Planning an Antarctic expedition type cruise

[RooFlyer]

So, that was that. A very enjoyable first cruise on the French expeditioner Le Laperouse. I'd happily recommend it and the itinerary down the Kimberley coast. The Captains hijinks didn't detract from the cruise, other than providing some pursed lips amongst the passengers. Weather and sea conditions magnificent. Zodiac trips first class and very safely conducted. Premium grog was a bit disappointing.

I'm now looking at Ponant down to Antarctica next year. Something relatively simple like:

Emblematic Antarctica

PONANT invites you on a polar expedition cruise to the heart of the icy realm that is the Antarctic Peninsula. Embark on an unforgettable 11-day voyage and succumb to the enchantment of the breathtaking landscapes inhabited by astonishing wildlife. The

au.ponant.com

Or a bit juicier on Ponant's new icebreaking Expeditioner Le Commandant Charcot.

Antarctica Cruises - A Luxury Cruise in Antarctica | Ponant

Discover Antarctica in a luxury cruise , in this frozen vastness that has spectacular mountain scenery and the most imposing icebergs ever seen. Book today!

au.ponant.com

 

[TheRealTMA]

So, that was that. A very enjoyable first cruise on the French expeditioner Le Laperouse. I'd happily recommend it and the itinerary down the Kimberley coast. The Captains hijinks didn't detract from the cruise, other than providing some pursed lips amongst the passengers. Weather and sea conditions magnificent. Zodiac trips first class and very safely conducted. Premium grog was a bit disappointing.

I'm now looking at Ponant down to Antarctica next year. Something relatively simple like:

Emblematic Antarctica

PONANT invites you on a polar expedition cruise to the heart of the icy realm that is the Antarctic Peninsula. Embark on an unforgettable 11-day voyage and succumb to the enchantment of the breathtaking landscapes inhabited by astonishing wildlife. The

au.ponant.com

Or a bit juicier on Ponant's new icebreaking Expeditioner Le Commandant Charcot.

Antarctica Cruises - A Luxury Cruise in Antarctica | Ponant

Discover Antarctica in a luxury cruise , in this frozen vastness that has spectacular mountain scenery and the most imposing icebergs ever seen. Book today!

au.ponant.com

Go for it!

 

[Pushka]

So, that was that. A very enjoyable first cruise on the French expeditioner Le Laperouse. I'd happily recommend it and the itinerary down the Kimberley coast. The Captains hijinks didn't detract from the cruise, other than providing some pursed lips amongst the passengers. Weather and sea conditions magnificent. Zodiac trips first class and very safely conducted. Premium grog was a bit disappointing.

I'm now looking at Ponant down to Antarctica next year. Something relatively simple like:

Emblematic Antarctica

PONANT invites you on a polar expedition cruise to the heart of the icy realm that is the Antarctic Peninsula. Embark on an unforgettable 11-day voyage and succumb to the enchantment of the breathtaking landscapes inhabited by astonishing wildlife. The

au.ponant.com

Or a bit juicier on Ponant's new icebreaking Expeditioner Le Commandant Charcot.

Antarctica Cruises - A Luxury Cruise in Antarctica | Ponant

Discover Antarctica in a luxury cruise , in this frozen vastness that has spectacular mountain scenery and the most imposing icebergs ever seen. Book today!

au.ponant.com

So, you 'get' why we cruise now?

 

[RooFlyer]

So, you 'get' why we cruise now?

See here : Cruising the Kimberley coast on Le Laperouse, Darwin to Broome

 

[Pushka]

See here : Cruising the Kimberley coast on Le Laperouse, Darwin to Broome

Expect me to remember that from 3 weeks ago?

 

[VPS]

So, that was that. A very enjoyable first cruise on the French expeditioner Le Laperouse. I'd happily recommend it and the itinerary down the Kimberley coast. The Captains hijinks didn't detract from the cruise, other than providing some pursed lips amongst the passengers. Weather and sea conditions magnificent. Zodiac trips first class and very safely conducted. Premium grog was a bit disappointing.

I'm now looking at Ponant down to Antarctica next year. Something relatively simple like:

Emblematic Antarctica

PONANT invites you on a polar expedition cruise to the heart of the icy realm that is the Antarctic Peninsula. Embark on an unforgettable 11-day voyage and succumb to the enchantment of the breathtaking landscapes inhabited by astonishing wildlife. The

au.ponant.com

Or a bit juicier on Ponant's new icebreaking Expeditioner Le Commandant Charcot.

