AFS Antarctica Ultimate Voyage 2023 - 2 cabins left

“Kingdom of Ice, Antarctica”
December 5 to 17, 2023

Small group Must finalize and close trip by Sept 1. Two cabins now available

Price listed below the daily itinerary

It’s a profound experience to visit the White Continent for breathtaking scenery and otherworldly wildlife. Our new “Discovery and Learning voyage” sails deep into this crystal wonderland on the world’s largest ice sheet 2 miles thick. Come channel your inner explorer on a once in a lifetime voyage to the End of the World! There’s nothing like the magic of the blue and white wonder that is Antarctica. Oceanwide Expeditions is the best including all port charges, airport transfer, rubber boots, tours by zodiacs and more!

It’s hypnotically beautiful– especially during the “Austral Summer.” December is the best time to visit when temps are tolerable and the sun stays in the sky until midnight. Everyone longs to have the 7th continent stamped in their passport and most state that it’s their “best vacation ever!” Our past six AFS groups loved it. Why repeat again? So many left behind on our waitlist and begging to go. Visitors come here once because it’s a once in a lifetime dream that leaves an indelible mark forever.

Keep your camera ready as we navigate through the Beagle Channel into the most pristine land on the planet – no roads, no trees and aside from the sounds of giant seabird calls, it’s a world of pure silence. Unexplored just 150 years ago, nature here is pure and flawless. From the Antarctic Peninsula to Shetland Islands, capture a world that looks surreal. Our course depends on the seas, but our sites include Paradise Bay, Danco Island, Neko Harbor, Port Lokeroy, Deception Island, Half Moon Island and more.

Nothing is more thrilling than exploring by Zodiacs as we weave around iridescent blue icebergs calving set against a backdrop of towering glaciers. We venture ashore for guided walks with the best expedition team. The unique wildlife is spectacular! Look for omnipresent whales, seals, albatross, unique birdlife and belly-flopping penguins of all kinds. They’re as curious about us as we are about them and sheer joy to watch them waddle.

It all begins where the earth ends in Ushuaia Argentina with so many activities and tours here to enjoy. Then all aboard! You’ll love our sparkling new advanced ship that just launched with all the amenities that you desire. MV Hondius is the first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel in the world! Surpassing all others, it meets the latest “green and safety standards” with state of the art stabilizers other icebreakers lack. Our smaller ship lends us the best opportunity to explore. She so stylish and holds only 80 cabins and 72 crew. Our expedition leaders have a passion for sharing their in-depth knowledge with you. Each day enjoy guest lecturers, photo workshops, fun activities and gourmet cuisines. Whale sightings are announced by loudspeaker day and night. Also special outdoor activities are included at landings and for the brave, sea kayaks to paddle up close to the ice.

Demand is HOT now as travelers clamor to top off their bucket list. This trip is limited to only 22 lucky AFS travel lovers, so book fast! Air is easy. Go early or add stopovers in Argentina, if you’d like. Fact – Antarctica always costs a fortune to visit with prices ranging on average 12 to 18K and still so popular, one must book 2 years out. Our new AFS 11 day land and cruise program is less than others for a greater value and we include all shore excursions and port charges! Now is the time to visit this delicate polar region as the ice melts and sea levels rise. Charles Darwin could never have imagined exploring Antarctica would be this good. It’s the ultimate vacation to the most majestic land on earth that’ll take your breath away.

Our Glorious AFS Itinerary

Copy and paste to document and print

4 Dec – If you choose to arrive an extra day early, landing Dec 5 you can opt to book our AFS hotel Altos de Ushuaia at $128 per person twin. Most US flights go via Miami or Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. You can book hotel on your own. Past groups loved hotels Lennox, Albatross and many Airbnb’s in Ushuaia.

5 December – Fly USA to Ushuaia landing Dec 6 when the trip begins.

06 December – Welcome to Ushuaia! The tour officially begins.

Ushuaia is Argentina’s most important city in Tierra del Fuego and southern most city in the world. It’s easy to explore this small town on foot to many wonderful cafés and shops. You can arrange anything on own, like affordable city tours, the end-of-the-world train, day, hikes, and more.

