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Our Ten Best Tips and Tricks For Your Arctic Cruise

10/1/2022

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In The Loop Travel correspondent Angela DiLanzo (top right) visited Sky Lagoon in Iceland with friends during her Arctic expedition with Atlas Ocean Voyages. // All photos by Angela DiLanzo unless noted
By In The Loop Travel Correspondent Angela DiLanzo
A cruise to the remote Arctic regions of the world ranks as a true "bucket list" travel experience, and it provides the opportunities to get up close and personal with some of the most breathtaking landscapes, unique wildlife and isolated small towns at the top of the world.
After two Antarctic expeditions with Atlas Ocean Voyages in 2021 (and some pretty irresistible incentives to return onboard), I leapt at the opportunity to explore the opposite pole with this expedition cruise line. I joined Atlas' voyage from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, to Edinburgh, Scotland, in summer 2022, with Arctic landings across Jan Mayen and Greenland, before navigating south of the Arctic Circle to Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Scotland.
The cruise line's new 196-passenger World Navigator ship offers the onboard experience you would expect from a luxury cruise ship. It features modern staterooms with comfy bedding and an unbelievable shower (seriously), tableside dinner service featuring new menus nightly, a fantastic spa, exceptional staff, plus the small ship size that provides an intimate space and on-board social activities for travelers and even crew to spark new friendships.

Check Out In The Loop Travel's Coverage of an Antarctic Cruise on World Navigator

