11 Day Antarctic Cruise – The Travel Lady (2023)

FAQs

How much do you tip on an Antarctica cruise? ›

Tips are not generally included in your cruise fare (some exceptions apply on the all-inclusive ships) so if you would like to tip the crew an approximate suggestion would be $10-20 USD per passenger per day on board.

Why is it so expensive to visit Antarctica? Because of the Antarctic Treaty, only certain carriers can visit and they're required to have a permit. This means that even though there are now quite a few companies offering these cruises, there is still limited supply.

By opting for a cruise that incorporates flights to and from the South Shetland Islands from Argentina or Chile, travelers can skip the dreaded Drake Passage and sail through Antarctica.

Typical Antarctica cruises from Ushuaia, Argentina to the Peninsula are from 10 to 12 nights in duration, including the crossing of the Drake Passage. This allows for a reasonable amount of time for daily landings, which are always subject to ice and weather conditions.

What happens if you don't tip on a cruise? Most cruise lines work on the basis that the crew members' pay structure is based on receiving tips. If you choose not to tip, for whatever reason, you are impacting the salaries of the crew who have served you so well during your cruise.

Cash is also a good option if you want to tip some workers extra for service that warrants it. If you've dined in mostly one spot every night of the cruise, you might want to give tips to especially attentive waitstaff on the last evening of the cruise.

The Drake Passage, the stretch of water between the southernmost tip of South America and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica has the notorious reputation of being the roughest seas in the world.

The Antarctic travel season coincides with the austral summer beginning in October and running through March. The best time to visit Antarctica is from mid-December through mid-February. The best month to take an Antarctic cruise is January. Of course, there is much more to it than that.

Temperatures drop well below -60 degrees Celsius, making it far too dark and cold for any tour operator to offer a comfortable or safe experience.

The Drake Passage has been described as having the roughest seas in the world; 20,000 sailors have lost their lives there and its waters hold more than 800 shipwrecks.

Why is Drake Passage so rough? ›

What makes the Drake Passage so infamously rough is the fact that currents at this latitude meet no resistance from any landmass, anywhere on the planet. Coupled with the area's propensity for high wind, a crossing of the Drake Passage can be quite the adventurous exploit.

Most Antarctica cruises depart from South America, in particular from the port city of Ushuaia in Argentina. The city itself is well worth visiting and most tour operators will build in an extra day to explore the city before your departure. Over 90% of all Antarctica cruises depart from Ushuaia.

The most common expeditions last approximately nine to ten days, including five full days of exploration in Antarctica.

Where do most cruises depart from? 99% of Antarctica trips start from either Ushuaia in Southern Argentina or Punta Arenas in Southern Chile. It provides the most choice in terms of voyages. Explore the route to Ushuaia or Punta Arenas.

(1).

You have the right to refuse this automatic gratuity charge and may compensate cruise staff on your own terms. However, you will need to notify the front desk of this desire. Otherwise it will appear on your bill when your cruise ends and it will be charged to your credit card on file.

Many luxury cruise lines, higher-end river lines, and some British and Australian lines have a no-tipping policy, and gratuities are not required. You can always tip at your discretion, though some crewmembers are not allowed to accept monetary gifts.

Cruise lines are very upfront about their tipping policies. Unless you are on an all-inclusive ship that covers gratuities in the cruise fare, such as luxury cruise lines Azamara, Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Virgin Voyages, it is recommended that you tip the crew.

Benefits of Prepaying Gratuities

The biggest advantage is simply getting the charge out of the way. By paying the charge at the same time you pay your cruise, it's one less cost that will hit your onboard account while you are cruising. Another advantage is that cruise lines regularly raise gratuity amounts.

How much extra should you tip on a cruise? There is no set amount for how much to tip on a cruise, and once you have paid your gratuities, there's no need to tip more if you don't want to. Average extra tips vary, with most cruisers averaging $1-2 for drinks or room service, and $10-20 per day for cabin stewards.

