Antarctica is the one continent that commercial flights don’t fly to and it doesn’t exactly have a thriving continental tourism sector. But that doesn’t mean you can’t visit this vast polar landscape. There are a couple of different routes you can take to get there. The obvious one is applying to be a research scientist or support staff. If you have thousands of dollars, there is also a luxury camp called Whichaway which you can stay at. For most of us though, the best way to visit Antarctica is through a cruise.
Each year, National Geographic launches a number of expedition cruises to Antarctica. These cruises consist of various scientists and a few members of the public. You get to live aboard one of the ships for about 10 days, while you explore Drake Passage, Antarctica itself, and assist with some of the less technical aspects of research. This is an excellent way to see the continent, contribute to important research, and tick a continent off of your list. The cruises start at $16,450 and you will need to share your cabin with one other cruise goer. Space is at a premium on these research vessels, but you will feel like one of the first explorers.
