I
t's the coldest, most hostile conti-
nent on the planet, and yet ice-covered
Antarctica is an absolute must on any
bucket list. It's expensive. Really expensive.
Yet exploring the "Great White Open" is not
difficult thanks to a cruising industry that
has made one- and two-week itineraries
routine. Generally booked at least a year in
advance, cruises usually begin in the world's
southernmost city, Ushuaia in Argentina. You
then generally make stops at the Falkland
Islands, South Georgia, South Shetlands,
and the Antarctic Peninsula (the more you
pay, the more places you visit and the lon-
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ger the trip takes). At each stop you head
out in a zodiac (an inflatable boat) to watch
wildlife, reach land to snowshoe, or visit re-
search stations, and even go polar diving.
The price is also determined by the luxu-
ries on board the ship and the size of your
cabin. This is not your average luxury cruise;
expect scientific lectures and learning rath-
er than buffets and bands. Choose an ex-
pedition vessel with a capacity of less than
250 passengers to limit the environmental
impact.
Cruise Around Antarctica
