Our Poor Hotel Ransacked
Then, just before Christmas, we heard our hotel, The Crowne Plaza in downtown Santiago, was shut down because protesters practically destroyed it. It was just our luck as the hotel was literally in ground zero of the protest. As a result, we had to make a booking at another hotel in a different location, just outside downtown. This new hotel proved to be in a much quieter and safer area.
Choosing The Right Antarctica Cruise Ship
Your cruise ship will impact your travel experience considerably.
Antarctica cruise ship sizes range from vessels that carry less than hundred passengers to vessels that carry over 500!
If your goal is to go ashore as often as possible then you should consider a small vessel as ships carrying less than 200 passengers have access to most landing spots along the peninsula.
Ships with more passengers are often heavily restricted on where they can land and vessels carrying over 500 passengers cannot land at all.
Whilst the smaller ships have the advantage of landing spots, larger ships are generally better appointed and have a much more luxurious feel.
Larger ships also have the added benefit of swaying less in the rolling seas an important note for people who suffer from sea sickness.
If you want a cruise to Antarctica that allows you to go ashore and get up close and personal with some of the wildlife, then a smaller vessels may be your best option. Cruise boats that carry less than 200 passengers have the right to land at most places, whereas larger ships are more restricted. Cruise ships carrying over 500 people cannot land at all.
Princess Cruises Announces 2022
Princess Cruises today announced the lines 2022-2023 South America & Antarctica cruises and cruisetours, on sale March 10, 2021.
Guests will delight in South Americas vibrant culture, indulge in zesty cuisine and savor wines of the region while sailing onboard Sapphire Princess, exploring some of the worlds most dramatically diverse landscapes and breathtaking beauty of Antarctica.
Sapphire Princess visits 19 destinations in 10 countries on six unique itineraries , including:
Antarctica & Cape Horn Four days cruising the Antarctica region and a special holiday sailing which includes both Christmas and New Years Day Antarctica & Cape Horn : Santiago, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, Cape Horn scenic cruising, Antarctic Peninsula scenic cruising , Falkland Islands, Montevideo and Buenos Aires December 19, 2022, January 20, 2023 reverse itinerary on January 4, 2023
Cape Horn & Strait of Magellan Overnight in Buenos Aires including scenic cruising of the spectacular Amalia Glacier : Buenos Aires , Montevideo, Puerto Madryn, Falkland Islands, Cape Horn scenic cruising, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Amalia Glacier scenic cruising, Puerto Montt and Santiago February 5 and March 5, 2023 reverse itinerary on February 19, 2023
For guests wishing to combine a land tour before or after their cruise, Princess offers two cruisetours for South America:
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Entering The Antarctic Sea
The Captain announced that we would cross the 60th parallel, the limit of the Antarctica Treaty Waters, around 8 pm. Then, around the same time, we would reach a point where the water temperature drops to 1 degree Celsius. Indeed, that was the real gateway to Antarctica.
The excitement, at that point, was getting high.
The Next Morning: Free Walking Tour In Santiago
In the morning, we were happy to meet our friends from Canada in the lobby and immediately started to explore the city.
We discovered that some volunteers were organizing a free walking tour of the city, and we decided to take it. To be sure, it was an excellent tour. The guide took us to all the famous monuments in the city, giving us some history and tips about what we were seeing. Our guide was both personable and knowledgeable, and we were able to see almost all downtown in four hours.
The tour included a stop for lunch in a friendly and hip part of town where we had the best beef empanada ever!
Unfortunately, the signs of the recent protests were everywhere. The city got covered in graffiti, and in some areas, you could still smell and feel the effects of the tear gas.
We enjoyed our walking tour, and we thought that our tour guide deserved a tip for his work. Overall the city was quite lovely and the people very friendly. We never felt unsafe during our tour.
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Day 1: Fun Day At Sea
We had a lot of sea days on this cruise. To be sure, it was no surprise. But, we used the time wisely. For example, we started putting together our memories of the trip as it was nearing the end. Indeed, here are some photos of the fantastic crew who went out of their way to keep us both informed and incredibly comfortable.
Israel To Welcome Vaccinated Tourists Top 5 Activities To Do As Cruise Hotspot Opens Up
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Our Cabin B520 On The Coral Princess Cruise Ship Taking Us To South America And Antarctica
In no time, we had arrived in our cabin, B520, on the Coral Princess cruise ship.
Unfortunately, after the safety drill, the Captain announced our departure would be delayed 24 hours due to a refueling problem. Additionally, a dramatic storm in the west would require that our itinerary be modified. As a result, the port of Punta Arenas got canceled, and wed move on. Further, the Captain informed us that they were monitoring the storm and making adjustments to the itinerary to keep us both safe and comfortable on our cruise to Antarctica and South America.
