Antarctica may not be the most obvious destination for a cruise and getting to Antarctica is not easy, but an increasing number of people are choosing to take a holiday cruise to this fascinating region of the world. Cruises mainly take place during the Antarctic summer which runs from November to March. In high summer there are over 20 hours of daylight.
Antarctica is one of the last great wildernesses on Earth and because of the extreme climate and dangerous terrain holidaymakers can only go as part of an organised cruise. Experts in the wildlife of the area, who are also very experienced in travelling through and surviving in such an extreme environment, always accompany these cruises. The ships’ crews are also very experienced in navigating these waters.
Despite its inhospitable climate Antarctica is a beautiful place to visit with its majestic icebergs and unique wildlife including colonies of penguins and seals, seabirds and whales. Most cruises head to the Antarctica Peninsula region, which may also include South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. There are also cruises that go to the Weddell Sea, the Ross Sea region and East Antarctica. These cruises generally include visits to historical settlements, emperor penguin colonies, the Dry Valleys and other remote areas.
As Antarctica is a protected area there is a limit on the number of people who can go ashore at any one time. Some people will take a cruise to Antarctica and never leave the cruise ship. However, a number of cruises do offer zodiac cruising in small boats which gives tourists the opportunity to see the icebergs up close and to spot Humpback whales or Minke whales. Trips to one of the research stations located in Antarctica are also possible and give an interesting insight into life on a modern research station.