Seabourn Antarctica

We have been informed by our TA that SB will be going to Antarctica late 2012 early 2013. How exciting!!

We have been informed by our TA that SB will be going to Antarctica late 2012 early 2013. How exciting!!

That's what Capt. Saaybe said, they were going to add plating to I believe the Quest and do Antarctica.

We have been informed by our TA that SB will be going to Antarctica late 2012 early 2013. How exciting!!

I received an email from a TA (who I have never actually used) informing of three cruises to Antarctica and Patagonia. The cruises are in December 2013 and January 2014.

Perhaps they are but no landings.

Kind regards,

Tony

Very interesting - we are considering an Antarctica cruise late 2012 - if Seabourn is an option we would really like to know about it as an option. so A&K and Silversea Explorer are on our short list.

We received an email from our TA yesterday and they said that Seabourn would be cruising Antarctica on the Quest December 2013 and early 2014, no other details as yet were given.

Just to clear the air of confusion on this thread, we had made a Waitlist Booking for Quest knowing very well she was doing South America. Seabourn told us by doing this open booking, once they had the new itineraries they would contact us first and we would be booked first before it would open up to general sales to the public. As such, we are booked on 2 out of the 3 Antartica Cruises since Wednesday of this week.

They were suppose to open it up on Friday to the public but have now been delayed until Sept 4th. Hang on to your "knickers" when you see the pricing Seabourn is charging and I believe it will sell out like hot cakes!

Cat A starting at $16999.00 per person and V1's starting at $19999.00 for the Xmas and New Years cruise.

I have posted all three Antarctica Cruises Itineraries for the Quest below. Also, they will only announce 1 year in advance where they will be landing us in Antarctica. These cruises provide the luxury experience of going ashore just like the Expedition Ships.

First Voyage #6357 21 days from Buenos Aires-Valparaiso Nov 20/13-Dec 11/13

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Montevideo, Uruguay

At Sea (Atlantic Ocean)

At Sea

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

At Sea

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 1)

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 2)

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 3)

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 4)

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 5)

At Sea

Ushuaia, Argentina

Scenic cruising Beagle Channel

Scenic cruising Glacier Alley

Scenic cruising Cockburn Channel

Punta Arenas, Chile

Scenic cruising Strait of Magellan

Scenic cruising Canal Sarmiento

Scenic cruising Amalia Glacier

Scenic cruising Chilean Fjords

Puerto Chacabuco, Chile

Scenic cruising Gulf of Corcovado

Castro, Isla Chilo?, Chile

Puerto Montt, Chile

Scenic cruising Reloncav? Sound

At Sea (Pacific Ocean)

VALPARA?SO (SANTIAGO), CHILE

Second Voyage #6358 24 days Xmas/New Years Valparaiso-Buenos Aires

VALPARA?SO (SANTIAGO), CHILE

At Sea (Pacific Ocean)

Scenic cruising Reloncav? Sound

Puerto Montt, Chile

Castro, Isla Chilo?, Chile

Scenic cruising Gulf of Corcovado

Puerto Chacabuco, Chile

Scenic cruising Chilean Fjords

Scenic cruising Amalia Glacier

Scenic cruising Canal Sarmiento

Scenic cruising Strait of Magellan

Punta Arenas, Chile

Scenic cruising Cockburn Channel

Scenic cruising Glacier Alley

Scenic cruising Beagle Channel

Ushuaia, Argentina

Passing Cape Horn

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 1)

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 2)

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 3)

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 4)

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 5)

At Sea

At Sea

Grytviken, South Georgia

Grytviken, South Georgia

At Sea (Atlantic Ocean)

At Sea

At Sea

Montevideo, Uruguay

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Third Voyage #6359 21 days Buenos Aires-Valparaiso

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Montevideo, Uruguay

At Sea (Atlantic Ocean)

At Sea

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

At Sea

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 1)

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 2)

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 3)

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 4)

The SBN Antarctic Experience (day 5)

At Sea

Ushuaia, Argentina

Scenic cruising Beagle Channel

Scenic cruising Glacier Alley

Scenic cruising Cockburn Channel

Punta Arenas, Chile

Scenic cruising Strait of Magellan

Scenic cruising Canal Sarmiento

Scenic cruising Amalia Glacier

Scenic cruising Chilean Fjords

Puerto Chacabuco, Chile

Scenic cruising Gulf of Corcovado

Castro, Isla Chilo?, Chile

Puerto Montt, Chile

Scenic cruising Reloncav? Sound

At Sea (Pacific Ocean)

VALPARA?SO (SANTIAGO), CHILE

Perhaps they are but no landings.

