Stories? Encounters? Tips? I'm heading that way in November for the Total Solar Eclipse of 12/4/21. Plans have been in the works for over 3 years now. Paid up and extreme travel protocol tested (ready).

11 day cruise from Ushuaia, Argentina. Chances of eclipse sighting are precarious at best ("I give us... one chance in three...more tea anyone?").

Bucket lister for sure... love to hear from those who've been or wish to travel to Antarctica in their time.

Remember when photographing to adjust for the brightness of the ice.

Which outfit are you using ?

jealous, that'll be awesome! i'm curious how much this trip cost per person, $20k?

Husband been. Said that you will see thousands of penguins pooping.

I have nothing to add but gave you a star for proper use of Marko Ramius line.

Is your 1/3 chance predicated on likelihood of clouds?

I did the last big one here, drove up to Nebraska with the kids. I'm hooked, can't wait for the next one here in Texas in just a couple of years.

But the cruise itself will be amazing, so even if the weather doesn't cooperate, ought to be an amazing trip.

Spore Ag said:

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Remember when photographing to adjust for the brightness of the ice.

Which outfit are you using ?

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Thanks! Ponant Cruises is the operator. Ring of Fire Expeditions is the tour operator.

07ag said:

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jealous, that'll be awesome! i'm curious how much this trip cost per person, $20k?

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I got in early and maxed the discounts: $12,500 plus a rather reasonable flight to Buenos Aires. Flight to Ushuaia is included. Cabins plus transfers ranged from $12,500 on up to $30,000.

Bluecat_Aggie94 said:

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Is your 1/3 chance predicated on likelihood of clouds?

I did the last big one here, drove up to Nebraska with the kids. I'm hooked, can't wait for the next one here in Texas in just a couple of years.

But the cruise itself will be amazing, so even if the weather doesn't cooperate, ought to be an amazing trip.

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Yes. Given the location of totality and weather prospects, it will be a difficult meeting. Add the Drake Passage and we could all be holding back sea sickness. We are setup for an epic adventure regardless of eclipse sighting!

I'm hooked as well. 2017 was my first total solar eclipse (Nashville) and made a decision not to miss another if possible. The chill and "the fear" of totality is up there with the feeling before jumping out of a perfectly good airplane or standing at the edge of a cliff. Something primal occurs when our little star goes dark at noon. Worth chasing over and over again.

Here are a couple of threads regarding the last two total solar eclipses in Nerdery and Travel:

https://texags.com/forums/30/topics/3043625

https://texags.com/forums/54/topics/3164473

I have done Ponant to Antarctic and the Arctic. They have great food, wine and some fascinating expedition leaders. The last trip had about 45% French passengers so there was a lot of French spoken. Guess you will do wet landings so you might check if they provide rubber boots or do you have to rent them. If you bring your boots, check to see how easy they are to clean as operators do not want to introduce contaminants to some of these islands.

Remember this area is a tough area with the 30-30-30 a possibility. Meaning wind,seas and temp or worse so get your pharmaceutical in order if you need to.

Do you know if it is sold out?

Thanks for the info! We do get a complimentary parka and free boot rental... imagine they will have a boot removal protocol. I will certainly have things in order for nausea and the boat has a doctor with the ability to treat the most severe "patients" with iv meds if necessary.

There are a few cabins remaining; haven't checked to see if they are the super pricey ones but imagine that is the case... scroll down on this page for cabin availability: Ring of Fire Expeditions - TSE Antarctica 2021

Went with Nat Geo back in January, 2015. 40s for the high and 25 or so for the low each day. Unbelievable scenery and some of it is not what you would expect. Ice cycles on the icebergs. Do the polar plunge, if nothing else to say you will do anything once. Drake passage down was horrible - 30 ft seas. It was like glass coming back. Cape Horn was an amazing sight. Watch for flipping icebergs and playful minke whales.











Mail a letter from the Port Lockroy base. Have a great trip.

Been to Ushuaia; wish we would have booked a cruise to the Antarctic, hope to do so someday.

Looking forward to your trip report & hope you have clear skies for the eclipse!

mike073 said:

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Went with Nat Geo back in January, 2015. 40s for the high and 25 or so for the low each day. Unbelievable scenery and some of it is not what you would expect. Ice cycles on the icebergs. Do the polar plunge, if nothing else to say you will do anything once. Drake passage down was horrible - 30 ft seas. It was like glass coming back. Cape Horn was an amazing sight. Watch for flipping icebergs and playful minke whales.

