Luxury travel services in Antarctica

Tourists visiting Antarctica stay in luxurious rooms on large ships, enjoy high-end dining, have access to spas, and are provided with special cold-weather clothing.

Tourists flock to the coldest place on Earth - Antarctica. (Photo: Andrew Peacock)

On a beautiful sunny afternoon in Antarctica, the cruise ship Seabourn Pursuit crashed headfirst into an iceberg in Hanusse Bay.

According to CNN Travel , the ship sped forward, ice shattering beneath its bow. The 250 passengers on board calmly went out onto their balconies and leaned over the deck railings to see what was happening.

There was no scramble to board the lifeboats like what happened on the ill-fated Titanic. Instead, passengers descended the stairs one by one to begin their walk on the ice.

Mr. and Mrs. McCurdy pose for a commemorative photo in Antarctica. (Photo: Jason Evans)

The collision was not an accidental event, but a pre-planned experience. The organizers had even prepared tables laden with champagne glasses to welcome visitors to Antarctica.

Among the passengers that day were Greg and Susana McCurdy, a couple from Las Vegas, USA. Holding champagne glasses, the McCurdys posed for photos with a scarf printed with the words "Seventh Continent - Antarctica 2024".

The wave of tourism to Antarctica began before Covid-19. The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators says that in the early 1990s, only about 7,000 tourists visited the "white continent" each year.

However, this number has exploded in the last half-decade. This year, the number of visitors to Antarctica has exceeded 122,000.

Traveling to the coldest continent on Earth wasn't a luxury in the past as it is today. Tourists typically traveled on old icebreakers from Russia, Canada, or other polar nations.

Robin West, Vice President and CEO of Seabourn's expeditions, visited this harsh region in 2002. He noted that many ships at the time were equipped with bunk beds and shared bathrooms. Very few had windows offering views of the outside.

The Seabourn Pursuit uses its bow to cut ice in Antarctica. (Photo: Jason Evans)

The experience today is vastly different. Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic , notes that cruise lines like Ponant, Silversea, Seabourn, and Scenic have recently made significant strides in offering luxury experiences to travelers visiting Antarctica.

They offer luxury suites on board, fine dining, and even a spa. Guests who wish to go submarine tours or explore the Antarctic waters by kayak will need to pay extra.

Passengers are provided with specially designed cold-weather clothing to keep them warm while wandering among penguins and seals.

Wildlife is a major attraction on Antarctic excursions. (Photo: Jason Evans)

Celebrity, Norwegian, and Princess cruise lines are offering new tours that allow passengers to view Antarctica from the ship without having to set foot directly on this icy land.

Amidst the surge in Antarctic tourism, some experts have voiced concerns about the potential environmental impacts.

A study published in Nature in 2022 indicated that the snow in Antarctica is melting faster due to the influx of tourists to the continent.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dich-vu-du-lich-xa-xi-o-nam-cuc-293180.html