In Ushuaia you will find you are at the most southern point of the world. Ushuaia is located in the province (county) of Tierra del Fuego and is the gateway to Antarctica. It is the place where the Cordillera de los Andes finally rests on the sea, and this allows one to appreciate a unique landscape. Lapataia Bay, South extreme point where the National route No 3 ends, 3.079 km from Buenos Aires and 17.848 km of Alaska located in Tierra del Fuego National Park. If you have enough time, you can’t miss the Maritime Museum and the Presidio de Ushuaia. You’ll find banks and ATMs. During the summer, the days are very extensive. The sun rises at 4:00 AM in the morning and sets at 11pm.

Included overnight at Altos De Ushuaia (1 night) B

07 December Cruise begins Embarkation!

Your cruise begins where the world drops off at Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city on the planet. Leave your hotel late afternoon to board our ship MV Hondius by 4:00 PM and find our cabins. The captain and crew will welcome us aboard with a toast and introduction before our ship departs for one of the most remote corners of planet Earth. During the night, we sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel.

Overnight aboard the MV Hondius (10 nights) B/D

08 and 09 December. Path of the Polar Explorers

Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see..

Overnight aboard the MV Hondius (10 nights) B/L/D

10-13 December Enter the Antarctic

Gray stone peaks sketched with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and dramatically different wildlife below and above. You first pass the snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, sailing between Brabant and Anvers Islands. Sites you may visit include:

Danco Island – Activities here may focus on the gentoo penguins nesting on the island, in addition to the Weddell and crabeater seals that can be found nearby.

Neko Harbour – An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.

Paradise Bay – You may be able to take a Zodiac cruise in these sprawling, ice-flecked waters, where there’s a good chance you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales.

Port Lockroy – After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may get a chance to visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags.

Overnight aboard the MV Hondius B/L/D

14 December Scenes of South Shetland

The volcanic islands of the South Shetlands are windswept and often cloaked in mist, but they do offer subtle pleasures: There’s a wide variety of flora (mosses, lichens, flowering grasses) and no small amount of fauna (gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins, southern giant petrels).

In Deception Island, the ship plunges through Neptune’s Bellows and into the flooded caldera. Here you find an abandoned whaling station, and thousands of cape petrels – along with kelp gulls, brown and south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns. A good hike is a possibility in this fascinating and desolate volcanic landscape. As an alternative, you may be able to engage in activities near Half Moon Island. Here chinstrap penguins and Weddell seals often haul out onto the beach near Cámara Base, an Argentine scientific research station.

Overnight aboard the MV Hondius. B/L/D

15-16 December Familiar Seas, Familiar Friends

Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them. Enjoy lectures and activities with your crew.

Overnight aboard the MV Hondius B/L/D

17 December Disembark to Prepare for Home

Every adventure no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia around 9AM, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies. Transfer to airport for our flights home are included. B

The disembarkation may be affected by weather conditions. We recommend that you schedule your flight from Ushuaia after 16:00 hrs. Take into consideration that the airport is a 30-minute drive from the pier.

Cruise Price Includes:

Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
Luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in Ushuaia.
Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).
All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Category A $8475 per twin share

Standard Outside cabin. 3 cabins

Deposits – Due to high demand for Oceanwide Expeditions and ship near full, all deposits are non-refundable*. Initial deposit 50% of cabin due at booking. Final payment due Sept 1. This payment structure is based on how we have to pay for our cruise to Oceanwide. Cancellation terms are strict because the ship is nearly full and we had paid hefty non-refundable deposits to hold 10 cabins.

(*Name changes are allowed for a nominal fee until August 1, 2023, but we need to find a replacement.)

Category C $9175 per person twin share.

Upper deck Deluxe Twin 10 cabins

(*Name changes are allowed for a nominal fee until August 1, 2023, but we need to find a replacement.)

*Price based on a minimum of 18 participants. Cabin choices are based on availability and first-come basis. Click Register to book. If your category is full, you can waitlist.

Deposits – Due to high demand for Oceanwide Expeditions and ship near full, all deposits are non-refundable*. After Feb 1, 2023 the initial deposit is 50% of cabin due at booking. Final payment due Sept 1. (For those that booked before Feb 1, a second payment of 50% of final cost is due May 15.) This payment structure is based on how we have to pay for our cruise to Oceanwide. Cancellation terms are strict because the ship is nearly full and we had paid hefty non-refundable deposits to hold 10 cabins.

(*Name changes are allowed for a nominal fee until August 1, 2023, but we need to find a replacement.)

Not included:

Pre-cruise hotel
International air roundtrip USA to Ushuaia. See air details in the Trip Tips Tab
Travel Insurance
The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).

