How to choose an Antarctic itinerary? Analyzing the 3 major routes
How many types of Antarctic itineraries are there?
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There are many departure points and routes to Antarctica, with Argentina in South America being the most popular, followed by Chile. By arranging between the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic continent, cruise lines created the single-island, dual-island, and triple-island itineraries. To choose the best itinerary for you, here's some essential information on these three routes.
1. Triple-Island Itinerary
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This itinerary visits the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula. Its unique feature is that it allows visitors to see the richest fauna, including up to six penguin species, all in one trip. Furthermore, with a total duration of at least 19 days, it also offers the most landings, with at least two landing opportunities per planned landing day, for an expected 20 landings. In the ever-changing Antarctic region, each additional landing opportunity allows for a greater appreciation of Antarctica's beauty. Therefore, despite its regular price of over US$15,000, the highest of the three itineraries, it often sells out early during peak season, from Christmas Eve to the end of January.
2. Dual-Island Itinerary
A dual-island itinerary is comprised of two islands, one between the Falkland Islands or South Georgia, and the Antarctic continent. For instance, a two-island itinerary by cruise ship takes 16 days. Furthermore, because spots for this itinerary is quite limited, the price is similar to a three-island itinerary, starting at $15,000.
Want to see mountains and valleys filled with king penguins? Then you can't miss a two-island itinerary that includes South Georgia, home to a magnificent colony of 150,000 king penguins. Furthermore, South Georgia is known as the "Galapagos of Antarctica." Therefore, a common itinerary in the past often combined South Georgia with the Antarctic mainland, catering to travelers who can't spare 19 days of vacation but still want to see king penguins.
3. Single-Island Itinerary
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Antarctica-only itineraries are the most popular of the three, as the continent itself is the spotlight in Antarctica adventures – a trip without setting foot on the continent feels like a complete absence. Thanks to the wide range of departure dates, single-island itineraries consistently rank as the most popular of the three, with prices around $10,000 USD.
However, to attract returning Antarctic travelers, shipping companies are not only actively developing new landing sites on the continent but are also turning their attention to unique single-island itineraries. Consequently, in the next two seasons, several cruise lines will offer single-island itineraries to South Georgia, starting at 15 days and including six landing days. Prices start at US$10,500. Interested readers are welcome to inquire and place an order.
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Finally, in addition to the details of the three popular itineraries, don't forget to pay attention to transportation options. Whether it's a single-island, dual-island, or triple-island itinerary, all offer air travel options, making them particularly suitable for those prone to seasickness. However, round-trip air travel is limited in number and tends to sell out early, sometimes requiring reservations a full season in advance. Conversely, round-trip ferry travel offers a wide variety of options.
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