If you are looking for a cheap cruise, this is not it. However, cruising to Antarctica is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In this Quark Expeditions Antarctica Cruise Review, you will discover that cruising to Antarctica might not be as you expected (perhaps better!)
Quark Expeditions actually classifies their tour to Antarctica not as a cruise, but as an “expedition”. Cruising with a smaller tour company is probably THE best way to not only see the Antarctica, but also to experience it. Today I’m revealing five secrets that nobody talks about in my Quark Expeditions Antarctica Cruise Review.
Before we get started, here are the answers to frequently asked questions about Antarctica:
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people live in Antarctica?
There are no permanent residents in Antarctica. However, approximately 4000 people inhabit Antarctica during the summer months and 1000 in winter months.
What are the summer months in Antarctica?
The summer months are October through April.
Antarctica is located in the Southern Hemisphere so the seasons are opposite the Northern Hemisphere.
What is the temperature in the Summer in the Antarctica?
Along the coast, summer temperatures can rise to +10 degrees Celsius (or 50 degrees Fahrenheit), with average temperatures around 0 degrees Celsius (or 32 degrees Fahrenheit).
What are the main cities in Antarctica?
Although there are no cities in Antarctica, the two largest “town-like” settlements are Villa Las Estrellas (a Chilean scientific base) and Esperanza (an Argentinian research station).
What is the temperature in Antartica in the Winter?
During the winter months, interior parts of Antarctica have an average temperature of -60 degrees Celsius (or -74 degrees Fahrenheit).
On the coastal regions, winter temperatures range from -15 to -20 degrees Celsius (or +5 to -4 degrees Fahrenheit).
Are there Aboriginal people in the Antarctica?
No, there are no indigenous people in Antarctica.
Without further adieu, here are the top 5 secrets you must know before you board the Quark Expeditions Antarctica Cruise:
Secret #1: The Window View is not what you think
There’s no looking out your large picture windows when you sail through the Drake Passage on your way to Antarctica aboard the Quark Expeditions ship. Windows are “boarded-up” for safety reasons. Once you make it through the infamous Drake Passage, the window boards are removed and you can see out your cabin window again.
However, why look out your cabin window when you can get unobstructed views of Antarctica from the cruise deck. The view below is just the tip of the iceberg for what you will see.
Secret #2: You don’t need to drink to feel drunk when cruising to Antarctica
It’s an uncanny experience to be completely sober and yet feel as drunk as a skunk as you stumble your way to your room. Railings line the hallways aboard the Quark Expeditions Antartica cruise for good reason. While sailing through the Drake Passage, you actually need to hold onto the railings to stabilize yourself as you walk to your room.
The sea can get rough. You can definitely feel the ship rock back-and-forth regardless of your cabin location. It is particularly common for passengers to experience sea-sickness as the ship sails though the Drake Passage.
To help prevent sea-sickness, take some over-the-counter medication before you need it so that the ship rocks you to sleep and you wake up seeing penguins.
Secret #3: You won’t lock yourself out of your cabin.
Most cruise ships have a room keycard (that white plastic card that looks like a credit card). Typically, you slide the room keycard into the card reader, wait for the green light, and go into your room. There are other variations where you tap the room keycard to get into your room.
Aboard the Quark Expeditions Ocean Adventurer cruise ship, there is no room keycard. There is no traditional key, either. You won’t lock yourself out of your cabin because there is no key at all. When you are inside your cabin, you can lock the door. However, there is no way to lock the door from the outside when you leave your room.
Should you worry about your stuff getting stolen? Let’s think about this. Chances are that your cruise mates have stuff in their own luggage that is worth far more than the contents in yours.
If you are worried about your material possessions, leave them at home. There is no need to bring your cherished grandmother’s heirlooms on this cruise.
Antarctica is not a place people visit to buy things; rather, Antartica is a place people visit to see things. However, if you so desire, bring along a lock for your luggage and some luggage straps to better secure your luggage contents.
When you go to Antarctica, all material possessions pale in comparison to the majesty of the mountains and the splendour of the seas. The grandeur of nature in Antarctica definitely changes the lens through which you see life.
Secret #4: Strangers Become Friends aboard the Antarctica Expedition
The are no stuffy formal nights. There are no flashy entertainment shows. Instead, there are evening seminars that are engaging. The speakers (who are also the guides) are passionate communicators who enthral you with their stories. They intermingle amongst the passengers while onboard (even at mealtime) and there is no hierarchy of sorts. You can ask questions to the speakers like you would a sister or friend.
There are no assigned seats and you are free to sit with new people at every meal. The people you meet each have a story to tell. Some are nature photographers, some are world travellers, others are thrill-seekers simply on their next adventure.
Eating a meal together is how friendships begin. Sharing peak experiences is how those connections quickly blossom. This is what makes the Quark Expeditions Antarctica cruise special. There is opportunity to make genuine connections with the people you meet onboard.
At the end of each Quark Expedition Antarctica Cruise, you can share your photos with others on your cruise through a group site. The site is open to only guests on the same cruise tour. Some of the photos are spectacular and look like what you would find in a National Geographic magazine… but, then again, so is the scenery.
The Quark Expeditions Antarctica Cruise is a meeting place for people around the world as passengers originate from other countries other than United States. You arrive as strangers but leave as friends.
Secret #5: You Might See a Bear (but not the one you might imagine)
Antarctica is home to penguins, seals, sea lions, whales, and many birds. Although polar bears can be found in the Arctic, there are no polar bears in Antarctica.
You might see another type of bear in Antarctica, though… but perhaps not the type of bear you imagined.
The only “bear” that you’ll see in the Antarctica is one of your fellow cruise mates taking the Polar Bear Plunge into the frigid waters of Antarctica. If you opt to participate in this activity, you must wear a safety strap.
Professional photographers are sitting on the raft ready to capture your plunge.
After the Polar Bear Plunge, the hot tub onboard is the place to be. So, bring your swim suit and connect with others who also took the plunge.
The Quark Expedition Antarctica expedition is a cruise like none other. The best entertainment is getting out in nature, breathing in the clean crisp air, and admiring the majestic scenery all around you.
I’m not going to reveal ALL the secrets in this Quark Expeditions Antarctica Cruise Review. You are going to have to book a trip aboard the Quark Expeditions Antarctica Cruise and find out for yourself.
Not quite ready for Antarctica? Alaska might be your next cruise destination.
Check out my blog post: Things to pack for your Alaskan cruise.
Want to “break the ice” with your fellow cruise passengers? Tell a joke. Here are a few Funny Cruise Jokes that will make you Belly Laugh.
Until Next Time,
Shelley