The amount you pay will vary by cruise line, but they are all in the same ballpark. You can expect to pay about $15-$20 per person, per day. So a couple traveling together will see about $30-$40 per day in gratuities, or about $200+ over the course of a week-long cruise.

How do I prepare for a cruise to Antarctica? ›

The short answer is no, your mobile phone will not work during your tour of Antarctica. While we've come a long way from the earliest expeditions when explorers could only send snail mail via other ships, Antarctica is still a remote and wild destination with a telecommunications system to match.

No one should try to handle or disturb any wildlife encountered and that includes feeding the animals. This rule of thumb applies to land and water. Animals are protected and should remain so. In fact many species are endangered such as the Blue Whale, Northern Royal Albatross and Antarctic Tern.

On Antarctica's coast, where our stations are located, there are usually a couple of weeks in mid-winter (around 21 June) when the sun does not rise, and a couple of weeks in summer around Christmas when the sun does not set.

We recommend a waterproof jacket & fleece (if your ship isn't providing them), waterproof trousers, gloves (thick + liner), a hat, a couple of pairs of socks and underwear and a set of base thermals, as well as your photography equipment and binoculars.

The best time to travel to Antarctica is during the Antarctic summer from November to March, when you'll see Antarctica's wildlife at its busiest and benefit from up to 24 hours of daylight.

They are not found in Antarctica, even though the North and South poles are both snow-covered, icy-cold environments. Polar bears range across the Arctic Ocean, in parts of Canada, Alaska, Russia, Greenland and Norway (Svalbard).

Despite its reputation, crossing this unpredictable water body can be an unforgettable 48-hour affair. These days, with the finest equipment, safety procedures, experienced crew members and polar-ready ships, the Drake Passage can be a remarkable part of one's polar voyage—not dangerous.

While there is no such thing as the best month to cross Drake Passage, we were crossing the passage during the Antarctic summer (from October to February) when the Antarctic weather helps create calmer seas.

Is the Drake Passage ever calm? ›

With good conditions the Drake Passage can be wonderfully calm, and even enjoyable. If you're lucky enough to experience the 'Drake Lake' you can expect to be lulled by small swells and soft winds, and to spend your time out on deck spotting your first albatross. The far more famous experience is the 'Drake Shake'.

The choppy waters of the Drake Passage, named after English explorer Sir Francis Drake, who never actually traveled through the waterway but sailed close to the location in 1578, are believed to have caused more than 800 shipwrecks.

The passage is incredibly deep.

Its average depth is 11,150 feet, although the ocean floor is thought to reach depths of up to 15,700 feet near the passage's southern and northern boundaries.

Seasoned travelers say the Drake Passage has two states: the 'Drake Lake' or the 'Drake Shake'. The latter can feature large waves up to about 9-12 meters (wave heights of approximately 30-39 feet).

The Irminger Sea is situated south of the Denmark Strait which separates Iceland from the east coast of Greenland by 250 miles of rough water. It is thought to be the windiest stretch of salt water on the globe and one of the stormiest places in the world.

Recommended sea sickness medication

Antihistamine medicines such as Dramamine (meclizine hydrochloride) 25mg tablets or Phenergan (promethazine) 25mg tablets are also effective in reducing the effects of seasickness. Taken up to one hour prior to your trip, one dose of Dramamine lasts for 24 hours.

Dramamine, Bonine or Scopolamine Patches.

Medications like Dramamine, Bonine and the Scopolamine transdermal patches (that sit behind your ear) are also effective in reducing motion sickness and seasickness. The patches typically last several days, but you need to apply them about four hours before you set sail.

The least expensive trips to Antarctica start at under $5,000. Luxury voyages can exceed $15,000 per person. Below we crunch the numbers and outline the considerations that influence Antarctic travel costs to help you determine how much it costs to go to Antarctica.

Still, it's the most remote and forbidding stretch of wilderness in the world, exponentially more difficult to reach than nearly every other landmass. You'll need a permit and you'll have to follow the Antarctic Conservation Act, which prohibits tampering with the ecosystem in any way.

