Holland America Offering Trip to Antarctica From Very Unique Starting Point

Typically, visiting Antarctica, even as a cruise passenger, involves flying to a far flung destination to embark on the journey.

But Holland America Line is offering a different take on the standard approach to exploring Antarctica.

The cruise line has just announced a sailing that will begin in Florida, a location that's thousands of miles from the South American ports where such cruises usually begin.

The cruise in question will depart on January 25, 2025, and will be a 47-night getaway that will be offered on the 1,432-passenger Volendam, according to a report from The Points Guy. The sailing is segment or a part of its longer Pole-to-Pole world cruise.

The newly announced itinerary means that travelers can get to Antarctica without having to hop on an international flight to a distant port. In fact, if you live within driving distance of Fort Lauderdale, where the cruise will begin, you won’t have to fly at all.

The itinerary will include stops in such ports as Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Santa Marta, Columbia, and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. The ship will also pass through the Panama Canal. After that there will be a three week segment along Central and South America. That will include additional ports of call in such destinations as Panama, Ecuador and Chile.

Eventually, Voledam will make its way across the Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of South America and then cross the choppy Drake Passage before arriving in Antarctica. Once there, the ship will spend four days sailing around the coast. There will be no landing on the continent for passengers of the Voledam.

Additional stops after sailing around Antarctica include the Falkland Islands and Puerto Madryn, Argentina.

Holland America's 2025 Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole sailing offers seven segmentary itineraries that range from 20 to 100 days in duration, allowing guests to choose the experience that best fits their schedule and interests. The segments go from Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires to Barcelona; Amsterdam to Fort Lauderdale; Fort Lauderdale to Amsterdam; and Amsterdam or Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale. 

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