Top 10 experiences
travelers like best
about their cruise
ship experience

I selected the Minerva cruise ship to illustrate what it is like on an Antarctica cruise because it is considered the best by most sophisticated Antarctica cruisers. While many Antarctica cruise ships offer some of the benefits listed below, only the Minerva (formerly named the Explorer II) delivers all of of the Top 10.

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Adventure plus comfort

As with all Antarctica cruise ships that offer Zodiac landings, you are virtually guaranteed to see exciting wildlife in their natural habitat - and observe raw natural beauty of awesome icebergs, sweeping glaciers, and towering peaks. To me, it was like being on a distant planet.

What makes the Minerva different is you experience this remote natural spectacle on the most comfortable, refined, and well-appointed Antarctica cruise ship that offers Zodiac landings. The Minerva's decor and ambiance are cozy country-inn. Its service and food are gratifying – and onboard activities are geared for intelligent travelers.

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Zodiac landings

Large ships do not conduct Zodiac excursions. They are look-but-don't-touch cruises. On the Minerva, you enjoy two Zodiac adventures a day. Read my "Zodiac landing" web page for details.

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Lecturers

The Minerva has the finest all-around lecture team among Antarctica cruise ships. Read my "Onboard Enrichment" web page for details.

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Onboard facilities & activities

The cruise ship has two restaurants, three lounges, a cinema, and more. Enrichment activities include lectures and pre-excursion briefings. You also relish wildlife, seascape and landscape viewing from the deck. Lecturers stand next to you, eagerly providing insights.

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Crew

No Antarctica cruise ship crew tries harder to pamper its guests - and to anticipate their needs.

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Fellow passengers

Your cruisemates are personable, educated, and well-traveled. Their long-held desire to visit Antarctica creates a common bond.

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Open dining-room seating

You are not assigned a specific restaurant, table, or eating time. You dine where, when, and with whom you desire.

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All inclusive fare

The fare covers many cruise items that are normally extras. These include tips, food and beverages. All Zodiac excursions in Antarctica are also complimentary.

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Smoother sailing

The Minerva travels much smoother in rough waters than do smaller Antarctica cruise ships because it is bigger and has retractable side stabilizers. These qualities matter because sometimes the Drake Passage (open sea between South America and Antarctica) can get rough.

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High safety standards

My cruisemates told me how impressed they were with the staff's disciplined devotion to their safety onboard, on land, and in Zodiacs. Moreover, the ship has an ice-strengthened hull - and bow thrusters to boost maneuverability in icy bays and channels.

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Is the Minerva perfect?

No. It is impossible for any cruise ship to be flawless given the complexity of a vessel and the many staffers involved. Deficiencies are bound to occur. However, on my Minerva cruise, deficiencies were minimal considering the ship's remote itinerary.

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©2009 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications