Why should I use a travel agent to book an Antarctica expedition?
Because the purchase is complicated and it costs you nothing extra. There are dozens of ships, a dozen or more operators, and itineraries that look similar on paper but deliver quite different trips. Our job is to cut that down to the two or three that actually fit what you want, and to be straight
What does Let’s Go Polar do as a polar travel agency?
We’re a polar travel agency. We sell Antarctic and Arctic expedition voyages across many operators rather than working for one cruise line, which means we can compare products and tell you when the one you’re looking at isn’t the right fit. You pay the operator’s listed price. We also run our own ch
How do I choose a polar travel agent?
Have an actual conversation before you commit, and pay attention to whether they ask what you want before they start recommending things. An agent who leads with a specific ship before understanding your priorities is selling inventory rather than advising you. Check their reputation in the polar co
Does it cost more to book Antarctica through a travel agent?
No. You pay the price the operator lists, there’s no fee added for using us, and we don’t put commission on top of your fare. Booking direct doesn’t get you a lower number. Sometimes an agent can access a better price than the one on the operator’s own site.
When are kayaking and camping available on Antarctica cruises?
The snow-dependent activities are gated by the season, so timing decides availability. Camping and snowshoeing are at their best in November and early December when there’s deep snow to camp on and walk over, and they get progressively harder as the season melts out. Kayaking runs across more of the
What is a split landing on an Antarctica cruise?
It’s how a ship of around 200 passengers gets everyone off under the 100-ashore rule. One hundred people land while the other hundred go Zodiac cruising, then halfway through the slot they swap, which the industry calls a hot swap. Both halves get roughly equal shore and Zodiac time, and importantly
Do optional activities mean missing landings in Antarctica?
Sometimes, and it depends on the ship and the slot. Kayakers and paddlers go out during an excursion window, so on some ships you’re swapping a landing for the activity rather than adding it to your day. The rule that makes this workable is that activity participants don’t count toward the 100 peopl
What is the difference between a landing and a Zodiac cruise in Antarctica?
A landing puts you on shore for 60 to 90 minutes to walk a scouted, marked route past colonies, historic huts or research bases. A Zodiac cruise keeps you in the boat and takes you out among the whales, calving glaciers, rolling icebergs and penguins on floes. Most people arrive assuming they want m
How many landings do you get on an Antarctica expedition cruise?
Two off-ship activities a day on a ship of 200 passengers or fewer, and each one is either a landing or a Zodiac cruise. Ships under 100 passengers can sometimes squeeze in three or four. Ships over 200 usually manage one. If you’ve seen six or seven landings a day suggested anywhere, that isn’t rea
How long do you spend ashore on an Antarctica landing?
60 to 90 minutes on land per landing. Each excursion slot runs about 2.5 to 3 hours off the ship in total, split between time ashore and time in a Zodiac. That sounds short until you’re standing in it. Most people are ready to head back after an hour and a half, and the ones who want longer are usua