Selling Cruises: Antarctica
by John Hawks

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Several major cruise lines and smaller specialty cruise operators now offer regularly scheduled sailings to Antarctica. Under international law, cruise ships visiting the continent are limited to 400 passengers, and the cruise lines and their passengers must adhere to the "Antarctic Traveler's Code" that prohibits collecting or harming any native animal or plant. Because there are no cruise docks in Antarctica, your clients may go ashore aboard Zodiacs (inflatable rubber boats), and they’ll have to learn to take pictures with their gloves on (as even a short period without gloves on the continent can lead to dangerous frostbite conditions).

The primary cruising season for Antarctica is, ironically, our winter months -- mainly November through March. (Remember that, since the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere, our winter is summer down under.)

Because Antarctic cruises have limited capacity, and because more travelers have their sights set on exploring this part of the world that they haven't covered already on previous cruises, you should encourage your clients to start thinking right now about booking 2007-2008 sailings to this region. Cruise lines and tour operators offering Antarctica trips include Abercrombie & Kent, Clipper Cruise Lines (INTRAV), and Princess Cruises, as well as several smaller specialty companies.

If you're looking for true adventure for your cruise clients this year, look no further than a sailing to Antarctica. There's even a chance that they may get stuck in an ice field, as the "Clipper Adventurer" did in 2000. They’ll definitely return with amazing stories about this last secret corner of the globe.

(Photo credits: Clipper Cruise Lines/INTRAV)