We were met with a great deal of skepticism when we first told family and friends that we were going on an Antarctica expedition cruise. Of course, they know that we love cruising, but sailing to the end of the world? What is there to do? What will you see besides ice? Won’t you get seasick?
While the White Continent had been on our bucket list for some time, even we weren’t quite sure what to expect. Were we cut out for an expedition trip? Would we survive the Drake Passage? Well, we survived and are back to share why you should consider leaping out of your comfort zone to explore this 7th continent in our Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica Cruise Review.
What it is Really Like on an Antarctica Cruise
CRUISE DEALS: Save on an Expedition Cruise to Antarctica
Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica Cruise Review
Crossing yet another destination off our list, we hopped onboard one of Atlas Ocean Voyages’ Polar Expeditions on the brand-new World Voyager. This 9-night roundtrip Ushuaia itinerary offers even the casual explorer the opportunity to transit the Drake Passage and step foot on Antarctica, while still providing all the luxury and comforts more traditional cruisers have come to expect.
With Atlas Ocean Voyages’ all-inclusive yacht experience, travelers don’t have to worry about all the details. The cruise includes roundtrip charter flights from Buenos Aires to the southernmost city and back. Additionally, all voyages include a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay in Buenos Aires and a cultural immersion tour in Ushuaia before boarding the ship.
Many cruisers did choose to spend several days ahead of the cruise exploring the city. However, given our travel schedule, we opted for just the one night in this Argentinian capital. As part of the maiden voyage, the cruise line hosted a special dinner, complete with a chorizo steak and a tango dance show.
With a 4:30 AM wake-up the following morning, we we ushered through the airport and onto an approximately 4-hour charter flight to begin our adventure. With a seamless transition, we were whisked away on a bus tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park while our luggage was transported directly to the ship.
We did expect the tour of Tierra del Fuego to include more walking and time outdoors. Instead, it was mostly a bus tour through this national park. Still, it filled the time until we were allowed to board the vessel.
Finally stepping aboard the World Voyager gangway around 2:30 PM, we were greeted by cheerful crew members welcoming us. While the ship is much smaller than the vessels on which we typically sail, with just 144 passengers and 131 crew on this voyage, the layout and amenities were very familiar. This made it easy for us to settle in to our home away from home for the next 9 days.
Given this was the maiden voyage for World Voyager, we had the pleasure of attending the christening event with the ship’s inspirational godmother, Preet Chandi, and a gala dinner, prior to the ship’s departure.
Now, there was no turning back. We were onward to Antarctica!
Atlas Ocean Voyages World Voyager
Atlas Ocean Voyages is a relatively new luxe-adventure cruise line from the parent company Mystic Cruises. World Voyager joins Atlas’ two other luxury yachts, World Traveller and World Navigator. These adventure yachts measure in at just 10,000 gross tons with a max capacity of 198 guests. The ships specialize in Polar and Epicurean expeditions, as well as the new Cultural expedition offering.
In addition to included charter flights and a cultural immersion tour on these Polar Expeditions, all Atlas cruises include all dining and unlimited beverages like beer, wine, cocktails, specialty coffee, and fresh pressed juices. An in-room stocked mini bar and 24-hour room service are also part of the fare, as are gratuities, trip delay, and emergency medical evacuation insurance.
Further, guests can participate in shore landings, sightseeing safaris by zodiac, and a polar plunge for no additional cost. Guests on Polar Expeditions also receive a free parka.
One thing that surprised us was the passenger demographic. The guests on our Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica cruise were younger and more active travelers than we would have guessed. Being in our 40’s, we did not feel out of place at all. In fact, it seemed the majority of guests were in their 40’s and 50’s; there were even some younger guests with one couple on their honeymoon.
Onboard Amenities
When it comes to the ship itself, World Voyager features many cruise staples. There is a main dining room, coffee shop, spa, fitness center, running track, a pool, whirlpools, bars and lounges, and an auditorium for daily enrichment.
Our first glimpse of World Voyager was the Atlas Lounge. This deck 4 lounge is a multi-faceted space.
On embarkation day, it acted as the check-in desk. While waiting for Juan from Guest Services to check us in, crew treated us to Welcome Aboard cocktails and canapes.
Throughout the week, this venue featured light piano music, occasional nighttime entertainment, a couple trivia sessions, and a space for socializing with other guests. The Dome is the other gathering space on the ship, but more on this a bit later in the bars and lounges section.
