Antarctic Peninsula Cruises
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.com
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Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.
On our Antarctic Peninsula expeditions we are committed to the conservation of the places we visit. Our Antarctic expedition ships are smaller, less imposing on the polar landscape than the bigger cruise ships. Group landings by zodiac are more easily managed and a low ratio of leaders to passengers provides a personalised, added value experience. Your onboard natural history experts, through guided walks and evening talks, reveal the wonders of Antarctic scenery and wildlife. In this way you will be introduced to some of the local and global conservation issues which this fragile habitat faces.
Our Antarctic expedition trips are made under full membership of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and as such abide by their strict codes of conduct. Encounters with all wildlife are controlled by strict responsible codes of conduct.
The Impacts of this Trip
The areas we visit throughout Antarctica and the subAntarctic region have no permanent population other than the researchers who reside seasonally or overwinter at bases in the Peninsula and the Antarctic Islands. There is a good rapport between such station staff and our small expedition ships, we bring passengers to appreciate their work, offer company and discussion and also bring their otherwise underused cash to uniquely spend on what service or souvenir they offer. At Vernadsky station for example the friendly Ukrainian researchers are happy to provide us with a tour of their laboratories- the place where the Ozone hole was first discovered, share news and stories, join us for a beer or vodka at their bar and of course sell stamps and postcards which can take up to a year to arrive! Help is also given to scientists and station personnel if they need to be transferred from South America to their working places in the Antarctic , and vice versa.
On our Antarctic Peninsula expeditions we are committed to the conservation of the places we visit. Our Antarctic expedition ships are smaller, less imposing on the polar landscape than the bigger cruise ships. Group landings by zodiac are more easily managed and a low ratio of leaders to passengers provides a personalised, added value experience. Your onboard natural history experts, through guided walks and evening talks, reveal the wonders of Antarctic scenery and wildlife. In this way you will be introduced to some of the local and global conservation issues which this fragile habitat faces.
Our Antarctic expedition trips are made under full membership of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and as such abide by their strict codes of conduct. Encounters with all wildlife are controlled by strict responsible codes of conduct.
The Impacts of this Trip
The areas we visit throughout Antarctica and the subAntarctic region have no permanent population other than the researchers who reside seasonally or overwinter at bases in the Peninsula and the Antarctic Islands. There is a good rapport between such station staff and our small expedition ships, we bring passengers to appreciate their work, offer company and discussion and also bring their otherwise underused cash to uniquely spend on what service or souvenir they offer. At Vernadsky station for example the friendly Ukrainian researchers are happy to provide us with a tour of their laboratories- the place where the Ozone hole was first discovered, share news and stories, join us for a beer or vodka at their bar and of course sell stamps and postcards which can take up to a year to arrive! Help is also given to scientists and station personnel if they need to be transferred from South America to their working places in the Antarctic , and vice versa.
6 Reviews of Antarctic Peninsula Cruises
Reviewed on 24 Feb 2020 by Ravindra Singh
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The entire experience was memorable. It is difficult to point at greatness in excitement when it was evident almost throughout. However, to be concise. The feeling of being in a pristine region and ice and the marine life stand out.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
There is nothing to add to the trip. Maybe people can look at spending sometime in Patagonia after they come back as an addition to the trip. However, it is a personal question of time available.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I am not sure if it classifies as helping the locals as there are
no locals except the penguins. Did we reduce the environmental impact of
humans. Well we did our best. The best thing would be to leave the place alone but then we wouldn’t be writing this. It was amongst the next best thing we
could do while enjoying the environs in most responsible manner. Did we support
conservation, yes and the guides were pretty particular about it. They explained the steps being taken and rationale behind to everyone and I guess most people understood it clearly.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent, Mesmerising and Surreal
Reviewed on 26 Jan 2020 by Sarianne Siirila
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Wildlife encounters, the untouched nature and learning new things about Antarctica, environmental impacts and the animals.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring watershoes for polar plunge, currently only the swimsuit is mentioned but the beach is very rocky.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I don't think it reduced environmental impact, but it did hopefully educate people onboard. I would still hope for more supervision onshore, as many people
were disobeying the rules set for us for example with distance to be maintained to wildlife and allowing them to pass with priority. One man was even walking
right after a poor penguin that had to scramble away in panic.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Overall an amazing experience!
Reviewed on 17 Dec 2019 by David Massey
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
First sightings of icebergs on board ship was very exciting. Kayaking amongst the ice and icebergs was amazing and well worth doing as an extra. I also
enjoyed walking with sticks on the snow and seeing an Amundsen replica tent together with the Norwegian flag in the distance, set up by the expedition
team. As I approached it, it gave me a sense of what Scott and his men must have thought. I even tried on a replica Amundsen coat. We also saw lots of wildlife including an enormous number of humpback whales and orcas.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Remember your sunglasses and sun protection! American dollars are useful for Argentina.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The staff were very professional and did everything by the book to preserve Antarctica. We enjoyed our brief trips in Ushuaia and Buenos Aires and spent
money in shops and restaurants.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Best holiday ever! Expensive as expected on this sort of trip but got good value for money for what we saw and experienced.
Reviewed on 26 Mar 2019 by Bruce Denwood
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Day one zodiac outing. We were so lucky, ten minutes after leaving the ship we had three humpbacks surface right next to our zodiac, they stayed for about 10
minutes and put on a great show.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't book the Ortelius, the lounge/bar has no external view to speak of. There are not enough seats for the number of passengers and during briefings a number of people had to stand; poor!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The team were very environmentally focussed and ensured we were conscious of not overly disturbing the wildlife
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Trip of a lifetime.
Reviewed on 17 Feb 2019 by Michael Dunkley
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Everything.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not really.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Great.
Read the operator's response here:
We contribute to rainforest rehabilitation and purchase when you book with us. Funds committed so far have helped to create 10,000 acres of protected forest within a new 5.9 m acres of national park, national reserve and 57 community territories in Amazonian Peru; 1,000 acres of Madagascan rainforest, plus new forest reserves in western Ecuador.
Other financial contribution/support include Seabird Habitat Restoration – South Georgia Heritage Trust &Save The Albatross-BirdLife International
Supporting science –Scripps Marine Mammal and King Penguin population / vocalization data collection ,NASA – Cloud Observer and Pelagic Bird Survey, Stonybrooke University
Onboard education: lecturers, display boards and flyers on climate change, habitat and wildlife preservation, environmental hazards.
Your ship reduces single use plastics in food preparation and presentation, uses watermakers /provides water bottles, supports sustainable co-operative coffee, offers beach clean up days, has management beyond IMO guidelines, and sources 90% sustainable seafood..
Very best wishes for now
Charlotte
Polar guide/Marine Scientist
Reviewed on 24 Dec 2017 by Gillian Mason
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Crossing the Drake Passage on our return home in a force 10 Gale. So exciting. Plus all our Zodiac trips.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You need to be reasonably agile to walk up and down the steps to board the Zodiacs and to climb in. Take along a sense of humour and adventure.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Everyone was advised to make as little impact as possible when we landed. To leave no trace on land or animals.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
My trip was one of the best trips I've had. The organisation, excursions, staff and crew, food and fellow passengers were amazing. I loved every minute. There was never a dull moment but you could find a quiet space in the library if needed.
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