New Cruises to Antarctica

Antarctica, the Earth’s southernmost continent, is so remote that there’s no record of it even being seen by humans until the 1820s. Cold, windy and almost completely covered with ice, Antarctica is a beautiful and fascinating cruise destination. 

 In fact, cruising is possibly the best way to get close to this mysterious and magnificent continent. And, several cruise operators recently announced new Antarctic itineraries; some feature scenic cruising, and others give passengers the opportunity to actually set foot on the White Continent (weather permitting). 

 

Princess Cruises has announced a new, 16-day Antarctica and Cape Horn itinerary on the Diamond Princess, sailing between Santiago, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The itinerary includes Punta Arenas, Chile, on the Strait of Magellan; Ushuaia, Argentina, at the southern end of the Patagonia region; and four days of scenic cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula. The ship will also call on the Falkland Islands, which have a fascinating history and colonies of penguins, as well as Montevideo, Uruguay, where you can tour the Old City, browse the Port Market, or enjoy a vineyard tour and wine tasting. Two announced sailing dates are Dec. 19, 2021 (Santiago to Buenos Aires), and Jan. 4, 2022 (Buenos Aires to Santiago). 

 

Adventures by Disney plans to begin visiting Antarctica this December. This Disney subsidiary (separate from Disney Cruise Line) will charter ice-class vessels to sail to the Antarctic Peninsula. These 11-night vacations begin in Buenos Aires before a flight to Ushuaia, where the ship will be waiting. Adventure guides and naturalists will be on board to provide expert insights into Antarctic history, geography and wildlife. After the ship crosses the Drake Passage, passengers will have four days to explore the Antarctic Peninsula, moving from ship to shore via Zodiac crafts. This itinerary is scheduled to depart Buenos Aires on Dec. 20, 2021, and Jan. 30 and Feb. 20, 2022. 

 

Oceania Cruises has also scheduled a new itinerary that sails between Buenos Aires and Santiago, including three days of scenic cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula. The 20-day Polar & Patagonian Quest voyage aboard the Marina calls on Montevideo and Punta del Este, Uruguay; Puerto Madryn and Ushuaia, Argentina; the Falkland Islands; Punta Arenas, Laguna San Rafael, Puerto Chacabuco and Puerto Montt, Chile, with two days of cruising the beautiful Chilean fjords. Departures are scheduled for Jan. 8, 2022, and Jan. 18 and Feb. 7, 2023. 

 

Talk with Anita, your professional travel advisor, about all the options for experiencing the beauty of Antarctica via cruise ship. 

 

 Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AtthetaTravel