In The Loop Travel
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • The Americas
    • Caribbean
    • Mexico
    • Europe
    • Asia/Pacific
    • Africa
  • Fitness
  • Cruising
  • Travel Tips
  • Videos
  • Work With Us
  • My Work
  • About
  • Colorado Craft Brewery Guide
  • Media Kit
  • TBIN Influencer Network

My Best Tips and Tricks for Packing for an Antarctica Cruise

1/19/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Your cruise line will often provide a parka for you to keep. But some days are warm enough that you might not even need it. Colleen decided to shed hers during a hike at Neko Harbor.
By John Roberts 
A small-ship expedition cruise to Antarctica is undoubtedly the best way to see this incredible destination.  
With my latest trip to Antarctica, I've now been there three times and weathered all kinds of conditions. I also learned how to refine my packing for this type of expedition. Antarctica is becoming more and more accessible to adventurous travelers because of the growing number of cruise ships that are visiting this remote place. So, people want to know exactly what to bring along when they prepare for their trips.
With that in mind, this is your definitive guide for packing for a cruise to Antarctica -- tried and tested during my visits to the White Continent.
Picture
You'll be outside a lot during your expedition, either on the ship or on an excursion such as kayaking, so you have to be ready for all conditions.
Picture
Dealing with Seasickness 
This is a tricky subject in my opinion. Your ship crosses the Drake Passage, one of the roughest stretches of ocean on the planet. It certainly can be fairly mild if you're fortunate. But the passage takes about two days to cross, and cruisers could find themselves getting tossed around in incredibly turbulent conditions with waves measuring more than 20 feet high. 
Even in the milder conditions, you will feel a lot of movement on the ship. So, if you tend to suffer from seasickness, you'll want to take a motion-sickness prevention medicine such as Bonine or Dramamine to help. If you are generally pretty good at sea, even in rough conditions, you might want to hold off on the meds to take a chance (because the medications can make you feel very lethargic or sleepy). 
Some best practices are to make sure you can look out a window to a horizon, consume some ginger chews (candies) and try focused breathing to help you relax. Also, make your way to the middle part and lower decks of the ship to minimize the movement that you feel.