Story: Our Trip to Antarctica Was Almost Over Before It Started


When you cruise the polar regions, you are not really on a "cruise" at all. You are on an expedition. While I was able to make use of much of the clothing I acquired for Antarctica, the overlaps ended there. The Arctic has an identity entirely its own.
Now that I have had a glimpse into the breadth of the Arctic, I know I will return. It's a diverse region with infinite offerings. I would encourage anyone to book their own expedition to the extreme north -- and to keep the following in mind when doing so.
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Above, a reindeer grazes as World Navigator sits offshore. Below, I enjoyed an ATV tour during my pre-cruise time in Norway.
Jumpstart Your Stay
The best decision I made in the planning stages for this adventure was to tack on four extra days prior to departure in the small embarkation city of Longyearbyen in Svalbard.
Svalbard, also known as Spitsbergen, is a small archipelago located northwest of Scandinavia, at a latitude just over 78 degrees North, roughly 12 degrees north of the Arctic Circle -- way up there! While technically part of the Kingdom of Norway, Svalbard is a sovereignty, and this is integral to its magic.
When John Lennon sang the lyric "Imagine there's no country . . . ," I fancy that Svalbard embodies what he was picturing. While customs and immigration at Oslo Gardermoen Airport punched an exit stamp in my passport (Wait, isn't this a domestic flight?), there was no customs and immigration processing at all in Svalbard Airport. Svalbard has open borders for anyone whose nations are registered signatories of the Svalbard Treaty, so you only need to make it past the large taxidermy polar bear mounted above the baggage carousel, instead.
Because of the open-door policy, I encountered year-round and seasonal transplants from countries of origin as diverse as France, Mexico, England, the Philippines, Vietnam, Norway, Italy, Canada, Colombia and Russia. All of these people relocated to live out their passion for the Arctic. This blissful melting pot is the outcome when people aren't encumbered by country or boundary and are allowed to follow their hearts.
Residents advised me that my July visit was during the brief season without snow (though, to be honest, their sales pitches for an April return are incredibly enticing). There are a number of excursions available from Longyearbyen to introduce you to the region, from more commonplace outdoorsy experiences including ATV rides and kayaking among fjords, which aim to get you closer to the scenery while having a bit of fun, to day cruises to the abandoned Soviet coal-mining town of Pyramiden. You could also check out the research community and northernmost "city" on the globe, Ny Alesund (also a popular landing for cruises circumnavigating Svalbard) or go Arctic fox spotting with See & Explore. My personal favorite was dinner at Camp Barentz.
The camp is a cabin outside of town with reindeer (and vegetarian) stews cooked over campfire, then served while our host gave an impressive talk about polar bears, complete with her own up-close-and-personal encounters.
There are also two small museums. The Svalbard Museum showcases taxidermy of every regional critter, big and small, alongside exhibits on the flora, fauna, history and culture of Svalbard. The North Pole Expedition Museum displays the stories and memorabilia from early attempts to reach the geographic North Pole, including Roald Amundsen's celebrated first completed journey aboard the Norge airship and the later tragedy that followed for the Norge's designer, Umberto Nobile, and Amundsen himself. Allot one to two hours per museum visit.
You also might want to consider other pre- or post-cruise stays in Tromso or Lofoten, Norway, or other Arctic towns specific to your cruise's embarkation point. I disembarked World Navigator in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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I was lucky enough to spot a polar bear roaming the shore during my day cruise.
Look for Wildlife
Much like African safaris have a "Big Five" list of animals, Arctic cruises have their list, as wildlife viewing is one of the most exhilarating activities in this part of the world. Because there is no formal list, I have gone ahead and designated the polar bear, Arctic fox, walrus, reindeer and puffin as the favored animals to spot, based on my own informal census.
Reindeer will be your easiest "get," as it's the most abundant and people-friendly animal of my Big Five.
During my stay, I caught over a dozen grazing throughout Longyearbyen, sometimes only meters from the roads. A large herd also welcomed us at our landing in Trygghamna, Svalbard. Depending on your cruise route, spotting walruses might also be likely, as they live in colonies with known whereabouts.  Polar bear and Arctic fox sightings come down more to luck than anything else, though trackers and even gossip among residents could bring you into contact, another reason to arrive early and book excursions.  In the days prior to my arrival in Longyearbyen, a polar bear had broken into the staff dormitory housing at Pyramiden, and several groups had seen the polar bear in that area. Lo and behold, the day cruise that I booked to Pyramiden also encountered him down the coast leading toward town. Granted, cruisers on Atlas Ocean Voyages' prior departure, which circumnavigated Svalbard mid-July, came upon seven bears (lucky duckies!) and a big fat zero were seen on mine. You never know.
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Reindeer, puffins and walruses are among the animals you'll be on the lookout for during your cruise in the Arctic.
We had a number of puffin sightings. However, puffin season is limited to the summer months and sightings should not be expected in other seasons. Seabirds were the most prevalent of all Arctic animals, so while the puffin might be the most popular, birders will rejoice at the abundance of black guillemot, rock ptarmigan, barnacle geese and the incredible Arctic tern, which migrates about 25,000 miles from pole to pole, each year.
I also spotted a ringed seal and several whale species, though they were often a blip on the watery horizon. Atlas' expedition leader Katya Uryupova also informed that cruises with routes through the Canadian or Russian Arctic regions may also come upon musk oxen. And while not technically wildlife, the many sled dogs encountered both in Svalbard and Greenland had my fellow cruisers thoroughly smitten.
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I found the blue lupine blooming from the terrain especially enchanting.
Don't Forget the Flora
You'll have so much overwhelming the senses from every direction, but remember to look down, too. The Arctic is made up primarily of permafrost, a layer of frozen earth that appears in the summer months once the snow melts away. While it might look lush from a distance, the permafrost in these regions are almost exclusively a delicate blanket of moss and lichen. Jan Mayen's moss layer is so thick, one misstep would result in you being sunk up to your knees.
Arctic cotton plants are whimsical tufts springing from the tundra. They resemble the cloud-like seed phase of a dandelion, but soft and thick like an actual cotton ball, little ghosts throughout the green.
The farther south we voyaged, the more blooms we encountered. Arctic poppy, so full of warm hues, also begins to appear. The beautiful blue-violet lupine greeted us on the island of Heimaey, Iceland. Legend tells that after the 1973 volcanic eruption, residents intentionally scattered thousands of lupine seeds onto the disrupted earth, so its strong, winding roots would stabilize the ground and serve as a colonizer plant species so growth could return.
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You'll have an amazing opportunity to capture stunning landscapes, as well as fascinating creatures throughout the region.
Flex Your Photography Skills
Of course, capturing your travel memories is a given on any vacation, but photography in the Arctic regions comes with unique challenges. While smartphone cameras have come a long way, it would be worth the investment to upgrade your equipment and practice shooting to ensure you get some great snaps.
Wildlife photography is not so simple. Reindeer might keep their distance, but it is going to be absolutely impossible to get up close to a polar bear. Guides even carry rifles to ensure the bears don't get too close (and if you do end up precariously close to a Polar bear, perhaps photography shouldn't be your first concern). Expedition photographer Giancarlo Gallinoro, who specializes in nature photography and has spent four years in the Arctic regions shooting wildlife, suggests procuring a 600mm zoom lens to bridge the expected distance between you and much of the wildlife here.
Distance from wildlife is not the only challenge. The unusual bullet-like flight speeds and patterns of puffin and other seabirds are stress-inducing. Gallinoro suggests a high-speed auto-focus on your DSLR or mirrorless camera to keep up. Also, heavy fogs and the Arctic sheen that obscures the horizon is not for the fainthearted amateur. So practice, practice, practice. Gallinoro advises taking the leap from full auto to manual shooting, if you really hope to get your best, clearest shot.
When it comes to sea mammals, the challenges are that these creatures are often underwater with only a fraction of their back periodically surfacing. Gallinoro says that cruise ships are often not the best place to shoot, as the size of the ship often creates proximity issues, though the 600mm lens is best if you do have a sighting. To get closer, he advises booking whale-watching excursions or day cruises on small boats at the landing destinations.
A group of my fellow cruisers did exactly this, booking a whale-watching tour in Isafjordur, Iceland. When they encountered a pod of whales, they utilized a fun photo hack of their own; they had their smartphone cameras on video while a pod of belugas bobbed in the sea behind them. You can then get a pretty good screen grab to create a photo when the whale emerges in your shot.
For drone fans, Gallinoro warns that "AECO" (Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators) prohibits drone use in the Arctic, but some vessels or local providers might allow it, so double check prior to booking, if using your drone onboard is important. As a member of AECO, drone usage is not permitted onboard World Navigator. (Drone permissions also vary by destination, regardless of AECO rules, so research every landing site if you do intend to bring a drone to the Arctic).
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Expedition photographer Giancarlo Gallinoro snapped this pic of me in Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland.
Get to Know the Expedition Team
Polar cruises are led by expedition teams, so expect to encounter marine biologists, ornithologists, meteorologists, mountaineers and more performing double duty as your onboard guide team. While some team members gave full lectures relating to their various expertise (which definitely enhanced the onboard experience), all of them have extensive experience at the polar regions. Sharing dinner or chatting in the lounge with any one of them is guaranteed to deliver a mind-blowing conversation.
Our team on World Navigator included three individuals who lived and worked at various Antarctic research bases, two who had called Svalbard home over several years, and a few with PhDs in related sciences. With decades of cumulative guiding experience throughout both the polar regions and Earth's wildest natural environments, we were in good hands but also fascinating company.

