Selling Cruises: Cruising to Antarctica
by John Hawks

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Most cruises to Antarctica will be scheduled during the Antarctic summer -- the five-month period from November to March when the continent's coastal zones will be relatively ice-free -- with more than 20 hours of sunlight during the high summer days. While you can arrange trips on smaller chartered yachts, most travelers visiting the continent sail aboard modern-day cruise ships carrying as many as 250 passengers (or more!) on each trip. (About 20,000 passengers sailed to Antarctica last year. Compare that to the 700,000 or so who visited Alaska.)

Now, the big question: Why in the world would anyone cruise to Antarctica?

Many returning cruisers agree unanimously that it's the sailing of a lifetime. When the ice begins melting in November, everything is crisp and clean. You'll see penguins and other seabirds as they begin their courting season, as well as seals lounging on the ice. Late December and the month of January will be the continent's warmest period, and the receding ice will mean you can explore further on the continent than any other time of the year. Plus, the longer days will yield extraordinary photo opportunities. Toward the end of the touring season (February and March), you'll encounter more sightings of whales and penguins than before.

Most cruises to Antarctica run 10 days to two or three weeks from start to finish. Generally, they depart from the southern port of Ushuaia in Argentina, though some cruises leave from New Zealand, Australia, or even South Africa. Because they're more expensive than typical cruises ($250-$500 per day and up!), you should search carefully to find the best values.

When you're selecting ships for your clients, remember that only 100 passengers at any single time may land on the continent. If your clients really want to spend time on shore, consider smaller vessels for them. Also, families traveling with children (especially grandparents taking their grandkids to see the penguins) should probably stick with the larger ships that offer onboard services and amenities for children.

Also, urge your clients to pay very close attention to the packing list recommended by the cruise line. At a minimum, Antarctica cruisers should take along a winter parka, waterproof pants (for the splashy rides in tenders or Zodiac boats), knee-high boots, two pairs of gloves, and a wool cap or hat. If they plan to take pictures, your clients should choose a waterproof camera (or, at least, a waterproof backpack to hold their regular camera).

Unlike cruises in other regions where the itinerary is planned to the minute, sailings in Antarctica can be affected greatly by weather conditions that can force last-second changes in the schedule. And, the weather can make sailing in the region a choppy experience (particularly as the ship clears Drake's Passage during a 36-hour transit into and away from the continent).

Since it will likely take 12 hours or more each way for your clients to fly from U.S. gateways to their port of embarkation for an Antarctica cruise, encourage them to consider adding on a few days in pre- or post-cruise destinations such as Santiago or Buenos Aires.

For the latest details on cruising Antarctica (including the cruise lines sailing there in 2006 and beyond), check CLIA's Web site and www.cruisecritic.com (another excellent resource for cruise information).