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Luggage and bags: I'd suggest taking duffel-bag style luggage - very easy to stuff away into the ship's storage areas.
Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Most boats have Wellington waterproof boots for the passengers. Otherwise, you really only need a pair of decent tennis shoes, and maybe some lounging around shoes or sandals for on-board. Don't overpack. You don't need snow boots and such.
You'll need a waterproof jacket/parka and waterproof pants, something long that can go over the outside of your Wellies. Bring layers - simple fleece shells, long-sleeve knit shirts, etc. And of course, for going outside, you're going to want long underwear. I'd suggest bringing two pair of polyproylene tops and bottoms each. They dry fast, and that will keep you good to go if you need a little time to dry one pair ahead of another landing. Also get a couple of pair of polypropylene sock liners.
When you wear your Wellingtons (Wellies), put on the liners and then a pair of fuzzy ski socks or the like. Very warm and very comfortable.
You can RENT gear if you'd like. (See my next tip)
Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Seasick meds. Options include bonine, dramamimine, phenergan and Trans-Derm (Scop) patches.
Photo Equipment: It's really good to have some telephoto capability. I'd suggest two zoom lenses, something like a 28-75 and then something like a 75-300. You do need a waterproof bag if you're going to take your camera and lenses ashore. Make sure you have plenty of batteries and a charger. FILM - if anyone still uses it, take a lot.... you'll shoot zillions of pictures and there is NOWHERE to buy film once you leave port. Make sure you have plenty of memory stick room, or bring along a laptop to download frequently. (lots of folks brought the lappies to download... they're generally useless for internet - no connections. But you can keep daily logs, download photos and such)
Updated Apr 26, 2011
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Miscellaneous: One option for those visiting from warmer climates (we came from Florida, for example) is to rent colder weather gear. I mean, sure... you can spend $400 on a parka and some waterproof cold-weather pants, but what the heck are you going to do with it back home? We rented parkas and waterproof pants from a place called Antarctic Equipment, located in Ushuaia, Argentina. You could probably find a similar place in Punta Arenas, Chile. (You could find other places in Ushuaia, but I will recommend Antarctic Equipment because of their quality service and attention to detail - thanks, Daniela)
To get a feel for the cost savings, we all three rented cold weather gear for the trip and spent a total of $300. Buying for all three of us would have been about $1200. Saved a bundle.
Our boat - and most boats - do have a supply of Wellington waterproof boots. But if you have really hard to fit feet or are on a boat that does not supply the Wellies, Antarctic has those too, along with waterproof backpacks.
Here is their contact info. If you see Daniela, please tell her hello from her friends in Tallahassee, Florida. (photo below)
ANTARCTIC EQUIPMENT
Gobernador Paz 865
Ushuaia Turismo
9410 Ushuaia - Patagonia Argentina
phone.fax 54-2901-436003
antarctic_equipment@hotmail.com
Updated Apr 26, 2011
Phone: (ph/fax) 54-2901-436003
Website: http://www.antarcticequipment.com.ar/ushuaia.htm
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Luggage and bags: Small day pack or fanny pack. You can't take a lot of stuff ashore with you, so you don't need a huge backpack. I just carried my camera, extra batteries, tiny notebook and pen.
Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: I brought clothing for extreme weather, and didn't use all of it. We were ashore for an hour at a time; it would be different if you were outside all day. I didn't need the long underwear or the expensive bulky gloves. (I wore the knit gloves I had expected to use as liners for the other ones.)
What you do need:
Waterproof pants, cap, gloves, heavy socks, sweaters and/or fleece jacket with windbreaker over it (or just a windproof warm jacket), knee high rubber boots, sunglasses.
Check with your tour company, because some of them provide the boots. Mine also provided an expedition jacket (lined windbreaker.)
Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Hand cream! (The air is amazingly dry)
Seasick remedy of choice
Adequate supply of any meds you use regularly
I always toss in a small first aid kit --neosporin, aspirin, ace bandage, etc.
Photo Equipment: Take more memory cards or film than you think you'll need.
Updated Dec 14, 2009
Luggage and bags: one suitcase and water resistant backpack. pack light since you will be charged by the airline if overweight. we kept our cases under the bed and there was lots of room in the cabin-closet/hooks.
Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: dress in layers, it's not as cold as you might think! down parka with pockets.
thin fleeces, long underwear, wool socks, couple t shirts long/short, a few sweaters (light warm cashmere or wool).
comfortable shoes for the ship. i wore uggs since they were light, quick to pull on and toasty! (not much traction on a wet deck though)
tight hat, scarf, two pairs gloves, and possibly a larger thin wp mitt to put over for wet zodiac rides.
select a ship which provides wellington boots;you have to go through a foot bath coming and going and regular hiking boots will not be up to it. you will also be getting in/out of a zodiac so will need higher boots. toward the end of the trip there will be a distinctive penguin smell...
have waterproof pants. ski pants ok but not really necessary.
