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Seasons matter
You cannot go
on an Antarctica cruise
from April to October
 When
it's late spring, summer, and early fall in the Northern Hemisphere, it's winter
in Antarctica.
Even
if you wanted to go during that April to October period, your cruise
ship could not reach Antarctica because the thick pack ice
extends up to 600 kilometers (1,000 miles) beyond the continent. Moreover,
temperatures are bitterly cold, winds are fierce, storms flourish, and daylight
hours are scarce.
The three
Antarctica Peninsula
cruise seasons
Each has its advantages
and disadvantages.
 Early Nov
to mid-Dec
PeakMid-Dec
to mid-Feb
LateMid-Feb
to Mar
Early season
November
to mid-December
Advantages
Landing
areas are still pristine because they have not yet been trundled on by thousands
of tourists.
Iceberg
and icescape shapes are at their dramatic best.
Usually,
cruise fares are lower and discounts are higher.
Cruises
are less likely to be sold out and, therefore, will be less crowded.
Drawbacks
Sea
ice may not have sufficiently melted, making some landings inaccessible.
Weather
is colder and seas are somewhat rougher.
There
are fewer
daylight hours for sightseeing.
You
see less wildlife activity, from ship and on shore.
The above pluses and minuses are more pronounced in November.
Peak season
Mid-December
to mid-February
Advantages
Long
daylight hours (this peaks on December 22).
Seas
tend to be calmer. Waves and winds subside at sea - and in the bays and channels.
Wildlife
viewing is at its best, both onboard and on shore. This is the prime
penguin egg-hatching season - and the fluffy chicks are adorable.
Drawbacks
Prices
are at their highest in all cabin categories.
Many
cruises are fully booked six or more months in advance.
Late season
Mid-February
to March
Advantages
Whale
watching is at its delightful best.
Prices
begin to fall - and last-minute bookings are easier to secure.
Some
ships
become less crowded onboard.
Ice
continues to melt, allowing ships to sail to destinations farther south.
Drawbacks
Some
landings
bear the messy, muddy impact of many previous cruisers.
The
penguins begin their "disappearing act" (they leave their breeding grounds to go
out to sea to feed).
Daylight
hours become shorter and shorter.
Temperature
gets appreciably colder.
The above pluses and minuses are more pronounced in March.
Click these buttons
for more tips & insights
Pages specific to the
Minerva cruise ship
Antarctica cruises
in general
 
Clickable Antarctica
wonder map
My "What it's Like"
cruise ship sections
 to
view
My general
cruise ship section
Click the button below for Regent's website for Minerva itineraries with maps, a list of
cruise-specialist travel agents near you, plus other useful trip-planning
information.
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