10 Amazing Things to See and Do on an Antarctica Cruise Antarctica is the ultimate destination for adventurous travelers. This vast, White Continent is the highest, driest and coldest territory on earth, owned by no one and uninhabited by people, except for scientists carrying out research at various outposts. From December to March, the Antarctic
Trip Report: Silver Cloud Expedition When Silversea announced that it was spending more than $40 million to convert Silver Cloud, its 296-passenger luxury ship, into a 200-passenger (on polar journeys; 254 elsewhere) expedition vessel with all the bells and whistles of a luxury cruise, avid travelers sat up and took note. The move was
Packing for an Antarctica Cruise: 10 Must-Bring Items Unlike packing for a Mediterranean or Caribbean cruise -- where swimwear and casual clothing are the norm -- packing for an Antarctica sailing requires considerable thought. Count on ever-changing and unpredictable weather, from sunshine to rain and snow -- sometimes all in one day. The temperature
New Zealand Subantarctic Islands Cruise Tips Sub antarctic cruises from New Zealand are growing in popularity for the sheer adventure and opportunities to see rare wildlife, especially seabirds. There are several sub antarctic islands cruise options that are convenient for Australians and New Zealanders, so you don't have to fly to South
The Biggest Antarctic Challenge: Finding the Expedition Cruise Style That’s Right for You Sponsored by Cruise Critic’s Cruise Content Studio For any adventurous traveler, the mostly ice-covered Antarctica -- dubbed the "White Continent" -- is on just about everyone's bucket list. For one, it's a remote place that you can pretty much only explore by cruise ship. No place feels as far removed from 21st-century life as Antarctica. There aren't any hotels and very few humans (beyond those living and working at the handful of scientific research stations) in the great expanse.
Cheap Antarctic Cruises Let's be honest, cheap Antarctica cruises do not exist. It is possible to do Antarctica on a budget but the options are best described as 'less expensive' and involve some compromises. The other risky move is keeping your fingers crossed for a last-minute Antarctic cruise. Will Antarctic cruises
Antarctic Cruises from Tasmania, Australia and New Zealand Australians and New Zealanders aiming for Antarctica can find the cruise quest quite frustrating. "Why am I flying all the way to South America to get to a continent directly south of me?" is a question often asked. The simple answer -- that Antarctica is directly south of everyone -- is
11 Best Cruise Destinations for Active Cruise Travelers You can get a workout on pretty much any cruise, but to maximize your adrenaline-pumping options, it's best to find the right combination of cruise ship and destination. Active cruise travelers will usually turn up at least a handful of shore experiences to whet their appetites for adventure, but if you're cruising with a sedentary lot, that city bike tour or rainforest hike might get canceled due to lack of interest. Likewise, certain ports simply don't lend themselves to athletic adventures, while others have so many active choices, it's hard to make up your mind. Below, we have listed our picks for the 11 best adventure cruise destinations for those who are active travelers, as well as our suggestions for the cruise lines that make the best matches. Just don't forget to pack your running shoes and snorkel gear.
Virtual Antarctica: Come Along on Our Cruise to the Lost Continent Sponsored by Hurtigruten Antarctica is a place etched in the imagination, carved there by early explorers and adventurers who risked their lives to forge a path into an unknown world. Scott. Shackleton. Amundsen. Their names ring down through the years for their daring exploits on the most remote and inhospitable continent on our planet. Almost two centuries after its discovery in 1820, the White Continent remains so mysterious that NASA may well know more about Mars than the entire scientific world knows about this desolate, frozen landmass. These days, however, ordinary travelers can forego starvation, deprivation and frostbite to fulfill their exploration fantasies from the safety and comfort of a modern-day expedition vessel, such as Hurtigruten’s 970-passenger Midnatsol (in Antarctica, Midnatsol only carries 500 passengers).
Arctic vs. Antarctica: An A-to-Z, Pole-to-Pole Guide Sponsored by Hurtigruten The act of visiting the polar regions has thankfully evolved. The journeys to the extremes aren't as harsh as they were for Ernest Shackleton and his ill-fated Antarctic exploration. (Thanks, comfy cruise ships.) Nor is the landscape as endlessly icy as it was for John Franklin's Arctic expedition. (We see you, warming climate.) Also, you likely will not be hailed as a hero for your intrepid presence, like pioneering double-pole reacher Roald Amundsen. Your Instagram shots will get a ton of likes, though. Because we're seeing the polar extremes more and more in our social feeds, and we're building on the paths blazed by the giants of polar exploration, we now know a lot about these regions and how they differ from one another in intriguing ways. Technology helps, too. Just recently, for instance, researchers released the first, high-resolution terrain map of nearly the entire continent of Antarctica. Still, Antarctica and the Arctic continue to confound and inspire travelers, much as they did the early explorers. Mysteries abound and adventure calls. If you're asking yourself what you should expect during a polar cruise to the Arctic or Antarctica, and which destination and approach might be best for you, we're here to break it down.
Guide Us: Expedition Guides Divulge Polar Cruise Secrets Sponsored by Hurtigruten From whale watching to penguin peeping to iceberg gazing, Hurtigruten's expedition leaders have a front row seat to some of the world's most amazing experiences. It's no surprise, then, that the Arctic and Antarctic exert a powerful attraction on these intrepid scientist-guides. They are deeply passionate about sharing these quintessential polar experiences with passengers. And, they love awakening their guests to the magic of the poles. Wonder what it would be like to have a career as an expedition leader? What may surprise you is the level of education and job experience that's somehow related to the environment they live in while on expedition cruises. We asked them to share their most meaningful on-the-job experiences cruising in the polar regions.
Polar Cruising: An Arctic and Antarctic Expert Shares Her Experiences Sponsored by Hurtigruten For anyone considering an expedition cruise, the polar regions represent some of the most exciting journeys on the planet. The Arctic and Antarctic also involve some of the most challenging logistics a cruise line crew will ever face. From unpredictable weather at the extremes to maintaining rigorous safety standards, working on high-end expedition cruise ships demands so much more than making sure pillows are fluffed and cappuccinos are served steaming. What does it take to be a successful expedition guide for a cruise line that sails to the back of beyond? For Karin Strand, the route to such a coveted position was unusual.
How Much Does an Antarctica Cruise Cost? Most everyone dreams of taking a cruise to Antarctica. What holds many of us back from making the dream a reality is its cost. While this expedition cruise is among the priciest, polar sail fares do vary. We've searched for pricing tips and crunched the numbers so you know how much to budget for this splurge-worthy adventure.
Expedition Cruise Tips: Common Regions and Who Sails There If you think expedition cruising is something you'd like to try, you may be wondering what the best cruising regions are. Here's our primer on the most popular locations for sea-based exploration adventures.
