I Went on Antarctica Cruise: Largest Disappointment + Highlights

Each traveler ought to expertise a cruise to Anarctica at the least as soon as.

From the cute, toddling penguins that you’re going to witness virtually each day to the mind-blowing cerulean-blue icebergs, it is pure magic.

After all, making your manner south to the Nice White Continent is not low cost, particularly while you tack on the myriad excursions you may wish to get pleasure from alongside the way in which.

I sailed to Antarctica on the Seabourn Enterprise in 2022 and loved my justifiable share of top-shelf cocktails and three-course meals whereas on board.

My luxurious cruise on the 264-passenger, all-suite vessel included each day actions, however I additionally selected to ebook a number of of the ship’s further outings for extra charges.

Surprisingly, the costliest one was my least favourite, however I discovered two I might completely advocate.

Antarctic kayaking was every thing I hoped it could be

One in all my objectives on this journey to Antarctica was to kayak with minke whales. I am comfortable to report that I achieved that objective throughout my add-on kayaking excursions.

Earlier than my cruise set sail, I booked three kayaking periods on totally different days for about $250 a pop.

I spaced them out all through the 5 days our ship was in Antarctic waters. The climate in Antarctica could be risky and unpredictable, so I needed to have choices in case one or two of the journeys bought canceled.

This expertise was unbelievable. I encountered many glassy icebergs as I paddled across the space’s frigid waters. Along with seeing whales, I additionally witnessed penguins porpoising, the place they torpedo themselves up and out of the water, like dolphins.

When you get fortunate, you could even see (and listen to) a whale spout on this tour.

I am glad I booked the pictures outing and lecutres

Among the best elements of my cruise was a pictures outing on a Zodiac cruise (a smaller inflatable vessel) with the ship’s onboard photographer. The add-on additionally got here with a collection of classes on taking and modifying nice photographs.

I might invested in a professional-caliber digital digital camera setup earlier than my cruise, so I discovered this photography-specific journey and subsequent lectures to be notably invaluable.

Our group had loads of time to decelerate and take a number of photographs of shimmering icebergs whereas on the Zodiac. Plus, I realized suggestions for taking photographs at nice angles with higher lighting.

The most effective half is that I left with dozens of high-quality photos to share with my household and associates once I returned house.

Throughout my journey, the tour was extra casual and organized by my ship’s onboard photographer. Now, it has been constructed up into a complete course referred to as the Picture Masters Pictures Masterclass for each novice and professional photographers.

The add-on is normally restricted to 10 people and prices about $375 per individual per day.

Nevertheless, I wasn’t impressed by the expensive submerisble tour

Seabourn’s high-end expedition submarines can take seven individuals at a time lots of of toes underwater.

Though this required much less work than kayaking, it was additionally far much less scenic and far more costly.

The one-hour underwater journey value $1,000. I felt that was too excessive, particularly as soon as I spotted how darkish Antarctica’s oceans could be and the way little I might truly see.

I did not actually get pleasure from sitting in a tiny, cramped bubble and making an attempt to not really feel claustrophobic for 60 minutes whereas descending into the darkish depths of the ocean.

Some optimistic a part of me had hoped to see penguins or whales, however we simply spent the hour cruising round a dense carpet of unmoving sea stars dotted with sponges.

Based on our information, my group on this tour noticed extra marine life than most, which did not really feel like very a lot. It was additionally tough to take respectable photographs on account of hazy sediment and low mild on the backside of the ocean.

Reality be instructed, the good factor concerning the submersible tour was nerding out with my fellow shipmates about being in a freaking submarine.