Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I book a trip with The Polar Adventure Company?

From budget-savvy to modern luxury, polar cruise operators offer a range of diverse experiences and accommodation styles in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Our polar trips are offered at the exact same price as the ship or tour operator, including incentives or specials. You won’t pay more when traveling with us but what you will get is unbiased advice on the best voyage for you along with unparalleled access to over 500 polar experiences.

Do you sell Group Travel?

The Polar Adventure Company does sell group travel. We have been arranging group travel into polar regions for many years. The requirements for what constitutes a group vary by each operator and each operator’s incentives for groups vary.

The benefits of group travel for larger families, special-interest groups, organizations, companies, etc., are often special pricing for those group members and the group organizers. Where possible groups will be seated together and enjoy excursions together, making the experience more personalized and exciting.

Do you sell charters or private travel?

Curating private travel experiences has been a mainstay of what The Polar Adventure Company has been doing for decades. Contact us to discuss the custom or private experience you are searching for. Our unparalleled access to the world’s leading polar operators, whether at sea or on land, will ensure that we can design the right trip for you.

If you are interested in a ship or polar yacht charter, contact our office. As in our scheduled trips, charters and private travel are offered at the exact same price as any broker or tour operator will offer you, including incentives or specials. You won’t pay more if you decide to charter with us but what you will get is unbiased advice on the best vessel, destination(s), and trip options. We have access to many more ships, yachts, and niche operators than are available on our website. We would be happy to talk through these options with you.

What should I pack for an Antarctic expedition?

The Polar Adventure Company has partnered with a leading adventure retail company to provide you with options for almost everything you may need on your expedition Antarctic trip.

Click here to see our store

Our travel partners will have a more complete list to share upon confirming your trip. Until then, there are some basic clothing and other items that experienced polar travelers always have in their kit.

We have been on countless polar trips and would never leave home without:

1. Parka**
2. Base layer undergarments (preferably merino or synthetic, avoid cotton)
3. Mid-layer - (heavy-weight fleece, lightweight down, or synthetic jacket)
4. Warm winter hat
5. Waterproof pants
6. Warm & waterproof gloves or mittens (x2)
7. Thermal socks (merino or synthetic, avoid cotton)
8. Waterproof boots** (e.g. Muck Boots)
9. Casual and comfortable clothes for onboard
10. Comfortable shoes for onboard
11. Neckwarmer
12. Sunscreen
13. Small dayback
14. Camera
15. Sunglasses
16. Lip balm
17. Water Bottle
18. Extra medication
19. Insurance

** Many polar operators provide complimentary or for rent. Ask your Polar Adventure Co. Specialist.

What should I pack for an Arctic expedition?

There is no simple answer to this question but it's one we hear all the time. With literally hundreds of travel options and almost as many polar destinations, there are several decisions that travelers need to consider before selecting the right polar experience.

We will walk you through some of the key decision points that will help you narrow down the best options for you to decide. Our unbiased advice on the best voyage for you along with unparalleled access to over 500 polar experiences will ensure that it’s a fit.

Examples of what you need to consider before selecting your trip are: Are you comfortable in more basic accommodations or are you looking for luxury? Maybe something in the middle? Are you comfortable with a sailing trip or would prefer to maximize your time in a destination by flying one or both trip segments?

Our inventory of polar adventures has something for the budget-savvy traveler to those looking for the ultimate luxury experience. Let us walk you through the options. We are here to help you make the right choice.

What are the differences in polar cruise ships?

Cruise ships vary in level of accommodations, their sizes, amenities, capabilities (e.g. polar rating), staffing levels, excursion offerings, and more! It’s not always just about the ship as it is the crew, guides, and sometimes a little “je ne sais quois” that can make a polar trip incredible.

You can click the links below to learn more about the different classifications of our expedition cruise ships.

What are the differences between the Arctic and the Antarctic?

A loaded question to be sure but the biggest difference is that the Arctic is sea surrounded by land and Antarctica is land surrounded by sea. It’s for this reason that the travel experiences in these regions are vastly different.

The Arctic region consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of; Canada, the USA, Russia, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Norway, Svalbard (Norway), Sweden, and Finland.

Tourism in the Arctic is governed on a national level within the respective countries. AECO (Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators) is an NGO focused on cruise-operator best practices, environmental stewardship, and safe tourism. The Polar Adventure Company only partners with AECO member cruise operators.

Antarctica, by contrast, is a continent with no nations. International activities in Antarctica are governed by The Antarctic Treaty and tourism operators in the Antarctic region are overseen by the member-based organization IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators). The Polar Adventure Company only partners with IATTO member operators.

Flora and Fauna

Flora and fauna are vastly different in Antarctica and the Arctic with large contrasts such as:

• Antarctica has no large land animals but has a great diversity of other species such as penguins, other bird species, seals, and whales. Though only about 1% of the continent is ice-free there are several hundred species of moss, lichens, liverworts, and two species of high plants; grass, and flowering alpine.
• The Arctic has large mammals (polar bears, walrus, musk ox, hare, fox, wolves, caribou/reindeer) and an incredible diversity of different species of seabirds, seals, and whales. Arctic flora is varied from low shrubs to flowering plants and lichens. There are almost 2000 species of plants found throughout the Arctic region.

Culture

The Arctic has indigenous people in all of its countries each with a rich, inviting culture to be appreciated and respected when visiting. There are no native populations in Antarctica with the only seasonal inhabitants being researchers in the various research stations.

When to Travel to Antarctica?

Antarctica is a place that stirs the imagination of intrepid travelers. It is remote, foreign to many, isolated, and a region with tourist experiences dictated by weather and ice.

