Planning a trip to Antarctica? You’ve made the right decision. We firmly believe there’s nowhere quite like it on the planet for wild vistas and spellbinding wildlife encounters.
But before you travel to the Antarctic on an expedition cruise, there are some things you need to know to help you prepare to book and to enjoy your adventure when you’re there. From the style of travel and behaving responsibly around wildlife, to details like protecting yourself from the sun’s harsh rays in polar climates, we’ve put together this list of what you need to know and prepare for to make the most of your visit to Antarctica.
1. The best time of year to travel to the Antarctic varies depending on your priorities
Everyone has something different on their bucket list when they decide to travel to Antarctica. It may be spotting whales sporting their flukes against a backdrop of icebergs or seeing penguin chicks being welcomed into the world during hatching season. So, before your Antarctica trip, you’ll need to iron out what your priorities are to choose exactly when the best time of year is for you to visit.
For example, the penguin hatching season normally takes place between late December and early February, while the best months for whale watching are in February and March. So, before you even book a trip to Antarctica, take a look at our month by month guide about the best time to visit to help you decide when is best for you.
2. There are different ways to visit Antarctica
There are several different ways to visit Antarctica on an expedition cruise. The classic way is to sail from Ushuaia on the southern tip of Argentina, taking a leisurely two days to sail across to the Antarctic Peninsula. If you want an express version, Fly & Cruise trips skip the Drake to fly to Antarctica in just two hours.
There are also plenty of different styles of cruise, from luxury vessels to more traditional expedition style vessels, with sizes ranging from fewer than a hundred passengers to over 200. Learn more about ways to get to Antarctica on our website.
3. Booking in advance is better than last minute
Most people book their Antarctic cruises over a year in advance There’s good reason for this: capacity in the polar fleet is limited, and the further you book in advance the more likely you are to secure the cabin you went on your first choice ship, sailing on the dates that suit you best. This particularly applies if you want to do pre-booked adventure activities like kayaking, where spaces can fill up quickly, or for trips that only have a limited number of departures every year, like seeing the emperor penguins at Snow Hill.
Last-minute deals can often be had for a trip to Antarctica (and Swoop have access to all the discount deals), but you should be prepared to be flexible about when you travel and on which ship.
4. Be prepared with your camera equipment
As you explore Antarctica, you’ll want to make sure that your camera equipment is prepared to capture your trip of a lifetime.
We strongly recommend taking spare batteries and chargers, and extra memory cards so you have plenty of storage space: In our experience you’ll take far more photos than you anticipate! A waterproof bag is as essential as a zoom lens, while a tripod is less useful than you might imagine. If you’re just shooting with your phone, we suggest bringing a lanyard so you can wear it around your neck and not worry about losing it overboard during a zodiac cruise.
For a more detailed take from Swoop’s inhouse photographer, see our blog Ten photography tips to get the most out of your Antarctica trip.
5. Pack plenty of layers
It’s essential to bring the right clothes on your trip to Antarctica and that means bringing plenty of layers. Temperatures in Antarctica on an expedition cruise hover around freezing point, so you’ll need warm base layers under your waterproof and windproof outer clothing.
Some ships provide parkas to their guests, but we’re increasingly finding that renting gear is a budget and environmentally conscious way of getting kitted out – especially if you live somewhere warm and are unlikely to need cold weather clothes in your day to day life.
Read our blog to learn about how to hire kit for your visit to Antarctica, where we road test the different options out on the ice.
6. Keep your essentials in your carry-on
Getting separated from your luggage is bad enough on any holiday, but the implications for a trip to Antarctica are even worse. While it’s always possible to pick up a few essentials in Ushuaia and Punta Arenas before you travel, we always recommend carrying some of your essentials in your carry-on luggage in case the worst happens. As well as toiletries, medication, camera and underwear, we’d include a set of your warm base layers in that list.
If you’re travelling with a companion, we also strongly recommend splitting your packing between two sets of checked in luggage. This way, if your luggage gets misplaced or lost en route to your Antarctic cruise, you won’t be left in a pickle if your ship is about to sail.
7. Be prepared for a sea crossing
The majority of cruise trips to Antarctica sail to the Peninsula by crossing a stretch of the Southern Ocean known as the Drake Passage. This carries something of a reputation before it for rough seas, and while the majority of voyages experience a calm ‘Drake Lake’, you should always be prepared for a ‘Drake Shake’ with big waves and strong winds.
No matter how experienced a sailor you might be, it’s best to anticipate the possibility of seasickness. Before you travel, it’s worth spending some time to research any tablets, wristbands or patches that might help you, taking medical advice if needed.
It’s worth noting that the ship on your trip to Antarctica will have an onboard doctor, who will be able to help during your voyage if you’re taking some time to find your sea legs.
8. Antarctica has strong UV rays
While it’s easy to associate getting sunburned with trips to hot destinations. Antarctica has pretty strong UV rays during the austral summer, with snow and ice reflecting light back at you even on cloudy and overcast days.
Make sure you add some high factor sun cream to your packing list if you want to avoid sunburn, and also bring some factor 30+ lip balm along with your sunglasses. For when you’re back on the ship, we’d also recommend bringing some decent moisturiser as well, as the dry and cold polar air can really affect your skin.
9. There are important biosecurity procedures in place
To best protect the wildlife in Antarctica and its environment for the future, there are some important but simple biosecurity steps you’ll take before you first step foot on the Seventh Continent.
These strict biosecurity procedures include detailed checks of all clothing and bags you’ll be taking ashore so that you’re not accidentally bringing in any organic materials that could harm the environment, including invasive bugs. The expedition team on board your shop will help you through this process to make sure you’re ready to
In addition, before and after any excursion you’ll dip your boots in a disinfectant solution to rid them of any potential harmful microbes. If you’ve been walking near penguin rookeries, you’ll be extra pleased with this step that scrubs off any guano you might have picked up!
10. There are strict wildlife watching guidelines
Antarctica’s wildlife has no natural fear of humans, which can lead to some incredible wildlife encounters. At the same, when a penguin might come and peck at your boots if you let it, this calls for strict guidelines for responsible wildlife watching. These easy to follow guidelines have been drawn up by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO).
When you travel to Antarctica, expedition guides will walk you through the dos and don’ts, but the most important one to bear in mind is to never approach closer than five metres (15 feet) to wildlife. If wildlife approaches you, you must quietly retreat to a safe distance. Wildlife always has the right of way, and you mustn’t walk on ‘penguin highways’ tramped into the now by the birds.
Before you travel, we’ll provide detailed guidance on how to responsibly watch wildlife when you visit Antarctica.
11. Activities are dependent on the weather
Mother Nature runs the show in Antarctica, and when expedition leaders on a cruise draw up their plans for the day, they always include Plans B, C and D due to weather conditions that can be extremely changeable. The continent often gives little warning before things can take a turn, so itineraries are never set in stone.
Expedition cruises to Antarctica have flexibility at their core, and while this means that sometimes a chosen activity might be postponed, or a landing replaced with a zodiac cruise, this also means that expedition teams are experts at spontaneously changing plans when conditions change to bring you something equally exciting.
If you’re visiting Antarctica, be aware that you’re visiting somewhere wild and remote with an extreme climate, so you’ll need to be ready for an ever-evolving trip – but one that’s always focussed on showing you the best of the White Continent.
But if you’ve followed our other ten tips, you’ll be well prepared to make the most of your once in a lifetime trip to Antarctica.
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