Typically starting from the southern tip of South America, a cruise to Antarctica usually means a few days at sea before the white continent appears on the horizon. And those days are spent crossing the notorious Drake Passage.
What’s the difference between the two?
Not for the faint-hearted, sailing across Drake can be a rough one. That’s why plenty of cruise lines are also offering the fly-cruise option.
Fly-cruises bypass the Drake Passage altogether. A flight from Puerto Williams, Punta Arenas or Ushuaia will take you above the drake and its choppy waters to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, close to the Antarctic Peninsula.
Meanwhile, traditional Antarctica cruises will include the two-day crossing. There’s no land between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula, just 800km of open ocean. Cruises including South Georgia and the Falkland Islands as part of the itinerary do still need to cross the Drake.
Time saved vs time at sea
Crossing the Drake Passage by sea takes about two days, as there is 800km of ocean to cross and ships don’t travel all that fast. And, remember, that’s each way. So in total, you’ll actually be spending four days in transit across the legendary stretch of any expedition.
On the contrary, a flight from southern departure points in Chile or Argentina can get you to King George Island in as little as 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
If you’re short on days and want to maximise your time at landing sites, then opting for a fly-cruise may be the best option. Just about any cruise that’s eight days or shorter will be a fly-cruise.
Skip the seasickness
Bypassing the Drake Passage also means skipping multiple days of sea sickness. Even the most well-seasoned cruise passengers often find this journey tough.
Flying the Drake is a sure-fire way to skip it.
Otherwise, you may find yourself relying on seasickness medications, ginger tablets or a constant gaze at the horizon until the infamous Drake Shake has passed.
Consider the price of fly-cruises
Flying right over the Drake Passage may seem like a no-brainer to some but, like most things, it does come at a cost.
While some shorter cruise itineraries may include a flight to King George Island, not all of them do. This can add onto the overall cost of your voyage, up to 20% in fact.
If you do choose to fly, it does mean losing four days’ meals, accommodations and on-board activities too. All of those gourmet meals, educational lectures and spa treatments are just going to be had without you.
Fly-cruises aren’t available on all Antarctic cruise itineraries
If you’re set on a specific itinerary, you may not be able to opt for a fly-cruise; while they’re convenient, they rely on cruising to King George Island where there’s an airport.
Sailings to the other side of Antarctica, including the Ross Sea and don’t offer this as an option at all. These cruises depart from either Australia or New Zealand, which is on the opposite side of Antarctica to King George Island.
Luckily, these cruises also avoid the Drake Passage.