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Learn what it's like aboard
an Antarctica cruise ship |
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Top 10 things
While many Antarctica cruise ships offer some of the benefits listed below, only the Minerva (formerly named the Explorer II) delivers all of them.
As with all Antarctica cruise ships that offer Zodiac landings, you are virtually guaranteed to see exciting wildlife in their natural habitat - and observe raw natural beauty of awesome icebergs, sweeping glaciers, and towering peaks. To me, it was like being on a distant planet. What makes the Minerva different is you experience this remote natural spectacle on the most comfortable, refined, and well-appointed Antarctica cruise ship that offers Zodiac landings. The Minerva's decor and ambiance are cozy country-inn. Its service and food are gratifying – and onboard activities are geared for intelligent travelers.
Large ships do not conduct Zodiac excursions. They are look-but-don't-touch cruises. On the Minerva, you enjoy two Zodiac adventures a day. Read my "Zodiac landing" web page for details.
The Minerva has the finest all-around lecture team among Antarctica cruise ships. Read my "Onboard Enrichment" web page for details.
The cruise ship has two restaurants, three lounges, a cinema, and more. Enrichment activities include lectures and pre-excursion briefings. You also relish wildlife, seascape and landscape viewing from the deck. Lecturers stand next to you, eagerly providing insights.
No Antarctica cruise ship crew tries harder to pamper its guests - and to anticipate their needs.
Your cruisemates are personable, educated, and well-traveled. Their long-held desire to visit Antarctica creates a common bond.
You are not assigned a specific restaurant, table, or eating time. You dine where, when, and with whom you desire.
The fare covers many cruise items that are normally extras. These include tips, food and beverages. All Zodiac excursions in Antarctica are also complimentary.
The Minerva travels much smoother in rough waters than do smaller Antarctica cruise ships because it is bigger and has retractable side stabilizers. These qualities matter because sometimes the Drake Passage (open sea between South America and Antarctica) can get rough.
My cruisemates told me how impressed they were with the staff's disciplined devotion to their safety onboard, on land, and in Zodiacs. Moreover, the ship has an ice-strengthened hull - and bow thrusters to boost maneuverability in icy bays and channels.
Is the Minerva perfect? No. It is impossible for any cruise ship to be flawless given the complexity of a vessel and the many staffers involved. Deficiencies are bound to occur. However, on my Minerva cruise, deficiencies were minimal considering the ship's remote itinerary.
Click these buttons
Pages specific to the
Antarctica cruises
wonder map
My "What it's Like on ..."
My general
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.
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Pages specific to the
Antarctica cruise
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I hope your luxury cruise ship dreams come true - and that this travel page helps you enjoy your vacation, tour or trip Note: Some of the photos on my luxury cruise ship web pages are mine. Others are Nigel Clayton's or RSSC's, which I use with their kind permission. Web page ©2008 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications
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Adventure
plus comfort
Zodiac
landings
Lecturers
Onboard
facilities & activities
Crew
Fellow passengers
Open
dining-room seating
All
inclusive fare
Smoother
sailing
High
safety standards
to
view
