Antarctica cruise packing tips

Packing checklist

for your Antarctica cruise

What-to-pack
tips & insights

General
packing advice

Not as cold as you may think
It's summer in the Antarctica Peninsula in January and February. Daytime temperatures are normally just above freezing. They are comparable to what you would experience in, say, Berlin or New York City in January and February. But Antarctica has an advantage - the air is drier and therefore you don't feel as cold.

Wear layers
The secret to warmth is wearing layers rather than a thick single-layer outfit. And layering makes it easy for you to put on or take off clothing as the temperature changes.

Fabric
Wool, silk, and polypropylene fabrics keep you warmer than cotton because they keep your skin drier.

Don't overpack
An Antarctica cruise is an adventure, not a fashion statement. For men, sweaters, open-collar shirts, and slacks are fine.

Dress policy
On some cruise ships, including the Minerva, it's smart, country-club casual, meaning no jeans in the evening. If the ship has a "formal" night, a sport coat will do (a tie is nice but not essential). No need to pack a suit or tuxedo.

Laundry / dry cleaning service
Take advantage of the one- and two-day onboard service. This will reduce the amount of clothes you need to bring.

Don't bring
Travel iron (a shipboard fire hazard) and hiking boots (you need rubber boots for the wet landings),

You may or may not need
Some ships, including the Minerva, provide you with a bathrobe, slippers, and basic bathroom amenities such as shampoo and lotion.

When in doubt
Check with your cruise line representative.

Essential items for

your Zodiac excursions

n Polar parka
It must be water resistant because Zodiac rides can be splashy. For safety reasons, it must be a bright color (red in most cases). Note: The Minerva ship gives you one free. You get to take it home.

n Woolen or fleece sweater
Don either a turtleneck sweater or a crew neck one supplemented by a neck gaiter (it works better than a scarf). For extremely cold days, you might wish to wear a thin sleeveless sweater underneath your bulkier sweater.

n Thermal underwear
Wear it directly over your skin. Get both tops and bottoms. Bring 2 pairs*.

n Trousers
Put them on over your thermal underwear. Wool or corduroy are good bets. Pack 2 pairs*.

n Waterproofed outer pants
Wear them over trousers. Good grade ski pants will do.

n Thermal socks
Pull them on over your bare feet. Bring 2 pairs*.

n Woolen socks
Choose heavy and (preferably) full-length ones. Wear them over your thermal socks. Take 2 pairs*.

n Rubber winter boots
The preferred choice is knee-high Wellingtons. They are essential for an Antarctica cruise because you make wet landings. Most Antarctica cruise ships lend you a pair of Wellies for the duration of the cruise.

n Winter gloves
Ski gloves work. The main point is your gloves should be well-lined and have water-resistant exteriors. Also bring a regular pair of warm gloves for casual deck use. They will also serve you as a backup should your Zodiac pair get soaked.

n Winter hat
It can be a wool or fleece ski cap that can be pulled down over your ears. Alternatively, wear a winter hunter's cap with ear flaps. Also pack a long-billed baseball cap for shading your face during deck barbecues.

n Polaroid sunglasses - Antarctica snow and ice are glaring - and ultra-violet rays are intense, so wear sunglasses with large polarized lenses that cover the complete eye area. Wrap-around sunglasses are best because they protect your eyes from the low-angled Antarctica sunlight.

n Swimsuit - Pack one if you plan to swim in the thermal-warmed waters in Deception Island - or in the ship's pool (yes, some people do it).

_______

* In case one gets wet

Camera equipment

n Memory/film - Bring plenty. Estimate how many photos you think you will take, then double that number.

n Battery - They lose their charge quickly in the cold. Always carry a fully charged backup when you are on a Zodiac excursion. You don't want to miss the shot of a lifetime.

n Battery charger - It's essential if your camera uses rechargeable batteries.

n Voltage converter - If you have a 110-volt-only charger, you need a converter to use the ship's 220-volt electricity.

n Photo gloves - Ski and other thick gloves can make it difficult to manipulate the dials and buttons on your camera. Some photographers carry special gloves with finger holes. They temporarily don them (or at least the right hand glove) when a photo-op calls for frequent lens or camera-setting changes.

n Small, lightweight backpack - If you bring on Zodiac expeditions a large camera and interchangeable lenses, you must wear a lightweight backpack when boarding and getting off a Zodiac. Reason: For safety's sake, both your hands must be free - and a camera or binoculars must not be dangling from your neck. Note: Minerva passengers are given a free backpack.

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