How Does Passenger Count Affect My Time on Land in Antarctica?
IAATO limits landings to 100 passengers at any site at any given time. Here's how it shapes what your days in Antarctica look like.
Ships
11 posts — Ship types, classes, quality, and comparisons.
Smaller Ship, More Time on Land - An Example
On a four-day Peninsula schedule with two landings per day, the ship you choose could mean the difference between 24 possible hours on land or 4.
When Crossing the Drake, Does Ship Size Matter?
Expedition ships are all small relative to the forces at work in the Drake Passage. Whether your ship carries 100 passengers or 300, a rough crossing is going to be a rough crossing.
New Ships vs. Old Ships: Does It Matter?
Whether a ship is new or old isn't as important as most people think. Sometimes, the way things actually work is the opposite of what you'd expect.
How Do Antarctica Expedition Ships Compare in Quality?
The expedition fleet broadly divides into three tiers defined by onboard experience and price. What tier you choose should depend on how much the hotel matters to you relative to everything else.
What Do Ice Class Ratings on Antarctica Ships Mean?
When researching expedition ships, you’ll probably encounter terms like PC6, 1A Super, or Ice Class 1A in ship specifications. These are structural certifications that describe how much ice a vessel can safely operate in.
What is the X-Bow Design and Why is it Popular?
The X-Bow is a wave-piercing hull design that cuts through swells rather than riding over them. In the right conditions it reduces pitching motion and improves passenger comfort at sea. It does not make the Drake Passage feel perfectly calm.
Two Voyages: Same Price, Different Value
Two voyages. Same cabin category. Same price. Here is what a side-by-side comparison reveals.
What's a Sea Day Like?
Sea days on an expedition ship have a rhythm that most people find surprisingly satisfying. Lectures, wildlife, meals, conversation, sleep, and the occasional view from the deck that reminds you exactly where you are.
Will I Have WiFi and Cell Service?
Most ships now offer some form of onboard WiFi, ranging from just enough for email to good enough for video calls. Cellular service does not exist in Antarctica, with the exception of King George Island. Be aware of those roaming charges!
Will I See Other Ships?
One of the persistent mental images people carry into this trip is total isolation, nothing but ice and wildlife in every direction. The reality requires a small but important asterisk.