Does anyone have experience on taking an Abercrombie & Kent Antarctica trip? I would prefer to do this through Regent, but it doesn't appear possible anymore. Ab. seems to have a new ship that looks lovely. I remain worried about the dreaded Drake Passage, but think I will bite the bullet anyway.

Thanks

Hi Diane

When we went on Explorer II, it was the A&K ship. Regent sent a representative for passengers & a chef. They also only rented the outside cabins on the ship. We had our own expedition leader. Otherwise, it was the A&K experience. The group after us were mostly German clientele. They had rented the inside as well as outside cabins. We understood from those who were repeaters the time on land was far more limited per person when more folks were on the ship.

We loved the ship and the crew was great. Do, though, find out about how many pax will be on board. That may affect your experience (positively or negatively). On a two week cruise, we spent perhaps 23 hours cumulatively off the ship - and 10 of those hours were in the Falkland Islands. The ship was comfortable with roughly 270 people. It would have been cramped with nearly double that number IMHO.

As for rough seas, we ran into them near S. Georgia and Elephant Island. The Drake passage was pretty calm. We went the first two weeks of February. S. Georgia was the highlight of the trip. We also had a few missed stops for weather, but a couple of new landings on the continent itself to somewhat make up for the missed landings on S. Georgia.

Cheers, Anne

The new ship they are using, Le Boreal , looks incredible - I got A&Ks email a week or so ago and signed up for news from the ship company for the two new ships which look like they will have very interesting itineraries.

Thank you both.

Anne--I remember your great trip reports, especially the mud room boot wars. Your witty writing was a mobilizing factor here, although I can't imagine having as wonderfully raucus a time without the LCTrs.

I am bummed that I can't get off work to do the longer tour with S. Georgia--that is 25 days, but am happy for what I hopefully can do.

The ship holds about 290 but they only book 188 for Antarctica, all in outside cabins, which is a plus in my mind. Plus, the base cabins (down and midship for me) look pretty large for this type of thing, about 200 sq. ft. And the single supp is excellent.

It's the polar bears' fault. I went to the PB because I did not think I could handle Drake. But those bears, they caught my heart. And made me think penguins penguins penguins. So I plan to sedate myself through Drake and do what I wanted to do in the first place.

In case of interest, my sister and I are now planning 12/7/10, 15 days.

You guys are so great. Thanks.

This looks like a sensational ship I have been emailing many people about this new addition to Antarctica. Wonderful cabins, it is a French ship and we have made some bookings on it already.

Prince Albert (Silversea) is a great ship I have been on that and loved it. IT is doing Antarctica too.

Diane, that sounds a bit early for the chicks and they are what make the whole experience so special. It is such a short window to get the penguins at the right time. Too late and all the adelies have left.

I went in and checked the WEB and here is what at tour company states about the seasons. Of course the want to sell all their travel dates. I think really January to early February is prime. It is better to go in December though if that is the only time you can go rather than not go at all.

November and December Wildlife
A voyage in November or early December is the best time to cruise to Antarctica if you love the freshness of spring and the first flush of new life. Penguins, snow petrels, skuas, giant petrels, cormorants are starting their breeding cycle and building nests. You will see penguins display complex courtship behaviour, ritualized posturing and song. The ice is crisp and clean, and some sea ice may linger still attached to shore. Icebergs frozen in this winter ice start to break free creating a shifting landscape.

December and January Wildlife
Another great Antarctica cruise time is mid season, between December and January as the abundance in food from the ocean means wildlife is prolific. Whales, especially humpbacks have made the long migration south in search of krill, and are feeding along the coast of Antarctica, often with their young. Skuas, petrels, and albatross make the most of the productive season and during these months penguin chicks’ are making their first foray from their shells. Weddell seals, Crabeater seals and Leopard seals lay hauled out on icefloes or on the shore ensuring this is truly a great time for an Antarctica travel adventure.

February and March Wildlife
February and March is also a good time for an Antarctica cruise. In these months you will see the culmination of the breeding activity of previous months. Penguin chicks are large, curious and inquisitive. They rest in crèches, as the adults feed at sea. Leopard seals are making the most of the juvenile penguins’ first swim and are feeding intensively. Fur seals rest on ice floes and Minke whales, and Orca can appear at anytime. All wildlife is making the most of the final weeks of sunlight. This is the best time of year for Antarctica cruises across the Antarctic circle and into the deep south. Here you can encounter some serious ice in a rarely visited landscape. Sunsets are particularly dramatic as the days shorten.

Due to the variable nature of weather on an Antarctica cruise , you can experience crystal clear days at any time of the season. Ice conditions also shift with the weather and you may experience snow, sleet and wind any time.

Leslie: Thanks! I signed up for the newsletter too as Antarctica is on our bucket list.

Cheers! Ray

Ngaire,Please send ME (notice it's not US) info on it. Antartic is also on my Bucket list.

