Who should and should not go on an Antarctica cruise

Who should go – and not go
on an Antarctica cruise

Antarctica cruises

are not for everyone

Read the following factors.

Seasick prone

It takes about two days to cross the Drake Passage, the body of water separating South America and Antarctica. It's where the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans meet. This can cause rough seas. If someone is very seasick prone, he should consider skipping the cruise. If he is only marginally seasick prone, seasick pills or patches will likely solve the problem.

Non-agile

Unless a person is fit and agile, he may not be up to taking shore trips on the inflatable Zodiac watercrafts. However, if he doesn't mind staying aboard the ship, his lack of sufficient fitness and agility won't matter. He can enjoy the scenery.

Poor health

The ship will be remotely situated, far from highly sophisticated medical facilities. A ship's doctor can deal with only basic medical ailments. He has neither the medicine nor equipment for more serious conditions. Therefore, a person should not go on an Antarctica cruise if he suffers from a life-threatening condition.

Party-ship seeker

Partying is not central to an Antarctica cruise. Educational programs on wildlife, geology and ecology are. If learning about those topics and participating in Zodiac excursions is not someone's cup of tea, he might find an Antarctica cruise boring.

Children

Some ships have 6-to-12 year old minimum age limits. One reason is Antarctica cruises are lengthy and would seem tedious to most children (it's not like a Caribbean cruise with loads of children activities and fun ports of call). However, if your child is adventurous and intellectually curious about Antarctica, it might work. Recognize, though, there will likely be few children (or none) onboard to befriend him.

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Pages specific to the
Minerva cruise ship

Antarctica cruises
in general

Clickable Antarctica

wonder map

My "What it's Like"
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My general
cruise ship section

Click the button below for Regent's website for Minerva itineraries with maps, a list of cruise-specialist travel agents near you, plus other useful trip-planning information.

Pages specific to the
Minerva cruise ship

Antarctica cruise
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