DESTINATIONS ANTARCTICA | CRUISE


ABOVE: A sea ice landing in Antarctica FACING PAGE: An Expedition Corner Suite on Roald Amundsen; the ship’s Science Centre; a seal in Yankee Harbour PICTURES: Andrea Klaussner; Karsten Bidstrup; Hurtigruten; Shutterstock; Tillberg Design


ONBOARD GAMES You may only go ashore once a day from Roald Amundsen but there’s plenty to do on board, from drinking booze-laced hot chocolate in the hot tubs to admiring the views from the glass-walled sauna, or attending talks on whales, explorers and geology. Several citizen-science projects run on board. Every day, I’d join Becky, the ship’s ornithologist, to identify and log seabirds in an app. I also went out on a rib boat with marine biologist Allison Cusick, who is running a project, FjordPhyto, for her PhD, collecting and examining phytoplankton. You can later admire your water samples under microscope in the ship’s Science Centre. There are optional activities too,


from kayaking to snowshoeing. A lucky few won the lottery to spend the night camping on the ice (for a hefty £532), but camping was


cancelled as the designated site was too clogged with sea ice. Evenings on Roald Amundsen are informal and low-key. Dining ranges from classy, Norwegian-inspired dishes in Lindstrøm – allocated to suite guests, with anybody else allowed to eat there for €25 a head – to lavish buffets of seafood and roasts in Aune, the main dining room. You can also eat with members


BOOK IT


The Antarctica season runs from November to March. Hurtigruten offers a 17-night trip on Roald Amundsen from Punta Arenas to Antarctica and the Falklands, departing November 20, from £6,328, including one night in Santiago and domestic flights; international flights are extra. From April, Hurtigruten is changing the pricing structure of its expeditions, so wine and beer with meals, as well as gratuities, will be included, as will an excursion in every port that’s not an expedition landing. Every guest gets a Helly Hansen jacket and water flask to keep. Rubber boots, mandatory for landing in Antarctica, are provided and Wi-Fi is free. hurtigruten.co.uk


travelweekly.co.uk


of the 19-strong expedition team in Fredheim, a cosy cafe serving spring rolls, burgers and waffles. Listening to the stories of the team over dinner is a lot of fun; their tales of mountaineering in Antarctica and retracing Shackleton’s precarious sea passage really encapsulate the essence of this exciting and innovative ship.


TW


ADD-ONS TO ANTARCTICA


E Atacama Desert: For clients looking to extend their Antarctica expedition, suggest exploring the sand flats, geothermal springs and hippy vibes of San Pedro de Atacama, which also offers some of the world’s finest stargazing.


E Chilean Lake District: Alternatively, Chile’s lake district is a beautiful region of blue lakes, forests and towering volcanoes, ideal for hiking and cycling.


E Santiago: The Chilean capital is a good base from which to explore the winelands of nearby Casablanca valley and Valparaiso, an edgy, quirky port town with some of the world’s most impressive street art.


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