The reward for traveling to Antarctica is enjoying an experience that will transform the most experienced traveler - no one forgets their first trip to Antarctica! The sights, smells, and wildlife are like nowhere else on the planet.

The Antarctic tourist season is short and lies within the austral summer as it’s only then that a tourist can visit. The season runs from late October through to early March. Every single polar operator runs their programs in these months and at the end of the season, they head North to escape the oncoming brutal cold.

The predominant Antarctict tourism region encompasses the Falkland Islands, South Sandwich Islands - including South Georgia, with most trips originating from Ushuaia, Argentina, or Punta Arenas, Chile.

The majority of all Antarctica tourism experiences take place on and around the Antarctic peninsula. At the northern extreme of the peninsula are the South Shetland Islands and, for many, these are their first introduction to the white continent. There are also tour operators that offer experiences to the Ross Sea, the Weddell Sean, and further south into the Bellingshausen Sea, well below the Antarctic Circle.

There is considerable variability in what to expect from October through to March. Whether it's the wildlife, the weather, or ice, the timing of your trip is important for an enriching and successful polar cruise.

Late October/November in Antarctica

November is traditionally the beginning of the polar cruise season in Antarctica, however, some cruise operators may begin to depart from Patagonia and Cape Horn at the end of October. These are the exceptions however as most polar cruise operators will begin their expedition cruises in November.

November is a transition month for Antarctica and the Southern Ocean can inevitably be a little unpredictable at this time of the year. Particularly, the Drake Passage which is a notoriously infamous body of water between South America and Antarctica. The Drake Passage is in itself a destination for sailing or maritime aficionados and something everyone should experience on a trip to Antarctica. There are options to avoid it altogether as certain expedition operators offer jet service from Punta Arenas to King George Island.

As temperatures begin to hover above freezing and as we near the austral summer months, this is the best time to see the ‘big ice’ and experience pristine snow conditions.

Late October and early November are good times to see courting and nesting penguins, as well as returning seabirds such as albatross. Many photographers will tell you that some of their best pictures are in November because of the ample clean snow in backgrounds and foregrounds.

December in Antarctica is when the tourist season begins in earnest, and many habitual polar explorers will say that this is the best month to visit Antarctica. It’s this time of the year when you can still get a blast of chilly air, see lots of ice and pristine snow, while the weather will remind you of where you are and how lucky you are to have a warm, safe polar cruise ship to retreat inside.

Generally speaking, but not including the holiday season, polar cruise ships may have fewer guests onboard in December than the peak months of January and February. Guests often comment on the luxury of having just that little bit of extra elbow room onboard.

Average temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula in December can range from daily highs of +4 C (37.4 F) to lows of -2C (29F) but the temperatures and wind on the ocean can make it feel much cooler.

Along with gradually warming temperatures, long days await you in December with nearly 24 hrs of daylight. The soft evening light at this time of the year is a photographer's dream come true.

Wildlife is much more active than in November, especially further north on the Peninsula at this time of the year. In particular, on the South Shetland Islands, you can see the start of the penguin (adelie, chinstrip, gentoo) hatching season.

As the days go by, ice conditions are starting to improve for ships gaining them more and more access further down the peninsula. The sea ice break-up truly begins in December giving more and more open water leading to plankton growth, which in turn invites the krill to feast, and eventually, the humpback, minke, and orca will migrate to feast in the cold but nutrient-rich waters.

January is the peak of tourist season and arguably the best time to visit Antarctica. The long days in late January are normally the ‘warmest’ temperatures and possibly the most ideal time for wildlife viewing.

The first month of the year is the height of the austral summer and temperatures inland regularly climb as high as 14 -16 C (57.2 F-60.8 F).

At this time of year, many of the migrating cetaceans have now made their way to Antarctica, and sightings of humpback and minke are almost daily occurrences.

Penguin chicks are also hatching at this time of the year and seeing the small hatchlings in their fuzzy creches is a trip highlight for every guest.

Shore excursions and kayaking adventures are great in January as conditions lend themselves to exploration with your expert polar guides. This is often the first chance many passengers will get to camp as well, a treat for any intrepid explorer.

Antarctica weather is changing in February, and typically later in the month, the seas can be a little rougher with the temperatures beginning to dip.

In February 2020 a record was set as a land temperature was recorded at 18.3 C (64.9 F). The Polar Adventure Company was in Antarctica on that day and can attest to how shockingly warm it was!

One advantage to traveling in February is that most of the sea ice is broken up, meaning that ships are exploring further south, along the Antarctic Peninsula and towards the Arctic Circle. Shore-landings are easier for your Polar Guides as bays and harbors are more navigable and ice-free.

The wildlife, particularly the whales and even including orca, are more abundant. Open water, ice-free channels, and krill-laden waters mean that baleen feeding whales are seemingly everywhere enjoying the unfettered access to their favorite food source.

Penguin chicks are soon fully-fledged and will be having to fend for themselves.

In March, temperatures begin to drop below freezing but wildlife is still very active and visible.

Penguin chicks have fluffy fledged and are beginning to flee to nest. Daylight hours begin to fade, and, as March turns to April, the winds begin to grow stronger and the temperatures plunge as winter begins to take hold. However, with fewer ships cruising during this month, early March is one of the best times to glimpse Antarctica without any ‘competition’ from other cruise ships!

The South Sandwich Islands and South Georgia are great places to explore in early March. The more northern South Shetland Islands, such as Deception Island and King George Island, are ideal shore landing destinations before the season comes to a close at the end of the month.