Question re: Antarctica excursions
in Antarctica
Had a bit of uncertainty reading Tauck's description, so I called Tauck, and the rep couldn't give me a definitive answer. She said she would call back next week, but thought I'd pose the question here (though the past doesn't always guarantee the future 
)
Specifically - regarding the small ship cruise to Antarctica - I got the impression that the best case scenario 'plan' is for there to be one excursion each day, for 4 days...but weather, etc... can change things. However, I wasn't terribly confident of that conclusion, and Tauck couldn't confirm.
Does that comport with your experience? Thanks in advance!
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I’m pretty sure the plan is for excursions on five days, and normally two per day. But the weather and sea conditions can change all of that. We had excellent weather but missed one landing due to sea conditions. The published schedule is a ‘rough draft’.
Check! Thanks so much, Sealord!
I’ve heard some people stop going ashore after a couple of trips in the zodiacs and just take photos from the ship.
Yes, weather permitting, you should have 2 excursions per day - one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
I’m sure that some non-ambulatory or semi-ambulatory people observe from the ship, but on our trip everyone was anxious to get into the Zodiacs, and disappointed when we could not. Everyone got suited up in the lounge. Most people between excursions were running around the ship just wearing their ‘ski skins’. I don’t think I have any still photos, just videos.
Nope, no stills of people suiting up..
Does anyone remember this: I do: We were on this ship the last year that it was owned and operated by A&K when we went to Antarctica:
Cruise ship goes down off Antarctica
Icy Rescue as Seas Claim a Cruise Ship - The New York Times
Antarctica's 10 Most Famous Shipwrecks | Antarctica Cruises
The sinking of MS Explorer #ship #sinking #wreck #accident ...
View all
The MS Explorer (initially the Lindblad Explorer) was a cruise ship that sank in Antarctica on November 23, 2007, after hitting an iceberg. The vessel, nicknamed "The Little Red Ship," was the first cruise ship designed for Antarctic tourism and was carrying 154 people, all of whom were safely evacuated and rescued. The sinking led to significant reforms in polar cruising regulations and safety standards.
You can watch this video to learn more about the sinking of the MS Explorer:
Key details of the sinking
Date: November 23, 2007
Location: Bransfield Strait, near the South Shetland Islands
Cause: The ship struck an iceberg, tearing a gash in its hull.
Ship details: The Explorer was built in 1969 and was the first cruise ship specifically designed for Antarctic tourism.
Evacuation: All 154 passengers and crew members were safely evacuated into lifeboats and rescued by a nearby ship, the MS Nordnorge.
Sinking: The ship sank approximately 20 hours after the collision.
Aftermath and impact
The incident marked the first time a cruise ship sank in Antarctic waters.
Investigations revealed that crew error, including misjudging the thickness of the ice and maintaining a high speed at night, contributed to the disaster.
The sinking prompted international concern and led to stricter safety protocols for vessels operating in polar regions, including improved ice-class requirements.
When I was doing research for our Antarctic trip, I found a story by one of the passengers about that sinking of the MS Explorer It was interesting. I went and looked for it again but can't find it.
Just booked (thanks for the insights, everyone), though they don't know pricing, etc..., yet. Tauck rep said pricing (and I assume itinerary) should be available by mid-December.
Don't imagine the itinerary would be different than 2026, except perhaps some sights in Buenos Aires.
I’ve read here that weather conditions are generally better after December
I do remember a friend asking me if I was going to go to Antarctica because she was concerned about me as she knew someone who had fallen overboard.
I do have a few friends who will go to Europe but nowhere else. So they think the places I go are crazy-.