NOTE: Oceanwide Expeditions Embarkation Protocol

For the Antarctic 2022-2023 season starting in October, COVID-19 protocols on our vessels have been updated based on worldwide developments, further Covid relaxation, and local regulations/guidelines. The following onboard health and safety protocols apply:

Pre-embarkation process

All passengers, crew, and staff must be fully vaccinated, with their most recent dose taken within the last 270 days (nine months). “Fully vaccinated” is defined as two weeks after receiving both doses in a two-dose series or one dose of a single-dose vaccine. The second dose of a two-dose series may be substituted by a recovery certificate (recovered from COVID-19 within the last 180 days). The additional vaccine dose, or booster shot, has an unlimited validity period.
No obligatory preventive testing will take place on our vessels. Upon request, COVID-19 self-tests are available and can be purchased on board.

Land dates – land starts in Ushuaia on December 6. Trip is December 6-17.

Air dates – December 5 depart USA, return December 17. Best fares fly overnight from Miami via Buenos Aires into Ushuaia. (You may want to add a few days stop over pre-or post trip in either Buenos Aires or go in early to explore Ushuaia.) Note Buenos Aires has two airports. You land at international airport EZE. To fly domestic to Ushuaia, you take bus to domestic airport AEP. At present, only one airline now flies into Ushuaia… Aerolineas Argentinas. AR.

Group fares came in high and we would not reach our minimum needed. Please arrange your own air now. We like Google flights to search for best routes and fares. USA to Buenos Aires flights are easy. But Ushuaia can get complex. We recommend using an expert South American travel agency that specializes in these flights. Borrello tours is excellent. Please contact mariella@borrellotravel.com. 800-405 3072 or 212-686-4911.

Sample:

Dec 5 fly USA to Buenos Aires

Dec 6 fly AR 1886 AEP — USH 3:30PM – 7:10PM

Dec 17 fly AR 1881 USH – AEP 1:15PM – 4:40PM. Connect from BA back to USA

We embark ship in Ushuaia on December 7 at 4 PM.

We disembark ship in Ushuaia on December 17 at 9 AM. Book flights home after 1 PM. However Oceanwide documents suggest that weather may delay disembarkation times, so you may want to choose a later flight out after 4 PM to Buenos Aires or even add a post-cruise night in Ushuaia.

AFS Antarctica Trip Tips 2023

Prepare to be thrilled by Antarctica, hypnotically beautiful with towering blue icebergs, mountains soaring from the sea and a pageant of wildlife. Each day is an Instagramable moment for your best photos ever on this 11-day adventure. 98% of this continent is covered in ice yet a haven for the world’s most unique wildlife, including countless species of whales, seals, sea birds and iconic penguins. Your onboard naturalist expert guides will provide daily lectures on the nature and history of this great white world.

At present, we have a wonderful small group of 18 travel lovers with space for one man and one woman left to balance cabins. All our past AFS groups loved this voyage! Get to know each other now on your private group Facebook page. Linc. More details will come later. After final payments are in, you’ll receive pre-voyage documents with all you need to know. Please go to www.oceanwide–expeditions.com to read more on Antarctica and your beautiful icebreaker ship the M/V Hondius, first registered Polar 6 vessel in the world!

Trip Tips are designed to answer trip-related questions. It’s your responsibility to read this information. Updates and addendums will be posted here. Check back from time to time.

FINAL PAYMENT DUE Sep 1. Wetravel is our data management company, it allows you to pay by check electronically without a fee. Simply follow the instructions. Credit cards will be assessed a processing fee at time of purchase. As a small business, this helps mitigate costs and allows us to give you the very best price. If you prefer to use the mail, make your payment to AFS or Adventures For Solo Travelers, 1907 Daniel Green Ct., Smyrna GA 30080

Your fearless GTL (Gracious Trip Leader, not a guide but liaison between our guides and group to ensure things run smoothly). Janice McDonald – she knows Antarctica well and will be reaching out to you all by email in the coming months.

Your GTL Janice was an early AFSer and has traveled with Suzy since almost the beginning. She has visited more than 96 countries and all 7 continents both on her own and in her job as a writer and television producer! She has actually been to Antarctica TWICE – once with the legendary Jacques Cousteau and a second time with Prince Albert of Monaco. Imagine that. While she currently works mostly with ABC News, she spent 20 years with CNN, reporting news across the globe.