Your Clothes 
You'll be outside in the elements a lot, and the weather can be mild and sunny. It's austral summer from mid-October until February in Antarctica, and you might see temps in the mid-40s with calm or no winds. But it can also be quite cold, windy, rainy and snowy.  
So, the best practice is to layer up! 
What you need: Bring thermal base layers. Long underwear and shirts of lightweight or midweight synthetic material work well as the first thing you put on.  
Then, add (in this order) a wicking athletic shirt, a sweater or sweatshirt and a fleece before putting on your parka (parkas are typically provided by your cruise line; see more on that in section below). Pack a light rain jacket for any time you have to explore in port before heading to your cruise ship.  
For your bottom half, you can add sweatpants, jeans or stretchy travel pants on top of your thermal base layer before topping off with a pair of waterproof pants. Waterproof pants are required by many outfitters for landings. The pants keep you dry during Zodiac rides and must be big enough to fit over your rubber boots. (Note that boots are also provided by your expedition team on the cruise ship.) 
For time before or after your cruise (usually in Buenos Aires or Ushuaia, Argentina, or Punta Arenas, Chile), consider comfortable walking/hiking shoes for any activities that you will be enjoying. 
Other warm gear: Bring good quality gloves, a wool cap, beanie hat, scarves, neck gaiters and disposable heating packets (optional, but they might come in handy if your hands or feet tend to get cold.) Pack a few pair of good-quality wool or thermal socks. 
You'll also need comfy clothing for your time on the ship. The environment will be casual, so you don't need to pack formal wear. However, you will want a nice selection of comfortable athletic T-shirts if you plan to use the gym. Long-sleeve shirts, comfortable sweaters and nice jeans or khaki-style pants work nicely for your time in the lounges and restaurants. I also bring a pair of stylish boat shoes and sneakers (for the gym). 
These ships typically feature hot tubs and some have pools, and you might want to take part in the polar plunge event, so bring a swimsuit for these activities. 
When you're enjoying your time on the ship while it's at anchor or sailing, you want to be ready to move easily to the outer decks in comfort in case there are any good sightings of whales or seabirds, for example. So, keep your parka or other warm jacket and your hat and gloves at hand. 
Now, the number of each of these items you want to bring depends. Does your cruise line offer laundry service or will you do your own laundry in the cabin if items get a little sweaty, stinky, muddy, etc.? You can get by with one pair of waterproof pants because they can easily be rinsed clean.  
Socks, underwear and other items like your scarf, hat and neck/face gaiters can also be washed up the sink or shower. Pack enough of the other items to account for your laundry plans and length of cruise. 
Be sure to bring sunglasses. The sun can be intense (even when it doesn't appear overly sunny) because the white snow reflects the rays all around you, and you are really close to the "ozone hole" that far into the southern hemisphere. I've seen so many cruisers here get nasty sunburns on their faces.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Layer up for your adventures. From left to right: base layer, mid layer and outer layer (shell).
Picture
This is everything I packed for my latest cruise. I was able to do carry-on only for my flight, too.
Your Equipment 
Antarctica is a great place for landscape and wildlife photography, so you want to bring along the right cameras and equipment to help you reach your goals. You might at least want a nice long lens and midrange DSLR camera for taking photos of the whales and albatrosses and other birds that you will see from the viewing platforms and outer decks on your cruise ship.  
You also will have the chance to get really nice shots of the penguins and seals and sea lions that you will encounter on shore and floating on the icebergs in the region. 
However, even if you aren't a huge shutterbug (like I'm not), you can get outstanding photos with your cellphone or a basic digital camera. Except for the whales, you will get plenty close enough to wildlife to get stunning shots to show off to friends and family back home. 
I travel only with a GoPro action camera (to take out on kayaking excursions and to use ashore and on the ship for vlogging) and my cellphone. These have been plenty to create the content that I need. 
I recommend a hard disk and computer, as well, so you can offload and back up your photos and videos at the end of each day. (You don't want to lose those precious photos if your disk gets corrupted or you lose your phone or camera.)
Other items that can be helpful: If you create videos, you can consider whether you want use a selfie stick, small tripod like a Gorilla pod, microphone equipment and head or chest straps to hold your GoPro in position (for when you kayak or do the Polar Plunge, for examples).  
You also might want to bring along your favorite walking poles. The terrain is highly uneven and rocky at many of the landings. But your cruise ship will also be able to provide hiking poles for your use during the voyage. Also, check whether your ship will have binoculars available in the rooms or in the public areas, and bring your own if the line won't have them and binoculars are something you like to use for spotting wildlife.

What the Cruise Line Provides 
You can really keep your packing load fairly light, especially when your ship offers laundry service and because these expedition cruises almost always will include a parka that is yours to keep as a memento of your trip. (This, obviously, can add a little more bulk when you try to get the parka back home; you'll see many people wearing them on the flights back from Ushuaia and Buenos Aires). 
Your ship will also loan you boots to use during the cruise, as well as other items like special gloves and dry suits for kayaking and hiking poles. If you forget to pack a seasickness medication, you can usually ask for some tablets onboard, too. 
Expect a hair dryer to be available in your cabin. These are great for hair care, of course (not an issue for me), and used to dry out wet clothing items.

Video Feature: Packing for Your Antarctica Cruise

Other Sundry Items
You also can consider . . .  
Lip balm (highly recommended for the dry conditions) and hand and body lotions (although, your ship might offer some). 
Books or tablet loaded with books, magazines, movies, TV shows and games that you might like to have for your leisure time on the ship. Pack of cards. Many of the ships offer books, magazines, puzzles, games and cards available in the library onboard. 
You might get a nice metal water bottle with the logo of your cruise in or expedition company to use at water-bottle-filling stations on the ship. I always travel with my own in case. I also bring along a concentrated flavor to add to the water to give it a nice taste. I use the Mio brand energy drink flavoring and powdered single-serving packets from Built Boost. These offer zero calories, vitamins and immunity-boosting supplements. 
Take any other toiletries that you would bring on any trip, such as toothpaste and toothbrush, combs, brushes, etc. 

There's your list of all you'll need to pack for your Antarctica expedition cruise.
OK, I'm sure that there is something I have not considered, but this is where you come in. Please comment below with any great tips, tricks and items you think cruisers should bring on their voyages to Antarctica. 


Thanks for reading,
JR
Picture
Your ship might offer hot tubs, a swimming pool and the polar plunge. So, be sure to pack your swimsuit.
Picture
Picture

Video Library: My Cruises to Antarctica

Subscribe today to get the latest reviews, tips and tricks to help you have your best adventure ever.