Be Ready for Adventure
When cruising the polar seas, there typically aren't formal places to dock. In Antarctica, you will never dock, and many Arctic landings are the same. Landing spots constantly change because of snowfall and melt-off. They also might be completely inaccessible because of seasonal or daily weather conditions. With these destinations being so remote, expedition cruise ships often remain positioned at sea while the expedition team escorts us to land or for exploratory scenic cruises in small, motorized rubber boats called Zodiacs. Not only can the Zodiacs land ashore, they can zip up close to glaciers and fjords, icebergs and even sea life and sea birds.
Weather permitting, adventure sports including kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are also offered on these cruises. This means you can flex your adventure muscles while also immersing yourself in the stillness of your environment.
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Adorably fluffy highland cows in the Faroe Islands!
Find Extra Activities that Interest You
The truth is that no one knows your preferences better than you, so review your itinerary ahead of time and see which landings are in towns. While Atlas Ocean Voyages offered several excursions or adventures in these destinations (and I did an ATV ride up to the volcano in Heimaey, Iceland), it helps to be prepared to maximize the relatively brief stays you have in certain locations.
In addition to Atlas' offerings, I tacked on two excursions independently with some of my fellow cruisers. These were shore excursions that we sourced ourselves. It was clear we would never have time to do it all in Reykjavik, Iceland, so I relaxed with a number of fellow cruisers at Sky Lagoon, a hot springs attraction that is not nearly as famous as the Blue Lagoon but closer to the city center with a swim-up bar for wine and "The Ritual" facial — which touts the ability to strip 30 years off your skin.
I joined friend Darla Baird, who sourced a full-day private van tour of the Faroe Islands, along with four other cruisers. Our driver, Johan Hojgaard, drove us to every nook and cranny of the islands, including an array of waterfalls, overlooks and grass-roofed houses. He also introduced us to a couple "highland coos" -- I mean cows.
Katya Uryupova advised that there are a number of exciting options that could upgrade your trip. She suggests researching horseback riding in Iceland, gourmet tours, bird-watching and cycling or hiking tours throughout the Arctic. When sneaking away from the ship on a private excursion, it is always important to mind your timings and research where your activity is in relation to the port.
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The Faroe Islands are a scenic stunner.
Behold the Midnight Sun (Seasonal) 
The Arctic offers the one thing you won't find elsewhere in the world: 24 hours of round-the-clock daylight in the high summer months (and, conversely, 24 hours of darkness in the winter, though Arctic cruises are not offered during the dark months. So, for those truly interested, this season is only available to experience through land-based destination travel). Even in Antarctica, cruise ships themselves can't sail far enough south to entirely rid the night of a brief sliver of darkness.
I will confess that constant daylight is disorienting. It is strange when 10 p.m. suddenly feels like the correct time to eat dinner, despite the World Navigator's dinner schedule, and there was that night or two where the bar in the Dome Lounge closed and shooed us off to bed, leaving us bewildered that we had truly drank and danced the night away. A good sleep mask should be a packing requisite for an Arctic voyage, and thankfully the ship had good blackout curtains.
Despite being disoriented, the infinite daylight was a reminder we were somewhere else. There aren't many moments of pure wonder, but the sky alone transports you with its unyielding brightness.
Several of my cruise mates hoped for a glimpse at the Northern Lights, as well, but you can't have both the Midnight Sun and the Lights. While viewing the ebb and flow of the aurora sashaying across the sky is a bucket-list must, expectations should align with your particular cruising season.
"The most important thing is that you travel when there are proper dark nights!," Uryupova says. "Starting from mid-August (the earliest!) but better in September, you have a good chance to witness this weather phenomenon.
"Everything above the Arctic Circle, including Norway, Russia, the U.S. state of Alaska, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Greenland and even nearby Iceland" are great places to possibly encounter the Lights.
She also suggests cruise travel over land travel because: "The advantage of sailing on a cruise ship is that you are constantly in motion. If you have a weather front and cloudy weather . . . or overcast (sky) on land, you can't change the situation and you just wait for better weather.
"The opposite situation, when you are on board a ship, then you have a better chance to find a location with clear skies, which is very important for seeing Northern Lights."
While 24 hours of daylight are guaranteed seasonally, the Northern Lights do require a certain amount of good luck, so hedge your bets and pick dates that align with your preference.