To be sure, there were a few passengers who were upset about skipping Punta Arenas. You see, Punta Arenas was the hub for the flight into the Antarctic Peninsula. As a result of the cancellation, these passengers were not able to set foot on Antarctica as they had hoped. Rick and I didnt mind as we were told by someone who had previously visited that there wasnt much to see. To be sure, we felt that safety was more important.
Other Antarctica Cruise Lines
In addition to the two major Antarctica cruise lines, there are a handful other, smaller companies that offer cruises to the Antarctic Circle. These expedition cruise lines are all about adventurous sailings, usually on smaller vessels and with biologists, naturalists and professional photographers on board.
Theyre often multi-purpose cruises, providing a cruise experience you wont find anywhere else. Recommended Antarctica expedition cruise lines are the following.
- Abercrombie & Kent
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Day : Breathtaking Strait Of Magellan
After leaving Puerto Montt, we had another rough day at sea before entering the sheltered water of the Strait of Magellan. Indeed, this was an incredible sight. For example, the mountain peaks of the Andes, most of the covered by massive glaciers, were creating deep fjords. To be sure, I have to admit it was a beautiful sailing, and it reminded me of the Inside Passage in the Pacific Northwest.
Unfortunately, many of the peaks got covered by clouds. Additionally, navigating in the strait was incredibly smooth, and it was delightful after being in very rough seas for so long.
In the afternoon, our Captain gave us a very informative lecture about the Antarctica portion of our cruise. Then, during the talk, he showed us our revised itinerary and what we were about to see. Also, he informed us that sailing the infamous Drake Passage was going to be smooth on the way down! Unfortunately, no such assurances were made for the portion of the cruise back to South America .
When To Go To Antarctica
Cruising in Antarctica is only possible during the continent’s summer, which runs from November through March. December and January are traditionally the most popular times to visit the region, when daylight lasts the longest and temperatures are the most manageable.
Those months are also when the wildlife is most abundant, with penguin chicks hatching by mid-December. Whale populations are at their highest beginning in January and remain high through March.
No matter which month you go in season, expect to deal with a wide variety of weather conditions — rain, snow, sleet and sun. Likewise, temperatures can change wildly throughout the day, ranging from a balmy-for-Antarctica 35 degrees Fahrenheit to well below freezing — and always be prepared for cold winds.
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Cruise Antarctica: Picking A Ship
If youre traveling to Antarctica its either via a small ship like Ortellius or a larger cruise-ship that holds 500+ people.
What you want is a smaller ship.
Antarctica is governed by a treaty between 40 nations, and you cannot have more than 50 people on land at one time.
So, larger cruise ship companies are not often able to land. Imagine seeing Antarctica, but not being able to touch it. It would be terrible!
Our ship was not much to look atit was small and industrial, with a reinforced hull for ice-breakingbut there wasnt a hot tub on the roof, nor a spa, nor the traditional makings of a cruise. Truth be told, when I looked at it from the harbor, it looked TINY.
But it quickly became our home.
The top level of the ship was a bar and lounge area where we gathered for happy hour and debriefings every day.
Other than that, the ship had a dining hall and a lecture room, which we never used as the sea was rough and the room had no windows.
When we werent eating in the dining hall or listening to something up at the bar, I was in my quad room cabin with my cabin-mates, and we all became very good friends by the end of the trip.
All Jamaican Cruise Ports Expected To Be Operational By December
After a relatively slow start earlier this year, Jamaica is now full steam ahead with re-opening its border for the cruise industry and the much-needed economic boost that it will bring.The Port Authority of Jamaica is working through plans to have all cruise ports on the island operational by the end of the year 2021. Currently, the only port operational in the country is Ocho Rios, which
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Whats The Best Part About Our Cruise To South America The Penguin Excursion
At 2 pm, we had our cruise penguin excursion planned. To be sure, the penguin excursion was one of the most fun excursions we have ever done! It started with a short bus ride from Port Stanley to the Bluff Cove Farm. From there we took 4 x 4 Rover to the beach. Once we arrived at the penguin rookery, we were mesmerized by the incredible number of Gentoos penguins. It was amazing seeing all those beautiful animals up close. The penguins have no fear of humans, and they were walking around us freely. There were a lot of baby penguins walking among the adults or feeding on their parents. We saw a vast amount of King Penguins nesting, as well.
After an hour with the penguins, we were served tea, delicious scones, and cakes before our trip back to Port Stanley.
Undoubtedly, today is one that I will never forget.
Popular Activities In Antarctica
Zodiac cruising and shore landings are by far the most popular activities on an Antarctica cruise. Whether you’re whizzing by a glacier, hoping to catch an iceberg calve off or are checking out a colony of seals napping on a large ice floe, getting onto an inflatable rubber boat to check out the sights is the highlight of every day.
Equally, shore landings, which might take cruisers to a remote scientific station or to within a few feet of curious baby seals, offer once-in-a-lifetime memories.
Some Antarctic cruises also offer cruisers the chance to hike, snowshoe, mountaineer or even swim during shore landings.
