Embarkation Day
Getting To The Boat
You will need to drop your luggage off in the morning, but you will not be able to board the ship until the afternoon. When dropping off your luggage, you will be assigned a specific return time and location to meet the bus for boarding. Even though you can see the boat, you cannot walk to it; you must use the 5-minute bus ride. I recommend Patagonia Brewing Company and Ramos Generales El Almacen while you wait.
Parka
As soon as you board, you will pick up the polar parka that is yours for the length of the voyage. We were able to take our jackets home, but I heard that after our cruise, you will receive a mid-layer jacket to take home instead. I would have preferred this. The jackets were big and bulky, and I won’t wear them again. Tip: Bring a vacuum bag to pack your jacket in for travel home.
IAATO and Zodiac briefing
On the first day, there’s a required IAATO and Zodiac briefing that explains the rules for land excursions and zodiac rides. For anyone joining the Polar Latitudes Antarctica Expedition, you’ll need to follow guidelines like not picking things up, not putting your bag down, and keeping a safe distance from wildlife. It’s important to stick to these rules to help protect the Antarctic environment.
Clothing Inspection
The strict gear checks are a standard part of any Antarctica expedition to ensure safety and environmental protection. Bring any outerwear that isn’t new or freshly washed for the expedition leader’s inspection—they’re looking for foreign substances. They’ll also check if your pants are waterproof. The leader clarified that snowboard pants aren’t fully waterproof, just water-resistant. Fortunately, I had just washed mine, so I could skip the inspection. I wore them the whole trip without issue, since we had unusually good weather and I barely got wet.
Equipment
Now it’s time to try your muck boots and life jacket. It seems simple, but trust me—you might need a hand from a friend or neighbor, at least at first.
Kayaking
The only other required briefing is on Day 2 – Kayaking. You have to attend if you want to Kayak, so even if you are undecided, it’s a good idea to go to the meeting.
Drake Passage
Crossing the Drake is a rite of passage for any Antarctic expedition. It takes about 48 hours. I braced for seasickness—everyone talks about the legendary Drake Shake. Lucky me, I got the Drake Lake instead.
Activities
At sea, you’ll find plenty to do: join workshops like the NASA Citizen Science Program, attend lectures, and enjoy plenty of good food. There’s a library with games, but we brought our own cards, and I downloaded Heads Up on my phone. I was surprised to find a big selection of movies on the stateroom TV. I planned to read two books, yet I spent most of my time watching for wildlife and sorting through the 2,000 photos I took.
Wifi
Wi-Fi is available and works pretty well, but keep an eye on your data—it goes fast! Don’t expect to stay fully connected. I just checked WhatsApp and sent photos once a day; it worked great. See FAQ’s for pricing.
