South Georgia and Antarctica Fly-Cruise with New Scientist

We know what makes a fantastic holiday to Antarctica. We have been arranging expeditions and cruises to Antarctica for over 15 years and the team has visited 11 times so far.

Trying to outline a typical day in Antarctica is not easy – every day is different which is what makes an Antarctic holiday so special. There is no average day onboard an expeditionary boat as the day’s activities will be very much determined by the prevailing weather conditions, ice and the wildlife encountered. Flexibility here is the key, wherever possible we want to be off the ship twice a day either on landings or zodiac cruising.

Excursions may include exploring by Zodiacs, where you might cruise alongside magnificent glaciers with birds swirling overhead and rafts of penguins porpoiseing alongside. Shore excursions may find you exploring bird colonies, historic sites or just to stretch your legs amongst a colony of penguins.

In South Georgia, the spring flowers bloom and the fur seals will also be courting. Male elephant seals, the heavyweights of Antarctica, slug it out for mating rights on the beaches of South Georgia – a brutal yet awesome spectacle. The Antarctic Peninsula will be at it’s most pristine, Adelie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins will be amassing for the short breeding season.

The team and crew of the Magellan Explorer have years of experience. They are experts in operating safe, informative and exhilarating Antarctic experiences. Onboard, they will delight you with a fascinating programme of talks and lectures, ranging from natural history to the history of polar exploration.

This is a tricky one as the crossings can be anything from a millpond to a force nine hurricane, the latter being the less common. Ultimately, it’s down to a little luck, but most people find that their own experience wasn’t as bad as they thought it would be.

For those still worried, fear not, as part of this Antarctic fly-cruise, only a one-way sailing is required, as the return from Antarctica is taken by a two-hour flight to Punta Arenas in Chile, rather than undertaking an additional two-day sea journey.

This is an active cruise with optional daily walking excursions over uneven terrain and to be able to get the most out of it you should be in good general health. In order to join the excursions, you must be able to easily get up and down the gangway from the ship to the water level and to be able to get in and out of the awaiting zodiacs, which can be awkward, particularly in choppy seas. Staff will be on hand to assist all passengers, so don’t worry about this, it’s just something to be aware of.

There are of course cheaper ways to travel to Antarctica, but we are confident our voyage offers excellent value for money. This cruise offers a comprehensive 17-day Antarctic package which includes not only the Antarctic Peninsula but also the mountainous wildlife hotspot of South Georgia. We are offering the excitement of an expeditionary style cruise, where you get off the boat and get snow on your boots but travel in the comfort of a luxury boat.

You do not need to by specialist kit for this expedition a good waterproof coat and waterproof over-trousers are essential and under this layer up with thermals and fleece. The adage is dress like an onion with plenty of thinner layers which you can add to / take away to regulate your temperature, a full suggest kit list will be provided.

The ship is very informal and there is no need to dress up for dinner, comfort and practicality is the dress code