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Viking Octantis is designed to carry 378 passengers, which is on the high side for Antarctica cruise ships. Like Hurtigruten's Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, it isn't able to land all or even most of its passengers at once in Antarctica. For that reason, I am partial to the older but more intimate Hurtigruten polar vessel Fram, which carries just 200 passengers when operating in Antarctica. But Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen have one big advantage versus that ship and many others operating in Antarctica, which is that their starting rates for trips to the region are significantly lower. Lindblad was the original pioneer of tourist trips to Antarctica, and it has years of experience in the region that has helped shape the way it designed these nearly identical vessels, both specifically built for polar travel. The last few years have brought a stunning new crop of small "expedition" cruise vessels specifically designed for Antarctica sailings that are far more upscale and elegant than anything seen before.
First look at World Voyager, the stylish new expedition cruise ship from Atlas Ocean Voyages
You’ll get to know the wildlife, terrain, and even the culture and history of your destination through expert lectures and educational films. If you’ve been on a cruise before, you know that the floating city that is a cruise ship can be a destination in itself. But expedition cruises feature smaller, more intimate ships with fewer bells and whistles. You won’t find waterslides or magic shows, flashy nightclubs or noisy casinos. Instead, you’ll enjoy fascinating seminars and lively discussions with subject experts, your expedition team, and your fellow adventurers.
Viking River Cruises
The setting for all our activities was at the base of the Blue Mountains, which was lush with the growth of spring. Dunham Cellars was enjoyed for their acclaimed cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and chardonnay. Everyone then met at Three Rivers Winery for a catered lunch with wine tasting and an enjoyable bask in the warm sun, supplemented by frisbee golf, corn hole contests, and relaxing on the deck.
Penthouse Suite & Penthouse Spa Suite
Traveling to far-flung places with an intimate coterie of like-minded travelers is one of the luxuries of expedition cruising. Atlas Ocean Voyages' World Voyager is one of the smallest ships of its kind. The 9,935-ton ship has the capacity for 198 passengers, but that number drops to a mere 178 people in Antarctica, with cabins given to guest lecturers and entertainers. They have zodiac boats on board to search for wildlife or navigate around smaller islands, icebergs, coves and off-the-beaten-path tributaries.
The ship can maneuver into small harbors and narrow rivers that bigger ships can't. This is something Atlas is keen to capitalize on during the coming year with warm-water sailings that invite a deeper connection to food culture and history. New Epicurean Expeditions will be centered on food tours, cooking demonstrations, local chefs and vintners, and wine tastings. I got to sample some of these wines — including a Miraval rose from Provence, France — and can vouch for their excellence. That said, people with injuries or mobility issues may find expedition cruises taxing as there is a lot of activity from something as simple as getting on a zodiac boat bouncing in the waves on a beach, to hiking uneven terrain.
What's Small, Scrappy, and Super High End? The New Breed of Expedition Cruise Ships
“An expedition ship can respond nobly to changes in weather or to make the most of wildlife opportunities,” says Susan Adie, expedition operations manager for G Adventures. That means that the ship doesn’t have to stick to a strict itinerary the way that large ocean liners do. If there is a group of humpback whales spotted in Antarctica or polar bears are seen off in the distance in the Arctic, the ship can change its course to get closer to the action—optimizing the experience for guests. Like Scenic Eclipse, Viking Octantis carries a submarine for underwater exploring, as well as kayaks. In a first for polar expedition cruise vessels, every cabin has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel.
What is a Seabourn Expedition?
Expedition cruise ship loses power after being hit by rogue wave - USA TODAY
Expedition cruise ship loses power after being hit by rogue wave.
Posted: Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Just renovated in 2017, the Island Sky is a beautiful and small ship designed for Polar cruising. With 11 zodiacs on board you'll not be waiting long for shore visits and there is great deck space for wildlife viewing. An elegant dining room, good library and piano makes this ship feel cozy and friendly. The Ocean Diamond is one of the most modern expedition-style vessels sailing to Antarctica currently. She is part of the Quark fleet and offers and excellent range of activities such as kayaking and trekking. The cabins are well-appointed and you'll find several bars, a lovely library and a good-sized lecture room.