0 Comments

New Gear We Love. Best Travel Items for Your Holiday Gift List.

9/29/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Our new HEX Backpack and Rollink collapsible suitcase go perfectly together, offering hassle-free packing for your getaways. These are just two of the new items we were happy to add to our gear in 2022.
By John Roberts 
We tried it out, so you know what to buy for the world traveler on your holiday shopping list. Here are four pieces of travel gear that proved to be essential additions during the past year. We're always looking to refine our packing list and for ways to travel more efficiently and comfortably. These items made the cut.

Note: These items were among several provided by brands for review by the In The Loop Travel team. All opinions are our own, and no additional compensation is offered to feature them here.

Rollink

Picture
Picture
Innovative Luggage 
I'm a proud member of team Carry-On Only, so Rollink's collapsible suitcase is exactly what I've been seeking for years. This sleek and flexible piece of luggage is especially ideal because I cruise often and store my luggage underneath my bed in my stateroom on the ships.  
This is an airline cabin-size suitcase, so it meets carry-on standards. I chose the Flex Aura Cabin Plus style, which measures 21.6 inches by 15.7 inches by 9 inches, making it ideal for international flights. 
When the shell is fully expanded, there is no wasted space. Rollink claims it can fit up to 35 liters of packing volume, and the case collapses to its shell down to about 2 inches of thickness, making it easy to stow away when you're not using it. Rollink says it is 75 percent thinner than the typical suitcase. This is important for its mail-order business, making Rollink much more environmentally friendly when the company ships suitcases to homes from its warehouse. 
I found the design to be elegant and efficient. The luggage is made from durable polycarbonate and water-resistant materials. The wheels are coated and roll smoothly, pulled along by a retractable handle. A magnetic buckle holds the case in place when collapsed.  
There is a nice pocket on the front of the Flex Aura in which you can slide in laptop, documents or other items that require quick and easy access. This suitcase is offered in a range of colors. Mine is Dusty Blue, but you also can choose from gray, black, red, purple, green and rose colors.

HEX Backpack

Picture
Picture
Picture
Sustainable Backpack 
The HEX Evolve Logic backpack offers a simple design that looks good and makes sense. This sporty travel backpack can easily be used as your main travel pack or to take on hiking trips or weekenders. The HEX backpack touts anti-microbial tech to resist germs, and the sleek design includes a handy carrying loop at the top, easy-to-adjust shoulder straps, water-resistant zippers and a non-skid protected bottom to increase the life and durability of the pack. 
You can slide the pack sideways over the handle of a roller suitcase, too, which makes transporting it through airports a breeze. We're happy to find a product that uses recycled materials for both the exterior of the backpack, as well as the soft interior. HEX uses a recycled ECO Cordura for the outer material. The inside space and the front tablet pocket are both lined with faux fur, giving the backpack a surprisingly elegant and luxe feel. 
There are two water bottle holders, one on each side, and the backpack has a sturdy, compact and durable profile once packed with all your essential items.  
We love it!

Manta Sleep

Picture
Colleen tested the Manta Sleep Mask Pro and was impressed with the comfort and blackout effectiveness.
Picture
Picture
Innovative Sleep Mask 
It's always a trick trying to get a bit of rest on long flights, especially when you head overseas and face a time change and impending jet lag. Conditions often are not ideal for your sleep schedule, with sunlight streaming in through open windows or cabin lighting fluctuating based on the service timing during the flights. 
The Manta Sleep Mask Pro was an intriguing option, as it has a design that puts careful thought into what travelers really want out of a sleep mask. It's not a simple piece of fabric and rubber band that you slip over your eyes and hope for the best. 
Instead, the Manta Sleep Mask promises 100 percent blackout with a stylish headband and attached adjustable C-shaped eye cups. And it delivered. We tried this one out on a recent plane trip from Denver to Croatia, and it blocked out sunlight, the seat neighbor's laptop glow and the lights being adjusted as we got closer to our destination. A big bonus: This mask is super comfortable. The cups and overall design are fantastic because you feel no pressure on your eyelids or eyelashes, especially if you sleep on your side. A strap allows you to adjust for all head sizes, and the mask won't sit on your ears. This one will become a permanent part of our travel essentials. 
The mask comes with a hefty price at $89, but it is machine washable and built to be long-lasting. It comes with a carrying case/wash bag. 

