Cruising Antarctica

To be honest, I've never considered the Antarctic a hot vacation spot - literally or figuratively. I don't like the cold, so odds are that I will never go Cruising Antarctica. Still, when I see pictures of that icy continent, I find it immensely beautiful and majestic.

There are no indigenous peoples on Antarctica and the population is fewer than 1,000, consisting mostly of scientists and the like. It's not hard to figure out why. According to the Antarctica Cruise and Travel Guide Site, the summer tourist season sees about 35,000 people visit, which surprises me in a way yet I have to admit that it would be something to see at least once. This is one that I'm content to see from my armchair, though.

It is my understanding that when you are cruising Antarctica, there are times when you have to stay on the ship. Understandably, there are some places where you just cannot go ashore. Still, being able to witness that vast, silent terrain from a ship's rail must be quite something. With any luck, you could see some whales, penguins or seals. At the very least, there will be some pretty spectacular icebergs.

Tourists can book passage on one of the touring ships that run from November to March, which is high summer in Antarctica. That means that if you go, you'll enjoy more than 20 hours a day of daylight. An Antarctic cruise takes you along the coast, avoiding the most dangerous sea ice.

There are no accommodations in Antarctica, you can't stay there, at least on land. The only lodging is aboard the cruise ships. Cruising Antarctica is expensive. A typical 10-14 day trip can put you back $10,000 or more, depending on the level of state room you choose.

If you are interested in learning more about cruising Antarctica, I recommend that you check out the Antarctic Cruise and Travel Guide linked above. There's a lot of good information there, or rather as much as there is for such a cold, barren place.

In summation, I'll admit there is a certain secluded beauty that comes to mind when think about Cruising Antarctica but I think I'll stick with the warmer locations.