It may never be that the term "cruise" does not conjure visions of tropical paradises visited by floating luxury hotels - and that is fine. The sun, sand, and surf crowd will always be well looked after. For travelers with a taste for something more unique, however, there are cruise packages that offer excursions to some locations that are well off the beaten path. North or south, the polar regions offer trips that may have plenty of sunny days, but will still require you to pack a parka and some waterproof boots. Still, you will not mind when you take in the wonderful sights along the way.
Straddling the Earth's South Pole, Antarctica is a vast desert of ice and snow. There are no land animals to speak of, and the human population is purely transitory. It is not a place anyone would want to live, but it is a great place to visit. Antarctic Cruise Ships depart from South America to travel to this largely unspoiled land and its fabulous vistas. Take in the ice and the icy blue ocean while watching whales cavort near the ship. Or go ashore and see the penguin rookeries from up close.
Whether it is hiking the land, kayaking amid the ice floes, or even camping overnight on the snow, there are plenty of activities to keep guests entertained in addition to the usual ship-board amenities and on-board information sessions. And you will doubtlessly get plenty of chances to take fabulous photos to amaze your friends back home, so do not forget your camera.
Arctic Cruises, on the other hand, offer an interesting mix of raw wilderness and remote human settlements. Trips to the high Arctic generally include stops in northern Canada - particularly Canada's most recently formed territory, Nunavut - and Greenland. You can experience indigenous cultures that survive in one of the world's harshest environments, enjoying their art and learning about how they live.
Other frequent tour attractions are trips through the Northwest Passage (a sea route through the Arctic Ocean) and nights under the celebrated midnight sun. Interesting wildlife can also be spotted along your route, including polar bears and walruses. The whale-watching opportunities are likewise spectacular.
If you are traveling to the Antarctic, the most common tourist season is from November until March; for Arctic trips, it is from July until September. For the best time, you should select a tour package from a company that is committed to keeping the Polar Regions pristine - ironically, careless tourism is often a source of environmental damage. Make sure you do not contribute to the problem.
Straddling the Earth's South Pole, Antarctica is a vast desert of ice and snow. There are no land animals to speak of, and the human population is purely transitory. It is not a place anyone would want to live, but it is a great place to visit. Antarctic Cruise Ships depart from South America to travel to this largely unspoiled land and its fabulous vistas. Take in the ice and the icy blue ocean while watching whales cavort near the ship. Or go ashore and see the penguin rookeries from up close.
Whether it is hiking the land, kayaking amid the ice floes, or even camping overnight on the snow, there are plenty of activities to keep guests entertained in addition to the usual ship-board amenities and on-board information sessions. And you will doubtlessly get plenty of chances to take fabulous photos to amaze your friends back home, so do not forget your camera.
Arctic Cruises, on the other hand, offer an interesting mix of raw wilderness and remote human settlements. Trips to the high Arctic generally include stops in northern Canada - particularly Canada's most recently formed territory, Nunavut - and Greenland. You can experience indigenous cultures that survive in one of the world's harshest environments, enjoying their art and learning about how they live.
Other frequent tour attractions are trips through the Northwest Passage (a sea route through the Arctic Ocean) and nights under the celebrated midnight sun. Interesting wildlife can also be spotted along your route, including polar bears and walruses. The whale-watching opportunities are likewise spectacular.
If you are traveling to the Antarctic, the most common tourist season is from November until March; for Arctic trips, it is from July until September. For the best time, you should select a tour package from a company that is committed to keeping the Polar Regions pristine - ironically, careless tourism is often a source of environmental damage. Make sure you do not contribute to the problem.
About the Author:
Independent online writer Imogen C. Rhodes has first-hand experience researching the greatest Arctic Cruises. She also enthusiastically recommends Antarctic Cruise Ships for tourists with a taste for the off-beat.
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