 

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

Anyone interested in these cruises should be familiar with the Antartica Treaty which dictates no more that roughly 100 people ashore at one time from a ship. These itineraries will probably be "drive-by" visits to the 7 th continent. Not very exciting IMHO. It will be interesting to see what the excursions really are.

Many thanks for posting the itineraries - I am keen for the official announcement and details of time in the Antarctic. As for the indicative pricing - it's still a LOT cheaper than Silversea's Explorer. I do believe the number of passengers will make "landings" either very limited or impossible. Also, the other expedition ships all boast "ice hardened" hulls etc etc - I wonder if the Quest meets such standards.

Many thanks for posting the itineraries - I am keen for the official announcement and details of time in the Antarctic. As for the indicative pricing - it's still a LOT cheaper than Silversea's Explorer. I do believe the number of passengers will make "landings" either very limited or impossible. Also, the other expedition ships all boast "ice hardened" hulls etc etc - I wonder if the Quest meets such standards.

When the Quest goes into dry-dock next year, she will be retrofitted with ice 'blades" to crush the the ice. Also, because of the Antarticca Treaty, the announcement for the location of the landings can not be annouced because they do not issue the licenses' before 1 year in advance.

But ALL of these sailings are GUARANTEED for paxs to land in Antarctica subject to the weather conditions and sea conditions.

We were looking at booking the Crystal Symphony's Dec 21, 2013 itinerary which was starting at $9680.00 for a CAT E obstructed cabin and alas Seabourn finally announced the Quest's sailing to Antarctica.

Anyone interested in these cruises should be familiar with the Antartica Treaty which dictates no more that roughly 100 people ashore at one time from a ship. These itineraries will probably be "drive-by" visits to the 7 th continent. Not very exciting IMHO. It will be interesting to see what the excursions really are.

As soon as they open shore excursions I will post them. But these 3 Antarctica Cruises are NOT "drive bys" that is for sure. Holland America's Zaamdam, Crystal Symphony and Star Princess all will be "cruising" the 62 degree parallels.

PS - This is all very interesting; but what is SB going to use for the landings? Is the ship going to carry Zodiacs for these cruises? As I recall from our Antarctica adventure a couple of years ago on the Hanseatic, there are no docks; and all of the landings are onto the beaches, hardly practical for tenders.

"Cruising Antarctica" is vastly different from "Landings in Antarctica". Did the inside info you received (which we have not received from SB, although we get loads of emails and brochures from them) describe what "landings" means?

Please keep us informed of SB's apparently closely-held plans.

Cheers, Fred

PS - This is all very interesting; but what is SB going to use for the landings? Is the ship going to carry Zodiacs for these cruises? As I recall from our Antarctica adventure a couple of years ago on the Hanseatic, there are no docks; and all of the landings are onto the beaches, hardly practical for tenders.

 

"Cruising Antarctica" is vastly different from "Landings in Antarctica". Did the inside info you received (which we have not received from SB, although we get loads of emails and brochures from them) describe what "landings" means?

 

Please keep us informed of SB's apparently closely-held plans.

 

Cheers, Fred

Yes, the landings will be by Zodiacs and will be loaded in Puntas Arenas, Chile and also in Ushuaia, Argentina and stored in the Marina area to facilitate the landings in Antarctica. The landings as it was explained too me would be in groups running continously all day with special guest lecturers and naturalists onboard for these three special voyages.

There is no way in the wide world would l consider landing on the last frontier with 500 passengers, each wanting there $16 to $40 grands worth.

Even the 100 max cap landings are a nightmare for crew and naturalists.

The great 6th continent does not deserve nor can it cope with that level of impact.

Nor should it have to try.

Seabourn really needs to reconsider this until it gets hold of an appropriate sized and designed vessel. The Quest is totally inappropriate.

If they do go ahead with this sized vessel it will be a great enviromental insensitvity

that l know for sure Australia, NZ and Argentina will object to and protest. We have in the past and we are sure to again.

I am already preparing to write to Seabourn.

Below Is the Seatrade news release from yesterday.

SEABOURN TO CHART ANTARCTICA FOR THE FIRST TIME

Seabourn plans to visit the White Continent for the first time in its 20-year history. In November 2013, Seabourn Quest will begin a series of four 21- to 24-day voyages sailing between Valparaíso, Chile, and Buenos Aires.

