Antarctica, with its untouched vistas and astoundingly unique ecology, is without a doubt a top travel spot and on the bucket lists of many. Accessing this remote area has typically been difficult, with expeditions needing to navigate choppy seas for several days before reaching the continent itself. With the rise of yachts and superyachts and the pairing with highly of these vessels with an experienced crew, traversing the seas to Antarctica is now possible for those with not only an affinity for luxury, but with an adventurous spirit. There are obviously issues in travelling such far distances over occasionally difficult waters, but some feel that the reward is justified. For those people, we offer some tips to help you decide on whether Antarctica really is the destination you’ve dreamed of.
Seeing Antarctica in luxury
As with convenient chartering platforms like Ahoy Club that allow people to find a superyacht to fill all of their holidaying dreams, expedition companies are now understanding that consumers have a strong desire to see far flung locations – like Antarctica – in relative privacy and comfort. One good example of this, EYOS expeditions, has created an undoubtedly opulent experience in their superyacht, Legend. Outfitted with a heli-deck and three person-submarine, Legend is capable of offering what regular expeditions to Antarctica simply cannot – who else can realistically boast about using a sub to dive 300 meters deep in undiscovered, pristine waters? Legend has the capacity for 26 guests, making it a very personal affair, and onboard facilities include a gym, spa, beauty salon and movie theatre. Superyachts like Legend are also helmed by some of the most experienced captains the world has to offer, so there’s no need to worry about getting to your destination safely either – with years of experience under their respective belts, the mammoth icebergs and plentiful sheets of ice that cover the water are a piece of cake.
Putting your worries to rest
Although it might seem a bit dangerous to traverse Antarctica aboard a vessel that has been outfitted with a spa and beauty salon, superyachts like Legend are properly outfitted to travel through seemingly perilous waters. After all, in Legend’s case, it is a completely re-fitted icebreaker class ship! Even with the tools to navigate the icy tundra of Antarctica, the waters themselves are not as dangerous as one might think. In actual fact, many captains consider Antarctica less dangerous than popular sailing destinations, such as those around the Mediterranean, as there is comparatively zero traffic to navigate and no other people to worry about. Instead, captains get to exclusively focus on the environment around them. In worst-case emergency scenarios, it’s possible for quick plane evacuation to nearby areas such as Punta Arenas or Santiago in Chile – and even this would occur much faster than possible in a regular expedition.
Exploring the untouched areas of planet earth
There are obviously innumerable reasons why Antarctica should be number one on the list of your must-visit list – we haven’t even touched on the breathtaking icy environments and unique wildlife you can witness. In fact, the penguins you can see have never had any predators on land, so if you’re lucky, they may be curious enough to come and say hello! Plus, with the disastrous effects global warming has had on Antarctica, it’s unfortunately superyacht travel destination that won’t last forever – make sure to see it before its gone.
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