool but pleasant in the summer months but the temperature on the continent itself rarely gets above freezing. The nature of the area means that the weather can and does change quite quickly, so if you plan a cruise here take good note of the cruise lines advice on clothing. Again remember that island visits are by zodiac inflatables so you need to ensure you are properly dressed for these trips.
Photo Credit: Photo by Cassie Matias on Unsplash
Ports of Interest
- Almirante Brown, Angentina
- Amanda Bay, Antarctica
- Antarctic Peninsula
- Arctowski, Antarctica
- Balleny Islands, Sub Antarctic Islands
- Bleaker Island, Falkland Islands
- Bouvet Island, Antarctica
- Bransfield Strait, Antarctica
- Cape Adare, East Antarctica
- Cape Hallett, Antarctica
- Carcass Island, West Falkland Islands
- Commonwealth Bay, Antarctica
- Coronation Island, Sub Antarctic Islands
- Crozet Islands, Sub Antarctic Islands
- Cuverville Island, Antarctica
- Davis Station, Antarctica
- Deception Island, Antarctica
- Drake Passage
- Dumont d'Urville Station, Antarctica
- Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands
- Esperanza Station, Antarctica
- Falkland Islands
- Grytviken, South Georgia
- Half Moon Island, South Shetland Islands
- Heard Island, Antarctica
- Hope Bay, Antarctica
- Jason Islands, Falklands
- Kerguelen Islands (Desolation Islands), South Indian Ocean
- King George Island, South Shetland Islands
- Lemaire Channel, Antarctica
- Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands
- Macquarie Island, Sub Antarctic Island
- McMurdo Sound, Antarctica
- Melchior Island, Antarctica
- Mertz Glacier, Antarctica
- Neumayer Channel, Antarctica
- New Harbour, Ross Sea
- New Island, West Falkland Islands
- Ninnis and Mertz Glaciers, Antarctica
- Oates Land Coast, Antarctica
- Palmer Station, Antarctica
- Paradise Bay, Cuverville Island
- Paulet Is, Antarctica
- Petermann Island, Antarctica
- Petrel Island, South Georgia
- Pleneau Island
- Port Lockroy, Antarctica
- Port Martin, Antarctica
- Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
- Possession Islands, Antarctica
- Ross Island, Antarctica
- Saunders Island, Falklands
- Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands
- South Georgia, South Atlantic Ocean
- South Orkney Islands, Southern Ocean
- South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia
- South Shetland Islands, Antarctica
- Steeple Jason Island, Falkland Islands
- Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica
- Volunteer Island, Falkland Islands
- Waterboat Point, Antarctic Peninsula
- West Point, Falkland Islands
- Zhongshan and Larsemann Hills, Antarctica