Experience the Wonders of Antarctica

Known as one of the world’s last frontiers, Antarctica is a treasure. Besides the incredible and pristine beauty the landscape exhibits, the area teems with wildlife and marine life that is rarely experienced anywhere else in the world.

An eerie, yet expected, silence and calm blanket Antarctica. Yet, at the most unexpected moment, the silence is broken by the breaking of a whale from the mirror smooth surface of the water; one whale that is soon followed by an entire pod that stays to entertain and amaze their audience. Or towering goliath icebergs suddenly break off their base for seemingly no cause, to slowly bend and teeter before crashing into the icy waters below.
Marine life is captivating in Antarctica; leopard seals hitching a ride on a rogue ice flow; penguins cavorting in the water with wild abandon and great enjoyment; sea birds hovering with an eye to the surface before descending to the sea in a feeding frenzy when prey is spotted. Strategic planning can land a visitor in the cold tundra just as thousands of fuzzy brown chicks nestle to their king penguin parents or fur seals lounge luxuriously on the beach side.

Taking a cruise to Antarctica is an adventure, not a relaxation. And it is an adventure that is being eagerly taken up by thousands of individuals, so many that cruise ships to the area have increased from only 6 passenger ships in 1995 to 37 in the current year. In the 2007-2008 season alone, over 46,000 people made the trip to the frigid Antarctica. This has given rise to concerns for both the preservation of the environment as well as the safety of cruise ship guests, and new regulations for both are currently being reviewed by Congress.

Between birding opportunities, wildlife and marine life viewing, shore excursions, marveling at landscapes and participating in onboard activities such as lectures, cruise ship guests will find their time well occupied when visiting Antarctica. Some of the best times to visit are between November and March, as breeding season culminates in a new generation in which to admire. Cruises to the area last between 10 to 14 days, with costs for the cruise ranging anywhere between $5,000 and $30,000. Although costs may be higher, for the best experience choose a guide with the best reputation.

A one of a kind experience that will create a lifetime of memories awaits the individual visiting Antarctica; a true visit to a wild frontier.