Antarctica holiday cruise

The operator is a full member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and, as such, abides by some of the tourism world's most conscientious codes of conduct. These go beyond the best practice guidelines for operating in Antarctic waters, as set by IAATO and the Australian Antarctic Division. A large part of that responsibility to minimise environmental impact and raise awareness involves educating their passengers on ways to minimise their personal impact, while still fully enjoying the wonders of Antarctica. This begins with the pre-departure information that includes a 'Guidelines for Low Impact Travel' booklet, as well as a comprehensive briefing document. On board there is a comprehensive educational programme that informs passengers about environmental issues affecting Antarctica, such as how to minimise personal impact on the environment to information on approaching wildlife and caring for fragile landscapes.

They are also involved in a number of environmental initiatives in Antarctica, including partnering Birds Australia and supporting a range of scientific research endeavours. They have carried researchers from the University of Tasmania to support their study of tourism impact on Antarctica, as well as under-going oceanographic and biological research on board their ship and transporting scientific personnel of many nationalities to and from their respective Antarctic bases. Their ships are some of the newest in the business and, as such, have state- of-the-art waste management systems and run cleaner and more efficiently than older vessels.

They believe that by taking passengers to Antarctica, allowing them to experience its wonder and educating and informing them on the local and global issues affecting the polar regions, they are helping to create ambassadors for protecting the fragile polar wilderness.

Get The Albatross Off The Hook: The Antarctic summer of 2001-2002 saw the start of a 'Get the Albatross Off the Hook' initiative, which involved sponsoring research on the threatened grey-headed albatross. Data is beamed back to Australia from radio transmitters attached to the birds during their foraging flights over the Southern Ocean. The information will pinpoint where the birds are at risk and, in doing so, help to halt the current devastating and unsustainable attrition of albatross populations due to long-line fisheries.

BirdLife's ‘Save the Albatross Campaign’ is trying to stop the needless slaughter of these magnificent birds by ensuring that relevant international agreements are implemented that will benefit both the birds and the legal fishing industry. Click here to find out about the problems, the solutions, BirdLife's campaign, how you can help and how you can sign the new online ‘Save the Albatross’ petition, being organised by Forest and Bird, BirdLife's New Zealand partner. You can also view photographs of the threatened species.