Antarctica Cruises - A Luxury Cruise in Antarctica | Ponant

Discover Antarctica in a luxury cruise , in this frozen vastness that has spectacular mountain scenery and the most imposing icebergs ever seen. Book today!

au.ponant.com

Thanks for the TR. There are others than Ponant to Antarctica. Checkout the Seabourn options

 

[zig]

Thanks for the TR, it has given me a great preview of what to expect when I do the cruise in 2023.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks for the TR. There are others than Ponant to Antarctica. Checkout the Seabourn options

Yes, I've recently re-checked out your TR and the Penguinos . I will, but at the moment its the Devil I know ...

 

[love_the_life]

Yes, I've recently re-checked out your TR and the Penguinos . I will, but at the moment its the Devil I know ...

We did Ponant to Antarctica. Itinerary included South Georgia which was wonderful. To be truthful, I felt Silversea was better for a number of reasons. Lectures were in French and then an English version later - quality of English lecturers much poorer than French. Though if fluent in French would be fine. Food was very average I felt. Zodiac experience still great though.

 

[tgh]

Historically , SS has been the pic of the expedition cruise operators
A thoughtful mix of real adventure overlain with real luxury
Sadly times have changed for SS, bigger ships , impersonal corporate management leads to a shallower experience … such is life

 

[sanne]

We did Ponant to Antarctica. Itinerary included South Georgia which was wonderful. To be truthful, I felt Silversea was better for a number of reasons. Lectures were in French and then an English version later - quality of English lecturers much poorer than French. Though if fluent in French would be fine. Food was very average I felt. Zodiac experience still great though.

We have been on Silverseas expeditions and Ponant and I would agree with everything you’ve said. At the time we cruised Ponant it was early days of them being here and it was much more reasonably priced than Silverseas but not so anymore.

However our days of hopping in and out of zodiacs has gone sadly, last one was in 2019 on the Silverseas Cloud for 23 days, but we have found the Coral Expeditions ships a good fit for us now with their Explorer boats. We have had 2 cruises with them, with 2 more booked. It’s a very different experience to Silverseas or Ponant. They each have their pros and cons.

 

[VPS]

Yes, I've recently re-checked out your TR and the Penguinos . I will, but at the moment its the Devil I know ...

As the taxi driver in Bueno Aires said it’s pinguinos

 

[TheRealTMA]

As the taxi driver in Bueno Aires said it’s pinguinos

Did he spell it out for you? Spanish would be la pingüina or el pingüino or los pingüinos.

 

[RooFlyer]

Did he spell it out for you? Spanish would be la pingüina or el pingüino or los pingüinos.

credit;
On the Quest to see pingüinos

 

[VPS]

Did he spell it out for you? Spanish would be la pingüina or el pingüino or los pingüinos.

He was adamant it was pin not pen - I'd had far too much wine by that stage to even think about spelling

 

[k_sheep]

I'm now looking at Ponant down to Antarctica next year. Something relatively simple like:

Emblematic Antarctica

PONANT invites you on a polar expedition cruise to the heart of the icy realm that is the Antarctic Peninsula. Embark on an unforgettable 11-day voyage and succumb to the enchantment of the breathtaking landscapes inhabited by astonishing wildlife. The

au.ponant.com

Shall let you know soon - I'm doing the South Georgia / Falklands / Antarctica on Ponant in November

Thanks for the TR - I shall imagine our captain won't be galavanting about in the water on our cruise

 

[RooFlyer]

Shall let you know soon - I'm doing the South Georgia / Falklands / Antarctica on Ponant in November

Thanks for the TR - I shall imagine our captain won't be galavanting about in the water on our cruise

I'm looking at that one, but the only one with no single supplement is for March 2024. So its likely to just a dash down to the Peninsula and back.

General question for anyone reading - what month would be best for visiting Antarctica (not the islands to the north):

Nov / Dec / Jan / Feb and why, please? @JohnM , @drron , @VPS , @love_the_life , @tgh ... apologies to anyone else who has visited ...

 

[love_the_life]

I'm looking at that one, but the only one with no single supplement is for March 2024. So its likely to just a dash down to the Peninsula and back.

General question for anyone reading - what month would be best for visiting Antarctica (not the islands to the north):

Nov / Dec / Jan / Feb and why, please? @JohnM , @drron , @VPS , @love_the_life , @tgh ... apologies to anyone else who has visited ...

We went in late November 2018 -
plus points - still good ice coverage, ice was clean as not many other expeditions had been there yet at that time of year, not much smell (less poop from penguins with rookeries - ask drron about the smell as I think he knows), cheaper as non high season
con points - could not get as far south as later cruises (Flying Mermaid for example did cross the Antarctic Circle south but we couldn't get that far down).

I think, though, whatever month you go it will be amazing.

 

[tgh]

If we revisited, we would try to go early , some places will be iced in but those open will be clean white and pong free.
Don't book a trip that doesn't spend at least a day or more on South Georgia.

 

[RooFlyer]

Is smelliness such a big thing? When I visit a penguin rookery, I expect it to smell a lot ...