Booking a trip to Antarctica in Ushuaia

The following was posted in September 2004:

> > > Anybody have any experience booking cheap-as-possible last minute berths to Antarctica? How likely is this realistically? I'll be down in Patagonia in December, and may inquire about slipping onto a boat at the last minute. Has anybody succeeded at this and if so, how much much did you pay? I'm not willing to pay anywhere close to $2000 for the excursion, but if I can get it for closer to $1000 or less I might consider it. In the Footprint guide it suggests the possibility of boarding a Chilean Navy vessel in Punta Arenas for $80 a day, which sounds reasonable to me. Anybody manage to do this, or know how likely it would be to obtain such a passage?

Navy does not do it anymore. Last year the cheapest fare available was 2200 American dollars.

I just got the latest special today, Antarctica leaving 10 december 2004 for only 1985 American dollars! That is the bargain you want. I saw the same last year. I had special for 2200 and the last minute berths in Ushuaia for my trip were 2500 dollars!!!!!!!!!!

In Ushuaia you can look for last minute prices. It is easier up to middle December and after middle February. In some very busy years there are almost no last minute tickets, other years plenty, no one can say in advance. In 1999 I paid US$ 4100 for a trip Ushuaia-Malvinas -South Georgia-Antarctic Peninsula in 21 days. The usual price was more than US$ 7000.

It is expensive due to the special ships to resist the temperature, the storms, the occasional iceberg. In every ship there are specialists, high level professionals. In my case: Antarctic birds (American biologist), Antarctic mammals (Australian biologist), glaciologist, Antarctic exploration history (teacher from Cambridge University), professional photographer, a doctor. Also expensive the many Zodiacs for landings, the license for landing in South Georgia and in the Malvinas. Very good food, with professional cookers (from Switzerland), very experient expedition chief with many Antarctic sailboat cruises. The safety and electronic equipment in the ship is incredible. For me it was my life's trip, I hope some day I can go again.

I bought a last minute ticket from a travel agent in Ushuaia. To make a LONG story short, the Argentine cruise company was terrible. They are not maintaining the ship, built in 1971. We did not have heat, NONE, for 7 days. On and off hot water. No refunds, nothing. When I tried to get some compensation once we returned the company was the most unprofessional I ever dealt with. It is not only the money, it is the safety issue. So I say avoid Antarrply. As far as I know, it is the only argentine cruise line to Antartica, which they reminded us repeatedly belongs to them. Take a safe cruise company.

Most companies for Antarctica are part of IAATO. There is one, new company, I think it is Argentinian, which is not in IAATO, with lower prices and very bad reports in this branch, from last Summer.

The following was posted in November, 2006:

Most of the trips to Antarctica leave from Ushuaia. It is the nearest port, safe and well equipped, with all prices hotels and many tourist attractions.
There are basically 2 trips to Antarctica, but it changes a little every year. One is from Ushuaia to Antarctic Peninsula, 9-11 days, visiting some islands on Antarctica, and at least one landing on the Antarctic continent. The other also includes the Malvinas and South Georgia islands, in a 21-24 days trip. The islands are not so cold like Antarctica but with lots of wildlife, because the islands are the only places in many hundreds of miles suitable for breeding of animals like many kinds of albatrosses, penguins, petrels, fur seals and elephant seals. There are seldom trips only to Malvinas and South Georgia, you will see lots of wildlife but few whales and almost no icebergs. Better take a smaller boat just to Antarctic Peninsula, 10 or 11 days starting at US$ 2600. There are boats with 160 people and more, but it takes a long time to disembark and return in zodiacs, so you will not see much. On the day of the trip, the boat leaves in the afternoon, early evening, and returns early on the morning of the last day, both days are counted. There are many boats, most are Russian ships designed and built for Arctic scientific missions, but are comfortable. The most convenient, I think, are boats for 40-80 passengers, not so small to be uncomfortable in rough seas, and small enough to go to the best places and make disembarks and returns to the boat fast. There are professionals in marine wildlife (mammals and birds), in photography, in geology, in history, all related to the Antarctica. On the long hours between Ushuaia and the Peninsula ( 2 days ), also between the Malvinas, South Georgia and the Peninsula, they give speeches about many subjects. You can also read many books, most about Antarctica and polar explorations.
The food is good, but the price for alcoholic beverages is high, take them with you from Ushuaia. There are at least 3 parties in the longest trips, with barbecues and dancing, sometimes on the open deck with falling snow. Every year is different, but basically the prices are about US$ 2600-4000 for 9 days, US$ 5000-7200 for 21 days. This is the lowest price, for one person on a three berths cabin, without private bathroom. However, in some years (now it rarely happens), in the beginning of December or at the end of February, beginning of March, there are “last minute tickets” with about 40% discount, available for sale from 4 or 5 days up to a few hours before departing. You can buy only in Ushuaia, I looked for them in Punta Arenas and they did not know about it. Some years the discount continues almost all season, some years there is no discount. It depends on how many tickets at the usual price were sold, it is easy to understand a person who paid a high price will not be happy with another who paid much less for the same tour.There is a new, Argentinean company doing Antarctica trips. Their first year was not so good, many people complaining about service and ship problems. In the second year almost no complains, and in the third year I feel they are good as any other more expensive company.

It is very easy to travel on your own in Patagonia. There is no need to take any tour. November is a good month as there are fewer people and accommodation is cheaper. Trips to Antartica start from 2,500 dollars. They start running in December.

I did a 10 day cruise last year from December 25th to January 3rd, 2006. I paid 2,880.00 US$.

I booked through Trailfinders in Dublin with Gap Adventures and paid 2750 euros for a 11 day trip. My room mate paid in Ushuaia and paid $2500 so if you have the time to spare I would definately book it over there. I think she had to wait about a week. We travelled from 29th December 2006 to 7th January 2007 which is peak season. I found no bargains in Ireland. I would really recommend the Gap Adventures trip too. They had great lectures and all the guides were professionals with degrees and a real interest in wildlife. They had no hesitation in being forceful in stopping people from getting too close to the wildlife.

www.adventureassociates.com
www.antarcticconnection.com
www.quarkexpeditions.com</a><BR><a href="http://www.rumbosur.com">www.rumbosur.com</a><BR><BR>Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.

Antarctica 1
Antarctica 2
Antarctica 3
Antarctica 4

Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.

It depends on every year. some years there are a lot of cheaper last minute trips avaible, and some years it is hadr to get a place even paying the full fare. There are a lot of differnt ships and itinaries. If you get a lastminute deal it makes definatly a difference to get in Ushuaia. If not, it won´t be cheaper, it might be enen more expensive. Try Rumbo Sur for getting some ideas, but there are a lot more.