Sample the Regional Cuisine
So, you want to view the wildlife, of course. But are you ready to eat it? You will find reindeer steaks, burgers and other concoctions on a number of menus. Minke whale, with a veal-like texture and a gamey taste, was occasionally on offer in Svalbard and Iceland, where whaling is legal, and you also might find puffin dishes in Iceland.
Adventurous eating is always an option, but there is plenty of standard fare, as well, including diverse seafood options (and some really good pizza, for the especially timid). Beer drinkers will find themselves in heaven, as each town seems to have its own brewery (or two or three), with plenty of original brews on tap.
"Arctic brownies" were served after several meals, and while brownies are accessible throughout the globe, there is something extra good about the regional chocolate. So, whether it's a brownie or a couple chocolate bars, save room and indulge your sweet tooth.
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I've been making it a habit to jump right in and join the fun in the icy polar waters around the world. It's a refreshing blast. Would you dare? // Photo by Giancarlo Gallinoro
3, 2, 1 . . . Polar Plunge!
For the uninitiated, a polar plunge is exactly what it sounds like: a swan dive (or cannonball, or bellyflop) into the icy-cold waters of the polar areas. Most expedition cruise ships host a once-per-voyage opportunity to jump off the side of the ship into the frigid and remote waters are navigating.
Sure, it sounds terrible, and you should always be wary of any personal health risks, but having completed two in the South Seas and my latest one off the shores of Greenland, the less than 10 seconds actually spent in the water is made worth it with the big, cozy towel, shot of tequila and big cup of hot chocolate you are greeted with once you return onboard.
This is definitely a fun tick for your bucket list, and polar plunging in both the Arctic AND Antarctica will provide you with ultimate travel cred! I think it can best be summed up with "YOLO!"

