Table Of Content
Gaze out over Arctic waters as you sail Baffin Bay, home to an array of marine life. Emily had asked the previous day if any coconut gelato was available, and Celeste had gone down into the galley and fetched her some, even though it wasn't on the day's ice cream rotation. Emily had been so happy about the treat that Celeste took it upon herself to repeat the experience the following day. The atmosphere was festive as Meghan, the chief scientist, explained how weather balloons worked, and we all excitedly counted down to the release as if it were New Year's Eve.
Inviting spaces
While there has been a significant increase in ultra-luxury offerings from cruise lines such as Crystal, Silversea, Seabourn, and Viking, there are a multitude of cruise lines that offer cruises to the southern continent. This includes an extraordinary 87-day Longitudinal World Cruise expedition departing in September 2025 titled ‘From the Arctic to Antarctica.’ The cruise starts from Nuuk, Greenland, high above the Arctic Circle. Guests will sail thousands of miles south to Ushuaia, Argentina, commonly known as the last city in the world and just short of the Antarctic Circle. Finally, this cruise has been one of the most upbeat and fun Viking trips I've been on. While the line has always eschewed fancy dress clothes, here you spend most of the day in athleisure wear.
Azamara Cruises Announces Longer Sailings and New Ports
Afterward, the nerdiest of us crowded around a projection screen in Expedition Central to watch as the balloon's recording device reported back on air temperature, pressure and humidity at different elevations. But the real genius of this dressing area is the heated drying closet found in every cabin. It's got a rack with hangers for your waterproof jacket and pants and hooks for your life jackets and ship-provided boots. We used it not only for our expedition gear, but to hang up laundry we didn't want to subject to the ship's dryers. Every room on the ship is classified as a balcony cabin or suite, but a true balcony is useless in Antarctica, where you're not going to sit and watch the waves at frigid temperatures for long.
Viking Antarctica Cruises: A Complete Guide for Adventurers
On the occasional clear and dry day, the ship hosted alfresco barbecue lunches on the sun deck — and what Viking served here were none other than complimentary porterhouse steaks, lobster tails and one-pound burgers. To say that the food on Polaris is hearty (and as healthy as desired) would be an understatement. And the line’s signature Mamsen’s Norwegian deli and standout Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant are also included in the fare. As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel.
Booking Terms & Conditions
The result is that Viking Polaris does not have full access to all the landing sites on the peninsula and also that guests have limited time ashore to make sure everyone on board can rotate through, 100 people at a time. It all starts with The Hangar, which is part water-level boat storage, part comfortable passenger loading zone. Onboard Polaris and Octantis, guests will be able to explore the most remote and pristine area on our planet in comfort and luxury. The two ships are part of a change in the expedition cruise industry, which is seeing an increased number of ultra-luxury cruise ships sailing to the Antarctic Peninsula. With a capacity for 378, Viking Polaris is larger than most expedition ships that visit Antarctica. (One notable exception is Hurtigruten's pair of modern expedition ships, Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, both of which have 500 passengers when they sail here).
It's easier to get in and out of the SOB than a Zodiac, so people with mobility issues can enjoy a close-to-the-water experience. It's another way that the line is opening up expedition cruising to more people. The Viking polar expedition ship’s staterooms all feature Nordic balconies with unique floor-to-ceiling windows. You can open the top of the window to take in the sights and smells of the outside from the comfort of your room. The Explorer Suite and the Owner’s Suite on the expedition ships also have private outdoor spaces.
I found Goldilocks in Antarctica with this big little ship that’s just right - The Points Guy
I found Goldilocks in Antarctica with this big little ship that’s just right.
Posted: Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Review: Oceania Cruises’ Vista
These speed boats were designed with accessibility in mind — they can be boarded more easily than Zodiacs and have comfortable, individual bucket seats with armrests and hand grips. On the far side of the cozy beds (twins that can be pushed together into a queen), extra space is devoted to getting dressed because it's a tad more complicated on an expedition cruise. The extra floor space is needed for pulling on boots and wiggling into life jackets. Additionally, an expansive double-decker Explorers’ Lounge observation venue is at the forward top of the ship, and The Living Room and The Library are equally scenic just behind. Not surprisingly, onboard entertainment is relatively sparse beyond a large library of free on-demand content and occasional film screenings. But The Aula is an architecturally stunning double-level theater with wraparound windows (and the outdoor Finse Terrace behind) overlooking the stern that stages daily briefings and lectures from Polaris’ outstanding expedition staff.
