Four things to know about a cruise to Antarctica - from someone who's been 82 times
There are few bucket list locations on the planet as remote as the icy wilderness of Antarctica.
Despite our closeness (as Aussies) to the southern-most part of the planet, travelling to the region is a privilege most people won't get to experience.
Those who have, count themselves incredible lucky to have done so. Even if it's part of your job, as Conrad Combrink, the Senior VP of Expedition at Silversea Cruises, tells 9Travel.
All up, the South African native has managed a trip across the infamous Drake's Passage 82 times and shares some of his advice for anyone considering the voyage.
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Conrad Combrink has been to Antarctica over 80 times. Supplied
"It is almost impossible to talk about it unless you've been because it's really hard to understand, hard to grasp, the sheer size and scale of it," Conrad tells 9Travel.
"I'm always reminded of Andrew Denton's quote - 'If Antarctica were music it would be Mozart. Art, and it would be Michelangelo. Literature, and it would be Shakespeare. And yet it is something even greater'."
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Here are four important things travellers need to think about before embarking on the journey to Antarctica.
Do your research
"Know what you're getting into and do a bit of research. These are incredible voyages, especially to the polar regions. But you need to prepare, pack the right things. Don't just show up," Conrad says.
"It will be so much more rewarding if you've got all the right gear, and you're ready for what you're about to face. And understand that it's not just ice and penguins. It's much more - there is such an incredible history and exploration that took place in Antarctica."
A small cruise ship makes passage through the Lemaire Channel. Getty
Prepare for a mental challenge
Being physically fit is one thing, but Conrad says many passengers don't expect the mental challenge of visiting a place as vast as Antarctica.
"Not one of my trips has ever been the same. You have different emotions, different experiences, the ice changes, the weather conditions change, and there are different challenges," he says.
"It's a destination that will challenge you mentally, because you really do feel incredibly insignificant."
You have little control
This also bleeds into guest needing to be able to "let go", Conrad says. Something he has witnessed many passengers struggle with initially.
"Because a lot of our guests are very accomplished, they love control. But in Antarctica, you very quickly learn that you have to just go with it," he points out.
"And I always love seeing how people evolve, even in a very short period of time, from wanting to control, wanting to know everything, minute by minute, what we're going to do, where we're going to go, what we're going to see - to very quickly understanding that it doesn't matter."
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A cruise in Antarctica can be full or challenges. Supplied
Put the phone down
This might seem like an obvious one but even travelling to a place like Antarctica, Conrad has to stress the point of putting way your phone.
"We tend to live behind our phones and our cameras, we want to record everything. God knows why? What are you going to do with 7500 photos of an iceberg. All the penguins look the same.
"Take a few. Put that camera away, put that phone away, and just live in the moment and appreciate where you are. Appreciate that you are one of very few people that will ever, ever, see this place."
An Antarctica highlight
If you make it onto a cruise to Antarctica, Conrad says be prepared for some life-changing experiences.
"I remember once we were on the Zodiac boat and we came across some humpback whales. We just switched off our engines, and this mother and a calf humpback whale came right up to our zodiac," he recalls.
"She was dancing around the boat and swimming underneath the boat, right at the surface, and eventually you could see she was kind of nudging the calf right up to the surface, almost like showing off. It was the most beautiful interaction."
All-time favourite cruise destination
During his 30-year career at sea, Conrad really has been to more than 150 countries. And despite the draw of the polar regions, he actually says there is another cruise destination that is his all-time favourite.
And it's the complete opposite.
"If I really have to pick one, most people would be surprised to hear that it's not one of the polar regions. It's not Galapagos. I absolutely love, love Papua New Guinea," he reveals.
"It's just so rich in culture. It's rich in natural history, from birds of paradise, to swimming in with whale sharks, snorkelling in incredibly clear waters and beautiful reef systems. And then to learn about all these hundreds of different tribes. It's amazing."
Papua New Guinea is Conrad's favourite cruise destination. Getty
Expedition cruising is booming
Once a niche segment, in 2023 there were a record 81 expedition cruise ships in service, up from approximately 18 a decade ago, Travel Weekly reports. And more fleet additions are being announced regularly.
Conrad says they are seeing a lot of 'new-to-cruise' guests choosing expedition cruises because they want "deep and immersive experiences".
"We offer experiences and destinations that you cannot get to on your own, whether it's Antarctica, whether it's the Galapagos, the Kimberly Coast here in Australia, the West African coast, or Bangladesh, whatever it is," he says.
"It's the ability to take guests that would normally not consider cruise on a cruise to destinations they wouldn't get to any other way."
And that's all regardless of the cost.
"At the end of the day, the expedition traveller has always been, and will always be a high-end traveller. An expedition is not inexpensive. It's great value, but it's not inexpensive."
