Getting Around Antarctica

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Le Diamant is a cruiseship with ice-classification of 1D and it is carrying 220 passengers as a maximum. All cabins are outside and they have twinbeds or kingsize-beds,TV sets,minibar and a lot more storing-space than our small sailingship, the Bark Europa.
Some of the cabins even have their private balcony, there is a panoramic observation lounge, a fitness center, 2 restaurants and a library with e-mail station. The outdoor swimming pool will certainly be out of order in Antarctica, but the sauna will not.
A certain handicap of this ship will be the number of passengers, even when they say that, when sailing in the Antartic there will not be more than 140-180 persons onboard, all landings in the Zodiaks have to be made at least in 2 turns according to the rule, that not more than 100 persons are allowed to be ashore of any ship at the same time.
We met "Le Diamant" in Peterman Island and in Port Lockroy.

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This ship of Quack expeditions is certainly the best possibility to do cruises in Antarctica and it is also the most expensive way to explore this remote part of the world.
M/V Captain Chlebnikov is the name of this russian Icebreaker, that was built some years ago and had done several cruises directely to the Northpole and nowadays it offers special tours to the Weddel Sea or circumnavigations of Antarctica, going to places, where only a real icebreaker will be able to take you !

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Zodiaks are the best boats to explore Antarctica, and most probably also the only ones beeing allowed there, where almost at none of the places, where you can land, there will be a pier. Instead you will have to try to find a sandy and flat beach, where you may land the zodiak and when stepping in or out the zodiak you will hardly every may avoid to step at least for a short moment into the icy-cold water.
This is the reason, why everybody has to wear wellies.
Inside the Zodiaks you will sit on both sides of it and when you are lucky you will find a rope to hold on with at least one hand. With the other hand you will hold your camerabag and in the beginning I thought I might easily fall overboard, but none of our passengers ever had that problem !
The biggest problem is the water that might splash over, when the Zodiak hits a big wave and you will get wet all over.

The54 ft steel yacht S/Y Sarah W. Vorwerk is a small sailing-yacht based in Ushuaia and they also offer cruises to the Antarctic ! Sarah W. Vorwerk is sailing with a total of 8 guest-berths. I have not done it and I certainly will never do it, but it might be interesting for you to take it into considderation.
S/Y Sarah Vorwerk is doing cruises of 4 weeks
6800 euro p.p. is the price for 28 days
in a 2-berth-cabin
Click on the link below and read more about it !

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As you know, if you've been reading my pages, WE traveled to Antarctica on the M/V Ushuaia. It was a wonderful ship and a great choice.

During our visit to the peninsula, we actually crossed paths with another expedition ship, The "Sea Spirit". I thought I'd post a couple of photos in case someone out there is considering this ship and would like another look.

From our decks, it looked like a nice ship.

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The M/V Ushuaia is not a luxury vessel. She's comfortable, the staff is friendly and warm, and you'll be well taken care of. But if you are looking for "crystal glasses at dinner, six ballrooms, orchestras, duel steamship rounds being carved at dinner, a bar stocked with thousands of rare wines, etc", this is not your ship. BUT, if you want a solid and dependable ship with an experienced crew, an outfit that will insure that you have both an enjoyable and SAFE trip to and through what are dangerous waters, you can't do any better than the Ushuaia and its parent company, Antarpply.

The ship was originally built for the United States agency NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration), and later refurbished to accommodate a maximum of 84 passengers in 41 comfortable twin cabins and suites. The ice-strengthened polar vessel USHUAIA is very well appointed and provides ample deck space and an open bridge policy. The full complement of inflatable landing craft (the zodiacs) ensure superb landings and wildlife viewing opportunities on the otherwise inaccessible coastline.

The cabins, especially the B and C cabins, have a generous amount of storage space. The public areas feature a large dining room (dinner is served during one sitting), an observation lounge and bar, a conference room with modern multimedia equipment, a well-stocked library, a changing room and a small infirmary. On a personal note, the ship's physician - Dr Konstantin Petrosyan - is top notch. He's a wonderful fellow, very caring and very well schooled. (do remember, Bonnie and I have spent our career in healthcare... we know a good physician when we meet one) We did have an unexpected medical situation on our trip, and Konstantin's presence and help was a Godsend.

The ships captain(s), officers and crew are highly experienced in Antarctic navigation and have a great love of nature. The ships expedition team include an international crew of expedition leaders and lecturers, all extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic, helpful and dedicated to the protection of the environment.

The ship's chefs prepare simple and tasty meals, with a lot of variety. I was impressed with the supply and quality of fresh fruit available during the entire voyage. The pastry/dessert chef is also a very artistic and creative guy. The service staff in the dining room was terrific. Couldn't have asked for better care, service and attention to detail.

Alvaro runs a pretty decent little bar. I hightly recommend the Argentine Quilmes beer. Good stuff indeed. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soups and such are available 24/7 in the observation bar, and the afternoon "snack" is always well-attended and enjoyable. Lots of sandwiches, cakes, cookies, etc.

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We traveled to Antarctica with Antarpply Expeditions. We'd originally zeroed in on the M/V Ushuaia as a ship that we'd want to know more about. Additionally, the itineraries were what we were looking for. A number of travel companies sold space for this ship, and over the period that we were researching, I eventually learned that Antarpply actually OWNED the ship. So, I figured that we should work directly with the owners. Also about that time, I "met" Ute Hohn-Bowen, the president and CEO of Antarpply. Her caring attitude, her willingness to patiently answer all of our questions and basically to meet our needs for so large of a decision, well..... it told me we had the right company. BTW, if you'd like to know more about Antarpply, please contact Ute directly at ute@antarpply.com. BE SURE TO DROP MY NAME AS RECOMMENDING HER AND ANTARPPLY. She and I became friends and we really do see eye to eye on travel. You'll like her.

Another good contact person is Claudia Albornoz (claudia@antarpply.com), the company's reservation manager. Claudia lives in Ushuaia year-round. (Ute is there during the Argentine summer months, and lives in Great Britain with her husband George during the other half of the year)

In general, Antarpply Expeditions is a leading operator of small ship expedition cruises to Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. The company is based in Ushuaia, Argentina and specializes in taking small groups and individual passengers to some of the most spectacular, remote and pristine parts of the world on board the M/V USHUAIA.

Contact information:
Office address:
Gob. Paz 633 - 1st Floor
(9410) Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego - Argentina

phone numbers +54 (2901) 433636 / 436747
fax number +54 (2901) 437728

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TThe last class is the Luxury Expedition Ships
This is a supper soft posh cruise ships with hardened hulls for ice but still a luxury cruise vessel with all the goodies you know the has 5**** stuff like fresh flowers in Antarctica, gleaming brass, polished wood and works of original art.. These are the big one with almost 200 on board. The have 15 to 20 Zodiacs on board to get you to the shore of Antartica

Corinthian II
Explorer II
The cheapest in this class is $7,095 for 12 days.