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A Little About The Coral Princess
The Coral Princess and her sister ship, the Island Princess, got built to be able to transit the old locks of the Panama Canal. As a result, the ship is narrow and long. The Coral can accommodate up to 2000 guests and 895 crew, as per Princesss website. Princess states that Medallion is scheduled for completion on the Coral in Oct 2020.
I look forward to giving it a try on the new Enchanted Princess this summer .
Embarkation was both comfortable and efficient.
Royal Caribbean Group Announces Destination Net Zero Program To Achieve Net Zero Emissions By 2050
Royal Caribbean Group announced a giant step on its sustainability journey: Destination Net Zero, a comprehensive decarbonization strategy that includes pledging to establish Science-Based Targets and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Decades ago, we set out on a course to advance sustainability our vision now is to realize carbon-free cruising over the next two decades, said Richard
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Featured Antarctica Cruise Lines
Of all major cruise lines in the world, only three effectively offer Antarctica cruises: Silversea, Princess and Hurtigruten. Were highlighting them here because theyre the most well-known companies. And if youre looking for the best Antarctica cruise on a larger ship, chances are youll find it with them.
As can be expected, the most popular and best Antarctica cruises take place from late-November through late-Februarythe summer months in the Southern Hemisphere.
Day : Cruising Around Cape Horn And Down To Antarctica
Early in the morning, the Captain woke us up, announcing that we were approaching Cape Horn. And, due to the pleasant sea conditions, we were able to get up close to it. Then, we quickly ran to the top deck to have a good view of the southern tip of the South American Continent. I have to admit, sailing there really gave me a feeling of reaching the end of the world.
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Explore The Negev Desert
Much of Israel is made up of the Negev desert, termed the Friendly Desert.
It is mostly a rock desert, but one area contains stunning sand dunes, and it is here where travellers can soar down the dunes and experience the thrill of wind.
Kids will get toboggan-like boards and adults will get full-sized sandboards for this fantastic experience.
Day 1: Scenic Cruising In Admiralty Bay
We were entering Admiralty bay around 1030am. On this island, we could see two important scientific bases in Antarctica, the new Brasilian base and the Polish base. The Captain announced that he was able to speak with the scientists in the Polish bay. Consequently, he invited them on board at noon for an interview. The interview proved to be quite exciting.
After sailing very close to the brand new Brasilian Base, we reached the deepest part of the bay where some massive glaciers were ending in the ocean. The view was quite impressive. We sailed in the calm waters by the glaciers for sometime before approaching the Polish base, the Arctowski Station, to let the scientists on board.
The Polish Scientists Interview
The scientists came on board around lunchtime, and the Captain started his interview. It was quite fascinating to hear how the selection process is to became a scientist in the base. They stayed with us for about an hour than they left, and we were on our way to our next and final destination in Antarctica Elephant Island.
A time-lapse video of us Cruising Admiralty Bay, Antarctica
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Princess Cruises Previews 2022/23 South America/antarctica
Anne Kalosh | Mar 02, 2021
Bookings open March 10.
Antarctica & Cape Horn
‘Antarctica & Cape Horn’ cruises feature four days of scenic cruising in Antarctica and a special holiday sailing encompassing Christmas and New Years Day.
This 16-day voyage between Santiago and Buenos Aires includes Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, Cape Horn scenic cruising, Antarctic Peninsula scenic cruising , the Falkland Islands and Montevideo. Departures from Santiago are Dec. 19, 2022, and Jan. 20, 2023, with the reverse itinerary from Buenos Aires on Jan. 4, 2023.
Cape Horn & Strait of Magellan
This trip features an overnight in Buenos Aires and scenic cruising of the spectacular Amalia Glacier. The 14-day voyage begins with the Buenos Aires overnight followed by Montevideo, Puerto Madryn, Falkland Islands, Cape Horn scenic cruising, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Amalia Glacier scenic cruising, Puerto Montt and Santiago. Departures are Feb. 5 and March 5, 2023, with the reverse itinerary, from Santiago, on Feb. 19, 2023.
Andes & South America
An overnight in Callao, Peru, the gateway to Lima, is featured, with an optional overland tour to UNESCO World Heritage Site Machu Picchu. This 17-day trip embarks in Los Angeles on Dec. 2, 2022, and calls at Cabo San Lucas, Costa Rica, Callao , Pisco, La Serena and Santiago.
A similar 18-day voyage at the end of the season sails from Santiago on March 19, 2023 for Los Angeles, calling at La Serena, Pisco, Callao , Manta, Costa Rica, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.
Cruise Deals To Antarctica
Here are our best tips for finding a cheap cruise or cruise deal to Antarctica. If you book a guaranteed cabin , a cabin on a lower deck or sail on an older ship from a brand you like, then you can get the best price for a specific cruise to Antarctica. Last minute cruises deals to Antarctica appear as you get closer to the sail date, usually 1-2 weeks in advance. Taking a cruise to Antarctica in the shoulder season can also be a great way to find a cruise deal.
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