Thanks for reading, and we hope this has you excited for your expedition cruise in the Arctic.
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An amazing scene in the Faroe Islands.
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The Epic Trip to Antarctica with My Brother -- That Almost Wasn't

1/27/2022

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I took my brother Bart with me on a cruise to Antarctica with Atlas Ocean Voyages. Before the cruise, we had some time in Ushuaia -- a little more time than expected.
By John Roberts 
It's just past midnight, and I'm on a shuttle bus traveling on a winding road in Argentina, not really sure what's next for me. 
It's dark out, save for a few lights visible around the harbor. Turns out, I'm stranded at the end of the world.
 

OK, so it sounds a little dramatic. But it kind of feels like it is.  
I know from too many experiences that when it comes to travel, you will be in a better state of mind if you stick to three simple pillars. 
Hope for the best. 
Plan for the worst. 
Be delighted if it all meets somewhere in the middle. 
This is even more important to keep in mind as we travel during the time of a pandemic. 
Such was the case for my much-anticipated expedition to Antarctica. 
Here's a little story about the start of my trip. I was joined by my younger brother Bart, and I'll detail later in this post all the reasons why it was fantastic to share this epic adventure with him. 
However, our cruise to the White Continent with Atlas Ocean Voyages faced a real threat of being over before it even started when three cases of COVID were recorded on the sailing just ahead of mine.
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The 196-passenger World Navigator, seen during our cruise in Antarctica, is the first expedition ship for Atlas Ocean Voyages. The line plans to launch four more by 2023.
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Exploring Ushuaia during our pre-cruise time. This was Bart's first time in South America.
Atlas Ocean Voyages is a new cruise line, started in 2021 with its first luxe expedition ship World Navigator. The cruise line has plans to launch four more ships by 2024. 
For Atlas' inaugural Antarctica season, the line brought passengers to Ushuaia, Argentina, to meet World Navigator via a private charter flight originating in Orlando. Bart and I joined the other cruisers in our group at the airport to check in and take our pre-trip COVID tests.  
This was followed by a nice reception with snacks, drinks and live music performances. The energy was high as we mingled and met others excited to go on an adventure to Antarctica. This would be my second time there and Bart's first. I was really pumped to be going with him, and I kept telling Bart how much fun we were sure to have. 
All was proceeding pretty smoothly so far. We boarded the plane in the evening, settled in our seats, enjoyed a couple celebratory beers and a meal onboard before trying to get a little sleep.

Before I continue our story, I want to recommend an excellent Packing List for a Cruise to Antarctica created by our friends at Sometimes Sailing.
  
We woke up in the early morning as we touched down in Ushuaia, known as the southernmost city in the world.  
With anticipation building and a few hours of touring the city ahead of us, we expected to be on the ship by late afternoon. We knew that the logistics are a little tricky to get the prior cruise passengers off and the ship ready for us, so a city tour of Ushuaia and a lunch break makes sense. However, 16 hours later, things didn't look good.

