ANTARCTICA HOLIDAY REVIEWS
Antarctica
It is strange to imagine that the most harsh and unforgiving continent on the planet is a desirable tourist destination, but all sorts of people are drawn to holiday in Antarctica aboard tough ice-breaking cruisers, which travel as close as they dare to the bottom of the globe. Penguins, seals, whales, wind-sculpted ice mountains, andmore
It is strange to imagine that the most harsh and unforgiving continent on the planet is a desirable tourist destination, but all sorts of people are drawn to holiday in Antarctica aboard tough ice-breaking cruisers, which travel as close as they dare to the bottom of the globe. Penguins, seals, whales, wind-sculpted ice mountains, andmore
Antarctica - Sam Gully. Date of travel: Jan 2006
Antarctica is like no other place on earth and one of the most wonderful places you will ever visit! Did an 11-day cruise which was entirely magical. Icebergs of indescribable beauty and shapes, blue ice, crashing through light pack ice and brash, sunsets on a balmy Antarctic summers day - unbelievable. The only problem is getting there (and back), which is by ship across the notorious Drake Passage - a heaving crossing that lasts 2 days - seasickness tablets that work are imperative!! Accommodation was on a huge Russian ship which was like a floating hotel and every day we did two zodiac landings at different islands or cruises around and between icebergs. Visited huge penguin rookeries (half million squawking birds and their chicks), seal colonies, and nesting sea birds. Saw whales too. Also visited research stations - British and Ukrainian - very interesting life and they were keen to share their chilli vodka too!! Through all this we wobbled around in seven layers of clothing with life vest on top (freezing outside so grateful for heating on ship) and gumboots - getting in and out of zodiac was quite a feat. On deck we attended lectures from field experts, saw slide shows and videos of the region and its early explorers, and watched whales surfing our stern wave. We only got a taste of the continent, but what a privileged to see it - only 10,000 people visit it a year. A lifetime experience - start saving!! Tour Operator: Marine Expeditions
Antarctica is like no other place on earth and one of the most wonderful places you will ever visit! Did an 11-day cruise which was entirely magical. Icebergs of indescribable beauty and shapes, blue ice, crashing through light pack ice and brash, sunsets on a balmy Antarctic summers day - unbelievable. The only problem is getting there (and back), which is by ship across the notorious Drake Passage - a heaving crossing that lasts 2 days - seasickness tablets that work are imperative!! Accommodation was on a huge Russian ship which was like a floating hotel and every day we did two zodiac landings at different islands or cruises around and between icebergs. Visited huge penguin rookeries (half million squawking birds and their chicks), seal colonies, and nesting sea birds. Saw whales too. Also visited research stations - British and Ukrainian - very interesting life and they were keen to share their chilli vodka too!! Through all this we wobbled around in seven layers of clothing with life vest on top (freezing outside so grateful for heating on ship) and gumboots - getting in and out of zodiac was quite a feat. On deck we attended lectures from field experts, saw slide shows and videos of the region and its early explorers, and watched whales surfing our stern wave. We only got a taste of the continent, but what a privileged to see it - only 10,000 people visit it a year. A lifetime experience - start saving!! Tour Operator: Marine Expeditions
Last-minute Antarctica - Joe Willesley. Date of travel: Jan 2006
To save on the enormous cost of getting to the Antarctic Peninsula, we arrived in Ushuaia in southern Argentina and enquired about last-minute places on any cruises going - there are a few tour operators in town and it is well worth asking around because often places are available (due to people having booked a trip a year in advance who suddenly can't make it), which you can take for less than half the normal cost of a trip. Of course you need to have the time and might need some patience to wait a couple of days, but if you do get on a ship heading south you won't regret it one little bit!
To save on the enormous cost of getting to the Antarctic Peninsula, we arrived in Ushuaia in southern Argentina and enquired about last-minute places on any cruises going - there are a few tour operators in town and it is well worth asking around because often places are available (due to people having booked a trip a year in advance who suddenly can't make it), which you can take for less than half the normal cost of a trip. Of course you need to have the time and might need some patience to wait a couple of days, but if you do get on a ship heading south you won't regret it one little bit!
'Cool' spot to visit - Zara James. Date of travel: Nov 2004
Listed everything usefull i needed to know on my amazing visit to Antarctica last year. About the weather and which animal sights i would see. Antarctica is a very "cool" vecation spot i can and will recomend!
Listed everything usefull i needed to know on my amazing visit to Antarctica last year. About the weather and which animal sights i would see. Antarctica is a very "cool" vecation spot i can and will recomend!