Heading to the very top of the ship (Deck 8), you will find the outdoor decks. Cruisers can enjoy a jog (or walk) when the weather permits on the jogging track. It will take 12 laps to equal one mile. There are also a few stations with workout equipment scattered around this top deck. Given we were sailing in the polar regions, this area did not get much use. In fact, it was closed several days due to the rough seas while transiting the Drake Passage.
On Deck 7, you will find the main pool deck. There is a central pool, two hot tubs, and plenty of seating. On a few days, the hot tubs were open for some rejuvenation with the majestic scenery as the backdrop; however, the pool was closed for the duration of the trip.
All the way forward on Deck 7 is an outdoor viewing area (in front of the Dome) offering some great scenic views overlooking the bow.
For those who want to get closer to the water, the Water’s Edge on Deck 5 is the place to be. This outdoor viewing platform is all the way forward on the bow of the ship. It will get chilly and windy here, but you can warm up with the heated benches. At the aft of the ship, there are also outdoor viewing areas on Deck 5 and Deck 6.
Down on Deck 4, which is the hub of activity on the ship, there is the fitness studio. With some free weights and cardio machines, it will help you stay active during your time onboard the ship.
Also, there is the nearby sauna and relaxation zone, which is included in the cruise fare. There is also a spa with two treatment rooms offering a variety of massage services for an upcharge. Of note, there are no salon or mani/pedi services available.
Also on Deck 4, you will find the expedition team’s station where you can pop in to ask questions during the day, check your expedition schedule, and follow along with the ship’s itinerary.
Dining
For polar expeditions, World Voyager offers a few dining options. So, of course we tried our best to sample them all for a complete review of dining on this Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica Cruise. In warmer climates, guests can also enjoy the 7AFT Grill poolside which transforms into an open-air steakhouse by night.
Casual Dining Onboard World Voyager
On Deck 4, just forward of the aft staircase, is Paula’s Pantry. Open most days from 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM, this café features espresso-based drinks, smoothies, fresh juices, and quick service food items. All of the beverages and food here are included as part of the cruise fare.
When it comes to food offerings, you could find breakfast pastries, donuts, and the toasty ham and cheese which was by far everyone’s favorite. During the afternoon and early evenings, cruisers could grab small sandwiches, mini-pizzas, and other snacks.
The other dining option is the Madeira Restaurant which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, the dining setup varies based on the time of day. It is buffet style for breakfast and lunch, but it transforms to a traditional main dining room setup for dinner.
The breakfast buffet is open most days from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM. It consists of a made-to-order menu with items like omelets or pancakes, as well as the traditional buffet. Here, you can find a selection of continental items, breads and cereals, fresh fruit, as well as eggs, breakfast meats, potatoes, and hash browns.
At lunch, which is usually served from noon to 1:30 PM, the buffet offers a rotating selection of entrees and side dishes. Featured items include selections like chicken teriyaki, lamb moussaka, fresh fish, and rice or potatoes. There is a carving section as well with selections like roasted turkey or pig. Guests can also enjoy a salad bar, along with meats and cheeses, a custom wok station serving up a made-to-order dish of the day, and a small selection of desserts.
Finally, there is a tea service daily at 4 PM. With a wide selection of teas, as well as small cookies and desserts, it is a nice treat to hold you over until dinner and is reminiscent of more luxury cruise lines.
Given the size of the vessel, the casual dining options were adequate; though, we would have liked a spot to grab a burger, grilled chicken sandwich, or pizza throughout the day. Similarly, grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches would be a great addition.
Room Service
While the grab-and-go options are a bit sparse, unlike most mainstream cruise lines, Atlas Ocean Voyages does offer complimentary room service. Room service breakfast features several options, so you can fuel up before heading out on your expeditions.
The small all-day lunch/dinner menu includes a few sandwiches and a burger. Cruisers can also order beverages, including alcoholic drinks, at no additional charge.
Room service was a nice change of pace from the buffet on a few days of our Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica cruise. The Wagyu burger is a must-try!
Dinner on Atlas Ocean Voyages
Like most cruise lines, the Madeira Restaurant boasts an elegant three-course menu each evening. It features some of the best dishes I have had at sea, like the roasted rack of lamb, black angus Chateaubriand, and the Hunan shrimp.
While the menus are not as extensive as some cruise lines, the dishes were upscale and diverse spanning various global cuisine and preparation methods. Each evening, the menu consists of a small plant-based section, always available items like steak and salmon, as well as a selection of rotating starters, main courses, and desserts.