A prolific writer, Janice has written 17 books on travel and history. She also has an independent production company called J-Mac Productions which has afforded her the opportunity to do independent documentaries as well as producing marketing, training and commercial materials. She has won numerous awards including 6 Emmys and three Edward R. Murrows for her work.

No words can describe her professionalism and bubbly personality. Janice consistently remains upbeat even when things don’t go as planned and is simply Large Fun to go on a solo travel tour with!

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Trip Prep:

Read the revised Heading Abroad with AFS, especially if you are new to AFS.
Check passport expiration date and ensure your passport is valid 6 months after return date with two blank pages. We recommend renewing your passport well ahead of any planned international travel. Take a photo of your passport to store in the cloud or bring a copy. If you lose your passport, US embassies now except a digital copy from your email.
Notify bank and cc company of travel dates so they don’t block charges.
Vaccines – Bring your vaccine card. Don’t laminate vaccine card as some countries won’t accept it. You can take photo of both sides and store on phone.
All airline rules differ. It is imperative to read your airline rules on their website to ensure a smooth departure! Airlines are in the process of making routing and scheduling changes now. Always check your flight before departure.
Visa – no visa is required to enter Argentina or Antarctica.

Mandatory Insurance – Antarctica requires all passengers to get added evacuation and medical insurance. You may have travel insurance already which covers this. See more below. Or an affordable addition can be found at www.ripcord–rescue.com. More on this later.

Fitness level – must be in good health, no trouble walking or getting into the zodiac boats that whisk you to shore each day.

Land dates – land starts in Ushuaia on December 6. Trip is December 6-17.

Air dates – December 5 depart USA, return December 17. Best fares fly overnight from Miami via Buenos Aires into Ushuaia. (You may want to add a few days stop over pre-or post trip in either Buenos Aires or go in early to explore Ushuaia.) Note Buenos Aires has two airports. You land at international airport EZE. To fly domestic to Ushuaia, you take bus to domestic airport AEP. At present, only one airline now flies into Ushuaia… Aerolineas Argentinas. AR.

Sample:

Dec 5 fly USA to Buenos Aires

Dec 6 fly AR 1886 AEP — USH 3:30PM – 7:10PM

Dec 17 fly AR 1881 USH – AEP 1:15PM – 4:40PM. Connect from BA back to USA

We embark ship in Ushuaia on December 7 at 4 PM.

Airport Transfers- when we receive all your air schedules a month out, we may provide one common group airport transfer in based on similar dates and times. Others can take affordable taxi 3 miles to our hotel. Transfers to the ship are included as well as airport departure.

(With travelers arriving and departing on different days and times, it is insurmountable to manage. Group air airport transfers are based on set time. Without group air, there can no longer be any pick-ups or drop-offs. Unfortunately, now like other tour companies, transfers are your responsibility. (We’ve spent weeks each trip making spreadsheets of each person’s air to send to the supplier and then flights change. We then hire a guide, driver and pay airport parking fees. Last year in groups only half showed up as guides waited hours looking for others. Sometimes no AFSers showed up without informing us.) Transfers are not expensive. First, google your arrival airport website to see transfer tab. Suggestions to appear like airport bus, taxi details, Uber and more. Then connect on group Facebook page to set up sharing transfer cost if you like. If you go early and check-in AFS hotel before group arrives, it’s your responsibility to change rooms with your roommate if necessary day one when trip begins.)

Meet Up With Group- December 6 gather in lobby of Los Alto de Ushuaia hotel at Louise Martino 1441 Street by 4 PM for a briefing. Hotel details at info@altoushuaia.com

Onboard –

Safety is the highest priority. The itinerary may be modified or changed to suit local conditions.
Wildlife sightings will be announced throughout by a public PA system.
Delicious breakfast and lunch buffets, 3-course gourmet dinners, snacks 24/7, cocktails reasonably priced, water, tea and coffee free
Don’t miss the great lectures and films each night.

New Headings Gear rental_Click to Open PDF

Seasickness – we hope you have a smooth sailing. Seasickness is unpleasant but treatable. Bring motion sickness meds. They are most effective taken before onset of nausea. Some like the patches and wristbands. If you feel ill, lie down or focus on the horizon to stabilize, eat lighter, move to the lower deck. The crew and doctor onboard can assist you with whatever you may need.

