Discovering Three Antarctic Islands: An Unforgettable Journey Under $40,000
A person has been traveling around the world for almost half a year.
Quit the job at the end of March, packed and went home in April, and laid low at home in May.
In June, was forced by mom to go on blind dates, and in a fit of anger, bought a plane ticket and set off.
Before departure, my plan was:
1️⃣ Go to Africa to see the great migration
2️⃣ Go to Antarctica to see penguins
3️⃣ Other places, play it by ear
Surprisingly, before even half of the gap year was over, 1️⃣ and 2️⃣ were already achieved! 3️⃣ is also ongoing~
After disembarking, I’ve been playing hard and being lazy [sly smile R] and owe a lot of travel guides.
I’ll hastily post one that everyone is more concerned about: how to buy last-minute tickets to Antarctica?!
1️⃣ Contact an agency: XHS ticket agent, or an agency in Ushuaia. I contacted several, and the quotes I received were mostly similar, with relatively transparent pricing. This year’s prices are higher than last year’s, and the cheaper cabins sell out quickly.
2️⃣ Confirm the time: Tickets from mid-November to early December and late February to March are cheaper, while Christmas and Chinese New Year are peak seasons! I planned to go from mid-November to early December, as the weather is more stable after mid-November, and the glaciers are larger than in February, but there are fewer animal species. I was more interested in seeing the glaciers.
3️⃣ Confirm the itinerary: The usual options are Peninsula, Three Islands, and Peninsula + Polar Circle, with prices increasing in that order. I did the Three Islands, and based on my experience, if the budget is limited, the Peninsula is enough. The massive glaciers and vast ice fields are all on the Peninsula, and they are stunning.
4️⃣ Choose the ship: Only ships with less than 200 people can land, 100 people at a time, in batches. My ship this time was the SH Vega from Swan, with only a little over 100 passengers, and more crew than passengers, providing excellent service. It’s a small luxury expedition cruise, and all activities including landings and cruises were carried out.
The expedition team was very capable! But the additional activities were only hiking, kayaking, and polar plunging. Those who want camping and other adventure activities may not find it suitable.
5️⃣ Share the room ❗️❗️❗️ This is what really saved me money. Some ships allow you to buy just a bed, while others require you to share. For my ship, I had to share, otherwise, I would have to pay a single supplement. The original price for a balcony room on the SH Vega departing on 11/18 was $16,180, and the price in early November was $7,999, but the balcony room can actually accommodate three people, with the third person at half price!
$7,999 * 2.5 / 3 = $6,666! Saved over ten thousand RMB! But note, the sofa bed is quite short. It was just right for me, but if all three are tall, it might not be suitable.
6️⃣ Everything is negotiable! Through my interactions with various agencies and passengers, I discovered that there’s plenty of room for negotiation. First and foremost, the price: some agencies are willing to offer discounts that can amount to several hundred dollars. Even if the price isn’t flexible, you can still negotiate for additional perks such as onboard credits, free rental of snow pants, waiver of single supplement fees, complimentary pre-cruise hotel stays, airport transfers, and even a tour of Tierra del Fuego.
I was particularly fortunate this time around. Despite not doing extensive research, a friend who was enthusiastic about the ship contacted me, and we ended up sharing a room with three people. The Chinese friends on board were incredibly friendly, and the expedition team was highly skilled. We managed to land on all three islands, making the experience even more memorable.
