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Selecting an Arctic or Antarctic cruise ship & additional activities
Choosing the right cruise ship for your Arctic or Antarctic expedition can really enhance your experience. Unlike traditional cruising, your experience isn’t necessarily measured in levels of luxury, but rather by the ship’s strength and stability, viewing possibilities, facilities on board and any additional activities offered that can take you closer to the wildlife and extreme land, sea and icescapes.
Many of the optional activities you can do on board get booked up well in advance, so please discuss when making a booking or ask for advice.
Most ships operate expeditions in both regions – the Arctic Circle area in June to September and the Antarctic region in November to March.
Here is a brief guide to the most popular Arctic and Antarctuc expedition ships available, all bookable through Travel Nation. More details can be provided on request:
HIGH ARCTIC CRUISE TRIPS
| Depart from: |
Return to: |
Ships on this route: |
Type of trip: |
| Spitsbergen (Norway) |
Spitsbergen (Norway) |
M/S Expedition, Akademik Sergey Vavilov
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| Edinburgh (UK) |
Spitsbergen (Norway) |
M/S Expedition |
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| Spitsbergen (Norway) |
Reykjavik (Iceland) |
M/S Expedition, Akademik Sergey Vavilov
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| Helsinki (Finland) |
North Pole, return to Helsiniki (Finland) |
50 Years of Victory |
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ANTARCTIC CRUISE TRIPS
| Depart from: |
Return to: |
Ships on this route: |
Type of trip: |
| Ushuaia (Argentina) |
Ushuaia (Argentina) |
M/S Expedition, Antarctic Dream, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, Ocean Nova, Clipper Adventure,
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| Punta Arenas (Chile) |
Ushuaia (Argentina) |
Antarctic Dream |
Fly & Sail |
| Punta Arenas (Chile) |
Punta Arenas (Chile) |
Ocean Nova
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Fly both ways |
| Hobart (Australia) |
Perth (Australia) |
Kaptain Klebnikov |
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MS Expedition
This GAP Adventures-owned ship recently underwent a $13m upgrade and now offers an exceptionally spacious, comfortable and safe expedition experience for all passengers. Maximum guest capacity is 126 and all cabins are fitted with private facilities. All expeditions offer kayaking options and on Antarctic trips, it’s possible to spend a night camping on the ice.
GAP offer a Bear-Antee for their High Arctic trips, which means that in the unlikely event that you don’t get to see a polar bear, they will give you a credit of the value spent on your cruise to use towards a future High Arctic cruise.
Gap Adventures also offer a number of short and longer tour options within South America which are easily combinable with their Antarctic expeditions.
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Sea Spirit
This Quark vessel is a new addition to their fleet and offers extreme comfort and opulent style. Her cosy club lounge, fine dining and open bar offers unique luxury experience to all 112 guests, whilst incorporating full wildlife viewing opportunities. Kayaking and camping are available on all Sea Spirit trips.
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Akademick Sergey Vavilov
This Quark operated ship is a former Russian research vessel and is renowned as the best in the field for her ability to sail quietly and with exceptional stability on this type of expedition. Each trip has the option for Kayaking. Camping, ice climbing and cross country skiing are available on selected departures.
The Vavilov’s exceptional panoramic lounge is a huge plus, allowing you to relax in comfort whilst still enjoying the view. Housing up to 104 guests the only downside for some is that the lower cabin category’s offer shared facilities only.
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Ocean Nova
This is the smallest of the Quark vessels with just 73 passengers on board including 37 en-suite outside cabins. Her size allows her to get close for landings as well as for speedy zodiac boarding. Her superb glass enclosed observation lounge allows for great wildlife viewing from inside as well as out.
Kayaking and camping is available on certain departures.
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Antarctic Dream
The Antarctic Dream is a Chilean owned vessel built specifically for Antarctic exploration and since has been totally refurbished to add the comfort of a small cruise ship. With a maximum of 80 passengers in 40 double/twin cabins fully en-suite, she boasts a comfortable small cruise ship with a friendly, family feel on board. To accommodate pasengers from around the world all departures have both English and Spanish speaking crew/staff and certain departures will also have a German or French speaker on board.
Of the 3 expedition options on the Antarctic Dream programme, one schedule offers a fly/cruise combination. All trips have the option for kayaking, whilst camping is available on certain departures.
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Clipper Adventurer
The popular Quark operated Clipper Adventurer accommodates 122 passengers. Her 61 cabins are all en suite with exterior views. This elegant expedition ship offers fine dining as well as great viewing possibilities from both inside and out, benefitting from outside seating on the Captain's deck and bridge.
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Andrea Motta – our resident polar expedition cruising expert