| Page Views: 2,702 Last Visit to Antarctica: December, 2002 | Antarctica in December, 2002 by maryellen50 - last update: Jan 7, 2003 |
| Penguins near our ship at Antarctica Peninsula |
Antarctica is a different place! I did a 10-day Antarctica Explorer cruise with Peregrine Adventures Dec. 20-30, 2002. I chose Peregrine as it is an expendition cruise meaning they provide on shore landings via zodiac boats and some cruises do not provide this. Having traveled many places around the world, Antarctica is the last frontier for serious travelers and I had heard so many wonderful things about visiting there - despite my preference for tropical climate. And Antarctica is not for the budget conscious unless you can go directly to Ushuaia, Argentina and do a last minute booking for $3,000, otherwise expect to pay $5,000+ for an upper deck double share cabin. All Antarctica ships are Russian registry and the crew was extremely friendly and helpful despite the language barrier. |
Antarctica Peninsula Peregrine sails from Ushuaia, Argentina to the Antarctica Peninsula which is definitely the warmest area (15-30 degrees F) for the summer season. This place is definitely a beautiful and different destination for most travelers. Sailing from Ushuaia through the Drake Passage (2 days) can be rough waters and Scopolamine patches (motion sickness) definitely recommended. This is not a cruise ship but an expedition vessel. |
Penguins...and more Penguins Having seen tigers in India and lions and elephants in Africa, Antarctica wildlife is somewhat limited. There are probably 3 million penguins - Gentoo, Chinstrap and Mararoni - at the height of the breeding season the Antarctica peninsula due to the warmer climate. Emperor penguins are found only near the South Pole. We did see a few Minke, fine and orca whales during our voyage and interestingly the orcas are much smaller than their relatives in the Pacific Northwest. There were sea lions and elephant seals viewed during the zodiac cruises. |
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| Pros: | "Breathtaking scenery and icebergs" | | Cons: | "Cold - even in the summer" | | In A Nutshell: | "A once in a lifetime experience!" |
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