Baggage– Think light to ease your burden, not like you’re fleeing your homeland. You change hotel properties several times. 1 carry-on bag& 1 medium suitcase not to exceed 45lb checked bag – weigh on a bathroom scale. If you overpack by adding pre-or post-trip luggage, make prior plans as to where to stow the excess luggage. You may be responsible for any overage charges. Apple AirTags work great to track checked bags when the airline cannot, also good for carry-on. Leave space for great souvenirs. Be sure to attach ID inside and out of carry-on and checked bag.

Climate – experience the Midnight Sun in Antarctica’s Austral Summer. Temps range 20 to 40° on average. Days are often sunny, but weather is unpredictable here with possible fog or rain.

Packing – totally casual trip. You can rent any winter gear or clothing at many stores in Ushuaia on arrival. The address in your docs will come for a good rental store called New Headings.

Winter Clothing – Best to dress in layers; waterproof parka, pants, fleece, thermal undergarments, thick socks, wool scarf, hat, gloves and waterproof shoes. Ship provides excellent rubber boots free of charge. Also, bring a waterproof day pack for your camera and gear, good sunglasses, sunscreen, and lip balm.

Electric– Wall sockets onboard are European 2-round prongs. Bring adapter. Hairdryer and TV in each cabin. Wi-Fi is available for you to purchase Internet onboard. Don’t forget a portable backup charger, cords, gadgets, etc. Cell phones and tablets do not need a converter; you only need an adapter plug. AFSers often leave charger cords in room, so be sure to double-check your room before check out.

See https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com

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Money Matters – Always bring some cash. You will need some cash for personal tipping, meals, and shopping in Ushuaia. In Antarctica, spending opportunities are rare. $200 total should suffice. For services rendered aboard the ship, you will be provided with a personal account. Any expenses will be kept on record and totaled at the end of your voyage. Your account must be settled prior to disembarkation in cash or on credit card. Currency accepted on board is the US dollar and euros.

Currency Exchange Rate $1= 211 Argentinian pesos (subject to change)
Follow the link below to create a conversion cheat sheet
https://www.oanda.com/currency/travel-exchange-rates

Gratuities – Tipping is a very personal matter and the amount you give us at your discretion. It is however protocol to tip your local guides, lecturers, crew, and staff on the ship. The customary gratuity to the ships personnel is made as a blanket contribution at the end of the voyage and divided among the crew. You will receive detailed guidelines in your docs. (Our December 2022 group was around €100 on ship.)

Tipping on own – If service is stellar, feel free to give more directly. All we tourists leave behind is our reputation. I carry a stash of US ones in an envelope to draw from as needed.

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Websites of Interest: www.tourismoushuaia.com. www.welcomeargentina.com. www.lonelyplanet.com. www.oceanwide-expeditions.com.

Roommates – Single supplements have significantly increased in price– if available at all. Save money and buy yourself an awesome local gift. We all live alone, but save money when traveling by rooming together. Suzy spends a lot of time on roommate matching. 99% of our clients are wonderful and you’re only in your room to sleep at night. The best option is to invite a friend. Note, kindness begets kindness. Many of our seasoned travelers bring headsets to drown out any excess noise. We share rooms only to sleep at night. (If AFS room list ends up with unbalanced gender, and forces a single room, we will offer it to all in group or share the added cost. If none want it, if you were the last to book we may have to remove you from the trip.)

Leisure Time – in free time in Ushuaia, there are many things to do. It’s an easy walking town. You’ll see dozens of tourist offices with tours, fun shops and great seafood restaurants as well as pubs on the main promenade called San Martin Street. (Best king crab dinners at El Viejo Marino). Consider bus or bike tours, End of the World museum or train, Beagle Channel cruise, Tierra del Fuego National Park and more. www.viator.com has 15 affordable fun day tours.

Amending tour pre-or post-trip. We honor your independent spirit, but encourage you to extend more days at the trip’s end when you’re acclimated well to the destination. If you add another country, we often see many AFSers on Facebook urging others to join them what do you consider the cost of tours, transport, hotels, etc. Stopovers are great to add, but understand AFS has no responsibility for the quality of your trip.

Emergency Contact – AFS phone or text 770-432-8225, or email us at https://www.afstravelers.com/contact-us/ More contacts will be provided with your Final Docs emailed 3 weeks before departure.

Cancellation Penalty – at this date there are no refunds for any cancellations. This is based on the ships terms to us.