Unique to Atlas is the Alma section of the menu, featuring Portuguese specialties paying tribute to the cruise line’s heritage. Some of these dishes were among my favorite of the trip. I quite enjoyed the empanada, Portuguese sausage entrée, and the cheese tart dessert.
Unfortunately, there were not many chicken dishes on the menu for Heidi. However, when she asked one evening, the waitstaff delivered. This personalized service is certainly one of the benefits of small ship cruising.
Bar and Lounges
The cruise line’s all-inclusive fare covers a wide selection of beer and wine, as well as an extensive cocktail menu. Standards like the wife’s cosmopolitan and my old-fashioned were on the menu, among many others like the popular espresso martini. There is also a list of mocktails for those who don’t consume alcohol.
These beverages are available in the main dining room, as well as all the bars on World Voyager. Of course, there are premium wines and spirits available for an up-charge as well.
Located on Deck 4, the Atlas Lounge opens at 10 AM and is a daytime gathering place. Also, on select nights, the Atlas Lounge features live entertainment. With a mix of comfy chairs and couches, it tends to be the busiest right before dinner with guests socializing and enjoying a pre-dinner cocktail. It’s also a great spot to read a book, take in the scenery, or just relax any time of day.
Up on Deck 7, the Dome is a forward-facing observation lounge. With fantastic 180-degree views overlooking the ship’s bow, it is great for sightseeing during the day. In the evenings, there is light piano music and a lot of laughs. This is the spot for all the night owls, featuring the same cocktail menu as the Atlas Lounge.
For those looking to spend the night in, cruisers can request their favorite spirits, beers, and wines free of charge through room service. A mini-fridge is also replenished daily with a selection of basic alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Not to mention, there are bottles of still water in the staterooms replenished daily and a Vero water station near Paula’s Pantry to refill water bottles throughout the day.
During sailings in warmer climates, there is also the outdoor 7AFT Pool Bar located on Deck 7 nearby the pool, whirlpools, and 7AFT Grill.
Staterooms
For this Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica cruise, we stayed in cabin 545. This Horizon Stateroom (category A2) is located aft on the starboard side of Deck 5. This cabin category features a queen-sized bed; Juliette balcony; a sitting area with sofa, table, and chair; a desk/vanity area; and a spacious bathroom. There are also robes, slippers, and binoculars for use during the voyage.
According to the cruise line’s website, the cabin measures 270 square feet. This size is comparable to cabins you would find on mega-ships with a similar infinite veranda setup to Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Class ships.
With this cabin type, guests do no have an exterior balcony space. Instead, that extra space is inside the cabin with a top-drop floor-to-ceiling window. While we are not typically fans of this type of balcony, they do have advantages when sailing in destinations like Antarctica. For example, we didn’t have to go outside to experience the conditions, and we could open the window while crossing the Drake Passage and not worry about the 25-foot swells.
For those who still prefer a traditional balcony, World Voyager does have other accommodation options. These range from suites (Navigator, Discovery, and Journey), to traditional Veranda staterooms, to Adventure Oceanview staterooms.
We appreciated the larger sofa in our Horizon stateroom, as it came in handy for doing work during our sea days. The room also features a coffee table and fairly large desk giving us more space to spread out. The desk houses the stocked mini-fridge as well as a Nespresso Coffee machine and Kusmi Teas, which is definitely a nice touch.
Our queen bed was on the midship wall, facing aft. Directly across from the bed was the flatscreen television, and there was a small nightstand on each side of the bed. Though, only one side features a USB outlet for charging devices in the evening.
While coming from self-confessed over-packers, we did feel the cabin lacked storage. The closet was rather small. It featured two small clothes bars, two drawers, and some small shelves which didn’t really fit packing cubes well. It would have been nice to have additional drawers for storage of accessories and a separate area to dry wet gear. Thankfully, we always pack magnetic hooks; so, we ended up drying our clothing on these hooks after our expeditions.
On the other hand, the stateroom’s bathroom is quite spacious in cruise ship standards. It features storage shelves, a large vanity, an oversized shower, and marble finishes. With a rainfall showerhead and jet options, the walk-in shower is like a mini-spa in your stateroom. Not to mention, it’s also stocked with luxurious L’OCCITANE amenities.
Overall, we felt our stateroom was a comfortable and manageable space for this bucket list adventure.
