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Tue 19 Apr, 2005 05:25 am
Hi there
I wonder whether there is anyone out there in this forum who has been travelling to Antarctica from Tassie or NZ (or has profound knowledge about these trips)?
My search in the web has produced these 4 operators/vessels:
- Quarkexpeditions (www.quarkexpeditions.com);
- Heritage Expeditions (www.heritage-expeditions.com);
- Aurora Expeditions (www.auroraexpeditions.com.au); and
- Adventure Associates (www.adventureassociates.com).
Does anyone have any positive or negative experience with any of those?
Moreover, I would be interested in the answers to the following questions:
- How much more worth is an icebreaker (like Quarkexpeditions' Kapitan Khlebnikov) in comparison with "only" icestrengthened vessels?
- How many landings are usually made per day (on average)?
- What's the average duration of these land excursions?
- How many times will the passengers be taken by Helicopter?
Of course I know that these things are weather dependant. However, the operators are all very reluctant to answer these kind of questions on an average basis.
Thanks very much in advance for your kind know-how-sharing ...
cheers,
Kahuna
You could try talking to the guy at
www.paradigmexpeditions.com - I know he's got extensive experience and has dived in the Antarctic. He's a charter and cruise broker now, aimed at the higher end of the market, but he knows his stuff.
Thanks, Hingehead, for this link. I did not know about that company before. However, it seems that their schedule for next season's Antarctica trips is not yet ready.
I would like to decide this issue and book the trip asap, because some of the voyages fill up quickly now. Basically, it boils down to the question whether Quark's icebreaker trip to the emperor penguin colonies around Coulman Island is worth USD 5000 p.P. more than Aurora's trip to Eastern Antactica's Commonwealth Bay where you are also likely to see emperors ... won't be an easy decision ...
Kahuna
If you contact him he might still be able to tell you which one he thinks is the best value.
That's what I did, but haven't received any answer yet ...
O.k. I now have received an answer from Paradigm Expeditions. Seems to be a good company ... However, they operate only in the Antarctic Peninsula.
With respect to our trip - we will go for Quark's Kapitan Khlebnikov. For viewing emperor penguins, I think it is necessary to go as early in the season as possible and at that time of the year, only an icebreaker can handle the masses of packice.
thanks again, Hingehead
Kahuna
Hope you have a great time Kahuna
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