Antarctica Hotels

Sea Adventurer Cruise Stay, The Ushuaia, Hebridean Sky, Gould Bay Camp, Union Glacier Tented Camp, King George Ice Camp and many more. The mention of Antarctica Hotels in itself is a valuable deal if you are planning a trip to the icy continent.

Can you step foot on Antarctica? ›

​Set foot on the Antarctic Continent

At Brown Bluff, located on the Antarctic Peninsula, at the west side of the Antarctic Sound, you can stand on the continent of Antarctica. Below the steep cliffs Adélie and Gentoo Penguins breed. Leopard Seals, in search of penguins, often patrol the shore.

The majority of scientists and support staff living in Antarctica stay for short term contracts of 3-6 months, although some stay for as long as 15 months (two summers and one winter).

Yes. Antarctica is worth the cost. We have been to 80 countries across seven continents and Antarctica was undoubtedly our number one travel experience.

Falkland Islands. This save-based Falkland Islands is known for its abundant biodiversity, which makes it one of the most popularly visited spots in Antarctica.

Remember, you won't have the opportunity to get off the ship in Antarctica. No matter what ship you choose, where you go depends on weather conditions. If it's too windy and dangerous to land the Zodiacs at one spot, the captain will sail to another landing.

The point on land farthest from any coastline on the Antarctic Continent is located at83.904°S 64.890°E. This is also known as the South Pole of inaccessibility. Antarctica is the southernmost land mass on Earth.

Captains of charter boat fishing reported that they usually receive tips of 10-20% of the trip's cost. A 15% tip is generally expected. The tip for a full-day trip is $600. The tip is split among the captain and the mate on most boats.

The average suggestions for cruise tips amount to between $12 and $16 per passenger, per day—which for a standard seven-night cruise comes to between $84 and $112 extra per person, or $336 to $448 extra for a family of four.

As for daily housekeeping gratuity, $2 to $5 per person per day is a good rule of thumb. For help with your luggage when boarding and disembarking, tip the luggage handler immediately following the service. Beyond the day-to-day staff, you may also want to tip out specialized crew members you encountered regularly.

While commonly known for its massive icebergs and iconic penguins, Antarctica's best-kept secret lies on the seafloor far below the ocean surface. In this remote and isolated environment, a unique and diverse community of animals has evolved, half of which aren't found anywhere else on the planet.

How close is the tip of Chile to Antarctica? ›

Cruise to Antarctica From South America

The distance from the tip of South America to Antarctica is about 600 miles.

Under the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, ratified by 53 nations, persons accused of a crime in Antarctica are subject to punishment by their own country.

The “rates” for how much to tip a boat captain vary from 5-20%, but there is a certain etiquette. The tip is always given to the captain, in cash, who then distributes the tip among the crew equally.

Farlow: I would estimate the average tip for helping a boat tie up and refuel and to guide them through the paperwork we require for the first time – is about $20. Every time an attendant assists a guest it is not usual for them to receive a $5 to $10 tip.

You are not expected to tip on these sailings at all. However, slipping your butler or favorite waiter or bartender some cash is welcomed; good service should be rewarded. You might also want to express your thanks by donating to the crew fund, which provides treats and entertainment options to the hard-working crew.

The amount you pay will vary by cruise line, but they are all in the same ballpark. You can expect to pay about $15-$20 per person, per day. So a couple traveling together will see about $30-$40 per day in gratuities, or about $200+ over the course of a week-long cruise.

Here's the short answer: You don't actually need any cash when on a cruise ship. Most cruise lines operate on a cashless system. This allows you to pay for any and all of your onboard charges using your room key rather than bringing extra cash.

Average extra tips vary, with most cruisers averaging $1-2 for drinks or room service, and $10-20 per day for cabin stewards. It's up to you if you decide to tip extra, but your automatic gratuity charge covers all the essentials.

When to tip your hotel room cleaners. Some travelers like to leave one tip for hotel housekeeping at the end of their stay. But most experts say it's better to leave a tip every day of your trip. “We recommend tipping nightly, as your room may be serviced by different people,” said Ten Eyck.