You'll Soon be Able to Cruise Antarctica

It’s the last great frontier that only a relative few have enjoyed, and there will soon be a shiny new vessel to get you there.

Antarctica XXI recently announced a new ship that will set sail for the 2019-2020 season, whisking travelers to the trip of a lifetime.

Dubbed the MV Magellan Explorer, this 50-cabin ship will be ready by November 2019.

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While the seas and terrain would be arduous for other adventurers, you will be outfitted in complete comfort during your excursion. Jaime Vásquez Sapunar, ANTARCTICA XXI’S President and Chairman, explains the significance of the addition to the fleet, via press release:

“MV Magellan Explorer is the first small passenger ship to be purpose built for Antarctica in the last 14 years. To ensure we continue to offer an exclusive boutique experience to our guests, we will limit the capacity to a maximum of 70 guests for each Antarctic air-cruise departure.”

Credit goes to ASENAV for the ship’s construction while Chilean company Enrique Concha & Co. will handle the lavish designs of the interior. While limited to just 70 guests, there will be varied accommodations to suit your needs, such as dedicated single cabins and double cabins with twin beds.

The ship also boasts 42 cabins that promise some otherworldly views. The best part of a trip to Antarctica is getting to see the astounding land and seascape. This is made easy thanks to nearly 50 rooms having their own private balcony.

There is also plenty of time and room to get acquainted. An observation lounge is perfect for presentations and nature lessons, while meeting rooms, a gift shop, dining area, gym and sauna also offer their own allure.

The ship is still in its infancy, so it will be some time before we get a good look at its beautiful construction. Antarctica XXI does offer a great look at concept designs at its website, however, and it comes with a breakdown of the particulars.

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This ship joins the brand’s ongoing expeditions to the frigid continent where it allows travelers to enjoy the brisk journey to Antarctica as well a trip over the Drake Passage.

Conde Nast Traveler’s Cynthia Drescher has a breakdown of how a journey through this part of the world can turn the stomach: “Its volatility, where the waves, winds, and currents all seemingly conspire against any intrepid adventurers, is due to the Drake's position as a zone of climactic transition; the Passage divides the the cool, sub-polar conditions of the southernmost bits of South America from the frigid, polar regions of Antarctica.”

All of this means you will more than likely experience a wild ride. It’s also why some expeditions, like those offered by Antarctica XXI, choose to sidestep the experience by flying you over the pass.

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