Onboard Enrichment
Unlike more traditional cruises, the focus of an expedition cruise is the onboard enrichment programming. Led by Jean-Roch, the 13-member expedition team on World Voyager consisted of biologists, naturalists, and other experts in outdoor adventures. From countries including the U.S., Canada, Argentina, and Norway, among others, they were an eclectic mix of nationalities and personalities.
Whether it was trekking along the coastline or wandering around the ship, the expedition team was approachable and friendly. You usually didn’t have to go far to run into one of the team members, but you could also just pop in at the expedition desk to ask questions or learn more about an aspect of the trip.
While preparing for each expedition, team members took safety and wildlife precautions very seriously. Equipment checks and reminders were frequent. We appreciated this level of care and detail. Thus, even in less than ideal weather conditions, we knew we were in good hands.
Throughout our Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica cruise, there were several lectures led by the expedition members in the ship’s Auditorium. The topics varied from wildlife, to geography, history, and even the geo-political underpinnings of the continent. Some of these talks were more in-depth than others, but they helped to provide a greater appreciation of the White Continent.
Additionally, at 6:30 PM each evening, there is a Recap and Debriefing lead by Jean-Roch and several other team members. This is the opportunity to relive the day’s events and get a preview of the expected activities for the next day, if Mother Nature approved. We certainly learned that flexibility is mandatory on an Antarctic expedition.
Atlas Ocean Voyages and the World Voyager expedition team shined with the execution of ashore outings and onboard edutainment.
Onboard Activities
Besides the enrichment offerings, we were surprised that World Voyager offered limited additional activities and entertainment.
In the late afternoon/early evening, cruisers could enjoy a cocktail with piano music from the resident musician, Dan. After dinner, Dan moved upstairs to the Dome to continue the live music for a few hours after dinner. The cruise director, Mike, performed a few nighttime shows in the Atlas Lounge as well. There was a special guest entertainer on this inaugural sailing too. However, we aren’t really sure that any of these performances and setlists appealed to the demographic on the ship.
The highlight of the entertainment was the crew talent show. Besides that though, there wasn’t much else happening anywhere on the ship aside from a few thrown-together trivia sessions due to changes in our itinerary. In our opinion, these voyages could certainly benefit from more organized activities, perhaps utilizing the expedition team as activity staff to host other events.
Another nice touch was that the Captain opened up the bridge for Q&A during set times of the voyage. Of course, we couldn’t pass up checking out the inner workings of the yacht.
Given there is a lot of downtime during these Antarctica voyages, we were surprised that the ship didn’t have a library or other self-guided entertainment like board games or puzzles either.
While the internet did work surprisingly well in this remote destination, WiFi plans are based on GBs. So, you don’t want to plan on this being your downtime entertainment as it will cost you a pretty penny.
Service
With 144 passengers and 131 crew members, the crew to passenger ratio was essentially 1 to 1 on our voyage. Of course, this is one of the benefits of small ship cruising.
The attentive staff are friendly and engaging. They get to know your likes and dislikes early on and genuinely seem happy to interact with guests.
There were never long lines to get a drink, even at the coffee shop after returning from a cold morning exploring the polar waters. Likewise, dinner service in the restaurant took about 75 to 90 minutes when dining just the two of us, which is typical. The waitstaff always made sure to check in on us and keep our drink glasses filled.
Our stateroom attendant, Made, took good care of us. Unlike contemporary cruise lines that have been cutting back service, Atlas Ocean Voyages offers twice daily cabin service. This came in handy for restocking water, towels, etc.
Like any new ship, there were a few hiccups. Particularly, it appeared the staff might need some additional training on making espresso-based beverages in the coffee shop. Still, any issues we had were quickly addressed, and we greatly appreciated the dedication of the hard working team members.
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Exploring Antarctica with Atlas Ocean Voyages
On all Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica cruises, shore landings, zodiac safaris, and the polar plunge are included in the cruise fare. Guests also receive a complimentary parka and use of knee boots during outings.
Additional upcharge activities include kayaking, paddle boarding, and camping. Current prices are $200 for kayaking, $150 for standup paddle boarding, and $750 for camping. These activities have limited availability and require reservations. They are also very weather-dependent; thus, they did not happen at all during our shoulder season cruise.
Our original 9-day itinerary included embarkation day, four sea days, and four “port days”. Given the unpredictable weather, three of the four days in Antarctica were defined as “Captain’s Choice” and our first port day was scheduled in the South Shetland Islands. In ideal weather conditions, guests get two outings each “port day”.