I boarded a cruise to Antarctica: here's what it's like traveling to the White Continent on the Deluxe Sea Spirit - Cruise Blog
I boarded a cruise to Antarctica: here's what it's like traveling to the White Continent on the Deluxe Sea Spirit.
Posted: Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Many expedition cruise operators offer you a choice of space, comfort or expertise; the Expedition delivers all three at a price few can top. With a focus on safety, comfort and the unique demands of polar travel, the crew of the Expedition is committed to the ship’s continued safe operation. Environmentally safe practices are a major concern for most expedition cruise lines, who tend to operate in vulnerable destinations. In many cases—such as in Antarctica and the Arctic—cruise lines are required to adhere to certain practices to even be permitted to sail in those waters.
Eventually, you'll probably make multiple landings at penguin colonies, maybe hike across floating ice and hopefully see whales and other wildlife. This is a type of cruising so different from what the big mass-market lines offer that it might as well be considered an entirely different form of travel. If you have any further questions about choosing the right Polar expedition ship, please just leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours. With their casual elegance and abundant luxury amenities, every one of our 132 oceanfront veranda suites is designed to be an oasis of calm and rejuvenation.
Take their recommendations seriously, because you might not have any opportunity to buy items you didn’t pack once you’re aboard the ship. Even though I now write exclusively about cruises and cruise destinations, for decades I was adamant that I’d never set foot on a cruise ship. Whatever you think about cruising, there are just some places on our planet that are best seen by ship, because they’re almost impossible to reach in any other way.
We finished the day with a delicious dinner on the sky deck of National Geographic Endeavour II . Unveiled in 2019, this super-swanky, 228-passenger "discovery yacht" was the first oceangoing vessel for luxury purveyor Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours -- a brand better known for river cruises. I've sailed on nearly all of these new vessels, in many cases in polar regions, and have been consistently amazed by just how much of an upgrade they really are. Like Lindblad's chartered navy ship, many of the early vessels used for tourism to the White Continent were tough-built government or scientific ships that were designed with navigating icy areas but not necessarily comfort in mind.
These ships also have shallower drafts than regular cruise ships, so they can access smaller inlets and shallow harbors. Salons offer skin and nail treatments, and gyms, equipped with state-of-the-art gear, Kinesis walls, and private fitness trainers, are options. Most expedition cruise off-the-ship adventures are quite active and you'll do more than just admire the scenery from the vessel's deck.
A step up from the Veranda Staterooms with their standard cruise ship balconies, these rooms claw back 55 square meters of icy outdoor space for just a little more money. Situated at the front of the ship, on the highest deck, the lounge boasts curved floor-to-ceiling glass and a glorious wraparound viewing platform, both of which serve up spectacular 270-degree views. Like most ships at the high end, Atlas includes a lot in its base price.
From my room, I had a front-row seat to Antarctica's larger-than-life natural drama. Window down, I watched petrels coast the Drake Passage, the roar and tang of the sea outside delivered to me in 3D to counteract the pitching swell. I saw whales, cartwheeling penguins and an iceberg bigger than an apartment block. Built in 2020, the ship initially sailed for Germany-based Nicko Cruises, owned by the same Portuguese company that owns Atlas Ocean Voyages. When the ship switched allegiances, it also received a design refresh. Crossing the fearsome Drake Passage — the violent confluence of three seas between the tip of South America and Antarctica — the ocean pitched, rolled and yawed.
Ideal for those in relatively good shape with a thirst for knowledge and an appetite for exploration, these cruises appeal to nature enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, history buffs, and cultural explorers alike. Not only will you have the chance to go snorkeling, sailing, and kayaking, but there are plenty of stops to see cities, villages, and nature in Oceania. You can extend Antarctic cruises to various destinations from an addition to the Falkland Islands, a long layover in Buenos Aires or to to see the King Penguins of South Georgia Island. Each island offers something different, from the volcanic landscapes of Fernandina Island to the fun bars of Santa Cruz Island and the white-sand beaches of Española Island.
It has a whiskey bar stocked with more than 110 whiskies and other high-end liquors, plus a spa and a yoga studio. You’ll also need to consider your “cruise personality” before you book an expedition cruise. Is lounging by the pool all day with a cold drink your favorite part of cruising? Or maybe it’s dancing the night away and then sleeping in until lunch? When you’re in port, do you really only like shopping or relaxing on the beach?
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