Toiletries and Medical Supplies: select a good anti-nausea if vulnerable to seasickness;some ships provide medication-take it!
Photo Equipment: the trip was 19 days and i took about 1200 photos and edited as i was going. i used a canon rebel digital srl mostly on auto and had a telephoto lense. i also had a small canon elph which was good to whip out quickly. take some ziploc bags to protect your camera and an extra battery in case of freezing. you can usually recharge in your room. i also had a tiny video camera which was new to me and came in handy to record some animal behavior and a touching speech at shackelton's grave.
Written Aug 1, 2009
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Photo Equipment: I didn't see a need to bring a tripod, and was perfectly fine lugging around 2-3 heavy lenses without using one to take photos. I did see a guy using a Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS using it though (understandly so!). But out of 114 people, only 2 brought a tripod, and another a monopod. So if you want to pack light, a tripod is not necessary.
Updated Mar 5, 2009
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Toiletries and Medical Supplies: The UV rays are VERY strong in Antarctica because of the thin ozone layer. So please bring sunblock (SPF 45 recommended) and sunglasses. I had a friend who actually got a headache after standing out in the sun for a while.
Updated Mar 5, 2009
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Luggage and bags: Waterproof camera bag will be important as the weather changes quickly and it could rain. Also, you could get wet in the zodiacs.
Photo Equipment: For those who plan to bring an SLR (that is, not a small point and shoot consumer camera) I recommend two lenses. The Sigma 10-20mm is unbelievable when it comes to taking wide angle shots. I can't imagine my photos without that. Also, my Canon 70-200mm f/4 IS L was great for the nature shots. You could bring a faster lens like the f/2.8 version, but I never had trouble shooting in the summer conditions with the f/4 (plus, it's much lighter!) Zoom is so important because the birds, whales, glaciers and sometimes even penguins are far away. I brought the Canon 1.4x extender, which was quite good too. For a sample of what these lens can do, visit my Antarctica galleries: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2156262&l=dcfb6&id=202900103
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2156297&l=068c9&id=202900103
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2156454&l=59285&id=202900103
You can rent these lenses online for a small fraction of their retail price.
Updated Mar 5, 2009
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Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: I went to Antarctica from Jan 5-15. Honestly, aside from the strong winds in the Drake Passage, it was never that cold. Temperatures were about zero degrees celsius. Here's what you will find useful: Double layered hat/beanie, a turtleneck or a neck gator, a good waterproof jacket (or just buy a can of waterproofing spray from a drug store), waterproof pants, and a pair of gloves (ordinary ones are fine). For the more adventurous, pack swim suit for the polar plunge. Boots are not necessary as the cruise provides you with it (at least Quark does).
Updated Mar 5, 2009
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Toiletries and Medical Supplies: The Drake Passage is the terrible part about travelling to Antarctica. I have never been seasick but I lost to the Drake Passage with its terrible waves. (Also, ship didn't have a stabilizer) Remember: BRING SEASICK PILLS/EAR PATCHES!
Written Jan 25, 2009
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Luggage and bags: Pack an additional soft duffel to take all the extra items home with you. You will probably receive a parka and other goodies as part of the excursion, leave room. Many of our travel mates had to purchase additional luggage, which is not cheap in Ushuaia.
Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Slippers and town walking shoes will suffice. Shore boots (check with your company) are provided on the ship. Even if you have your own boots it is best to wear the provided shore boots, because you scrub them every time you enter the ship, thus not transporting stuff (microbes, feces, etc.) from site to site.
Toiletries and Medical Supplies: All toiletries, except toothpaste was provided.
Photo Equipment: The photo gear aboard the ship was unreal. Everyone had the latest and greatest. I bought my wife a 500mm lenses for Safari's, which was nice to have and took some excellent shots, but everyone else had big cannon's as well. Shot composition is most important, having a great all around lens, will be easier to carry and allow freedom to concentrate on short range composition. Everyone, shared photos in the end, and there were outstanding shots taken by the other 80 "professional" photographers.
There were one or two people that rented lenses. This also seemed like a good idea.
Bring a polarizer, the sun is brutal.
Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Don't bring lots of cold weather gear; you won't be going out if it’s cold, unless you’re camping.
Miscellaneous: The ship is rough on the way down. Bring your drugs, good ones!
There was more room under the bed and in the closests (2) than we could ever carry.
Laundry service was available.
Updated Jan 1, 2009
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