For these outings, guests are divided into groups which rotate timeslots during the cruise. Each group is called at a designated time to enjoy a morning outing and an afternoon outing dependent on weather conditions. Sightseeing zodiac safaris are approximately 60 minutes long and shore landings are approximately 90 minutes long.
During our cruise, we successfully made 5 of the 8 stops, 3 landings and 2 zodiac rides.
Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica Cruise – Drake Passage
But first, guests need to brave the Drake Passage. Almost a rite of passage for an Antarctica cruise, the Drake Passage is notorious for having some of the roughest seas in the world. This body of water, located between South America’s Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, meets no resistance from any land masses. Thus, waves over 10 meters are not uncommon.
With two days of cruising this Passage towards Antarctica and two days on the return trip to Ushuaia, this voyage is admittedly not for everyone. While we are not prone to motion sickness, even we were unsure what to expect.
As luck would have it, our initial two sea days were among the roughest possible with 10-12 meter swells. While it was difficult to walk a straight line and the outdoor decks were closed, we thankfully did not experience any seasickness. Though, a good majority of guests, and crew, were down for the count. That is why is it always good to come prepared with seasickness aids just in case.
Our return trip through the Passage wasn’t quite so bad; though, we did still break records for wind gusts.
It’s really just a flip of the coin if you will experience the “Drake Shake” or the “Drake Lake” during your Antarctica expedition. If you want to improve your odds of having calmer seas, we suggest you travel during the middle of the season, when the weather tends to be a bit more predictable.
Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica Cruise – Deception Island
While technically not part of the archipelago of the South Shetland Islands, Deception Island is not far from here. Our day started early at 6 AM with a scenic cruise into Neptune’s Bellows. With two long and rough sea days through the Drake Passage, our first glimpse of land was a welcomed sight.
The day’s itinerary consisted of two landings. As part of Group B, we were among the first to officially step foot ashore at Pendulum Cove.
Our approximately 90 minutes ashore consisted of a short hike along a ridge line, offering Instagram-worthy shots of the ship. It was a rather steep and slippery path up to the viewing point. But, it was well worth it once we reached our final destination.
Once at sea level, we had just enough time for a short trek along the black sandy beach to see three seals that were calling part of this cove their temporary sleeping quarters.
The sunny skies and mild weather made this a fantastic first glimpse of the 7th Continent!
With our morning tour complete, the ship sailed a short distance up the coast to Whaler’s Bay. From our stateroom, we could see countless penguins dotting the coast. It wasn’t long until we were ashore for our second landing of the day where we got to see these irresistibly adorable Gentoo penguins up-close.
With roughly another 90 minutes to explore, we spent most of our time with the penguins, along with a quick self-guided walk to the remains of the whaling station and old British outpost. Obviously, our first sighting of penguins was the highlight of the day!
Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica Cruise – Cierva Cove and Charcot Bay/Tower Island
While the weather was calm and 30F during our time in Deception Island, our second day in Antarctica showcased the difficulties of itinerary planning in the region.
Arriving at the first point of Cierva Cove, we reached the continent’s peninsula. According to our debriefing, the area is known for a variety of birds and marine mammals.
The weather was overcast and a bit gloomier than the day before. Still, our group was the first of the morning to board the zodiac boats for our expedition. With the sea conditions and wind changing quickly, the call came in from the bridge to cancel the exploration just as our vessel was about to shove off.
Unfortunately, this would be the story of the day. The ship departed Cierva Cove attempting to find a calmer area in the region for our afternoon outing. However, the seas only got rougher along the journey, and the snow falling harder and faster. In fact, we ended up with several inches of accumulated snow.
Nixing Charcot Bay, we attempted a visit to Tower Island. Arriving at our spot, the Captain correctly stated “we have arrived at Tower Island, but you can not see it”. Hence, the expedition team had to cancel our afternoon activity as well.
Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica Cruise – Chiriguano Bay and Jugla Point
With another day at sea, everyone was ready to brave the elements for our next stop at Chiriguano Bay. With fresh snow and overcast skies, the ship pulled into the shielded area, known to be a spot to see whales and several species of penguins.
But like anything in Antarctica, you never known what to expect until you are there. While a landing would not be possible, the team approved abbreviated zodiac rides around the glaciers and icebergs.
This 45-minute ride was mostly smooth and exhilarating with a chance to get back outside and experience Antarctica from a new perspective.