We are heading to a hotel, a 30-minute bus ride from the port.  
I am sure that our trip is off.
We'll get an update in the morning, an Atlas Ocean Voyages' representative says. 
Bart is still hopeful.
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How did we get here? 
We arrived to Ushuaia with about 85 passengers. World Navigator can hold up to 196 cruisers but is sailing at a reduced capacity like almost every other ship in the world during the pandemic. 
Three buses are used to take our group of visitors around the city during the morning, exploring scenic points along the Beagle Channel and stopping at a restaurant for a hearty lunch. People are having a nice time getting to learn about each other, chatting about where they are from and discussing how they picked Atlas and their excitement about getting to Antarctica finally. It's a huge travel goal for most. 
After lunch and a couple more stops around the city, people are starting to wonder when we will be able to board the cruise ship. It's late afternoon when our buses arrive to the Ushuaia sign down by the port and we stop for the photo opportunity, thinking it's a fitting cap to our tour before we get on World Navigator. 
However, as the buses pull through the gate at the pier, our ship in view just a hundred yards away, I get the distinct feeling that plans are being shuffled on the fly. We are not boarding just yet. Instead, we are taking a dinner cruise in the channel, using a nearby restaurant catamaran. 
OK. Could be fun. It seems that the process of flipping the ship and getting it ready for us is taking a little longer than expected. I am used to these types of delays happening in the age of COVID, of course. 
Others are starting to wonder aloud what is going on, though, as we are not receiving clear communication about our schedule of events. We have a dinner and then enjoy a cruise on the channel, spotting a large colony of cormorants and visiting a large group of sea lions gathered on a promontory. 
Drinks are flowing and people are having a good time and mostly being patient as the wait drags on. Finally, we get word that there is no certain timeline for our embarkation. It turns out that some crew tested positive for COVID.  
The mood turns sour as we start to feel trapped on this catamaran, not knowing whether the trip will take place and what the next steps might be. Bart and I play cards with new friends and calmly wait for more info. Others are getting clearly agitated. Maybe all. The open bar for several hours probably isn't helping. 
Finally, we get word that we will be heading to hotels for the night to await further updates in the morning on the fate of our voyage. 

Bart and I head to our room at our resort. We open the door and find that the heater has been working overtime in here. We turn it off and crack open the windows to try to get some relief. It's got to be more than 90 degrees in here.  
"Of course, this is how this day ends," I say, as we lay down and try to get some sleep.
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This view of the Beagle Channel just outside of our hotel is incredible.
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We wake up on a Sunday. In the light of day, we're able to see that our hotel, Los Yamanas, is located in a stunning spot just steps from a beach on the Beagle Channel. Bart and I grab breakfast and learn that the early news about our cruise is not good. We're told that the cruise probably is off and arrangements will be made to get us home ASAP.  
We spend the day enjoying the resort and going for a hike along the shoreline. The day offers the most incredible weather in late spring down here at the very tip of South America. 
After lunch and session at the gym, we finally get a message. It's spectacular news: The cruise will happen! 
We are told to meet the transfer bus outside the hotel around 7 p.m. to head to the ship. Bart had remained upbeat and hopeful the whole time, while I was more inclined to think the trip was lost. 
I'm so glad his positive-thinking powers worked. The upbeat energy was back, as we checked in with our fellow cruisers in the Atlas Lounge on World Navigator, meeting the crew members and having a cursory tour of the ship. 
Well, the story is that the Argentinian authorities were eventually satisfied with the process to get off the crew who had tested positive and to effectively clean the ship, allowing us to sail and lose just one day.  
Atlas Ocean Voyages made it up to cruisers by refunding 10 percent from the cost of this trip plus offering a future cruise credit worth 50 percent of the fare paid for this voyage as well as free Internet during our cruise and $100 onboard credit for our sailing. Many of our fellow passengers told me that they considered this a fair deal, and the main thing they were happy with was being able to continue this journey. 
It turned out to be an incredible adventure. We lost just half a day, overall, because of calm sea conditions through the infamous Drake Passage. In retrospect, I was happy to be able to spend a day in Ushuaia relaxing and recovering after an exhausting day of travel the day before. It also gave me a chance to soak in the incredible scenery and enjoy an invigorating hike. 
I have a full recounting of this Antarctica cruise with Atlas Ocean Voyages on the new World Navigator available by checking out my video features (trip video and balcony stateroom tour below). Thanks for watching these, and please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel. 
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We're actually onboard the ship and sailing away from Ushuaia.
In the rest of this post, I'll highlight my favorite parts of this cruise and why it was special to share it with my brother. 
Precious Time Together  
Bart is my only sibling. He is two years younger and lives in Florida, while I live in Colorado. We don't get to see one another as often as I'd like, so this was an amazing chance to go on an epic trip together. I travel a lot and he hasn't been too many places outside of the United States, so it was also a thrill to see his joy of traveling to such an exotic destination.
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Awesome Active Adventures 
Our daily activities included rushing out to the balcony or outer decks each day to see what the views were like as we cruised through the Drake Passage and among the islands and channels around the Antarctic Peninsula.  
We would strap on our warm-weather gear and boots, hop into a Zodiac for another excursion, and it was all amazing.
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A Celebration 
The trip also allowed us to celebrate his recent retirement from decades as an educator. The crew on World Navigator helped me surprise Bart with a cake during one of our dinners.
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Lots of Late Nights and Laughs 
We savored bar time with beer flights and hanging with new friends in the lounges listening to music, watching the 11 p.m. sunsets and playing games. Plus, you can't beat the hot tub time as snow is falling all around us while our ship sails past beautiful mountains, glaciers and icebergs.
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Atlas Lounge bartender Roel made our night by prepping us a tasty flight of craft beers.
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Spa time! Yes, we made good use of these robes all week.
Penguins and Plunges! 
The wildlife is always a highlight of these trips to Antarctica. And the penguins are the stars of the show. We certainly got our fill, seeing gentoos, chinstraps and a few adelies. We also go to see numerous birds, such as albatrosses, petrels, skuas and shags. 
Another highlight: the Polar Plunge. We joined dozens of fellow cruisers who took an invigorating dip into the 29-degree waters of the Lemaire Channel.
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Prepped to plunge.
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Indeed, the trip had a rough start. But what else can we expect during these unusual times. Instead of focusing on what is going wrong, this trip has further reinforced my belief that we should cherish every moment and remain hopeful.  
As you can see here, the voyage turned into a truly special experience, almost everything we could have wanted out of a journey to Antarctica.  
And even if it had been short-circuited in Ushuaia, I still would have had a good story to tell and some memorable moments with my brother. 
 