Mail a letter from the Port Lockroy base. Have a great trip.

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Excellent! Great info. Is that you in the (Mr. Penguin) tuxedo? Hilarious! Polar Plunge will have to be a gametime decision as I'm not exactly a Viking type. Thanks!

No, that was one of our traveling companions. Here is Brown Bluff. See if you can count the penguins. Amazing.




We were on your ship in Iceland a few years ago - they run a nice operation.

One story - there was a Russian tour ship that got stuck in the ice and had to have Chinese and Australian ice breakers to get them out. Seems there is an association that all the companies belong to and they watch out for each other. The week we were there was the week when they were stuck. Looks like they were marked out for all stops.



On the trip down, they tied ropes in the hall to help you navigate. One night we heard dishes dumping just like in the Titanic.



Drake on the return passage:

Incredible! Thanks for sharing!

Guppy - there is lots more. The orcas you will see are not black and white. They have adapted to be grey and white.

On our Nat Geo boat was the guy who invented the critter cam - He was going down to fasten one on several sea lions for some research he was doing.

There is a Russian base there that does make vodka and the only place to buy it is at their store on the island.

I really hope you get to see the eclipse and can document it for us.

6:00 AM one morning I was on the back of the boat with one other person. A couple of birds were perched on a small iceberg. They flew off and the thing started swaying and eventually flipped over right in front of us.

Always have the camera ready - you never know what you will see.

Don't be like the guy in the yellow tennis shoes:

Quote:

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Drake passage down was horrible - 30 ft seas.

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I'm out.

Excellent! Hate to wear you out but loving these stories and images: keep em comin!

Iceberg Flipping over

Getting "The video is private" message... may need permissions adjustment.

fixed already - sorry

That thing was 30 feet tall and 100 feet wide. I guess 80% is not always underwater!

mike073 said:

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fixed already - sorry

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Wow! That's fantastic. I bet those folks in the inflatable puckered up a bit!?

You can see the ripples coming from the back of our ship. As soon as the thing tilted they started backing away from the shore. We had parked right at the little beach and the crew was unpacking for the hike around the island. I talked to the captain later - he said they always were suspect of floating bergs, so the watched it and saw it coming and they backed up. The zodiacs were the crew that was unloading for the day. He said their "watch crew" worked that day well.

Antarctica is an absolutely unbelievable place.

Here is some of the ships' crew watching the idiot tourists jumping in the water.

This trip is about to happen. Papers papers tests papers tests tests. It's a whirlwind of protocols that have to all go right for this to all work out. All for the 1min 40 seconds of totality produced by the Total Solar Eclipse of 12/4/21. Of course, I'm taking the trip to experience Antarctica, but the TSE is why I decided to go in the first place over 4 years ago.

In the meantime, there is an almost Total Lunar Eclipse visible from most of the Western Hemisphere tomorrow night (late Thursday / early Friday). The fortnight sister eclipse to 12/4/21.

Take a look outside at the Full Moon and watch it turn orange, brown, and crescent at 97% as the Earth passes between The Sun and The Moon! Check this link below for times in your area!

https://www.space.com/beaver-moon-lunar-eclipse-what-time

I know you will have a magical time. Eat king crab in Ushuaia. Getting into the surroundings helps against sea sickness. Have a blast!
Going down there again next year for a 33 day excursion starting In Ushuaia, sailing west across the Ross sea ending in New Zealand. Will be a rough but unforgettable trip.

Guppy - have a great trip.

Spore Ag said:

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Going down there again next year for a 33 day excursion starting In Ushuaia, sailing west across the Ross sea ending in New Zealand. Will be a rough but unforgettable trip.

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Who are you doing your excursion through?

A Dutch group called Oceanic Expeditions. Come with us!

We rounded Cape Horn from Ushuaia and I've never seen seas like that. It looked like a whole different planet. Best place to hang out was mid ship.

That will be an awesome journey. Flight into Ushuaia is pretty cool too.

I find the Cape Horn trip one of the most dramatic excursions with the violent seas, the albatrosses flying around and just the history of the area.

Spore Ag said:

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A Dutch group called Oceanic Expeditions. Come with us!

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nvm I think I found the company you're using.

Holy crap. I think this is the most jealous I have ever been of anything on texags. Its the only continent I haven't been to.

Spore Ag said:

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I find the Cape Horn trip one of the most dramatic excursions with the violent seas, the albatrosses flying around and just the history of the area.

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Yes! So much shipping history has rounded thst cape. I've read a ton of books tbat discuss it. I need to do it so badly.