Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the bases that we may visit on your voyage offer postal service, but we can’t guarantee we’ll get to one.  Your Expedition Leader will let you know if you’re visiting a base that offers post, and how you can send mail.  In some places you may need cash, usually US Dollars or Euros.  You can always send postcards once we disembark in Ushuaia!

While you may find the batteries or flash cards you need in stock in our Gift Shop, we strongly recommend that you bring extra supplies of everything, (including an extra charger) as availability of these items is very limited, and cannot be guaranteed.

It is highly unlikely that you will have cellular service once we leave Argentina. There is a telephone in your cabin, which has access to an outside line; however, there may be times when phone service is limited or unavailable.

All cabins have one 220V European socket and one 110V US socket located near the desk; except the Owner’s Suites, which do not have a US outlet. Each cabin also has a power strip with 6 Euro sockets (deep, round inset) and 3 USB ports. Reception has a small supply of adapters to plug your dual-voltage US electronics into the Euro power strips on request.

Please do not bring any small appliances such as hairdryers, irons, coffee makers, curling tongs, or steam pots, as these items will damage the ship’s electrical system and are strictly forbidden on board. There is a small hairdryer provided in your cabin.

Yes! Our ship features a Starlink wireless network accessible from your personal computer or smartphone from virtually anywhere on board. There are also public computers available in the ship Library which may be used for email and Internet (but not for uploading photos.) 500 free MB of data is included in the cost of your voyage.  Additional data packages can be purchased from the hotel manager on board. Please note, due to weather and location, there may be times when Internet service is very slow or disrupted.

We can accommodate most dietary requests such as low salt, gluten-free, and low cholesterol, and we include Vegetarian, Meat, and Fish options on all of our menus. Please enter any dietary limitations, from preferences to severe food allergies, when completing your medical information form.  Please note that we are unable to offer Kosher meals.

Yes! Seaventure offers a fitness center with cardio equipment and free weights and a sauna.

Polar Latitudes is committed to operating in an environmentally responsible manner. After much consideration, we have decided not to open the pool, as it adds significantly to the ship’s carbon footprint

Yes. Laundry service is available on board; however, the ship does not have dry cleaning facilities. There is no self-service laundry facility on board the ship and no irons for passenger use.

There is absolutely no smoking permitted anywhere inside the ship (including the balcony areas,) on Zodiacs, or on landings.  International law dictates the allowed designated area for smoking on commercial vessels; this location will be clearly identified during the Safety Briefing at the beginning of your voyage. Repeated non-compliance of our smoking policy will result in a $1000 penalty added to your shipboard account.  The Expedition Leader and Captain also reserve the right to disallow participation in off-ship activities.

Only Suites designated as “Porthole Suites” have portholes, the rest have windows. We cannot guarantee the number of portholes or windows in your cabin. Windows and portholes do not open.

On Seaventure: Most cabins have the option to be configured with 1 queen bed or 2 single beds. Triples can be configured as 1 queen and 1 single or 3 singles, with the exception of cabins 409 and 411 which have a fixed queen bed and 1 single. The Owner’s suite can only be configured as 1 queen.

Seaventure offers a limited number of Triple staterooms which can be configured with 1 queen bed and 1 single bed or 3 single beds.

Not cold at all! The entire ship is climate-controlled for your comfort, and all cabins feature individual temperature controls.

Unfortunately, no, our ship is not built to be wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator that services all floors, but due to weather and sea conditions, it is not operational at all times.

As of right now, and barring any radical changes in global conditions, there are no planned Covid restrictions or policies on any Polar Latitudes voyages.

There is generally no charge to guests for medical consultations, rendered care, or dispensed medical supplies. The only exceptions are rare cases in which very involved, “Intensive Care” levels of treatment are required.

All guests are required to complete a medical questionnaire that is reviewed by our Medical staff who will contact your agent if they foresee any difficulties with the safety of your voyage. Medical information is kept on board for reference in the event of a medical problem.

For passengers that do have significant medical issues/problems, we recommend that you visit your physician to obtain the doctor’s “fit to travel” stamp of approval. As your embarkation date approaches, don’t hesitate to re-check with your doctor if there has been a change in your medical issues. It’s always a good idea to bring duplicate supplies of all your medications and necessary medical supplies.