Travel Insurance– While travel insurance is optional, in today’s world we highly encourage you to get standard coverage to cover trip interruption and cancellation. Best source for all is www.insuremytrip.com.

Preexisting conditions – If you would like the security of travel insurance and have a pre-existing condition (elderly parent, medical, etc.), you must purchase insurance within 15 days from your initial trip deposit in order to assure full coverage. You can buy travel insurance at any time, just know that there may be some possible limitations if purchased outside the 15 day period.

We like TravelSafe, Allianz or Seven Corners.

Click here to Purchase Travel Insurance online

Travel Psychology 101 – Prepare for your departure joyfully with no contempt before investigation upon arrival. Please understand that with travel, things are not like at home and changes may occur. Great trips work best for those with an open mind, flexible attitude and adventuresome spirit. If changes occur, embrace them with serendipity. Who knows?… The unexpected may prove to be a better experience. Adapt and go with the flow with a laid-back attitude. Be spontaneous. Be tolerant of foreign cultures in respecting their centuries of traditions. Embrace the differences. Be curious, not shy. Smile – locals will sense your energy of kindness and kindness always begets kindness. Our common goal is to experience different cultures, make new friends, get great photos, have large fun, and return home safely with memories worthy of recollection.

Please note that AFS is non-partisan – With our homogeneous groups, we all want to focus on the common denominator – our love of travel. In today’s divisive world, we suggest members not discuss politics and if you must, please practice my rule of TOK: Tolerance, Open-mindedness and Kindness.

The best spirit of an Explorer requires the openness of a child – Suzy

“When traveling, remember that a foreign country isn’t designed to make you comfortable. It’s designed to make its own people comfortable.” – Clinton Fadiman

Oceanwide Expedition

Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
Luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in Ushuaia.
Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).
All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
Comprehensive pre-departure material.

OTE: Oceanwide Expeditions Embarkation Protocol

Pre-embarkation process

All passengers, crew, and staff must be fully vaccinated, with their most recent dose taken within the last 270 days (nine months). “Fully vaccinated” is defined as two weeks after receiving both doses in a two-dose series or one dose of a single-dose vaccine. The second dose of a two-dose series may be substituted by a recovery certificate (recovered from COVID-19 within the last 180 days). The additional vaccine dose, or booster shot, has an unlimited validity period.
No obligatory preventive testing will take place on our vessels. Upon request, COVID-19 self-tests are available and can be purchased on board.

Packing and preparing for your polar travel adventure

It’s easy to get confused about what to pack for a polar cruise. Some items are provided by us and some are not, and it’s not always clear which is which. This article (and the video at the end) will make your polar pack list painstakingly clear. Promise.

PLEASE NOTE: We require all passengers to bring a waterproof jacket and pants (minimum 15,000mm rating) for our Zodiac cruises to shore, as these can be quite wet. You will also need high rubber boots for landings during trips on Rembrandt van Rijn, though we provide such boots on our larger motor vessels.

Apart from that, what you pack is largely a matter of personal preference. Here are our recommendations for documents, gadgets, and clothing…

Required identification and travel documents

We know this seems a bit like we’re insulting your intelligence, but it bears noting that some of the most obvious travel items get overlooked in the rush for jackets and boots.

Wherever you’re joining us from, you will first need a valid passport. We recommend that your passport be valid for at least six months after your trip ends, in fact, though this is not a make-or-break requirement to go on our voyages.

You should also bring your other identification, debit cards, credit cards, and cash in either the euro or US dollar. And please check with your nearest embassy in case you need a visa.

Clothing for your Arctic or Antarctic trip

After travel documents, proper clothing is the most important thing to pack on your cruise. It’s no secret that the polar regions get really, really cold. Antarctica in particular can chill the bones even in summer, but the clothes listed below will also serve for an Arctic trip.

FOOTWEAR (SHOES AND SOCKS)
We will loan you knee-high waterproof muck boots for outings when you’re booked on our large motor vessels, Hondius, Janssonius, Plancius, and Ortelius. We do not provide these boots when you’re sailing on the smaller vessel, Rembrandt van Rijn.

You will, however, want to bring sturdy shoes with quality grip soles for walking around the ship. Decks can get slippery and the ship is prone to rocking, so please do not bring flipflops, sandals, or any kind of open-heeled footwear.

