Over the next couple weeks, ships that have been travelling to Antarctica during the past few months will begin to migrate to points further north. It is nearing the end of summer in the southern hemisphere.
In the 2020/21, there weren’t any ships in Antarctica due to the pandemic and this season, only about half the ships originally deployed to the last continent made it there.
The 2022/23 Antarctica season is going to be in high demand, so if this is on your radar you may want to get a move on.
The Antarctic season is short: the first ships arrive in November, and they begin to leave in mid-March.
We’re often asked when the “best” time to go is. There’s not a best time, but rather a series of trade-offs to consider when deciding on the best choice for you:
- Early (November/December): There is still sea ice on the water, and it will be virgin snow on land, and you’ll feel like you’re the first person who’s ever been there. When you go ashore, you will see penguins finding mates. Once the penguins begin to lay their eggs, you might see them waddling around balancing an egg on their feet.
- Mid-season (December/January/February): The longest daylight hours are late December and January, and it’s also the warmest time – with temperatures usually above freezing. The penguin chicks, and seal pups make their appearance in this time.
- Late (February/March): If you want to see whales, then a trip late in the season might be best.
I was lucky enough to travel to Antarctica in 2018, and Bob and I put together this YouTube video about that trip: https://youtu.be/3c-2TBXw6ls It includes detailed information about my experience, and stunning images.
In that video, we talk about the three different ways to get to the last continent. Here they are:
- A “Drive-by”. Cruise lines like Celebrity, Holland America, and Princess do trips from South America, where you sail by the Antarctic Peninsula. You do NOT get off the vessel over to land; no ship with more than 500 people is permitted to land on Antarctica.
- Expedition Ships. Expedition vessels maximize immersion in Antarctica, and you will spend a lot of time on sea kayaks, zodiac boats, and doing landings on the continent. Typically, scientists are conducting research on board, and you can participate in those studies. Cruise lines like Hurtigruten, Lindblad/National Geographic, Quark, Abercrombie and Kent fall in this category.
- Luxury Ships. If you want to go in maximum comfort and style, then a number of luxury cruise operators have ships that are specially designed for Antarctica. Some of these have helicopters and submarines on board for excursions. To be clear, many of these luxury brands have begun to blur the lines between the luxury and expedition segments, so they might look much like the category above. Lines like Ponant, Seabourn, SilverSea, and Viking fall into this category.
Today’s Travel Opportunities
Here are some suggestions for Antarctica:
The “Drive-by”
Celebrity Infinity – Round Trip Buenos Aires
14-days departing February 25, 2023
- Inside: $2089 per person
- Window: $2439 pp
- Balcony: $2899 pp
- Suite: $7199 pp
Expedition Ship
Hurtigruten Roald Amundsen – Round Trip Ushuaia
11-days departing March 1, 2023
- Window: $7993 per person
- Balcony: $10,849 pp
- Includes transportation to/from Buenos Aires
- 5 scheduled days of landings in Antarctica
Roald Amundsen is the world’s first hybrid-powered cruise ship, and Bob and I were on its North American inaugural sailing. Here’s a link to our YouTube video if you want to see what the ship is like: https://youtu.be/1L_ByDqhGR0
Luxury Expedition
Silver Wind – Round Trip Ushuaia
10-nights departing February 28, 2023
- Window Suite: $8,850 per person
- Veranda Suite: $10,550 pp
- 5 scheduled days of landings in Antarctica
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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