In the unfortunate event of a serious medical problem, our onboard doctor will take every possible step to stabilize the patient, who can then be evacuated to the nearest facility or airfield; either Ushuaia, Stanley, or King George Island, for more comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. Please be aware that there are limits to what our physicians can treat and evacuations in this remote area may be lengthy.

Each ship has a Medical Clinic, stocked with a wide range of common basic medications, including seasickness medication, and capable of supporting a wide range of medical issues.  Please note, there are no lab or radiology capabilities on board.

Yes! Every voyage has a currently-practicing and English-speaking doctor experienced in Emergency medicine.  Medical services are available 24 hours a day, and a doctor accompanies passengers on all shore landings.

Any tipping is at your discretion and entirely optional. Should you choose to tip, the standard amount for recognition of service is USD $17-$18 per person per day. This can be added to your shipboard account and paid by credit card – you do not need to tip in cash. The gratuity is divided among the expedition team, the hotel department (stewards and stewardesses, chefs) and the ship’s crew.

Polar Latitudes knows that your voyage is more than the ship or even the destination, it is the people who bring that experience to life. We are proud to say we attract some of the industry’s best talent, people who genuinely love what they do and work tirelessly to give our guests the best experience they can. Our staff comes from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some are professional adventure guides, some expert academics, others passionate educators. All apply their specific skills in a way to compliment each other and collectively deliver truly life-changing trips.

Polar Latitudes is proud to say we have some of the highest staffing standards in the industry. We are one of the few operators that require all operational staff to be certified as crew under the International Maritime Organization’s STCW standards. Furthermore, we are the first polar operator to adopt the Polar Tourism Guides Association (PTGA) guide qualification framework, a world first in training and certifying polar guides in the skills and experience required for our unique industry. When combined with our company culture of learning and training, the STCW and PTGA certification frameworks give us the confidence that all our valued guests will be kept safe and benefit from the best team in the industry.

Meet Our Team

You will need to book your flights directly to your final destination airport of Ushuaia (USH) or Puerto Madryn (PMY)

Most flights will connect via Buenos Aires, Argentina, or via Santiago, Chile. Please note that Buenos Aires has two airports – Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE), also known as Ezeiza, is mainly used for international flights. Jorge Newberry (AEP) is mainly used for domestic flights. Depending on your flight arrangements, it may be necessary for you to change airports.  BE AWARE that travel between the two airports can take 1-2 hours depending on traffic, and you will need to claim your luggage and clear customs before hopping in a cab, so be sure to leave yourself plenty of time!

There are lots of “low-cost carriers” popping up in South America; however, we recommend staying away from them for the time being, as new airlines typically have growing pains and with limited planes, delays and cancellations can be problematic. Therefore, we’d encourage you to book with established national airlines.

We also recommend that you consult with a travel agent if you need assistance with booking flights, as we are unfortunately not in a position to provide flight assistance.

Depending upon the weather, we are generally in Port Stanley at 8:00am and off the ship by 9:00am. We ask everyone to be back at the Visitor’s Centre by 2:30pm with the last bus leaving at 3:00pm. If you want to book sightseeing we recommend you plan to be back by 1:00pm to allow sufficient buffer time. Please note, any activities planned that day will cut into your time in town. We will offer a guided trip out to Gypsy Cove for some bird watching and history, and you can visit the Falklands Islands Museum & National Trust in town, which is free. Your Expedition Leader will confirm the exact arrival/departure times that day.

Disembarkation is usually at 8am on the final day of your itinerary.  We strongly recommend booking flights no earlier than 12pm to account for possible delays getting back to Port.

We provide insulated sleeping bags, rated to -20 ° F (-29 ° C), sleeping bag liners, insulated sleeping pads, dry bags for pillows and clothes, and mountaineering bivy sacks. We will also provide two portable toilets with privacy tents for the group. For more information on our Camping program, please click here.

We carry a mix of single and tandem kayaks, and provide dry suits, paddles, personal flotation devices (PFDs), pogies (neoprene gloves), and booties. For more information on our kayaking program, please click here.

