When I went to Antarctica they had the "Polar Plunge" where people could jump into the freezing water. The participants had to get clearance from the ship doctor before they would be allowed to do that. The crew ties a harness around your middle so they can pull you out quickly.
We did the Tauck Ponant antarctica cruise in 2020. They did NOT do a polar plunge. They said they had discontinued it. I have no idea if they brought it back.
@MotherOfPoodles - My guess is that Tauck doesn't do it and the AI response is wrong. I can imagine that the shock of the cold water could cause a heart attact or other medical problem. Tauck may just not want to take the chance of a medical issue. It would take a while to evacuate you. We were just off the coast of Antarctica when the ship did the Polar Plunge.
I'm going back this year and have to decide if I want to do this. Although I may be past the age cutoff. If I remember from last time there was a maximum age - and you had to get cleared by the ship's doctor.
We went with Tauck/Ponant in 2022 and there was no polar plung. They had kayaking but you had to bring an EKG with you in order to do it. They did say a couple people each season accidentally fall in off of the Zodiacs. During some rough weather boardings there were as many as four people helping you get aboard the Zodiacs. All of the landings by the way are wet landings … you wade to shore but the water is not above your boots.
They did comment that it was discontinued due to heart attacks! I went to Greenland with Seabourn- they did the polar plunge. - Heart attacks be damned! I have to say that while I was in the zodiacs in Antarctica I was thinking about how unhappy I would be if I fell out. I held onto that rope for dear life!
We are going in January 2026. I called the Tauck office and asked about the polar plunge. They said no, they do not do that. But they may fill the pool!
I have no interest to go to Antarctica but was curious to see what the pool was like on Le Boreal as I have swam on all five Ponant cruises I have taken, to see if it is the same as the other Ponant ships. It’s different. I went on YouTube and came across Kentravels360 who posts several good videos and reviews of the ship. According to him, the pool is rarely filled, certainly not when crossing the Drake Passage. There are good views of the pool, both full and empty.
On his tour, which did not seem to have too much of a rough sea, he said the pool was only filled for one day and the water was not heated. I have only ever seen one other person using the pool on all my Ponant voyages! I was filmed swimming in one for a Tauck promotional video a few years ago which is why some here call me a swimsuit model.
I would be interesting to hear if anyone who has been to Antarctica has swam or seen anyone in the pool.
I am sure there are no polar plunges due to the usual age demographic on Tauck tours and the higher risk of a heart attack when suddenly being plunged into icy water.
Another repeat, but our pool on. Le Lyrial was filled all the time, and it was used by a few people. It was also heated. Our trip also had kyaking as an adventure, but you had to provide the ship with an EKG in order to participate.
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When I went to Antarctica they had the "Polar Plunge" where people could jump into the freezing water. The participants had to get clearance from the ship doctor before they would be allowed to do that. The crew ties a harness around your middle so they can pull you out quickly.
I have pictures of people doing the Polar Plunge at https://www.mikeandjudytravel.com/2021-2Antarctica-04.htm
I suspect just about every tour that goes to Antarctica does their version of the "Polar Plunge".
Really. Does Tauck/Ponant do that?
I found this about Ponant and the Polar Plunge. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1218665090262283&id=100063564111773&set=a.623320683130063
I searched on "does the tauck tour of antarctica do a polar plunge" and the AI response says they do.
In case you're not aware, AI sometimes makes stuff up when it can't find an answer.
Yes, that's why I specified that the answer was supplied by AI, to imply that the answer might not be accurate.
See what you're missing, British, by not going to Antarctica
We did the Tauck Ponant antarctica cruise in 2020. They did NOT do a polar plunge. They said they had discontinued it. I have no idea if they brought it back.
@MotherOfPoodles - My guess is that Tauck doesn't do it and the AI response is wrong. I can imagine that the shock of the cold water could cause a heart attact or other medical problem. Tauck may just not want to take the chance of a medical issue. It would take a while to evacuate you. We were just off the coast of Antarctica when the ship did the Polar Plunge.
I'm going back this year and have to decide if I want to do this. Although I may be past the age cutoff. If I remember from last time there was a maximum age - and you had to get cleared by the ship's doctor.
We went with Tauck/Ponant in 2022 and there was no polar plung. They had kayaking but you had to bring an EKG with you in order to do it. They did say a couple people each season accidentally fall in off of the Zodiacs. During some rough weather boardings there were as many as four people helping you get aboard the Zodiacs. All of the landings by the way are wet landings … you wade to shore but the water is not above your boots.
I still have no interest in going ot Antarctica.
I was not at all sure that I wanted to go until I got there. It is number two on my list of favorite trips.
You can see icebergs and glaciers In Patagonia, penguins. Seals, condors, Guanacos, rea birds….
They did comment that it was discontinued due to heart attacks! I went to Greenland with Seabourn- they did the polar plunge. - Heart attacks be damned! I have to say that while I was in the zodiacs in Antarctica I was thinking about how unhappy I would be if I fell out. I held onto that rope for dear life!
We did the tauck Antarctica trip Dec 2021...they did not do the polar plunge
We are going in January 2026. I called the Tauck office and asked about the polar plunge. They said no, they do not do that. But they may fill the pool!
I have no interest to go to Antarctica but was curious to see what the pool was like on Le Boreal as I have swam on all five Ponant cruises I have taken, to see if it is the same as the other Ponant ships. It’s different. I went on YouTube and came across Kentravels360 who posts several good videos and reviews of the ship. According to him, the pool is rarely filled, certainly not when crossing the Drake Passage. There are good views of the pool, both full and empty.
On his tour, which did not seem to have too much of a rough sea, he said the pool was only filled for one day and the water was not heated. I have only ever seen one other person using the pool on all my Ponant voyages! I was filmed swimming in one for a Tauck promotional video a few years ago which is why some here call me a swimsuit model.
I would be interesting to hear if anyone who has been to Antarctica has swam or seen anyone in the pool.
I am sure there are no polar plunges due to the usual age demographic on Tauck tours and the higher risk of a heart attack when suddenly being plunged into icy water.
Different ship, but here's a video of the pool on the ship during an Antarctic cruise - https://www.mikeandjudytravel.com/2021-2Antarctica-05.htm#Pool
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Another repeat, but our pool on. Le Lyrial was filled all the time, and it was used by a few people. It was also heated. Our trip also had kyaking as an adventure, but you had to provide the ship with an EKG in order to participate.