As the ship departed for our afternoon destination, the mostly calm conditions were starting to change. Our originally planned visit for a continental landing in Orne Harbor was aborted and we headed to Jugla Point instead.
Unfortunately though, the captain announced by 2:30 PM that the channel was closed, and we had to change course yet again. Thus, it was another afternoon onboard the World Voyager. Now, we were headed to our final destination of the cruise.
Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica Cruise – Danco Island and Orne Harbor
A Morning in the Snow
We were hoping for the best on our last day as the ship spent the night floating next to our first landing spot of Danco Island. The calm waters and lightly overcast skies gave us hope that the excursions would be a go today.
From the ship, we could see a massive rookery of Gentoo penguins dotting the coast and making their way up the hillside. They seemed to be calling us ashore.
With the rotating schedule, we would actually be the last group to head ashore today, making our landing around 11:30 AM. But, it was well worth the wait.
We were able to trek along a pre-carved snowy path to get up close and personal with these adorable creatures. There was also an optional trail to head all the way up the hill, but I only made it halfway.
This was definitely the experience everyone was waiting for given the delays from the previous few days. But, the day was not over yet.
We Touched the Continent
This afternoon, we were going to make another attempt to get to Orne Harbor for a continental landing.
Albeit, we arrived to find a rather large ice field. So, after scouting the coast, the expedition team was not able to find a suitable landing spot along the beach. But, they decided to offer a zodiac ride, which would still allow us to “touch” the continent.
We eagerly watched from the back of the ship as others made it to shore. During this time, we spotted a few whales in the bay.
When our group was finally called, we boarded the zodiac and headed straight toward a rookery of penguins. Here, we were able to get close enough for photo proof that we reached the peninsula.
Afterwards, our zodiac captain guided us on an exhilarating ride through the sea ice; not to mention, we spotted a leopard seal. Skating along the partially frozen waters, we were treated to some fantastic views which made for the perfect ending to our Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica cruise.
Polar Plunge
If that wasn’t enough, the day was punctuated with a polar plunge! While many had lost hope that this ceremonial event would occur, Mother Nature cooperated during this final afternoon in Antarctica.
With water temperatures hovering at 30 degrees Fahrenheit, I donned my bathing suit for this much anticipated plunge. You might be surprised that close to 60% of passengers signed up for this frosty dip into the ocean. Heidi was not one of them!
It was certainly an adrenaline -inducing way to end our unforgettable trip.
Recap of Our Atlas Ocean Voyages Antarctica Cruise
Whether you are an avid cruiser or a world traveler, a trip to Antarctica is probably on your bucket list.
While there are several options for visiting this White Continent, Atlas Ocean Voyages offers the ideal mix of a classic cruise experience and an enriching expedition program with time ashore.
You don’t have to sail on a refitted research vessel to explore this polar region. You can still experience many of the comforts of cruising from upscale dining to bars and lounges, a spa, fitness center, and elegantly appointed staterooms.
On the other hand, you will still get up close and personal with the continent via zodiac safaris and shore landings with Atlas. This is not typically the case when visiting the region on a larger cruise ship; your time in Antarctica will likely be all scenic cruising.
Yes, there are still other options in the region that offer a comparable experience from the likes of Viking, Silversea, and others. Yet, the price tag will likely be significantly higher. Currently, the cruise line’s 2-for-1 offering is one of the best values for cruising in the region. So, now is the time to begin planning that 2024 or 2025 bucket list cruise.
With Atlas, you won’t have to worry about any of the trip planning. The all-inclusive nature includes a charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and a pre-cruise hotel stay in Buenos Aires. The cruise line also offers several extensions, so cruisers can enhance their experience before or after the expedition.
Once onboard, essentially everything is covered, including an expansive drink menu, all meals, and onboard activities. Additionally, cruisers receive 1GB of high speed internet, with additional packages for those looking for more bandwidth.
The staterooms are large and well-appointed, making for a luxurious and comfortable home away from home. The restaurant and lounges are simple yet elegant, offering the ideal space for dining, socializing, and entertaining.
When it comes to the ashore program, you don’t have to be wilderness explorers to enjoy the time on land. Trust us. Yet, those who want to scale the rugged terrain will have the opportunity to do so as well.
With Antarctica and penguins checked off our list, the only natural progression is an Arctic expedition and polar bears. Yes, Atlas Ocean Voyages also offers expeditions to the Arctic. The cruise line also features Epicurean Expeditions with a culinary and wine focus and new Cultural Expeditions with a focus on authentic and local experiences.
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