Orient Lines
 

Has anyone taken a cruise to Antartica on the Marco Polo? I'm planning to take the 10 day cruise in January. Thanks

Yes, indeed, Saturngirl. It was a few years ago now but was a wonderful trip. The Marco Polo is an older ship and is not a floating Hyatt Hotel like some of the newer ones. It is well kept and staffed by wonderful crew. The experience is certainly different from any other cruise that we have taken. The sightseeing is spetacular. Be sure to take binoculars. Also, pick up some knee high boots at Wal-Mart before going. You can get them cheap and then just leave them behind rather than carrying them home. Also, a good idea to carry a small jar of Vicks with you. A small dab under the nose will help lots with the "natural" penguin odors. They are cute but they stink!

I haven't cruised to Antarctica but I was on the Marco Polo around the Horn in 2000. the ship is an older ship, very high door sills in corridors, lots more of the bones of the ship showing. I was told that marco Polo used to be a Russian ice breaker. It certainly looked very sturdy to my untrained eyes.

The captain took lifeboat drill very seriously. That was the first and last time in 9 cruises where we actually practiced helping each other by being told to keep contact (aware of) who was ahead of and behind us. So passengers realized that in an emergency, passengers would have to take active role in saving themselves. (I've since seen a documentary of the sinking of an Oceania ship off Cape of Good Hope where the crew were first off the ship, including the captain! and the passengers and entertainers took responsibility. No one died!)
I digress. Marco Polo's dining room had low ceiling so dining room noisy. Food was less fresh veg, more root or winter, hearty food.
Wind was cold! I needed long underwear, fleece under gor-tex.
I enjoyed my time on Marco Polo. Crew were very efficient and pleasant. Lectures were excellent. Entertainment not as glitzy as newer ships with better, bigger stage, lighting, sound etc but well worth the 40 minutes. Crew added their folk dance and song, and we were treated to local entertainment brought aboard at two ports. For a destination like this, I came home very pleased that I'd experienced Marco Polo.

I expect that the antarctic experience would be equally satisfying.

Thank you, thank you for your reply and the great information. I've booked my passage to the White Continental.

We just put a deposit on the Jan 11th trip. What date are you going? We have friends that have gone and all of them loved it.