Ziggy99

May be of interest ... https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/02/26/1088144/antarctica-starlink-elon-musk-satellite-internet/

Looking into this further, while Starlink's coverage map didn't include Antarctica when I checked it, there is in fact Starlink internet available in the Antarctic. Quark offers basic internet free using it and faster internet for a fee. Basic eg for email, faster eg for streaming. Faster internet may be intermittant as there are no base stations on the continent and Starlink uses lasers to link satellites to base stations on the southern parts of other continents. I'm waiting to hear what Quark will charge for a faster connection.

That site response table has been up for several months. Some landings are still possible provided there are no behavioural signs of the flu at the permitted sites.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza if you want to be a pedant.

According to the S Georgia and Sandwich Islands Govt, a site may be open to landings but the final decision is up to the cruise company. Operators don't want to spread bird flu - it can persist for months in soil - and there is a chance that humans can acquire it. The tour operators association IAATO has committed not to land or to leave a site where behavioural signs of bird flu are observed. (This applies to all antarctic and subantarctic tours that members conduct.) A landing sites map of South Georgia is here The govt will be reviewing site advice at the end of this month (March). The current status is in the doc attached. Some sites are open (the yellow column) with enhanced biosecurity measures but the operator may still decide not to go there. The meaning of the colour codes is given in the Biosecurity Handbook p36 and following. SIte-resonse-level_240304 Copy.pdf GSGSSI Biosecurity_Handbook.pdf

There are early bird deals and last minute deals. You might score 30% off. I've paid 21 months in advance to get the most discount on the cheapest cabin class of which there were only 2 and I got the 2nd! I've heard of people hanging around Ushaia to take advantage of last-minute openings. Not for Type A personalities.

Iridium covers the poles if it's satellite comms you're after. Its data service is limited and expensive. If the ship doesn't connect to it you can take your own device.

In high seas you get a more comfortable ride further back from the bow, if it's a conventional design. It's simple physics.

Yes, I saw that. The issue is how much you can plan for. The statement before your quote reads Can I bring additional baggage? This will depend on the overall load of the flight. DAP weighs each piece of luggage and they may offload pieces if the permitted load is exceeded. For me a 7kg difference alone is enough to swing the choice of company.

So 7kg more than Antarctica21 but again you can't purchase more checked luggage than the allowed 20kg. The airline will allow it on without fee if they've got the capacity.

Sounds great. Thanks.

How did you go for landings at S Georgia?

They may well do but people need to know this in the planning stage. For keen photographers for example it may lead them to research and plan for cruise-only trips.

I'm afraid that I wasn't looking to emulate you but asking about forum practice. If you don't want to share useful information off your own bat or recognise it when it's done, that's your choice, not mine. And I wasn't asking for an explanation of Antarctica21's rules. It's important for some travellers simply to know them before they travel.

And you're the admin?

This is a heads-up so that travellers won't have to make a difficult decision at the last moment. Don't you have posts here of this type? Eg I'm a photographer and take about 10kg of gear plus a heavy laptop which isn't counted in the usual carry-on limits. Can I get by on about 8kg for everything else? If not, fly/cruise isn't for me.

Antarctica21 pioneered Ushuaia-King George Island flights. Their current luggage limit is 20kg in total and there's no option to pay for a second checked piece.

New Zealand Southern Alps, Icebreaker base layers. Worn for 6 days. Got stinky after 4 days.

On the contrary, I have 4 baselayers in superfine merino. Complete with moth signatures. I learned their benefits from 35 years of overnight ski touring that included 6 days glacier skiing in New Zealand and sleeping on snow at minus 14 in the Australian high country. Their only advantage, now perhaps lost, is that they take longer to get stinky. Most people find ordinary wool against the skin feels scratchy. That's why there's a superfine wool industry - mainly supplied by New Zealand. The OP needs some specialised cold weather gear for an Antarctic trip that they appear to have no continuing use for. Polyester baselayers are cheap, comfortable, durable, easy care and quick drying. Horses for courses.

If you want comfortable base layers in wool then you need superfine merino. Fibres around 20 microns. That's what I was referring to and that's what costs and is tasty to moths. While Icebreaker, original maker of this kind of gear, say their garments can be machine washed I wouldn't trust them to a ship's laundry. Synthetics haven't stood still and there are breathable next-to-skin active wear garments in nylon, polyester, chlorofibre and others. Antimicrobial treatments extend the time thay take to get stinky. My 2 day rule predates these treatments. The synthetics last forever. In respect of fleece midlayers, one family jacket saw out 3 kids using it hard and I still use a Polartec 300 that's approaching 40 years old. In terms of the weight to warmth ratio, in midlayers fleece beats wool easily.

Looks like for the OP the use will be one-off. $35 v $110 in my country. I'm a backcountry ski tourer. My friends and I have used superfine merino for decades and we've all got wholey garments. For stink, polyester is fine for 2 days, wool for 4 but you pay through the nose for it.

Albatross in flight, a tiny tomtit 50m away, a leopard seal on a rock a few car lengths from the zodiac? You have to decide to know what magnifying power to get. After that, get the biggest objective that you can carry/afford.

I would recommend quality polyester base layers rather than wool. Much cheaper, easier to care for and quick drying and the moths aren't interested. Wash them in your sink. The only advantage AFAIC to superfine merino is that you can work hard and sweat in them for several long days without them getting stinky.