You will visit amazing, unbelievable places every day, but probably none of them look exactly like the pictures you’ve seen before. Antarctica is one of the most unpredictable places in the world, which is what makes it so special and keeps us excited to go back year after year. Glaciers calve, penguins move, ice melts, snow falls, wind blows, and all these factors change the landscape making every trip a once in a lifetime experience.

Weather in Antarctica can be very unpredictable, and we don’t get the same type of forecasts that we’re used to in most other parts of the world.  We get information about general conditions and trends in the areas we visit, and we make our own forecasts in real time based on the data we have in the moment. Average temperatures in Antarctica during our sailing season is between -5 C (23 F) and 5 C (41 F).

The best defense against bad weather is quality gear. Click here for more information on what we recommend.

In general, our policy is that children must be at least 12 years old to participate in a Polar Latitudes voyage. However, we may on a case-by-case basis accept children between the ages of 7-11 with additional screening and prior approval before booking, and the completion of our Child waiver by the parents/guardians. Please contact us if you wish to travel with a child under the age of 12.

Yes! All passengers must carry a Travel Protection Plan. This Plan must cover personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, evacuation expenses, and pre-existing medical conditions. Additionally, passengers are strongly advised to carry a Travel Protection Plan which includes coverage for cancellation, curtailment, trip interruption, and all other expenses which might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring to or otherwise involving a passenger. As any potential evacuation from Antarctica can cost up to $150,000 we recommend that no policy carry less than this amount of coverage. Polar Latitudes will require information as to carrier, policy number, and a 24-hour contact number.

No. All shipboard charges will be charged to an account, so you do not need to pay cash as you go. At the end of your voyage, you may pay your tab with cash or credit card; we accept Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. All prices on board are shown in US Dollars.

Always be sure to carry a small amount of cash, local and US or Euro, to cover taxis, and other incidentals, which may not be payable by credit card.

No. The recreational use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or drone type aircraft in the Antarctic is currently prohibited by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO). Because IAATO recognizes the value of UAVs for certain commercial and scientific applications, Polar Latitudes is currently permitted for the commercial use of UAVs by trained members of our staff. Individual permits are not possible, and personal drones are strictly prohibited.

For detailed recommendations on camera equipment from our Photography Coaches, please see our in-depth Photography Guide.

That one is entirely up to you. If you wish to have access to the internet, you will need a computer or mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. Some guests also find it useful to have their computers on hand for photography storage and backup. If you do choose to bring a laptop, please be sure to take the necessary precautions to protect it from the elements.

No. We provide Molton Brown of London soap and shampoo.

We do have a limited number of trekking poles on board, but if you are more comfortable with your own, please feel free to bring them.

No! A waterproof expedition jacket, yours to keep, is included in the cost of your voyage, and will be given to you on board. A nautically inspired and well-fitting jacket, it’s ideal for cruising, sailing or onshore activities. This jacket, custom designed for Polar Latitudes, is a fully wind- and waterproof outer layer, with a protective collar to help keep body warmth from escaping on windy days. Please note, as this is not an insulated ski parka, we recommend wearing a heavy fleece and/or thermal layers under the jacket for additional warmth in Antarctica.

We also loan you a pair of insulated rubber boots for you to use during the voyage. They are great for getting in and out of Zodiacs and are plenty warm with a good pair of thermal or wool socks.

Our motto is – There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear. It’s never a good idea to take shortcuts when it comes to clothing – being improperly dressed can impact your enjoyment of the voyage! Dress on board the ship is casual and informal at all times.

The best clothing is a layered system with an outer layer that is waterproof. The air between the layers provides additional insulation.

• Base Layer – Thermal underwear and a pair of thermal socks.
• Mid Layer – Pants (fleece is ideal), a light cotton shirt, and a fleece.
• Outer Layer – Waterproof pants and a waterproof jacket.
  Waterproof pants are required to participate in landings.
  Note: Lightweight disposable rain gear will not endure more than one landing, so please bring high-quality, expedition-weight waterproof pants.
• Shoes – Sturdy walking shoes or sneakers with a good grip sole for the slippery deck, and the rubber boots we provide.