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Cruises to AntarcticaThe future of Antarctica is crucial to the climate and ecology of the world. The small, specially designed Antarctica cruise 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 you to navigate safely through the pack ice and narrow waterways. The zodiac excursions, guided by foremost experts, offer the freedom to explore remote locations and observe the abundant wildlife when you cruise Antarctica.
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Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic Islands are some of the last truly unspoilt regions of the world and are wonderful locations for Antarctica cruises, tours and expeditions. 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.
top photo by Eric Giuliana |
Ships
The companies that we represent are all members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). These members pledge:
** 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. Vessels with more than 100 will divvy up the groups, with half exploring by land and the other by tender. (Each inflatable boat fits about a dozen people.) Then they switch.
** Organizers of cruise ships making no landings (cruise only). Cruise ships carrying more than 500 passengers are not permitted to make any landings. Larger ships from Holland America, Crystal Cruises and Azamara Cruises, for example, instead spend several days scenic cruising with no 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.
According to IAATO, nearly 10,900 passengers during the 2018-2019 season visited the continent without stepping foot on it; by comparison, 44,600 cruisers sailed on ships with landing privileges. Princess Cruises explains the experience: “Antarctic Peninsula is a scenic cruising site. Ships will slowly travel past while a knowledgeable port lecturer points out significant sites you’ll be able to see from onboard.”
- 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.
** 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. Vessels with more than 100 will divvy up the groups, with half exploring by land and the other by tender. (Each inflatable boat fits about a dozen people.) Then they switch.
** Organizers of cruise ships making no landings (cruise only). Cruise ships carrying more than 500 passengers are not permitted to make any landings. Larger ships from Holland America, Crystal Cruises and Azamara Cruises, for example, instead spend several days scenic cruising with no 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.
According to IAATO, nearly 10,900 passengers during the 2018-2019 season visited the continent without stepping foot on it; by comparison, 44,600 cruisers sailed on ships with landing privileges. Princess Cruises explains the experience: “Antarctic Peninsula is a scenic cruising site. Ships will slowly travel past while a knowledgeable port lecturer points out significant sites you’ll be able to see from onboard.”