‘Antarctica was the only continent that Seabourn did not feature in our itineraries. This expands our global reach to all seven continents and builds on our already impressive list of exotic destinations,’ said Seabourn president Rick Meadows.

The all-suite ship will cruise the Chilean coast, including visits to Puerto Montt for the Lake District, Castro on the huge island of Chiloé, and Puerto Chacabuco, a gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. Then Seabourn Quest will thread the glaciers, peaks and channels of the Chilean Fjords, culminating in a transit of the Beagle Channel and its Glacier Alley. Weather permitting, following a call at Ushuaia in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego, the ship will cruise by Cape Horn bound for the Southern Ocean.

Passengers will experience five days in Antarctica, including scenic cruising of highlights such as the Lemaire Channel, Paradise Bay and Gerlache Strait. Seabourn said an experienced Antarctic expedition staff will be on hand to guide landings and exploration by Zodiacs. Scientists, naturalists and other lecturers in a number of disciplines will speak on board and accompany shore visits to add their insights.

During the South Atlantic portion of the voyage, Seabourn Quest will visit Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, and Montevideo, Uruguay, en route to or from Buenos Aires.

A 24-day holiday version will include two days exploring the sub-Antarctic wildlife Eden of South Georgia Island, renowned for its rookeries of king penguins and other seabirds, as well as breeding elephant and fur seals.

Seabourn's new ‘Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia’ sailings open for sale on Sept. 4.

................................

This is such a stupid idea

Someone at Seabourn has got rocks in their head

I found this correspondence pertaining to the landings as well that I forgot to post yesterday that I received while booking this exciting voyage to Antarctica.

We are have now opened the Quest voyages for the remainder of 2013-first quarter 2014 to our guests holding future cruise bookings. We will open these voyages up to the general public by end of the day Monday.

The holiday sailing on the Quest will embark on Wednesday December 11, 2013 and will sail through Saturday January 4, 2014 for a 24 day South America and Antarctica experience. I have pasted the itinerary being offered below. As with all expedition cruising, cruise operators are not be able to bid on islands for possible landings until 2013 so we will not publish the islands we will attempt to visit. All landings are subject to weather and sea conditions regardless of schedule. More information will be available on this when as we get it.

Before I booked, I would be asking Seabourn how they intend to conduct their shore landings in compliance with the 100 person Treaty provision. The answer could be enlightening.

Before I booked, I would be asking Seabourn how they intend to conduct their shore landings in compliance with the 100 person Treaty provision. The answer could be enlightening.

I am quite confident and assured in booking that Seabourn would not be making preparations for the Quest in drydock next year modifying her hull with ice crusher blades, costing the cruiseline a small fortune I am sure no doubt. Also by making this modification to the hull, Seabourn will now have the ability as well to go to Alaska. Also the Antarctica Treaty provision for tourism in the Antarctic have some stringent conditions which I am sure Seabourn will be good environmental stewards and will adhere to them all.

My guess is that passengers will in shifts so that for four fifths of the time each passenger will be on the ship and not on land.

Are we sure that this isn't some kind of a joke or hoax? There is nothing that I can find (perhaps I'm not good at maneuvering the SB website) regarding these cruises with stops in Antarctica. In any event, is the addition of "ice crusher blades" (whatever the heck that means) comparable to rendering the ship's hull as "ice-hardened"? It will be very interesting to see how SB transforms a luxury cruise vessel into a quasi-expedition vessel that is safe in those waters. As Henry points out, that still leaves the passengers in the situation of going on landings in four or five shifts. All things considered, perhaps a dedicated expedition ship might be a better choice for Antarctica.

Are we sure that this isn't some kind of a joke or hoax? There is nothing that I can find (perhaps I'm not good at maneuvering the SB website) regarding these cruises with stops in Antarctica. In any event, is the addition of "ice crusher blades" (whatever the heck that means) comparable to rendering the ship's hull as "ice-hardened"? It will be very interesting to see how SB transforms a luxury cruise vessel into a quasi-expedition vessel that is safe in those waters. As Henry points out, that still leaves the passengers in the situation of going on landings in four or five shifts. All things considered, perhaps a dedicated expedition ship might be a better choice for Antarctica.

