Antarctica Flights Vs Cruise Ships
Antarctica flights are a viable alternative to cruise ships when visiting the Antarctic if you are willing to fly over the continent at 10 000 feet and not land or spend a relatively short time there after landing such as a full day or the maximum one night and two days.
It is more expensive to fly than to take a cruise if you calculate the cost according to the time you get to spend there but if you are satisfied with a flying visit (literally and figuratively) then an Antarctica flight is an ideal solution. Especially if you are a confirmed landlubber like me and want to avoid the dreaded Drake Passage crossing where many people succumb to sea-sickness when the ocean gets rough (which is often as this is one of the most turbulent seas in the world). Antarctica Sightseeing Flyovers(Flyover trip reports)...You depart from Sydney or Melbourne in Australia and the average flight time is about 12 hours, four of which are spent overflying the Antarctic. The first sea ice and icebergs will start appearing about three hours into the flight.The aircraft used is a Quantas Boeing 747-400 flying at 10 000 feet above sea level which means you get within 2000 feet of the highest ground. This is not low enough to make out individual wildlife forms in any details but the scenery is spectacular. Experts who have lived and worked on research bases in Antarctica give talks and answer questions and there are video screenings and live radio link up with scientists who are currently on the bases. A camera mounted in the cockpit gives you a pilot's viewpoint for the entire flight.The weather plays an important part in the planning of these Antarctica flights so the captain views the satellite picture on the morning of the trip and chooses the route with the best visibility. There are 19 different approved flight plans to choose from. Two full service meals, snacks and a complimentary bar is provided and no passport is necessary because this is classed as a domestic flight. Here are the ticket prices for the 2007/08 season quoted in USD and based on where your seats are and whether you need to rotate them halfway through the flight. (Note: there is only one scheduled flight for the 2007/08 season: New Year's eve.)
More info, bookings, seating profile and Antarctica flights schedules...
- First Class: $5499
- Business Class Deluxe: $4299
- Business Class Restricted View: $3299
- Business Class Centre: $2699
- Economy Class Premium: $2199
- Economy Class Standard: $1399
- Economy Class Centre: $999
Antarctica Flights Short StaysIf you would like to fly and set foot on the Antarctic landmass then you will have to travel to Punta Arenas in Chile and depart from there with the Aerovias Dap airline. You can choose between a full day trip or spending a night and two days in this remote and largely untouched destination. The airline makes use of two small aircraft for their Antarctica flights: The four engine turboprop Dash -7 which has a passenger capacity of 44 and a Beechcraft King Air twin engine turboprop which carries ten passengers. Flight time from Chile to the Antarctic airport of Frei Base at King George Island is three and a half hours. Once there you will visit Villa Las Estrellas, (first site to be inhabited by civilians), the sea lion colony in the Drake sea, marine birds, penguins and weddell seals at the Chinese station and Ardley island to visit the papua penguin colony there. Day trippers go home after that but those spending the night will visit other research stations and additional areas of attraction the following day. The cost of these Antarctica flights quoted in USD per person for the 2007/08 season...
- Full Day : $2500
- Two Days One Night: $3500
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