Antarctica Cruise from Ushuaia

Every expedition on the National Geographic Resolution begins with an overnight stay in Santiago, Chile.

From there, guests are flown by chartered flight to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, where they board the ship. The quickest way to Santiago is to fly from Singapore to Auckland, either by Singapore Airlines or Air New Zealand and then onward to Santiago by LATAM Air.

It’s a luxury cruise experience

While the ship is a hardy vessel designed for harsh conditions, it is as well-appointed as any luxury cruise ship.

Apart from very comfortable and spacious cabins, it boasts two infinity-style hot tubs, a dry Nordic sauna and a wet tropic sauna (both with views), a gym, a yoga studio and a spa. The panoramic Ice Lounge is where the ship meets for daily recaps, presentations, and briefings.

Another unique feature is Basecamp, where guests get into their waterproof gear and hop directly onto one of the ship’s fleet of Zodiacs – motorised inflatable boats which bring guests to shore.

Drake Passage Cruise

Your voyage starts with a two-day crossing from the southern tip of South America to the top of the Antarctic Peninsula through the Drake Passage, reputed to be the roughest sea in the world.

This is where winds and currents of three great oceans – Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern – clash ferociously. Seasickness is usually guests’ main concern, which the crew help alleviate by plying them with ginger tea and candy, while the ship’s doctor dispenses nausea medication if required.

Antarctic Convergence

Thankfully, as the ship crosses latitude 60° south, the waters calm, marking your arrival at the Antarctic Convergence, which is the belt of waters encircling the continent.

Here, the warmer, saltier waters from South America meet the colder, denser, and fresher waters heading north from the continent. This mix results in the flourishing of microscopic marine algae called phytoplankton, which grow under the sea ice.

They provide food for krill, and the abundance of these small crustaceans attracts a large number of birds and sea mammals to Antarctica. Which, in turn, attracts visitors to the White Continent.

As you enter the relative calm of the Antarctic waters, what strikes you is how isolated you are from everything.

Your first sighting will be the South Shetland Islands, a surreal and near-alien vista of ice on land and sea, accentuated by an almost eerie quietness.

As you sail through the islands towards the peninsula, you start to notice the wildlife – sea birds first, then small groups of penguins porpoising across the waters. If you are lucky, you may glimpse sea mammals as well.

Antarctica Cruise Itinerary Not Fixed

Expeditions to the White Continent do not have firm itineraries. The programme is dynamic, left in the hands of the expedition leader and the ship captain, who read and respond to the constantly changing conditions. Surprisingly, there is lots to do when you land at various locations.

On these landings, you can encounter seals and penguins, or choose to visit archeological sites, like old whaling outposts and abandoned refuges. Some of the makeshift memorials, to those who have lost their lives, are a stark reminder of how hostile Antarctica can be, making the stories of early explorers, like Shackleton, very real.

Antarctica Cruise to See Penguins

A definite highlight is the encounter with penguins – entire colonies of them. Nothing quite prepares you for the experience – their sheer multitudes, those cacophonous calls, and, of course, that overpowering pong of penguin guano!

Yet you cannot but be amused by the antics of the juvenile penguins as they race around the ice and be moved when you see how the parents feed their younglings and try to keep them warm.

For the more adventurous, there are opportunities to kayak, hike, and attempt the ever-popular “polar plunge” into freezing water. If weather permits, one can look forward to a barbecue on deck.

Food onboard Antarctica cruise

There is an abundance of food for guests onboard, served out of two dining venues. The main dining room, where every table has a good view of the outdoors, is where you get your buffet breakfast and table-service lunch and dinner.

Then there is the bistro, which offers lighter breakfast and lunch options. Included in the meal plan is a Chef’s Table dinner, a seven-course meal with wine-pairing. Drinkers need not despair. There are two bars and a well-stocked wine cellar. And like the well-stocked mini bar in your cabin, all drinks are complimentary.

Antarctica Travel: Weather and Temperature

So how cold can it get? Summer temperatures are tolerable, ranging between 3°C or 4°C and about -10°C. While the ship interiors are comfortably climate-controlled, each guest is provided with a parka (which you can take home as a souvenir) to ensure you are suitably attired for the outdoors.

Cruise by Glaciers

Cruising through the frozen seascape is a big attraction of the sea expedition. On foggy days, gliding past sea ice can be like a fairy-tale scene, with jaw-dropping icebergs and soaring glacier faces. The quiet will be interrupted by the occasional loud cracks from large ice calving off glaciers and icebergs as you navigate through seemingly unpassable waters.

Watch Humpback Whales, Wildlife

From the safety of your ship, you will encounter whales – from humpbacks to orcas to fins and even the very elusive blues – and witness how these gentle giants feed on shoals of miniature krill. What animals one encounters is dependent on the season.

It is heartbreaking when you realise that some of these creatures were nearly driven to extinction by irresponsible human behaviour. Thanks to the ship’s team of experts in diverse fields – from naturalists to historians and photographers – there is much to learn and you return home with a greater appreciation of life in Antarctica.

The expedition team not only organises and operates the landings and activities and looks out for wildlife sightings, they are always on hand to provide valuable information on what is encountered. They even take turns to recap each day’s events – over cocktails, of course – and present nuggets of information on various topics, from photography to wildlife, history, and geopolitics of Antarctica.

Customer Service On Board

Ultimately, what makes any cruise unforgettable is the crew, and the attentive service you get is second to none. Due to the low crew-to-guest ratio, you receive very personalised attention. By the end of two weeks, you will likely know staffers and guests very well.

The trip is a precious chance to witness first-hand the climate crisis, through seeing how fast the ice is melting. Yet one leaves Antarctica hopeful.

Antarctic Treaty

Many countries were able to come together to agree and cooperate on the Antarctic Treaty, which stipulated that the continent is to be a natural reserve devoted to peace and science.

Whales and seals used to be exploited to near extinction in Antarctica, and the Treaty takes a firm step towards stopping such activities.

That these endangered species are slowly returning to their original numbers is a sign that the ills of the past can be reversed. And there may still be hope for something to be done to address the present climate crisis.

Visiting Antarctica is often referred to as the trip-of-a-lifetime, and in this case, it is not a hyperbole. It really is a trip like no other.

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