The "hoax" as you put it isn't published yet online on the SB website but should be there tomorrow by days end as per the communique I put above the from Office in Seattle. They will be having dedicated expedition specialists onboard such as naturalist, guest speakers, geologists and expedition experts to launch obviously the zodiacs etc. I am quite confident that Seabourn will have all the proper staffing in place to make this a one of a kind event no doubt.

:)They are now on the Seabourn website:)

:)They are now on the Seabourn website:)

Yep the "hoax" is over, although they are one day late.

I went to Anarctica on the MS Fram a few years ago and don't worry about the size of the ship.

I think it is better because you can have more amenities, better food, and not get bored.

Landings: 2 a day 1 hour ashore by law.

100 paxs onshore by law.

On the way back you usually do a scenic cruise in your zodiac (up close for photographing icebergs, wildlife, swimming seals & penguins, etc).

This is about 30 minutes.

This is also the time when you will be icy cold that hits your bones due to the moving zodiac.

Ashore was hot!

By the time you reach your ship and change out of your snow waterproof clothes it is about 2 hours.

On landing days (mostly everyday) this is your routine TWICE a day.

The Routine is quite hectic and 1 hour is more than enough time onshore.

Breakfast

landing lecture

Landing- 2 hours

Nap

Lunch

Landing lecture

Landing- 2 hours

Tea Time

Nap or hang out

Dinner

Drinks at the bar and making new friends

Sleep or watch TV in your room

The groups are called in shifts. You first stop in the changing room to get into your wellies and put on your gloves, hats, etc, before hopping on the zodiac.

It is NOT chaotic at all. The turns change as well. If your group was called last then you will be first next time.

The groups are per zodiac and if I remember correctly there were 7 groups. (I might have this wrong). I just read the Fram holds 230 paxs.

Only your small group (however many fit in the zodiac) are allowed in the wet room.

On the way back you board the Zodiac. At your leisure.

We made all of our landings and I was on the on the last cruise of the season.

I timed it with Carnavale in Brazil. I believe 2009.

There were loads of penguins and the weather was hot.

I post this because you read a lot of things on the Internet that are not true.

For those that are wheelchair bound I will include this.

There was a lady that broke her leg before her trip but came along with her husband.

She wore a cast and was in a wheel chair.

She boarded the zodiac for all her landings (she was in my zodiac group), but physically could not go ashore as most of the beachfront is jagged rocks, slippery, and wet kinda like a riverbank.

They took her on cruises along the shoreline instead and she was happy.

Many penguins swimming and showing off, anyways.

I believe the easiest landing was the one with the old whaling station. Is this Deception

Island? I think she made it to the Argentine Base.

I hope this helps get a sense of big ship cruising in Antarctica.

p.s. My favorite was Neko Harbor and the scenery in general.

The snow is high and makes a slide where you can come down on your bum.

The penguins slide next to you on their bellies.

Too cute!

They also follow you everywhere and mimic what you are doing.

Very curious little darlings.

About two weeks ago I booked my first Seabourn cruise - 14 nights in the Med next year. With over 200 cruise days on Princess, Cunard, Holland America (and soon to add Celebrity), I am not new to cruising, but I am very excited to finally be able to try Seabourn.

Having made my first Seabourn cruise commitment, I am now completely intrigued by the Antartica cruises in 2013/14. Wow, they are not cheap, but what an opportunity! I am going to seriously consider one of the three cruises on offer. I will need to do some more homework, but a quick look at the Silversea Expedition options showed that Seabourn is considerably cheaper. I know it is not "apples with apples" because the ships are very different, but it has only added to my interest in finding out more.

We cruised around Cape Horn in early 2011 and the sea was like glass. I know that weather is highly variable, particularly in that part of the world, and the 5 days in Antartica could be terrible weather-wise. Still.......I am off to do some research!

Anyone else interested?

Interesting enough, Seabourn in 2013 late fall and early 2014 will not be doing the typical 14 day "around the Horn" cruises from either Valparaiso or Buenos Aires...not even one. Instead, they are replacing those voyages with these 4 Antarctica Cruises 21-24 days which seems too me to be a lot of capacity for Antarctica from one single cruiseline. Princess usually only goes twice in a season with the Star Princess, Crystal Symphony is only going once next year Dec 21st for 18 days, Holland America is going twice as they do always, next year will be on the Zaandam. I guess Seabourn really believes they can fill up the Quest with 1800 paxs over those 3 months paying a very high premium fare on average of $650-$895 per person per day depending on the sailing.