EZQuest

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Next-Level Charger 
We grabbed an EZQuest charger before our busy summer of travel, and this handy device has proved to be invaluable in places like Egypt, where power outlets can be hard to find. We are using the EZQuest Ultimate Power 90-Watt Wall Charger, and it showed its value right off the bat when we returned from our Nile River cruise and were waiting for a couple hours for our flight at the airport in Cairo. 
The lounge had only one outlet, so we had to make optimal use of it among a group of friends traveling back to the States.  
The EZQuest offers a U.S.-style plug and international two-pin style plug, so you can easily connect in most places around the world. The EU International Converter easily snaps onto the built-in U.S. plug on the small block, so we could plug right in at the airport to share power. The EZQuest charger proves versatile because it offers two USB-C connections and one USB outlet in the block, so you can get three devices hooked up and charging. 
The kit also comes with a two-meter-long cable to extend the reach. EZQuest charges as quickly as other chargers we've used, but it is compact and flexible, easily packing away. We like that it opens up a couple more ports to charge multiple devices at once while also reducing the load in our backpack because of its small size. 

Thanks for reading and happy shopping,
JR
Subscribe today to get the latest reviews, tips and tricks to help you have your best adventure ever.

0 Comments

STNKY Bag Solves Problem of Smelly Laundry in Your Luggage

1/2/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Colleen shows off the STNKY wash bag. The bag is the perfect complement for active travelers who end up with a batch of wet and smelly clothes during their adventures.
In The Loop Travel Gear Review 
As we headed into the home stretch of another year of traveling, we discovered another new product that we insist on slipping into our suitcases for travel.  
And it landed on our radar at the perfect time. With a set of expedition sailings coming up, we were excited when the makers of the STNKY wash bag (yes, that's the correct spelling) asked us to try out this travel- and gym-bag essential.  
So, we happily packed them into our luggage for voyages to the Caribbean on Crystal Cruises' luxury expedition vessel Crystal Endeavor and to Antarctica on World Navigator, an expedition ship from the new line Atlas Ocean Voyages. 
Of course, we knew that both trips would generate plenty of exceptionally dirty laundry. What appealed to us about the STNKY product is that they are more than simply laundry bags: These little gems are designed to keep smelly and sweaty clothes sealed and separate from our clean (or cleaner) clothes, both in our cruise ship cabins and in our luggage for the return trip home. 
Both of our voyages would put these bags to the test, as we would be enjoying active days hiking and kayaking in humid conditions in the British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas, then layering up and mingling with penguins in Antarctica (and those who know definitely know about the penguin smells!).
Picture
We took along the bags to give them a try on our end-of-year trips to the Caribbean and Antarctica.
Picture
The STNKY bags were created as a sanitary way to keep gym clothes separate from other items in your gym bag after a workout. The bags lock in sweat and germs, and they include a built-in wash net. So, you can toss the bag into the washing machine without having to touch the clothes until they are clean. 
This makes them perfect for runners, gym-goers, travelers, boaters, swimmers and healthcare workers. 
Colleen is a bit obsessed about keeping her dirty clothes sealed off from the rest when she travels; she usually grabs a plastic grocery bag or hotel laundry bag to do the trick. But the STNKY bag offered a more environmentally responsible option, as we continue to look for ways to reduce our use of plastic.  
Additionally, these bags are much stronger than other options, and we liked that they come in multiple sizes. For our more tropical trip, the smaller size worked perfectly. But in Antarctica, where clothes are bulky and layers are a must, the large was in order. 
STNKY bags feature a dual zipper system. Open the bag using the top zipper and throw in your nasty clothes. Seal it off, and the clothes are locked in so you won't smell a thing. To wash your clothes, you unzip the bottom zipper, and a mesh bag drops down. You throw the whole thing in the washer, so you don't have to touch your dirty clothes at all.  
These really did the trick for us. On our warm-weather Crystal cruise, we sweated from hiking and kayaking, spent time in the water snorkeling and generally were a bit damp the entire trip. Typically, this is a recipe for smelly luggage: Sweat and moisture breed odors. But after this cruise, we were pleasantly surprised that the bags locked in the smell -- and damp. When we opened our luggage at home, we didn't smell a thing. We tossed them in the laundry, no muss, no fuss.
Picture
The bag lets you drop down an interior mesh compartment so you can just toss it into the washing machine without touching your soiled items.
In Antarctica, daily excursions ashore to wander among penguin colonies or on Zodiac boat tours in snowy conditions left us wet, sweaty and stripping off sometimes-smelly garments back in our cruise ship cabins at the end of our thrilling adventures.  
It was a relief to be able to easily shove our dirty items into the STNKY wash bag and stuff the bag into the closet and not have to worry about the smells invading our space. 
You can get them in Standard (14 inches by 18 inches holding 13 liters) and XL (18 by 25 holding 26 liters) sizes. Colors available include black, forest green, gray and burgundy.  
The bags are made of a quality durable material with a handy carrying handle attached. The bags held up well on our trips and we're excited that we will be able to continue to use them as part of our standard travel gear.

