- When I went on an Anarctic cruise aboard the Seabourn Venture I was mostly impressed.
- My add-on kayaking and photography masterclass excursions felt like an incredible value.
- However, I was pretty disappointed by the $1,000 submarine excursion.
Every traveler should experience a cruise to Anarctica at least once.
From the adorable, toddling penguins that you'll witness almost daily to the mind-blowing cerulean-blue icebergs, it's pure magic.
Of course, making your way south to the Great White Continent isn't cheap, especially when you tack on the myriad excursions you'll want to enjoy along the way.
I sailed to Antarctica on the Seabourn Venture in 2022 and enjoyed my fair share of top-shelf cocktails and three-course meals while on board.
My luxury cruise on the 264-passenger, all-suite vessel included daily activities, but I also chose to book several of the ship's extra outings for additional fees.
Surprisingly, the most expensive one was my least favorite, but I found two I'd absolutely recommend.
Antarctic kayaking was everything I hoped it would be
One of my goals on this trip to Antarctica was to kayak with minke whales. I'm happy to report that I achieved that goal during my add-on kayaking excursions.
Before my cruise set sail, I booked three kayaking sessions on different days for about $250 a pop.
I spaced them out throughout the five days our ship was in Antarctic waters. The weather in Antarctica can be volatile and unpredictable, so I wanted to have options in case one or two of the trips got canceled.
This experience was incredible. I encountered many glassy icebergs as I paddled around the area's frigid waters. In addition to seeing whales, I also witnessed penguins porpoising, where they torpedo themselves up and out of the water, like dolphins.
If you get lucky, you may even see (and hear) a whale spout on this excursion.
I'm glad I booked the photography outing and lecutres
One of the best parts of my cruise was a photography outing on a Zodiac cruise (a smaller inflatable vessel) with the ship's onboard photographer. The add-on also came with a series of lessons on taking and editing great photos.
I'd invested in a professional-caliber digital camera setup before my cruise, so I found this photography-specific trip and subsequent lectures to be particularly valuable.
Our group had plenty of time to slow down and take multiple shots of shimmering icebergs while on the Zodiac. Plus, I learned tips for taking photos at great angles with better lighting.
The best part is that I left with dozens of high-quality images to share with my family and friends when I returned home.
During my trip, the excursion was more informal and organized by my ship's onboard photographer. Now, it's been built up into an entire course called the Image Masters Photography Masterclass for both amateur and pro photographers.
The add-on is usually limited to 10 individuals and costs about $375 per person per day.
However, I wasn't impressed by the pricey submerisble excursion
Seabourn's high-end expedition submarines can take seven people at a time hundreds of feet underwater.
Although this required less work than kayaking, it was also far less scenic and way more expensive.
The one-hour underwater adventure cost $1,000. I felt that was too high, especially once I realized how dark Antarctica's oceans can be and how little I'd actually see.
I didn't really enjoy sitting in a tiny, cramped bubble and trying not to feel claustrophobic for 60 minutes while descending into the dark depths of the ocean.
Some optimistic part of me had hoped to see penguins or whales, but we just spent the hour cruising around a dense carpet of unmoving sea stars dotted with sponges.
According to our guide, my group on this excursion saw more marine life than most, which didn't feel like very much. It was also tricky to take decent photos due to hazy sediment and low light at the bottom of the ocean.
Truth be told, the coolest thing about the submersible excursion was nerding out with my fellow shipmates about being in a freaking submarine.