Thanks for reading,

JR
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See you at the next adventure.
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Atlas Ocean Voyages' New Expedition Ship to Sail in Egypt, Greece

6/17/2021

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Atlas Ocean Voyages' new luxury expedition ship World Navigator will sail in Egypt and Greece, carrying fewer than 200 passengers on its summer itineraries. World Navigator will be the only cruise ship to sail in Egypt this season. // All images courtesy Atlas Ocean Voyages
By Eileen Ogintz and In The Loop Travel  
Adventurous world travelers are eager to make up for some lost time. And, increasingly, they are seeking out exotic destinations where they can immerse themselves in fascinating cultures while enjoying fun activities and opportunities for exploration. 
Enter Atlas Ocean Voyages and its first luxury expedition ship World Navigator, which has announced its initial itineraries to two countries that certainly fit the bill for adventure-seekers. 
World Navigator will visit the culture-rich countries of Greece and Egypt on summer cruises beginning August 4, 2021. The voyages are on alternating departures that leave from ports in Athens and Cairo. In fact, World Navigator is the only cruise ship scheduled to sail in Egypt this season.
It's exciting to have a new luxury expedition ship that will visit two of our very favorite destinations. We have traveled to Greece often on bigger cruise ships and had a memorable Nile River cruise through Egypt, as well. 
But Atlas Ocean Voyages' new ship promises something exciting and new for avid cruisers. You will get a luxe experience on an intimate ship built for adventure. World Navigator will carry fewer than 200 passengers.

Open for Business 
Egypt and Greece have reopened to Americans. Atlas Ocean Voyages determined these itineraries would prove safer while maintaining the upscale but adventurous spirit of small and exclusive destinations. 
Picture yourself in stunning Mykonos. When you sail on the all-inclusive Atlas World Navigator, you get flights, excursions and more perks included on unique itineraries this August and September. You also can be among the first visitors to the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo. 
"We created World Navigator's Egypt and Greek Isles voyages to offer travelers a new, unique and superior choice of exclusive and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, in true luxe-adventure style," Atlas Voyages President Alberto Aliberti said.  
World Navigator will be the first ship to call at Egypt this season, with staff, crew and destination partners prepared to keep travelers safe and healthy, Aliberti said.

