r/antarctica • u/i-amnot-a-robot- • 18d ago
De-influence me from taking an Antarctic cruise
Hi there, I’ve wanted to do an Antarctic cruise for as long as I’ve remembered and have the opportunity to do one in December. I will be travelling through buenos Aires and have about 2 weeks of no plans where the cruise fits perfectly.
However I am in my early 20s so what will end up being a 9k price tag after flights and hotels will basically wipe out my savings(I will still have my emergency fund and retirement), which is fine but not ideal. So basically give me every reason not to do it haha
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u/1ntrepidsalamander 18d ago
You want to be talked out of it, so: Don’t cruises negatively impact the Antarctic environment? Would knowing that seeing something contributes to hurting it change your experience?
Cruises are generally terrible for carbon footprint and use terrible international laws for treating staff terribly.
For $9k, you could travel in S America for months! Is two weeks worth giving up maybe 6 months of travel?
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u/isaberre 18d ago
idk man I wiped out my savings going to New Zealand right before I started my first salaried job. worth it
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u/Fickle-Emu3370 17d ago
Another way to do this is: sign up for a trip that takes place in 18 months or so, then save like the dickens to build up the fund to pay for it. It's a lot easier to deny oneself those little goodies if you have a carrot like this trip as your motivation. Then, you get to take the trip and keep your savings at the same time.
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u/ChefGuru 18d ago
No. It's your life, not ours. If you want to go on an Antarctic cruise, do it. Don't live your life by what other people tell you to do. 40 years from now, would you rather recall that time that you almost took a cross to Antarctica, or the memories of the actual cruise?
Live your own life, and do what makes you happy.
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u/fender8421 18d ago
A funny reality I've noticed is I meet way more people who regret being serious and tight with money in their 20's, than people who regret traveling and having made amazing memories in their 20's. By a surprisingly substantial margin
The topic comes up surprisingly often with customers I meet
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u/FruitOfTheVineFruit 16d ago
I've done an Antarctica cruise, when I was actually about your age, and it was fine, but not nearly my favorite vacation, despite being the most expensive. It's a very long way, a lot of penguins, a lot of time at sea. Penguins are cool at first, but only at first.
As an example, I had much more fun on a vacation in the Sea of Cortez, and it was maybe a tenth the price. The Grand canyon is at least as spectacular and far cheaper. Arches and Canyonlands and Mount Rainier are very cool and far cheaper.
In addition, many Antarctica cruises now are a rip-off, as not all cruises are allowed to let people go on land. I went a long time ago before the crowds, and spent plenty of time on land, and I still wouldn't particularly recommend it.
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u/flyMeToCruithne ❄️ Winterover 18d ago
Going to Antarctica has just about the worst environmental impact you could possibly have for a vacation at that price.
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u/turboshot49cents 18d ago
I saw Steve from Blues Clues at a convention a few years ago and he said he’s been to Antartica but doesn’t recommend it. You’re not even allowed that close to the penguins.
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u/One-Cellist6257 18d ago edited 18d ago
Penguins are wild animals, so yes, don’t get too close to wild animals. Also: Bird flu is a huge concern in Antarctica at the moment, so guests have to keep an extra distance.
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u/CosimoCalvino 18d ago
When we went in 2020, you couldn’t approach the penguins, but the penguins are allowed to walk right up to you, and they do. Have they taken extra distancing measures since then?
You can sometimes get big discounts on the cruises if you hang out in Ushuaia for last minute unused berths.
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u/One-Cellist6257 18d ago
Yes, the “keep your distance but if they walk up to you that’s fine” rule is a thing :). IAATO has rules how much distance you have to keep from each species.
With bird flu now a huge concern in Antarctica these rules have changed slightly and you won’t go on land at a site if there’s been any unusual activity. The biosecurity measures (scrubbing and disinfecting boots between landing sites, etc) are also still in place.
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u/VitSea4me 15d ago
Since Covid, the 5m distance has to be maintained - so if the penguin comes towards your you now have to move away.
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u/jimbobzz9 18d ago
You shouldn’t wipe out your savings on any leisure activity… This isn’t an r/antarctica question this is a r/personalfinance question.