Antarctica cruise costs - Candid tips by Howard Hillman

Antarctica
cruise costs

Fares

Cruise fares

Brochure rates

They range from about $14,000 to $39,000 per person, depending on cabin category and cruise length. But nowadays hardly anyone pays brochure rates in the cruise industry. They get discounts.

Discounted rates

You will likely receive a discount of up to 25% (and higher during slow economic times). That would make the range of rates quoted above equal to roughly $10,000 to $29,000.

Free extras

Early bookers are often given free roundtrip airfare from the nearest USA gateway city plus a one-night pre-cruise layover in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Other possible perks include a shipboard credit and various loyalty discounts.

Value

Almost all the passengers I interviewed thought that they received a lot for their money on a luxury cruise ship because its fare includes:

Food, wine and bar drinks
All gratuities
An ocean-view cabin
Two Zodiac excursions per day
Take-home polar parka and backpack

And compared to Antarctica cruise ships in general, seasoned cruisers thought that the luxury cruise ships:

Are physically comfortable
Give friendly, want-to-please service
Have fine lecturers
Serve quality food and wines
Practice a high ship-safety level
Have interesting, well-traveled passengers, the type you like to meet

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