Visiting Egypt and Greece this Summer

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Exotic itineraries will put you in front of the pyramids ...
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... and wandering through stunning Santorini.
New Places, No Crowds 
The line's five new itineraries range from seven to 12 nights and include 14 ports -- half of them UNESCO World Heritage sites.  
With its low passenger count and high space-to-passenger ratio, World Navigator offers a high level of service and appeals to multigenerational groups. Cruises start at $4,419 per person for seven nights (including airfare).  
For $679 plus airfare for the third passenger, families can utilize a triple-occupancy stateroom. 
The ship calls on less-visited ports where only smaller vessels can dock. This means you have a chance to see quaint ports, such as Chania, Crete, and Paphos, Cyprus, away from the crowds. Choose from among shore excursions designed for families -- whether you are seeking active adventures, history immersion at ancient sites and world-class museums or relaxing on spectacular beaches. You can explore remote archeological sites, tour the Sanctuary of Delos, the Monastery of St. John or the Library of Alexandria. 
Atlas also offers passengers a special land-based excursion (added fee) to explore the Pyramids under the stars and overnight in a top Cairo hotel. 
Or you might want to hike in the hills of the Peloponnese. Accessible excursions are available, as well. Check out Atlas' Aegean itineraries for more details.
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Sailing in Luxury, Safety and Comfort 
World Navigator features the most modern hygiene and cleanliness measures and health protocols with pre-boarding and pre-embarkation PCR testing for all passengers. 
Onboard, the Sea Spa, the first L'OCCITANE spa at sea, offers the industry's highest guest-to space ratio.  
World Navigator's summer 2021 deployment is designed to avoid crowds, as port calls won't coincide with other cruise lines. Shore excursions will be conducted in small groups and led by knowledgeable local guides. Full-sized, air-conditioned buses will operate at 50 percent capacity to allow for social distancing.  
Every itinerary includes sun-drenched Santorini, Greece, with its famous beaches and iconic white buildings and residences with blue dome roofs. Each sailing also includes up to two nights in either Cairo or Mykonos so you can take in all of the sites, as well as enjoy the legendarily vibrant night life.  
While many other cruise lines are offering cruises around the Greek Isles this summer, Atlas is the only one to include Egypt, with 60 percent of the ports it visits bringing travelers to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If you are traveling as a family with children, these are fantastic opportunities for shared cultural and learning experiences. 
The ship also will call at smaller Greek Islands not accessible to larger ships, as well as offering unique experiences. You might love a special dinner under the stars in Epidaurus (an ancient amphitheater in the Peloponnese region of the mainland) with music performed by a trio from the Aegean Chamber Orchestra; or rock climbing and rappelling at Lindos on the island of Rhodes.  
Cruisers who like more physical activities can cycle through villages and citrus groves or, on Santorini, explore archeological excavations of the ancient village of Akrortiri, considered one of the top archeological sites in the world, also known as the "Pompei of the Aegean." 
This new cruise line also has a way to take the hassle out of this summer's travel experience: Atlas Ocean Voyages' signature "All Inclusive All the Way" program includes round-trip air travel, a choice of a shore excursion in every port, prepaid gratuities, travel insurance (including medical evacuation), premium wine, spirits, beers and coffees and regionally inspired cuisine. Knowledgeable guides can answer any questions you might have, whether it's the best local taverna or beaches.

World Navigator's Luxurious Amenities

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Adventure stateroom
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Discovery Suite living room
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World Navigator fitness center
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Smoothie bar
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Sauna
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Horizon Deluxe stateroom
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Observation Lounge
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World Navigator deck
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Jogging track
We're especially excited to see that Atlas Ocean Voyages and its new ship World Navigator add another great option for travelers seeking immersive expeditions in truly unique places. The bonus: This new ship delivers next-level luxury to make the voyage even more special. 
 
Eileen Ogintz has traveled the world with her family and writes a nationally syndicated travel column, Taking The Kids. A big fan of family cruising, she wrote this post about Atlas Ocean Voyages for sponsor FamilyTravelConsulting.com.
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