Also, pack ample pairs of warm socks. We recommend thick Merinos or similar, and it’s not a bad idea to include thin inner socks for additional warmth and dryness.

BASE LAYER (THERMALS AND UNDERGARMENTS)
We strongly recommend dressing in layers, because temperatures can change rapidly in the polar regions. But it’s equally likely that your nature walks and other outdoor activities will heat you up even in cool weather.

Start with a good base, then. Breathable thermal underwear is useful, since it helps keep you warm even if you end up stripping off outer layers.

MIDDLE LAYER (T-SHIRTS, SWEATERS, AND PANTS)
Pack casual clothes you can wear inside the ship or over your undergarments when you’re outdoors. Your waterproof outer layer can go over these clothes and be removed if you get hot, which is likely to happen during more rigorous outdoor activities.

Our vessels are designed for exploration, not luxury, so don’t worry about packing your gala gown or tux. Comfortable clothes you can wear in the observation lounge, having a drink at the bar, and trekking around polar coastlines are ideal.

A warm sweater is a good idea, and we recommend thin inner gloves to wear inside thicker outer gloves (which we’ll discuss later) during excursions and landings.

Packing a scarf, neck gaiter, or some kind of neck-warming shirt is also useful. Some people like turtlenecks, others prefer scarves. It doesn’t really matter what you pack as long as it keeps your neck warm and can be removed. This goes double for an Antarctica cruise, where it can be windier than in the Arctic.

Pack a good cap or hat as well, and make sure it is able to cover your ears. And as always, make sure it is something you can quickly take off if it gets sunny and hot.

OUTER LAYER (JACKETS, SCARVES, AND OUTER GLOVES)
This may be the most self-evident layer of the lot. You’ll want a quality jacket that is waterproof and windproof, and it can also be valuable to have a hood attached. The outer layer should at least have a 15000 mm water resistance and ideally have a highly visible red or yellow colour.

The same goes for your outer pants and gloves. Trousers should fit over muck boots or your own personal footwear, and both pants and gloves should be waterproof and able to be easily removed on hot days or during activities that make you sweat.

Remember, though, you’ll be using your camera a lot. Your thick outer gloves, like your thin inner gloves, should allow you to easily use your buttons and/or screen.

But to return to the topic of sweat for a moment…

You will probably sweat often during your landings, and this can make you colder than usual if the weather changes or you stop moving. So to repeat, pack breathable layers that are not too tight and can be easily removed and stored in a small day pack.

Cruise toiletries and related products

Sunscreen is one of the most important items to pack for polar travel, as it is our goal that you will spend most of your time outside. Sunlight reflecting off the snow can quickly cause a burn. You may also want a general moisturizing lotion and lip balm, as the air can be quite dry.

Motion sickness mediation is handy, especially if you’re crossing often-rough waterways like the Drake Passage. But you can purchase this from us if you forget to bring your own. There are also a number of natural seasickness remedies you can pack.

A small, personal medical kit is also a good idea. Our ships have basic first-aid equipment in case of minor injuries, but it never hurts to bring some of your own bandages and meds.

Additional but essential expedition items

Sunglasses are a must. It gets bright in the polar regions, especially on clear days in snowy areas. Keep your eyes safe with a quality pair of UV-protectant sunglasses.

Pack a small or medium-sized waterproof backpack that you can wear during excursions. You can use this to store lightweight but useful things like the clothes you take off, a water bottle, binoculars, or spare batteries for your camera.

Binoculars are key, because you’ll be marveling at a lot of landscapes and wildlife. And again, a good camera is critical.

Cameras are indeed so vital that we even have a dedicated photography packing guide especially for them. Pack memory cards and spare power options, too. But as always, remember to put the camera down on occasion and simply enjoy the surroundings.

Earplugs are nice to have if your cabin mate is loud or you are sensitive to noise while sleeping. An eye mask can also be pleasant, though our cabins are typically easy to keep dark.

If you’re not from Europe, you will probably need an outlet converter. Our sockets on board use the traditional EU slot with two large pins.

A headlamp is a good idea, though this is mostly the case only on Northern Norway trips that sail during the darker months of autumn through spring. And you could also pack a journal and writing tools, but we often provide these in your cabin.

One last word about luggage

Luggage is mostly a matter of personal taste, but you will want luggage you can carry easily and that is waterproof. There will be a few occasions in which you will have to deliver your luggage to and from your cabin and also the Zodiacs, where we may encounter sea spray.