Starting January 2022, Norwegian Cruise Line offers passengers a new destination, a 14-day cruise to Antarctica and South America onboard the Norwegian Star, extensively renovated in 2018.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) launches cruises to Antarctica, the last frontier. As of January 2022, you can book a 14-day cruise from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Antarctica and South America, including visits to Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Punta Arenas, Chile; Ushuaia, Argentina; Elephant Island and Deception Island in Antarctica; Punta del Este, Uruguay; and back to Buenos Aires.
The round-trip cruise is scheduled for January-February 2022/3, starting at $1602 per person. Antarctica is one of the world’s most sought-after destinations. So far, all trips to the continent have been on small boats, some of them research ships. According to NCL, choosing the Norwegian Star for the cruise will allow sightings of whales and penguins, and offer breathtaking views of huge glaciers and ice plains reaching up to 10,000 ft above the frozen ground.
Meet the friendly locals
Antarctica is home to some unique sub-species that can only be found in this part of the world. Sailing past glaciers, passengers will enjoy close encounters with colonies of penguins of different species, (Emperor, Adelie, Chinstrap penguins and more), marine mammals such as fur and other seals, whales and rare seabirds.
Deception Island, Antarctica
The Island is a horseshoe-shaped caldera located off the coast of Antarctica, in the South Shetland Islands. Home to an active volcano and eight species of nesting seabirds, the island is a paradise for birdwatchers and wildlife lovers. The largest colony of penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula, possibly even in the world, also calls this place home. Passengers aboard the cruise ship will have a chance to see up close tens of thousands of Chinstrap penguins waddling about and swimming in the icy waters.
Elephant Island, Antarctica
Off the coast of Antarctica, the name of the island is attributed both to the elephant seals that inhabit it, as well as its elephant head-like appearance. Rugged mountains, glistening ice and unique wildlife add some aura of mystery to this remote destination. The spectacular views are complemented by massive elephant seals lounging on the shore, and colonies of dapper-looking penguin walking about on the rocks.
About Norwegian Star
The ship, extensively renovated in 2018, has over 20 themed restaurants and bars. Passengers can choose between the authentic Japanese Teppanyaki, the French flagship restaurant, Le Bistro, a Brazilian churrascaria, an Italian restaurant, an American steakhouse, a sushi restaurant, and so much more. Norwegian Star also offers a world-class spa with a full menu of services and treatments, a casino, swimming pools, sports and recreation facilities, a variety of shows and entertainment, as well as shopping galore.
Some interesting facts about Antarctica
- Antarctica is the coldest and most desolate continent on Earth. It is the last true frontier: it has no permanent settlements or asphalt roads, and the whole continent isn’t owned by any country. It belongs exclusively to the Kingdom of Nature.
- Antarctica covers an area of 14 million square kilometers (5.5 million square miles), almost the size of South America.
- Winter lasts from April to September, when darkness prevails and temperatures can plummet to minus 90 degrees Celsius (minus 130 Fahrenheit). Summer lasts from October to March.
- Although Antarctica is covered in ice, it is one of the largest deserts on Earth, due to low rainfall.
- About 95 percent of the continent is covered in ice, which in some places reaches a depth of up to four km (2.5 miles).
- The first human to reach the South Pole was the Norwegian Roald Amundsen (December 14, 1911). Englishman Robert Scott arrived just a month later, but never made it back, as he and his men froze to death in a raging storm.
