Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cruising Antarctica
The Antarctic Peninsula
The biggest thrill of any Antarctic cruise is setting foot on the
frozen continent itself. The simplest and most popular way of
doing so is on routes that explore the Antarctic Peninsula, the
northern tip of the Antarctic continent, and the South Shetland
Islands, an archipelago of over twenty islands that lies to its
north. Onshore excursions to both peninsula and islands enter
a magical, blue-white world of hypnotic scale and beauty, in
which glaciers, peaks, and abundant marine wildlife vie for
attention with gigantic icebergs and haunting historical sites.
South Orkney
Islands
Weddell
Sea
INDIAN
OCEAN
South Pole
ANTARCTICA
Ross
Sea
PACIFIC
OCEAN
Locator Map
Area of main map
Port Lockroy
is home
to an historic research
station and the world's
most southerly post
office, complete
with souvenir shop
and museum.
Paradise Bay
is one of the peninsula's most magical spots, with a
backdrop of ice-blue water, glacier-covered islands, and huge
floating icebergs. Its waters are visited by humpback and minke
whales. Elephant, crabeater, and Weddell seals doze on ice floes.
The Lemaire Channel
is Antarctica's most
picturesque channel,
earning it the nick-
name “Kodak Gap.” Its
immense scenery
includes sheer-sided,
precipitous peaks that
rise over 3,000 ft
(1,000 m) from the
water's edge, hanging
glaciers, and deep-
blue icebergs of all
shapes and sizes.
The Ross Sea
region can
be accessed on extended
icebreaker cruises. Helicopter
excursions fly over Mount
Erebus volcano and the Dry
Valleys, one of the world's
most extreme deserts.
Neko Harbor
faces a
magnificent glacier that
calves regularly: the
loud crack and boom
of tumbling ice can be
heard from the beach.
To Ross Sea
Whale-spotting
is best in the
Antarctic summer, February
especially. Easily observed species
include humpback and minke
whales. Endangered sei and fin
whales can also be sighted.
