A polar regions expert has shared his views on the best time for cruise customers to book a sailing to the Arctic and Antarctica.
Robin West, Seabourn’s vice president, expedition operations, was asked the question about cruise departure dates during a session at Clia’s Luxury and Expedition Showcase event on Thursday (April 22).
Earlier in the session, West explained how children aged younger than 10 would probably not enjoy an expedition cruise in either the Arctic or Antarctica and that Antarctica was not as cold as many may think.
West’s first position at Seabourn was expedition leader during Seabourn’s debut season of four voyages on Seabourn Quest in Antarctica between November 2013 and February 2014. In 2018, he was promoted to his current role with the luxury line.
About when to book a polar cruise, West said: “It is a little bit of difficult question to answer, especially in Antarctica. It depends on what you want to see.
“My personal opinion is the best time to visit Antarctica in terms of seeing a real mix of wildlife – the penguin chicks, the whales – is probably around mid-January. Historically speaking that should also be the most consistent for good weather.
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“But if you want to see that pristine white Antarctica, going early November is also a fantastic experience.
“In the Arctic, it is a short season. The wildlife that you’re seeing there happens very quickly. I would say the middle of the summer is the best time to see a spread of certain wildlife – middle or late July.”
He also added: “There’s never a bad experience going to either the destinations during the summer.”
Asked what age limit – if any – should parents and agents be wary of when booking polar region cruises, West said: “Expedition travel is really about educating people where they are going. We often have families bringing on much younger kids.
“Although it is nice to experience it as a family. I would say round about 10, 11, 12 years old where there is an understanding or an appreciation for the lectures and presentation.”
Addressing agents, West said that “no guest” comes back unhappy from Antarctica. “It is not as cold as you may think,” he said. “People are dressed properly when they go ashore in Antarctica. Unless the wind is blowing it is not actually that cold.
“They are engaged in an environment they’ve never seen before and they’re dressed properly for the occasion.”
West also added that everybody who goes to Antarctica comes back “as an ambassador”. “They come back talking about this incredible destination and how we need to preserve it and look after it,” he said.
The crossing of Drake’s Passage – the body of water between Antarctica and South America – is not always “rough”, West said.
“There are rough times, but there are also plenty of times when it is flat, calm, moderate and the crossing is not that big of a deal,” he explained.