We’re about to go on the Nat Geo Endurance cruise, heading to Antarctica’s White Continent in a few weeks. Has anyone done this trip? Any tips or things we should know? We’re a married couple in our 40s, going with my in-laws who are active and in their 60s. We’re super excited but haven’t found much info online about this trip!
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u/TricksterOperator
We’re about to go on the Nat Geo Endurance cruise, heading to Antarctica’s White Continent in a few weeks. Has anyone done this trip? Any tips or things we should know? We’re a married couple in our 40s, going with my in-laws who are active and in their 60s. We’re super excited but haven’t found much info online about this trip!
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We did a similar trip with another cruise line, and it was absolutely worth it! Some tips that helped us:
- Only use the provided boots onshore because of environmental rules.
- Waterproof pants are a must, especially since you’ll be on zodiacs.
- Polarized sunglasses or even goggles will help a lot.
- Get gloves that work with touchscreens if you’re using your phone as a camera.
- Our cruise gave us jackets, maybe yours will too.
- Bring any over-the-counter or seasickness meds just in case, even if you might not need them.
- The Drake Passage can be either calm or rough. We wore wristbands for seasickness, and they helped!
- Keep the curtains open at night; the views are amazing!
- Surprisingly, it wasn’t too cold (we’re from Chicago).
- Don’t forget a bathing suit if you want to do the polar plunge.
- Packing light with compression bags worked great for us.
- Super casual on board; no one really dresses up.
Feel free to ask if you have more questions! We’ve been twice and are planning to go back to see South Georgia and the Falklands.
@Zion
Hope they have extra-wide size 16 boots, or I’m stuck on the ship!
Jai said:
@Zion
Hope they have extra-wide size 16 boots, or I’m stuck on the ship!
Are you going too? Haha.
Jai said:
@Zion
Hope they have extra-wide size 16 boots, or I’m stuck on the ship!
Are you going too? Haha.
Not this time, but I’m working on convincing the family to go. The cost is a bit high, though!
@Zion
Thanks for all these tips! Didn’t think about goggles, good idea! We’re from SoCal, so it’s definitely going to be cold for us. They do give us parkas, so that’s a plus, and we have lots of warm clothes. The ship has a sauna and two hot tubs outside, so bringing a swimsuit is a must! Not sure about the polar plunge though… might skip that one to avoid a heart attack!
I don’t have any advice, but do you actually get to step on Antarctica? I’m super jealous! Would love to hear all about it when you’re back.
Jai said:
I don’t have any advice, but do you actually get to step on Antarctica? I’m super jealous! Would love to hear all about it when you’re back.
Yes, we’ll be on the continent for five days in different areas! The ship either parks on the ice and sets down a gangway, or they take us by zodiacs to shore for excursions. It’s going to be surreal!
@Luca
Beyond jealous! If there’s a good bar on board, I’m sold. Seriously though, I’m pushing for this as our next cruise in 2026, bar or no bar!
Jai said:
@Luca
Beyond jealous! If there’s a good bar on board, I’m sold. Seriously though, I’m pushing for this as our next cruise in 2026, bar or no bar!
I think the bar is open for the whole trip, though you may need to pay extra for top-shelf stuff.
I know a lady who went on this cruise with an older friend, and they loved it! She was in her mid-80s and still had a blast! They were lucky since the Drake Passage was calm, but you might want to be prepared for rough seas. Have an amazing time! This cruise is on my bucket list once I retire from teaching.
@Skyler
A relative of mine went too! She went mostly for the penguins and had the best time.
Micah said:
@Skyler
A relative of mine went too! She went mostly for the penguins and had the best time.
That’s awesome!! Penguins must have been a highlight!
@Skyler
Yep, smooth sailing (the ‘Drake Lake’) is ideal and also faster! But a wild ride with big waves sounds exciting in its own way. We’ve got Dramamine and wristbands ready, plus our ship’s hull is designed to reduce rocking.
@Luca
We had 30-foot waves once while avoiding a cyclone on our way to South Georgia Island, and wow, it was like a roller coaster! I love coasters but didn’t enjoy lying there wondering if we’d flip like in The Perfect Storm. The Drake Passage felt easy after that.
Check YouTube for videos of the cruise—could give you a lot more insight!
Get the best camera and binoculars you can afford; you’ll want great photos. Very envious, enjoy every minute!
Chen said:
Get the best camera and binoculars you can afford; you’ll want great photos. Very envious, enjoy every minute!
We’re all set! My wife’s a pro photographer and has all the gear. Should be epic!
I went on a Nat Geo cruise to the Galapagos, and it was so well-organized and educational. You’ll have a great time!