Ngaire--

Thanks for the info. If January is better, January it is. Feb would be too close to Roar for my sister.

Pat--any interest 1/10?

Ngaire--

Another timing problem is that Le Boreal only has the 15 dayers in December Jan and Feb are 25 dayers. Silversea would probably cut me out because of the single supplements.

Will the penguins be there in Dec? Even if not in droves?

Thanks

Diane, what is the single supplement for Le Boreal? When we were on ICE (Explorer II thru Regent, with Anne and Gary)it was very low, and the Silversea 100% single supplement would be a deal breaker for me. I take it you would be on Le Boreal?

I think you are remembering the boot wars that were on an earlier trip with Ngaire on a German ship that Raddison used in the past. On Explorer II, we were given our own sets of boots to be taken to our cabin, thankfully!

Like you, I am seasick prone, and yes, we did run into bad weather a bit of the time, enough that they put the metal covers on the portholes in my cabin for several days. I spent some time prone below, but on the days we were doing landings, I was fine. On several days, we had sunshine, and lunches on the deck outside. In spite of it all, I would go back in a minute even if I had to suffer the "Drake Shake" for a couple of days!

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The single supp is about 30%. Maybe a little higher but not much.

Nat. Geog. has trips in January, but I want to try the Le Boreal. So December it may be.

http://www.abercrombiekent.com/antarctica/le_boreal.cfm

It would be great if you'd consider coming too.

Yes that Silversea single supplement is 75% on Vistas and 100% on Balcony cabins. That A&K 30% is really a great value.

Diane, there will be penguins but probably no chicks in December. The chicks are so much fun when they get a little bigger chasing their mothers for food and then when they molt they are amazing little creatures. However, better to go and miss the chicks than not go at all.

The longer voyages of 18 and 19 days go to South Georgia and are better timing for the penguin season.
Dec. 17, 2010 - Jan. 05, 2011
Jan. 02, 2011 - Jan. 20, 2011

That January 02 to January 20,2011 is the better of the two voyages.

Thank you so much Ngaire.

A&K in December it is for me.

Diane, will you be on the December 7 or 17 adventure? While the latter would give you South Georgia and the king penguins, either will be wonderful. I recall you have a young adult son, and may need to be home during the holidays.

So exciting that we will have an lct person aboard on an early early voyage on this ship to give us a first hand account of the cruise! As much as I liked the ship as a whole on Explorer II (and the more traditional decor), the amenities and cabins on Le Boreal, if they can match the wonderful crew on the other ship make it more than enticing, especially with the single supplements. They are going to give Silversea some real competition, with all those balcony cabins. I will confess that the computer generated pictures of the contemporary interiors leave me with lots of white in my mind, but put a roomful of people and a great crew in them, and that will change.

Can't wait to hear your reports, as they were captivating on the latest Polar Bear expedition through BK. Hey, and bring your camera, you know we love pictures of a new ship. Heck, we liked pictures of Aloft in Dallas when there were people involved. Wish I could be there, but I am SO overbooked for 2010, even for 2011, due to our sneak preview at Ho Down.

Oh you are so sweet to remember my Noah. Thank you.

My sister and I will likely be on the 12/7, because of my work. One day....

Still bummed I missed Ho Dowm

"Noah" is a beautiful name

Cool! Another star reporter in Antarctica to keep us all enthralled.

As interesting as the chicks are, I would go simply for the sake of going. The terrain, the interaction of the animals (fur seals/penguins/leopard seals/elephant seals/albatross/petrels) is interesting at any time. I really learned the differences in the various penguin species and, as a result, find them much more interesting. Chinstraps were my favorite; but I'll take any of 'em.

Bring hair conditioner. We didn't have it on the Explorer II. Andrea shared, and I learned to love Keristan.

Enjoy the holidays! How many days til Le Boreal? :D

Cheers, Anne

Enjoy the holidays to Anne and all too. Thanks.

The day I know is 1/9/10--331 days out, so I can try for miles on Delta.

Anne--On P Bears, I thought that you and I could have produced quite the reports had we both been on the trip. One day....

Joanna--Lovely name, lovely young man, even with the countdown to adulthood, and the accompanying sullen looks, closed doors, undecipherable adolescent language, oh so perfect grades. I will miss that fellow when he descends on his college town. The school won't know what hit it, in many, many ways.

PENGUINS! Life is for the living.

Joanna--Lovely name, lovely young man, even with the countdown to adulthood, and the accompanying sullen looks, closed doors, undecipherable adolescent language, oh so perfect grades. I will miss that fellow when he descends on his college town. The school won't know what hit it, in many, many ways.

OMG bring on the memories Diane - they survive and we do too!!!! Amazing I did not kill couple of mine given my personality - oh those closed doors and perfect grades huh??? - Noah will surprise you as mine did me :hug: :hug:

Joanna--no persuading you re the penguins?

This is definitely something that we're considering. Just wish I knew when. I'll look forward to reading about your experience, Diane.