Antarctica Cruise & Travel Guide

Accommodations Review

The Mandarin hotel prior and the National Geographic Orion were exactly as I expected and met all our needs.

Meals Review

The meals on the ship were consistently incredible. The variety of fresh foods and beautiful presentation never got boring.

Crew & Guides Review

The pre-tour guide and driver were outstanding. Our guide went above and beyond to make our experience a good one and to give us insight into his country in addition to seeing 'the sights' - it was a true cultural experience which I wanted and appreciated. The National Geographic crew from top to bottom were fantastic.

Itinerary Review

Antarctica was simply amazing. Nothing can compare and you simply have to see it to believe it. We also enjoyed our day trip to Valpairaiso. The day trip and the drive over with a stop at a local winery gave us a good flavor for the region as well as a day to adjust and get ready for the next leg of the journey.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Nick helped us for more than a year to secure the trip, work on pre-tours and help with all preparations and questions - which were many. He was also professional and responsive and educational in preparing us for the trip. Just what I wanted from a travel agency. Expert advice from people who have been there and can match your wishes and travel style to the right fit for you.

Traveler Advice

Plan far ahead and research what the actual trip experience will be like. Find the fit that best suits your personality and travel style. Be flexible. The only challenge was a very late night flight out of Santiago to Dallas. The downtime on that final day proved to longer than I would have liked. I would recommend to future travelers that they spend the night in Santiago, taking a morning flight out the following day in order to ensure a less exhaustive end to the trip. Santiago city center is worth seeing but not particularly engaging - at least at the moment. The protests have very much disrupted the flow for tourists and the effects on the city with graffiti and boarded up sites around the city are painful to see.

Accommodations Review

The cabin on the ship was very roomy and the appointments were great. The Arakur Hotel in Ushuaia was very comfortable, convenient, the food was very good and the staff was very helpful with taking care of our flight boarding passes.

Meals Review

The food had a great variety with entries, side dishes and desserts were always great. But there was always too much food. For lunch, we would have been happy with a simple soup and sandwich served in the Club each day instead of using the main dining room. We opted for that option when they offered it but it was not offered each day.

Crew & Guides Review

All members of the Exhibition Team were professional and enthusiastic. Falcon was a great historian and brought the whole exhibition to life with his stories and lectures. I liked Stephi who provided the lectures on the rocks and earth subjects. The kayak team were always great and worked to make the kayaking a memory for the trip. They succeeded. The captain and Pablo went out of their way to find alternatives when scheduled landings could not be done. Dr. Paul went out of his way to support Sharon when she ended up with sea sickness during the trip. Turned out that her use of the patch was overkill and she did not need it after taking it off 1/2 way through the trip. Having a photographer on board was a great help in hearing about the tips. Marty was excellent in animal watching and was a great resources for all questions. Mark as the hotel manager was wonderful to connect with. He was always upbeat and willing to help with any issues.

Itinerary Review

The trips in the Zodiacs were a highlight in the Antarctica Peninsula and paddling in the kayak in the glacier waters with whales swimming around us was unbelievable.

Transportation Review

Although we handled the airline reservations, Andrew was very helpful in getting us the information on getting to the hotel.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Andrew, our Adventure Specialist, was extremely responsive and we always felt that he had worked thoroughly to get us answers to our questions.  We would use him again and recommend him to our friends. We felt well taken care of and prepared for this adventure.

Traveler Advice

Do not miss South Georgia! We would like to revisit it again in October or November. There are trade-offs in what time of year you go and how far south into Antarctica a person wants to venture.

Accommodations Review

I spent very little time in the cabin other than sleeping.

Meals Review

Better than I was expecting while underway.

Crew & Guides Review

Daniel the bartender was fantastic.  He was incredibly skilled and professional.  The kitchen staff made excellent food, especially Sebastacion, and Fabian and the hospitality staff were awesome as well. Augustine, Kata, Lida, Juan, and Anna did an amazing job.  They gave great presentations to the guests and did a great job trying to create the best experience for the guest possible. They were all professionals that were friendly and approachable. They did a wonderful job!

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Andrew sent an excellent information pack that alleviated my questions and helped me prepare.

Traveler Advice

First thing is definitely do this destination! It was amazing! Pack less layers than you think. I wore the same couple every day and you're not outside very long at any one time. Bring a couple more things to wear on the boat instead. Meal times are set so bring your own snacks if you get hungry often or like to snack.