Thanks for reading. 
JR
Subscribe today to get the latest reviews, tips and tricks to help you have your best adventure ever.

0 Comments
<<Previous

    Categories

    All
    Africa
    AIDA Cruises
    Alaska
    Albatros Expeditions
    Alicante
    AmaWaterways
    Amber Cove
    American Queen Steamboat Company
    American Queen Voyages
    Amsterdam
    Antarctica
    Antigua
    Arctic
    Arizona
    Aruba
    Asia
    Atlas Ocean Voyages
    Australia
    Austria
    Avalon Waterways
    Backroads
    Bahamas
    Barbados
    Barcelona
    Belize
    Blue World Voyages
    Bonaire
    Bora Bora
    Brooklyn
    Budapest
    Burma
    Cabo San Lucas
    Cadiz
    California
    Cambodia
    Cancun
    Caribbean
    Carnival Cruise
    Celebrity Cruises
    Celestyal Cruises
    Christmas Markets
    Cologne
    Colombia
    Colorado
    Corfu
    Costa Rica
    Cozumel
    Craft Beer
    Croatia
    Crystal Cruises
    Cuba
    Curacao
    Dominican Republic
    Dubrovnik
    Egypt
    Emerald Cruises
    Emerald Waterways
    Europe
    Expat Life
    Explora Journeys
    Fathom Travel
    Fitness
    Florida
    Fort Lauderdale
    France
    French Polynesia
    Galapagos
    Galveston
    Germany
    Grand Cayman
    Greece
    Grenada
    Guatemala
    Halifax
    Harmony Of The Seas
    Hawaii
    High Line Park
    Hiking
    Holland America
    Hong Kong
    Houston
    Hungary
    Ibiza
    Iceland
    Isla Mujeres
    Italy
    Jim Thorpe
    Key West
    Kotor
    Labadee
    Lake Minnewaska
    Las Vegas
    Lisbon
    Lithuania
    London
    London Eye
    Maine
    Malaga
    Mexico
    Miami
    Minnesota
    Mississippi River
    Monte Carlo
    Montenegro
    Monterey
    Montreal
    Moorea
    MSC Cruises
    MSC Divina
    Netherlands
    Newfoundland
    New Jersey
    New Orleans
    New York
    New York City
    New Zealand
    North Carolina
    Norway
    Norwegian Cruise Line
    Nuremberg
    Oceania Cruises
    Oregon
    Orlando
    Panama
    Panama Canal
    Passau
    Paul Gauguin
    Paul Gauguin Cruises
    Pennsylvania
    Philadelphia
    Pickleball
    Ponant
    Portugal
    Prague
    Princess Cruises
    Puerto-rico
    Queens
    Regensburg
    Regent Seven Seas
    Rome
    Royal Caribbean
    Saint-Tropez
    San Francisco
    Santorini
    Scenic Cruises
    Scottsdale
    Seabourn
    SeaDream Yacht Club
    Sicily
    Silversea
    Sintra
    Sorrento
    Spain
    Star Clippers
    St. Maarten
    St. Thomas
    Symphony Of The Seas
    Tahiti
    Travel Gear
    Travel Tips
    Tunisia
    Turkey
    Turks And Caicos
    UnCruise
    Un-Cruise Adventures
    UnCruise Adventures
    Universal's Islands Of Adventure
    Uniworld
    Utah
    Utica
    Utica Boilermaker 15K
    Vienna
    Vietnam
    Viking Cruises
    Washington
    Windstar Cruises
    Wisconsin

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    RSS Feed

Copyright © 2013 | All rights reserved | Ewing, New Jersey.
Contact | About | Media Kit