Top Your Bucket List with an Antarctica Cruise Adventure - My Family Travels

Get up close and (almost) personal with Blue whales, penguins and southern Elephant seals on an exclusive Antarctica cruise adventure. Wildlife abounds on the southernmost continent, seemingly oblivious to visitors as long as you don’t interrupt their daily routine.

Macaroni Penguin from the Antarctica Peninsula has a yellow comb atop a black and white body
This Macaroni Penguin from the Antarctica Peninsula looks like he’s ready for the Captain’s cocktail party. Photo by Michel Verdure for Atlas Ocean Voyages

This bucket list topping experience is available only a few months of the year because the extreme climate usually makes Antarctica off limits. Yet, with the innovative Atlas Ocean Voyages, it’s possible for families to explore the coldest, driest and windiest continent during summer in the southern hemisphere from a luxurious home at sea.

From November through March only, experience a new, unique style of discovery at the world’s most fragile frontier. Book now to encounter 90% of the earth’s remaining ice among endless fields of frozen white sheets, towering icebergs, jagged peaks and snow-capped mountains on a comfortable Antarctica cruise adventure.

A Ship Like No Other Sets Sail on an Antarctica Cruise

The World Navigator expedition ship exploring Antarctica.
The World Navigator expedition ship exploring Antarctica. Photo c. Atlas Ocean Voyages

World Navigator is the first expedition ship from Atlas Ocean Voyages and she’s built just for this epic Antarctica cruise adventure, boasting several cruise industry firsts.

World Navigator’s Water’s Edge is the cruise industry’s lowest observation bow and the only one with wrap-around, heated benches for extended time out on deck. In ecologically sensitive areas or close to land, the ship disengages its propellers and relies on another invention — impellers known as hydrojets — which are so quiet that marine life isn’t afraid to come close. (This video shows how hydrojets work.) She also uses new SKF ultra-high lift stabilizers that increase stability in sometimes rough Antarctic waters, making the journey more comfortable.  

“Antarctica is the world’s most remote and coveted destination and World Navigator is perfect for families to share a once-in-a-lifetime adventure,” says Alberto Aliberti, president of Atlas Ocean Voyages.

Life Aboard Atlas Ocean Voyages World Navigator

Horizon stateroom aboard the World Navigator expedition ship from Atlas Ocean Voyages.
In Horizon staterooms, the top of the picture windows rolls down to create a veranda for viewing Antarctica’s stunning scenery. Photo c. Atlas Ocean Voyages.

World Navigator, with only 98 staterooms, is ideally equipped for children as young as 8 years as well as their grandparents. All rooms and suites are elegantly appointed and have balconies. Some rooms sleep up to three guests and some, like the Horizon stateroom, convert entirely into a veranda by rolling down the top-half window panel.

In-room amenities include WiFi, binoculars and polar parkas to use on your expeditionary excursions plus coffee and tea service, as well as a personalized minibar. Book a suite and you’ll be pampered by a butler.

After a day of adventures, your family has a choice of reuniting at four dining venues and two lounges. Guests can even keep up with daily routines in the ship’s fitness studio or opt for a rejuvenating therapy in the first L’OCCITANE spa at sea.

Put Away Your Wallet on this Antarctica Cruise

Two Elephant seals playing among a rookery of seals on South Georgia Island.
These Elephant seals are playing among a rookery of seals on South Georgia Island. Photo by Michel Verdure for Atlas Ocean Voyages

Atlas’ All Inclusive All the Way style includes nearly everything in one price so everyone can enjoy a seamless, unforgettable luxe-adventure expedition. Rates include complimentary round-trip air travel from major U.S. and Canada gateway airports on a company-chartered widebody jet direct to Ushuaia, Argentina. Reaching World Navigator’s port of embarkation in style is easy. It also shortens travel time, layovers and reduces exposure at crowded airports.

Along with gourmet dining, Atlas guests enjoy other all-included perks such as special programming, prepaid gratuities, premium wine, spirits and beverages, L’OCCITANE bath amenities and more.

Learning and Growing Activities in Antarctica

In addition to your expedition team, which comprises an astronomer, historians, explorers and other scientists, families can optimize their travel scrapbook with noted photographer Michel Verdure, who sails with you. Daily landings and enrichment programs provide an in-person school on the sea for all ages. On sailings with many young explorers, special one-of-a-kind activities designed just for them are guaranteed to please.

Off the ship, guests will have a choice of activities. Your family can snowshoe with expedition guides, kayak and, for the brave, challenge yourselves to stand-up paddle board. All ages sail together on inflatable Zodiac boats to visit penguin rookeries on the Antarctic peninsula and get closer to ice floes.

How to Plan Your Antarctica Cruise Adventure

Adelie Penguin nursing her baby penguin chicks on Antarctica.
During the late summer season, catch Adelie Penguins nursing their young on your Antarctica cruise adventure. Photo by Michel Verdure for Atlas Ocean Voyages

Atlas Ocean Voyages is committed to making your epic Antarctica adventure the best trip ever for everyone in the family. In addition to all-inclusive dining, shore excursions and amenities, Atlas is the first and only cruise line to include emergency medical evacuation insurance for every guest. Additionally, the line’s Plan With Confidence travel policy gives you the greatest flexibility to cancel or rebook on a future voyage.

Because World Navigator is a small ship, younger explorers can navigate safely on their own and will have no trouble connecting with new friends.

However, you only have a few weeks between November 2021 and March 2022 to take this bucket list trip. Reserve your nine-night Antarctica expedition aboard one of just 11 departures from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula.  

SPRING BREAK TIP: choose a February or March 2022 voyage and you and your family will spot the most whales during their peak time in Antarctica, as well as see penguin chicks at their most active and curious. For more information and to book your family’s Antarctica cruise adventure, please visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com, call 844/442-8527 or your travel specialist.

Brandon Townsley has spent his professional career in the cruise industry and is currently an executive at Atlas Ocean Voyages, sponsor of this post. He is excited to sail to Antarctica with this innovative and forward-looking adventure tour company because of their commitment to taking the cruise experience to the next level.

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