Amazon Adventures

Argentina

Best of Patagonia / Hiking the Patagonia Classics / More Patagonia Treks / Hidden Argentina
Buenos Aires / More Patagonia / Iguazu Falls / Lake District / Salta / Mendoza / Ibera / Valdes Peninsula
Antarctic Cruises / Expedition Cruises / Best of Northwest / Mountain Bike Tours / Winter Trips

Antarctica Expedition Cruises

Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic Islands are some of the last truly unspoilt regions of the world. The mysterious White Continent, with its multi-coloured ice caps, glistening glaciers and towering snow-capped mountains, offers unparalleled scenery and photographic opportunities. Enormous numbers of penguins, whales, seals and seabirds congregate in the food-rich waters along the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic shores. The future of Antarctica is crucial to the climate and ecology of the world and on most of our cruises we have an opportunity to visit one of the many scientific bases.

Our small, specially designed expedition ships journey south, taking full advantage of the 24 hours of daylight during the austral summer. Ice-strengthened hulls and state-of-the-art equipment allow us to navigate safely through the pack ice and narrow waterways. Our zodiac excursions, guided by foremost Antarctic experts, offer the freedom to explore remote locations and observe Antarctica's abundant wildlife.

The companies that we represent are all members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). These members pledge:

* To advocate, promote and practice safe and environmentally responsible travel to the Antarctic.
* To operate within the parameters of the Antarctic Treaty System, including the Antarctic Treaty and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, along with IMO Conventions and similar international and national laws and agreements.
* to subscribe to the principle that their planned activities will have no more than a minor or transitory impact on the Antarctic environment.
* To foster continued cooperation among its members; to monitor IAATO programs, including the pattern and frequency of visits to specific sites within the Antarctic; and to coordinate itineraries so that no more than 100 passengers are ashore at any one time in any one place.
* To provide a forum for the international, private-sector travel industry to share their expertise and opinions and to uphold the highest standards.
* To enhance public awareness and concern for the conservation of the Antarctic environment and its associated ecosystems and to better inform the media, governments and environmental organizations about private-sector travel to these regions.
* To create a corps of ambassadors for the continued protection of Antarctica by offering the opportunity to experience the continent first hand.
* To support science in Antarctica through cooperation with national Antarctic programs, including logistical support and research; and to foster cooperation between private-sector travel and the international scientific community in the Antarctic.
* To ensure that the best qualified staff and field personnel are employed by IAATO members through continued training and education; and to encourage and develop international acceptance of evaluation, certification and accreditation programs for Antarctic personnel. IAATO expects its members to hire a staff team comprised of individuals with at least 75% previous Antarctic experience.

The membership is divided into several categories:

** Organizers of expedition ships that carry less than 200 passengers or small sailing vessels that carry less than 12 passengers. The limit of 100 passengers ashore at one site at one time applies.
** Organizers of vessels carrying 200-500 passengers who are making passenger landings. Stringent restrictions on landing activities of time and place apply. The limit of 100 passengers on shore at one site at one time also applies.
** Organizers of cruise ships making no landings (cruise only). Cruise ships carrying more than 500 passengers are not permitted to make any landings.

So when determining which cruise you want to go on, you need to decide if you want to be able to do all of the the shore excursions, some of them or none of them.

Grigoriy Mikheev and
Aleksey Maryshev

Polar Star

Mv Ushuaia

Antarctic Dream