Cruise Talk: Cruise Ships In Antarctic ?

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Topic: Cruise Ships In Antarctic ?

bmajor
First Class Passenger
Member # 1754

posted 09-25-2004 12:42 AM

Does anyone have any thoughts regarding the risk of cruising Antarctic waters as part of the various South American cruises..e.g. Rio to Valparaiso...Most of these ships are not hull strengthened and the reports of some ships inching through pack ice and the crashing and crunching sounds heard in the highest lounges on the ship must surely indicate a tense time...The question is, how much of a risk is there on these cruises, is there some risk aversion built into the seemingly slow booking of the scheduled cruises for the upcoming season so far?...We are seriously considering one such December sailing....and would welcome any comments even though they may be only of the "you only live once" variety....Cheers..

Posts: 1371 | From: Orewa.New Zealand. | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

Tim in Fort Lauderdale
First Class Passenger
Member # 953

posted 09-25-2004 07:02 AM

Ships that are not ice-rated do not proceed into the pack ice. If you were to cruise aboard the Amsterdam, Crystal Serenity, Royal Princess or Insignia, you would perhaps experience scenic cruising of Paradise Bay and Deception Island, but the ships steer well clear of any pack ice. In fact, they do their best to steer well clear of any growlers and bergs too. And to the best of my knowledge, all ships carry experienced ice masters who have years of experience and knowledge in navigating these waters.

Discovery and Marco Polo venture further in as they are ice rated, but still don't venture into the pack ice.

I don't know about thios year, but in the past, these Antarctica cruises have filled up and done so rather quickly. Additionally, if I were to venture to Antarctica, I'd do it on Discovery or Marco Polo as they actually land passengers on the ice.

Tim

Posts: 1468 | From: Fort Lauderdale, FL | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 09-25-2004 08:16 PM

The Marco Polo, with her ice strengthened hull even carries a helicopter on deck to gain advanced views of the ice packs.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

bmajor
First Class Passenger
Member # 1754

posted 09-26-2004 12:04 AM

Rather than the term pack ice I think, on reflection and in ignorance, I really meant ice flow. Sorry. It seems at least one ship last year was surrounded by significant ice flow which had to be passed through to get back to the open sea. A photo on the internet shows this.

That ice does look rather chunky and is not like we have experienced in Alaska....
Therefore, is it possible to assess the risk factor, if any, on these cruises?

[ 09-26-2004: Message edited by: bmajor ]

Posts: 1371 | From: Orewa.New Zealand. | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

8666263
First Class Passenger
Member # 5083

posted 09-29-2004 10:16 PM

There are icebreaker cruises, one fron Celebrity Cruises Kaptain Kebenelov

Posts: 39 | From: san francisco | Registered: Sep 2004 | IP: Logged

Globaliser
First Class Passenger
Member # 4153

posted 09-30-2004 02:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by 8666263:
There are icebreaker cruises, one fron Celebrity Cruises Kaptain Kebenelov

Though I wouldn't recommend this as marketed by Celebrity. They seem to have chartered it at the margins of the season just to be able to offer an Antarctic cruise in their Xpeditions portfolio. Better to go with the ship's normal operator during the main season, if you really want an icebreaker.

I went on the Marco Polo - a great time, not just because of the destination.

Posts: 1869 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

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