As long as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to recede and there are no further new strain surprises, international lines are scheduling their Antarctica Cruise Season for 2021/2022
The port of Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego province (Argentina) is scheduled to receive some 68 tourism vessels and 488 calls. In Chile, Punta Arenas authorities announced that they expect the 2021/22 cruise season to begin next 19 October when “Sylvia Earle” calls at Chile’s extreme south terminal. She will be the first of some 226 calls.
Ushuaia expects some 68 vessels and 488 calls during the 2021/2022 cruise season
The first cruise vessel in Ushuaia is expected next 25 October and the closing season visit should be on May 22, according to the info published this week in the Provincial Ports site.
Sylvia Earle will open the season on 25 October and Navigator of the Sea will end it on May 22. Among large vessels mentioned calling in Ushuaia are Celebrity Silhouette next March with some 2,886 passengers and a crew of 1,500, and the Navigator of the Sea, in May, with a 4,000 passenger capacity and 1,200 crew.
Other significant calls include Costa Luminosa, MSC Poesía, Coral Princess, Oosterdam, Norewgian Star, Diamond Princess, Celebrity Infinity, Bolette, Marina and Volendam.
Another 49 vessels are also scheduled for 2021/2022 Antarctica Cruise Season
Roberto Murcia head of Provincial Ports underlined that the fact the government in Buenos Aires approved the Ushuaia port sanitary protocol is most significant since it gives operators predictability, and although “we already had requests for docking and calls, many companies had suspended cruises, but now with the protocol info, we have started to receive more requests”.
Murcia also underlined the importance of the calls for Ushuaia economic activities “since Antarctic cruises receive 100% of logistics support here and the two oceans cruises also significant support”.
The head of Tierra del Fuego’s Tourism Office, Daniel Querciali pointed out to the recovery of cruise activities, which was so hard hit and totally paralyzed since last year.
“It’s great news for Tierra del Fuego and for Argentina because as a tourism and strategic destination we are the port of access to Antarctica, a privileged position when it come to promoting the province”, he said.
Punta Arenas expects 40 vessels and 226 calls for the 2021/2022 cruise season starting next October
The manager of the Austral Port administration, Rodrigo Pommiez said the season hopefully will extend until next April, and revealed that the company has received many visit requests, although the vessels are smaller than those which visited last time, two years ago in 2019, and most are oriented to the Antarctica Cruise Season.
“We are working with sanitary and other government offices to ensure that the protocols to be implemented are correct and following prevailing global rules. Most possibly we could also become a homeport for some cruise lines, and we are doing our best to coordinate efforts”, indicated Pommiez.
He admitted having visited Puerto Williams, together with his Services Manage, Marcela Mansilla to ensure in situ that cruises can also operate there.
“Vaccination so far has helped to drastically drop contagions, which is essential for opening borders, but at the same time, there is some uncertainty since the cruise season is beginning in Europe and North America, Alaska, with more vessels operating. We have to keep track of the protocols agreed by the companies with the different health authorities of those countries. I believe these factors will be critical at the moment of deciding on destinations”, indicated Milovic.
“Certainly much will depend on whether passengers are demanded to comply with a quarantine period when coming to Chile, and hopefully they will be aware or well informed of the existing conditions”.
Milovic said his company has been in standing contact with Chilean tourism and sanitary authorities and has participated in the Conosur Ports Corporation meetings, which includes all South American ports receiving cruise calls, and “in our case, we include Magallanes Region”.
Nicolas Paulsen, from Antarctic Punta Arenas Logistic association which brings together companies involved in logistic services for Antarctica operations said that some of the companies which normally work with Ushuaia have also been asking about possible operations from Magallanes ports.
Paulsen insisted on the sanitary situation of Chile and Magallanes in particular. “The vaccination process both in the country and the region seems to be advancing strongly so hopefully by next October when the cruise season is scheduled to begin, the overall situation should be much better, with data and tendencies on cases and contagions clearly improving as current information is telling us”.
Why this might be the best year ever to visit Antarctica
If you’ve been dreaming of a trip to Antarctica, this might be the year to make it happen.
There’s a narrow six-month window each year when the Antarctica Cruise Season take place, and this December the stars (and sun and moon) are aligning so you can also view a total solar eclipse during your trip — and it’s not too late to book this journey of a lifetime. If you’ve been hoping to see a total solar eclipse, it’s your last chance until April of 2024.
Commercial voyages can only reach Antarctica from late October to March when the sea ice opens up enough to allow ships through. And it’s a lengthy journey: Short trips start around eight days and some can extend to three weeks.
Tourists have become increasingly interested in the southern continent, and there are now a number of tours that vary in price and duration, though even the least expensive itineraries will run you several thousands of dollars. Cruise lines and tour operators such as Silversea, Viking, Quark Expeditions, Seabourn, Intrepid and Abercrombie & Kent all lead Antarctica expeditions.
There are even travel providers with itineraries dedicated to seeing the solar eclipse this year.
Even the best tour company, however, can’t guarantee you’ll have clear skies. Poor conditions can obviously affect your ability to see the eclipse, and Antarctica is known for its unpredictable weather.
According to NASA, a total solar eclipse is predicted for Dec. 4, 2021, and Antarctica may be the only place on Earth you’ll be able to get a complete view of the eclipse this time around. The view will be best the closer you are to the so-called path of totality.
After the eclipse in December, the next time a total solar eclipse isn’t expected until April 8, 2024. That one, however, won’t require a trip across the globe. Instead, it’s set to carve a path through Mexico, the central U.S. and eastern Canada.
But if 2024 is too far away and you have Antarctica on your travel list, you might want to consider seeing one of nature’s happiest accidents this December.