Reading the title of this article you probably thought: IMPOSSIBLE! Surely you (just like me) saw pictures of these epic expedition boats, and of people kayaking with whales and penguins while marveling at the icy world around them. And yes, that is without a doubt the most epic way to experience the Frozen Continent. However, with prices starting around $10,000 USD these adventures are only accessible to a few. But what if I told you there’s another way? Here are my 3 top tips to travel to Antarctica on a budget.
Antarctica On A Budget
Antarctica is a feasible travel destination for everyone. Just follow these tips and you’ll be golden!
1. Choose Your Cruise Line
This is the main factor in how your budget will play out. Expedition cruises are the gold standard, but they are expensive. The good news? Celebrity Cruises, as well as the Holland America Line, offer Antarctica cruises that include not just the White Continent, but other desirable ports in the same itinerary. Other cruise lines offer similar itineraries. However, since I only have first hand experience with Celebrity (and second hand experience from my cruise expert friend who did the Holland America itinerary several times), that’s all I’ll talk about here.
My husband and I chose to go on this Celebrity cruise, so that’s what I’ll tell you about here, but if you want a longer itinerary with Holland America, have a look HERE.
Celebrity starts their itinerary in the fabulous city of Buenos Aires, continues on to the End Of The World, Ushuaia, then heads to Antarctica. From there you will get to experience the phenomenal Falkland Islands, Puerto Madryn, and, last but not least, Montevideo, Uruguay, before you return to Buenos Aires to disembark the ship. This is a 14 night itinerary, and yes, you’ll spend a lot of time traveling (though it’s not exactly a hardship to hang out on a cruise ship!), and you won’t spend as much time in the ice as the expeditions do, but the good news? As of the time I’m writing this, the price for this cruise starts at $3,199 USD rather than 10k or more! Antarctica on a budget is possible!
2. Choose Your Stateroom
This is where you can easily spend that 10k you’d spend on an expedition cruise. Your initial $3,199 USD will buy you an inside stateroom, located on the forward, aft, and midship lower decks. You won’t have a view (because there’s no window), but it’s comfortable nevertheless. If a windowless room doesn’t seem appealing to you, let me remind you that you’ll be living in a floating hotel, and there’s no need to spend time in your room unless you need a nap (or a good night’s sleep of course). Even introverts like me can find a quiet place to stow away and have some peace. There’s no need to blow your budget on prime accommodations.
3. Choose Your Add-Ons
You have booked your cruise and you are excited to visit Antarctica on a budget. Suddenly you get bombarded with emails about all the things you should add to your booking. Maybe you, like me, have never been on a cruise before, and before you know it your credit card runs red hot because you booked it all. Here’s what I recommend booking, and what is not necessary.
Wifi
Yes, you need Wifi. Even if you aren’t an internet junkie who needs to check their social media every day, you’ll want to purchase a Wifi package. You may think: but we’ll be in ports, can’t I just go to a cafe and use their Wifi to update friends and family back home? Yes and no. This will be a possibility in some of these ports, but not in all of them. Plus, once your feet touch land again you want to be out and about, exploring exciting new places, and not be glued to your phone.
Get at least the basic Wifi package. You can stay connected with your loved ones at home through messaging and browse the internet, but you won’t be able to stream or do video calls. If those are things you can’t live without, get the premium Wifi.
Now let me tell you a little secret: when you look at the offers, you will see offers for one device or two. You may think: oh no! I need to bring my computer as well, for banking or what not, but I also want to use my phone to go online! Do I need to buy Wifi for two devices? You do not. You can disconnect the device you are using, and connect with your other device. You just can’t use them both at the same time. Instant savings that will allow you to visit Antarctica on a budget!
Drinks
This one is trickier. You will find free drinks, of course. There’s drip coffee at the buffet, as well as a water/other drinks fountain (though they don’t offer sodas). You can simply bring a reusable bottle and refill it. (Make sure to not directly fill the bottle from the fountain, but use a cup provided by Celebrity instead, for hygienic reasons). So you CAN absolutely get away with not buying a drinks package, and that’ll save you a lot of $$$.
But, and this is a big but: if you buy any drinks at all, it gets pricey quickly. A soda will set you back $5 USD. Coffee or even alcohol cost even more. I would recommend making an honest assessment before you go: can you really stick to basic drinks, or will you be tempted to go for that latte or two every morning, plus a glass of wine in the evening? Then you will be better off buying a drinks package and not worrying about it. And hey, no shade. It’s your vacation and you want to enjoy it, and guess who didn’t skimp on drinks? Yes, that would be me. It’s just something to be aware of.
Shore Excursions Offered By The Cruise Line
Nope, not worth it at all. They are super expensive, and they are the exact same ones you will find for half the price on Viator. A word of warning though: if the ship is in port for, say, nine hours and you book an excursion via Viator that lasts eight hours and something goes wrong, preventing you from getting back to the ship on time, they will leave without you. So be judicial about this. You want to do a five hour excursion to Tierra Del Fuego National Park from Ushuaia? Viator is your friend! You are in Puerto Madryn and want to go on an eight hour excursion to the Magellanic penguin colony in Punta Tombo? Tricky. Check Viator and try to find a tour operator that offers tours specifically for cruise ship passengers, with a guarantee that you’ll be back in time for the ship’s departure. Always check your ship’s estimated time in port before you book from a third party.
This all sounds great, but, you are thinking, isn’t this a part of the world where the weather can change in an instant and we could potentially be prevented from visiting one of the ports? And if I book through a third party, I will lose my money? Yes and no. The weather in this region of the world is unpredictable, but that’s not something that will prevent you from truly visiting Antarctica on a budget. Weather systems aren’t something that magically appear on the horizon. There’s very good forecasts, and if a port is going to be inaccessible, you will likely know that 24 hours before you are scheduled to arrive there. Viator offers free cancellation until 24 hours before your adventure – problem solved!
Is It Worth Going to Antarctica On A Budget?
You look at the itinerary, and you look at the itineraries of the expedition ships, and you may think: but… that’s not a whole lot of Antarctica! And you will be right. But if the choice is between spending a couple of days on the Frozen Continent or not going at all, I can tell you that a couple of days are much preferable. You will not be able to get off the ship and onto the ice, but you get to take in all the incredible views. There’s no way to describe the feeling of going out on deck and watching the sun rise (if you are lucky) over the white landscape. If there was ever a place where you can believe that magic is possible, it is Antarctica.