Antarctica Cruises
The cruises originate in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and conclude in Ushuaia, Argentina.
Viking Antarctic Cruises
The spa is modeled on what you find on their ocean ships, and there's simply nothing else like it on other expedition ships. There's a full therapy pool and all the stages of what Viking describes as a Nordic bathing ritual -- sauna, steam room, cold bucket and snow grotto. Soaking here, as the White Continent floats by, brings a level of luxury to your bucket list that you didn't know you craved.
The few times I stopped by The Hide during the day, I would collapse into an oversized chair, put my feet up below the slanted windows and immediately start to doze off, lulled by the rocking of the ship. In the evenings, we'd grab a double shot of Baileys at the speak-easy-style bar (all the booze, minimal mixers) and listen to the expedition crew members tell tales of their adventurous exploits, like a bedtime story for grown-ups. More rugged, helicopter-sightseeing and polar-plunge experiences are probably available on other lines visiting Antarctica, but clients looking for the most comfortable (and tasty) way to visit the icy continent should certainly consider Viking. While it’s not the only area for unwinding, it dwarfs the Explorer’s Lounge, which serves top-shelf cocktails and the sounds of live piano every afternoon, and the chaise-filled Aquavit Terrace pool bar on the back of the ship. (The latter two spaces are also found on other Viking ships.) Though there are always quiet nooks to escape to—the size really is notable—the Living Room hosts a rotation of activities, too, including daily workshops with the resident photographer. Viking has kicked off its Antarctic cruise season with the arrival of Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis to the Antarctic Peninsula.
You might have to endure some wind and rain and freezing temperatures, but Viking is going to do everything possible to make sure its guests are able to access all Antarctica has to offer. The ship has three main lounge areas — the midship The Living Room; the forward-facing, two-deck Explorers' Lounge; and the low-level, speak-easy-style The Hide — and all are designed to feel like inviting hangouts in your stylish home. I've been stunned with how good the onboard Wi-Fi is, even as our ship has gone south of the Antarctic Circle. I've been able to FaceTime with family every day, upload photos on social media, communicate with workmates on Slack and email, do Peloton workouts and even join in an essential doctor appointment.
The expedition team members were always happy to take our photos, point out whales or chat with us out on deck. I used to think of expedition ship cabins as bare-bones affairs, with fixed twin beds, tiny bathrooms with the shower practically on top of the toilet and no design aesthetic whatsoever. On older ships, that portrait might be accurate, but on Viking Polaris, my room was cleverly designed and full of creature comforts. It was my first time in Antarctica — and also my seventh continent — and I’ve never been so wondrously overwhelmed by a place in my life. Our introductory landing off of Viking Polaris was just the start of several more to come, and I was already deeply in love with the southernmost cruise destination. Cruises to Antarctica have been steadily becoming more and more popular with the general public.
Its interior spaces are well designed, friendly and inviting, while its rugged exterior and ice-strengthened hull enable it to cruise the icy seas at the ends of the earth. Whenever disembarking — often from a Zodiac to wet and slippery shores — was particularly challenging, the staff lined up along the path to offer a helping hand to visitors every 10 feet or so to ensure no one ever took a tumble. Given Viking’s mostly mature yet mobile demographic, this was most welcome, and even as a millennial, I appreciated the extra effort that was always made on our behalf. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines.
There's never a point where you feel like you're elbowing others to get that iconic whale tail shot. Onboard entertainment includes vocalists and instrumentalists who play in the afternoons and evenings in the Explorer Lounge. On some evenings, guest researchers or lecturers share their experiences – or stories – with guests in The Hide, a space near the ship’s aft that features cozy seating and a bar.
No comments:
Post a Comment