What can go wrong on an Antarctica cruise? Here we list the 5 worst things that can happen on an Antarctic cruise. Every year, more than 40,000 tourists visit Antarctica. Most do so aboard cruise ships. These powerful and sometimes luxurious ships are equipped to withstand the arduous journey through the coldest place on Earth. To avoid having a bad experience, here are five negative facts that can ruin your Antarctica cruise.
1 -Exorbitant prices
The price of an Antarctica cruise is very high. You can expect to spend between $10,000 and $15,000. This is just to book the ship and not even on a luxury one. The nicer and more comfortable ones cost even more. In addition, you will have to add the cost of transfer from your home country to the cruise departure point. In general, most of them depart from Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
2- Equipment rental
The intense cold of Antarctica requires specific clothing to withstand temperatures well below zero degrees Celsius. If you plan to buy your own equipment, you will probably spend a fortune. Ideally, you should rent the things you will need. For example, you will have to rent specific boots for that region, special gloves, goggles, hats.
3 – Unpredictable weather
Once on board the cruise, with all your equipment, you will have to face something that no one can predict: the rapid and constant changes of the weather in Antarctica. You may wake up to terrible weather in the morning, with lots of fog; then it will be calm, with clear skies. A few minutes later, the fog will return. It will also depend on how the ice moves. This may also lead to cancellation of overland travel.
4 – Little time for cruises
The cruising season in Antarctica is very short. It starts at the end of October. However, most cruise ships only start their voyages in the last days of November, because this is when the ice starts to break up and ships can pass through. December to January is the best time to visit Antarctica, because that is when the temperature is “warmer”.
Trips only last until the end of February. However, some tour companies will hold trips until early March. The fact that it is a short season makes prices go up. Also, you have to book well in advance. Otherwise, you will not find space on any cruise line.
5 – Crowded cruises
Cruising part of Antarctica on a crowded ship is not ideal. However, the law states that only cruise ships with about 200 passengers can make the trip. In addition, there is another rule that only about 100 people can disembark at a time. So if several cruise ships coincide around one point, you have a scenario where you can’t even get close to land to get a closer look at the penguins and other fascinating animals that live there.
