I recently traveled to Antarctica on the Ocean Albatros to celebrate my friend’s 50th birthday. We went on a twelve-day voyage with Polar Latitudes Expeditions, called Encounter the Antarctic Circle, from February 28 to March 11. We picked this trip because we wanted to cross the Antarctic Circle at 66 degrees south, which you can only do later in the season when there’s less ice. March is the last month of the tourist season before the ice comes back and the region has 24 hours of darkness. In winter, Antarctica’s landmass grows by 50% because of the ice.
If you’ve already booked your trip to Antarctica, or if you’re just curious about what it’s like, I’ve put together everything you need to know about an expedition to Antarctica.
Itinerary
Before the cruise, people kept telling me to stay flexible, and they were right. Each evening, we got the plan for the next day, but not a single day went exactly as scheduled.
We were lucky with the weather—it was sunny most days, and the usually rough Drake Passage was calm. The conditions were so good that we traveled farther south than many of the staff had ever gone. In fact, it was the farthest our boat and captain had ever been. We made it to 68 degrees south.
Frequently Asked Questions
