MANAGING EXPECTATIONS:
Expedition travel is not like an escorted tour where every single hour of every day is already plotted out and pre planned.
Remember - attitude is the difference between an ordeal, and an adventure !

Fairy G has made a fantastic website as your starting point - all the ships & operators are listed.

Moderator: Admin

List of all vessels & expedition companies & links to their websites.
Booking on ships that have not yet been built - should I ?
Travel style - drive by cruise liners vs expedition cruising vs small yachts.
Ice ratings.
Differences between booking direct with the ships operator, via private charterers, via polar specialists, or via normal travel agents.
Fly in Fly out - inland tours: Gould Bay, Union Glacier, South Pole.

Sub-boards: Expedition companies, Ship comparisons, Charter companies & yachts, Polar specialist travel agents

When to book, how to book, last minute booking, budgets & costs. Tipping. Sales alerts. Wifi costs & Internet availability. Laundry costs etc.
Booking: Travel or Cruise agents? Polar Specialists? Direct with expedition company?
Travelling with your kids - which ships and what to ask.

What time of year should I go - ice conditions, breeding patterns etc.
How long should I go for?

Seasickness & the infamous Drake Passage.

Can I fly instead of cruising (to avoid sea sickness): Try a FLY CRUISE combo.
Or - no time to spare for a full expedition? DAP offers one day fly in fly out trips and overnight itineraries.

Route / Itinerary Options, Should I cross the circle, Itinerary comparisons, Must see destinations. Where can I see specific penguin breeds ie Kings, Emperors etc.
Questions re future solar eclipse itineraries.

Should I include South Georgia &/or Falklands Is, or go via NZ
What are the options from New Zealand.

Optional adventure options - plan & book ahead: Kayaking, Camping etc

Travel insurance for polar journeys

The Single Supplement, solo travellers, cabin sharing

Health, disability, medical forms - Can I still get to Antarctica and do landings.
Physical requirements of landings. Toileting / incontinence issues. Allergies. Wellbeing & fitness during the voyage.
Smoking - is it permitted on board.

Recommended reading & viewing - books, DVDS etc
IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) Website instructional guides, info & links.

Airlines, timing, luggage restrictions, reciprocity fee, departure tax

Sub-board: Side trips in Sth America

Roll calls for up and coming voyages.

Check here first before creating your own roll call thread.

Roll calls where dates have passed will be moved to the "Past Roll Calls" section.

Trip Reports sorted by Year

Trip Reports sorted by Expedition Company

Where a tour company has chartered a ship (or part of an itinerary) from an operator

Trip Reports sorted by Ship Name

We don't have many of these but I have created a board to keep them seperate and easier to find for those seeking advice and reports on polar travel via small yachts.

For those seeking opinions about the other side of Antarctica - accessible from Hobart, Tasmania and Bluff, New Zealand. I have cross referenced those specific trip reports into this board.

Short on time and still want to experience Antarctica - there are fly in fly out day expeditions and overnight expeditions that may suit your needs. More trip reports for this travel style are most welcome.

Several companies do interesting repositioning itineraries at the end of the season - with the majority ending in Cape Town SA. Have added the trip reports here so they are easily distinguished from the others.