The Nature of Expedition Travel
Our air-cruise expeditions are suitable for adventurous travellers who enjoy full mobility and reasonably good health. Expedition travel to Antarctica requires flexibility and adaptation to ever-changing circumstances.
About Your Arrival And Departure
If you are joining an Air-Cruise starting in Punta Arenas, you must plan to arrive with a fight that is scheduled to land in Punta Arenas no later than 2 PM on Day 1 of the itinerary. The same deadline applies to travellers arriving directly at the hotel on Day 1.That afternoon, all travellers must attend a mandatory safety and Antarctic guidelines briefing, and an information session covering important practical details. You must also attend a fitting session for your expedition boots. Participation in these activities is essential for the success of the expedition. Travellers who miss the 2 PM arrival deadline will be considered “no-show”. They will not be able to participate in the expedition and will receive no refund. Remember that scheduling tight connections is never wise when travelling to remote places with limited services. Protect your travel investment by building some buffer in your travel plans in case of problems with luggage delivery, fight delays etc. In case your fight into Punta Arenas is delayed for reasons beyond your control, ANTARCTICA XXI will do every thing possible to accommodate your late arrival. However, ANTARCTICA XXI cannot assume any responsibility for any resulting complications, including your inability to join the expedition. For Antarctica Express Air-Cruises: boarding in Ushuaia is between 3 PM and 4 PM. At 4 PM boarding will close. ANTARCTICA XXI strongly suggests that a flexible air ticket be held for your journey home in case you need to change your travel arrangement following a delay of the return fight from Antarctica. Please ask your travel consultant for assistance. See also the sections on possible fight delays and related contingency plans further down.
Participation Form
Participants are required to fill and sign an on-line Participation Form, and to return it to ANTARCTICA XXI at least 120 days prior to departure.
Medical Insurance
ANTARCTICA XXI requires participants to be adequately covered by a travel insurance policy that covers aero-medical evacuation from Antarctica as a result of a medical emergency during the trips, including emergencies related to pre-existing health conditions.
Itinerary
Every effort will be made to adhere to the planned program. However, with this type of adventurous travel to Antarctica, changes to the itinerary may occur due to severe and unpredictable weather. We need to emphasize the fact that weather conditions are unpredictable and that safety is always the paramount concern on any Antarctic voyage. For this reason ANTARCTICA XXI reserves the right to change the itinerary described due to weather conditions or other factors beyond ANTARCTICA XXI’s control without consulting the participants.
Cancellation Insurance
ANTARCTICA XXI strongly urges participants to be adequately covered by trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
Baggage And Baggage Allowance
The maximum weight allowed on the fights to and from Antarctica is 20 kg (44 Lb.) per passenger, including hand luggage. For Classic Antarctica and Polar Circle Air-Cruises, excess luggage will be kept in custody in Punta Arenas and will be handed over to travellers upon their return from Antarctica. For Antarctica Express Air-Cruises, excess luggage will be disembarked at Port Williams and will be sent to Punta Arenas by air cargo at the traveller’s expense. It will be available for pick up in Punta Arenas upon the traveller’s return from Antarctica. The baggage weight limit is a technical requirement imposed by the fight operation. Unfortunately, it is not possible to purchase extra allowance. Note that at certain points during the expedition you will be required to handle your own luggage.
Expedition Language
The official expedition language of our Air-Cruises is English. The voyage will take travellers to remote destinations where the interaction with our polar guides is essential. In the interest of safety and for the enjoyment of the experience, we strongly recommend that travellers who do not understand English are accompanied by someone who does, such as a friend, a family member, or a Tour Leader.
Possible Flight Delays And Contingency Plan
Flights to and from Antarctica operate based on weather conditions. While historically only a minority of fights have experienced a delay, you should be prepared for that possibility.
Contingency Plan
ANTARCTICA XXI has been organizing Antarctic air-cruises since 2003. Over these years we have gained extensive experience in the delicate coordination of land, air and sea operations in the extreme Antarctic environment. While historically a majority of fights has operated on the scheduled day, in some instances weather conditions have required that adjustments to the departure time of Antarctic fights be made to avoid protracted delays. In the unlikely event that the fight to Antarctica cannot take place on the scheduled day due to unfavorable weather conditions, we will apply a Contingency Plan. The Contingency Plan is included in the cost of your expedition. The primary goal of the plan is to provide an engaging and comfortable travel experience while we adapt to the weather. A change in the fight schedule can impact travel to Antarctica or return back to Punta Arenas, and the plan includes a range of activities determined by the circumstances. Additionally, the Contingency Plan offers you financial protection by providing a refund should weather conditions prevent us from reaching Antarctica.
The Details
In case the outbound fight to Antarctica is moved forward
In some cases it may be necessary to move forward the Antarctic fight to the afternoon or evening of Day 1 of the itinerary. This will result in early departure from Punta Arenas and early arrival in Antarctica.
In case the outbound fight to Antarctica is delayed
The group will remain in Punta Arenas while waiting for an improvement in the weather andf or the opportunity to fly to Antarctica. Included are accommodation at the Cabo de Hornos Hotel or similar, meals, and guided excursions to local attractions. If by 2 PM on Day 4 of the itinerary it is still impossible to reach Antarctica, the trip will be interrupted and the cruise fare will be refunded.
In case the return fight to Punta Arenas is moved forward
In those cases when the forecast suggests the likelihood of unfavorable weather conditions in Antarctica persisting for several days, the flight back to Punta Arenas may be moved forward to the previous evening as a way to avoid a protracted delay in Antarctica. Accommodation at the Cabo de Hornos Hotel or similar is included upon arrival. All other inclusions will remain per the original itinerary.
In case the return fight to Punta Arenas is delayed
The group will remain in Antarctica and wait for the opportunity to fly to Punta Arenas. Included are meals and accommodation on the ship, and local excursions. Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, the trip will end at the airport. Travellers are responsible for any expenses associated with the rescheduling of their airline tickets or onward travel plans. Please refer to the Contingency Plan section of our Terms and Conditions for further details.
Useful Tips
Suggested Clothing
The average temperature in the Antarctic Peninsula area during the austral summer is about 0°C (32°F), although sometimes it may feel a little lower because of the wind chill factor. For this reason, it is best to wear several layers of light, warm clothing. The suggested clothing for Antarctica is very similar to that recommended for skiing: thermal underwear, a couple of warm and wicking mid layers, and windproof and waterproof jacket and pants as the outer layer. You will also need a hat, as carf, waterproof and insulated gloves, and sunglasses with high UV protection. The pre departure material provides further details.
Waterproof Boots
As most landings in Antarctica are “wet landings”, the best footwear is knee-high waterproof boots. You will not need to carry them with you since ANTARCTICA XXI will provide you with a pair of thermal rubber boots before arriving in Antarctica.
Face Protection
Good quality UV filtering sunglasses are essential. Glacier glasses have leather flaps at the sides to stop the light from passing through. Due to the high reflectance of UV radiation, you will also need good sun block lotion for your face (protection factor 30 and above) and lip balm.
