1

Hi there - I returned from an Antarctica trip last week.

1. I recommend you check with your trip provider about internet access as I suspect all boats will be different. The one I went with had phone & internet access available 24/7 via satellite, but it was expensive & slower than you're probably used to. On our boat it was $20 for 10MB or $50 for 30MB internet access and $20 for 50 mins of phone calls on the satellite phone. You couldn't buy a 10MB card and use it part-phone/part-internet.

2. Mobile phone access disappears pretty much the moment you leave Ushuaia. I got a weak signal as we returned up the Beagle Channel, but nothing at sea. Think practically - there are no mobile phone masts in the open ocean!

3. The temperature in early Feb where we were was between -3 & +3 degrees centigrade. It was about the same temperature in London whilst I was away. We weren't frozen to death & I even camped out overnight. However wind chill on deck/zodiac trips and walking on snow for long periods will make it feel colder and I recommend a hat & scarf that can cover your cheeks, a selection of gloves that you can wear one inside the other, some long-johns and a few pairs of good thermal socks. You also need to be prepared in case it turns worse unexpectedly. A wise man once said ' there's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing'.

Enjoy! It was amazing.

2

From the date of your question, I'm probably responding too late, but:

1) Internet usage. It depends on the ship you board, but yes, you can get internet service, but it's very limited. They will charge you but even then, you're still limitied, and they advise you on how to limit your usage. There are a lot of reasons for this, but mostly it's because the bandwidth is limited in that region, and the ship gets higher priority than any of its customers.

2) There is some mobile coverage, but it's also limited. It's not always predictable. Some of my fellow passengers were able to get a connection, some weren't, and not always in the same place at the same time.

3) Temperature differs. February and March are the warmest months, but the temperature, even on an hourly basis, can change very rapidly. Often, the temperature was about 45 to 55 degrees F when i was there, but there were times when it would suddenly drop, or start snowing, or a wild wind would suddenly appear, so you're asked to dress (and always be prepared) for cold and wet weather. Once on an island, you can put your heavy clothing into a backpack, but you should still bring it.