If Antarctica is on your travel bucket list, there's no better way to see the polar continent than via expedition cruise.
Hurtigruten has the route expertly covered with two existing ice-class ships and a pair of brand new hybrid ones soon to come.
Buenos Aires, Argentina or Santiago, Chile usually serve as a central stopping off point in South America when flying down to Cape Horn. Ship embarkation-typically from either Ushuaia or Punta Arenas-precedes the Drake Passage crossing to Antarctica itself, and that's when the real adventure begins.
The intimately-sized 318-passenger Fram or 970-passenger Midnatsol are currently available to take guests to the remote region, though they still come with all the comforts of home:
-The Fram is outfitted with stateroom and suite accommodations, a welcome observation lounge, inviting restaurant, sauna and fitness room, jacuzzis, lobby, shop, lecture halls, outdoor explorer deck and, of course, all the expeditionary equipment and facilities necessary to go discovering.
-Being a little larger, the Midnatsol offers much of the same but with a double-decker panorama lounge, plus an extra a la carte restaurant, grill and food court, as well as playroom and library.
Set to elevate the onboard experience further are the future Roald Amundsen (2018) and Fridtjof Nansen (2019) sister-ships.
The Scandinavian-styled vessels will not only offer unparalleled viewing of Antarctic surroundings, they will also do so in an environmentally-friendly fashion thanks to hybrid electric propulsion capabilities that reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
There are also premium experiences like photography school, kayaking adventures and even tenting overnight.
Hurtigruten's Antarctic adventures are seemingly endless., with itineraries ranging from 13 to 23 days. They fully take advantage of Antarctica and also head to additional destinations in South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. Others still tack on port extras in South America.
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