The Remote World of the True Antarctic

By guest blogger Steve Newman

As more and more cruise lines start offering voyages into Antarctica, the quest is on to find something that little bit more adventurous or different to make the voyage more attractive and memorable to dedicated cruisers.

With that in mind, Hurtigruten are offering the chance to attempt to cross the Antarctic Circle on their ‘Polar Circle Quest’ voyage, a 15-day journey into a realm where few have ventured, before attempts to travel to a latitude of 66° 33’ south, into the remote world of true Antarctic explorers.

The final itinerary is subject to local weather and ice conditions with the aim to cross the Antarctic Circle at 66° 33’ south and travel to Marguerite Bay on the company’s specially designed Polar vessel the Fram. Rarely visited even by Antarctic standards, Marguerite Bay is dotted with ice-covered islands and surrounded by pristine mountainous scenery. It is home to the only known breeding colony of Emperor penguins on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula.

There are also several bases in Marguerite Bay, both new and old. Amongst them are Rothera Station on Adelaide Island and the 1950s' era British “Base E” on Stonnington Island. Also on the schedule are visits to Deception Island, Half Moon Island, Yankee Harbour, Cuverville Island, Neko Harbour, Paradise Harbour, Lemaire Channel, Petermann Island, Port Lockroy, Wilhelmina Bay, the Antarctic Sound and Brown Bluff.

You will be able to witness landscapes that few eyes have seen before and explore the highest, driest, coldest and cleanest continent on earth, which has 90% of the world’s ice. Available on February 2, 2012, the price includes 12 nights full board on the ship, two night’s B&B accommodation in Buenos Aires (either side of voyage), return flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. From £4,211 per person (based on two sharing).

International flights are extra and can be booked via Hurtigruten if required. For more information, look up http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/

Hurtigruten are also exhibiting at the Cruise Show in Birmingham on October 16-17 and at London's Olympia March 26-27, 2011.

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