THIS WEEK'S DREAM TRIP - AS SEEN ON GLOBAL MORNING NEWS - 4 OCTOBER 2022
Well I just got back from an amazing cruise on the Scenic Eclipse, an expedition ship – No – I wasn’t in Antarctica but I learnt a lot about expeditions and what is required to see this remote area. While on board the ship I attended a lecture by the Captain and the Director of Expeditions. It was fascinating.
Did you know?
What about the Drake Passage?
This part of getting to Antarctica is renowned for its rough waters and if you do get to do this itinerary you will probably notice a few people with those sticky anti-seasick Band-Aids – or maybe the wristbands. The Drake is unpredictable – it can be the Drake Lake or the Drake Shake. Again, different ships have different ways of dealing with this and it all comes down to how sophisticated their stabilisation system is. This is something important to check out. The Captain of Scenic Eclipse was explaining to us how the stabilizers on the ship are pretty huge for a small ship and gives it extra stability.
Is this a trend?
It does seem to be something that has gained a lot of interest, especially after COVID. The fact that so many people were stuck at home for so long definitely brought out the explorers to the fore-front so we are seeing a real surge in expedition and exploration type cruises.
How to choose?
You will need to weigh up all the pros and cons to find what is right for you. A cheaper cruise will mean more passengers on board (simple economics) and which will also mean less ice time for you. But if Antarctica is your dream then maybe just being on the ice (even for less time) will be a dream come true that is within your budget. If you feel that you have lost out over the last few years and can pamper yourself – well go ahead and book a Scenic Antarctica cruise. I loved sailing on them and I was nowhere near any ice at all!! 😊
What does it cost?
An Antarctica cruise can cost anything from $5000 pp upwards.
Ships like the Scenic Eclipse fall into the luxury expedition class with everything included and go for about $18,000 pp
DREAMING OF VISITING THE 7TH CONTINENT? WE CAN HELP!
Did you know?
- Only 100 people at any time are allowed to set foot on the continent – this is in terms of an international agreement aimed at protecting this fragile environment – “ The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators – states that only 100 people are allowed on land at any one time from a single vessel and this naturally has an effect on how much “ice time” you will get. The daily landings are the highlights of the expedition cruise and by the time a ship is docked and the zodiacs are in the water the time quickly goes.
- Ships are only allowed about 5 hours or so to allow these expeditions to take place so the advantage of being on a smaller ship means more “ice time”.
- Getting the zodiacs off the ship and ready to load up can take time – some ships, like the Scenic Eclipse, have their zodiacs stored on a special platform lower down on the ship so they can get onto that ice as quickly as possible.
What about the Drake Passage?
This part of getting to Antarctica is renowned for its rough waters and if you do get to do this itinerary you will probably notice a few people with those sticky anti-seasick Band-Aids – or maybe the wristbands. The Drake is unpredictable – it can be the Drake Lake or the Drake Shake. Again, different ships have different ways of dealing with this and it all comes down to how sophisticated their stabilisation system is. This is something important to check out. The Captain of Scenic Eclipse was explaining to us how the stabilizers on the ship are pretty huge for a small ship and gives it extra stability.
Is this a trend?
It does seem to be something that has gained a lot of interest, especially after COVID. The fact that so many people were stuck at home for so long definitely brought out the explorers to the fore-front so we are seeing a real surge in expedition and exploration type cruises.
How to choose?
You will need to weigh up all the pros and cons to find what is right for you. A cheaper cruise will mean more passengers on board (simple economics) and which will also mean less ice time for you. But if Antarctica is your dream then maybe just being on the ice (even for less time) will be a dream come true that is within your budget. If you feel that you have lost out over the last few years and can pamper yourself – well go ahead and book a Scenic Antarctica cruise. I loved sailing on them and I was nowhere near any ice at all!! 😊
What does it cost?
An Antarctica cruise can cost anything from $5000 pp upwards.
Ships like the Scenic Eclipse fall into the luxury expedition class with everything included and go for about $18,000 pp
DREAMING OF VISITING THE 7TH CONTINENT? WE CAN HELP!