The biggest cruise ship to dock in Antarctica is the Seabourn Quest, a Seabourn Odyssey-class luxury vessel operated by Seabourn Cruise Line.
It was constructed by Italian shipbuilder T. Mariotti at their Genoa Shipyard. The ship entered service in 2011 and is registered in Nassau, Bahamas.
In 2013, it was refitted with Zodiac inflatables for landings in Antarctica. The ship is spacious and ensures luxury, comfort and privacy of guests, even at full capacity.
It has a gross tonnage of 32,348 tonnes and is 198 m long and 25.6 m wide with a 6.5 m draught. The cruise ship has 11 decks and a speed of 19 knots.
Seabourn Quest has 226 ocean-view suites, most of them offering private balconies. The suites cover 295 to 1682 square feet of area, with the biggest one being the Grand Suites with two bedrooms and the Owner’s Suites.
The vessel’s sleek and ultra-hydrodynamic hull is optimised for stability and efficiency, which is vital for navigating the Antarctic waters.
There are 6 complimentary dining venues onboard, including The Restaurant, The Grill by Thomas Keller, Restaurant 2, and The Colonnade, where guests can dine whenever they want.
The ship has 4 open-bar lounges, including The Club, with a plunge pool and whirlpool, Observation Bar with afternoon tea and drinks and Seabourn Square with speciality coffees and a library.
It also has a full-service spa, with personal trainers and wellness program packages, pools and jacuzzis for ultimate relaxation onboard.
Entertainment options are plenty with live music, dance parties, cabaret shows, guest talks and more.
Other services include self-serve laundromats, a casino, shops and a marina for zodiac launches.
The biggest cruise ship to dock in Antarctica has a crew numbering between 330 to 335, mainly from the Philippines and Europe, and 450 to 458 passengers, with a 2:1 guest to crew ratio for a personalised service experience.
Seabourn Quest usually departs for Antarctic cruises from South American Ports, such as Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Chile, often calling at Ushuaia, Argentina, the world’s southernmost city and a common gateway for Antarctic expeditions.
A typical itinerary includes leaving a South American port like Buenos Aires and sailing south along the South American coast, with a stopover in Ushuaia, crossing the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula and visiting several Antarctic landing sites such as the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.
Features of Seabourn’s Antarctic Voyages-
- Zodiac tours for shore excursions, guided by an experienced expedition team, so guests can explore the White Continent.
- All guests get complimentary parkas and backpacks for excursions.
- Optional pre- or post-cruise extensions, such as a visit to Iguazu Falls.
- A complimentary expedition-grade parka, a Seabourn Antarctica Cruising Guide, and Swarovski Optik binoculars in the suite.
- Opportunities to see whales, penguins, and other Antarctic wildlife.
- The enrichment program offers presentations and lectures by experts about Antarctica.
- There are photography workshops in which guests can learn photography techniques to capture the beautiful landscape.
However, one must know that strict regulations under the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators limit the number of people allowed ashore at one time to 100. Hence, while massive cruise ships visit Antarctica and anchor near the shore or coast, only a few passengers can go ashore during the landings at a given time.
Another cruise ship to dock in Antarctica is Midnatsol, operated by Hurtigruten, which launched its Antarctic expedition cruises with this ship in the 2016/17 season, with the cruise ship based out of Punta Arenas, Chile, for these voyages.
Midnatsol, accommodating 500 people, conducted landings using small tender boats called Zodiacs, and though it did not dock at a pier since there are no cruise ship docks on the continent, it anchored offshore, and people were taken to land for excursions.
Sapphire Princess, a mainstream cruise ship with a 2670 passenger capacity, sailed to Antarctica, however, such massive vessels do not make landings but offer only scenic cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula, as regulations prevent them from disembarking hundreds of people.
Usually, most ships that regularly dock and allow landings in Antarctica are smaller, carrying between 70 to 200 people, in compliance with environmental and safety regulations.
To conclude, Seabourn Quest is the largest cruise ship to dock in Antarctica and offer shore excursions to its passengers. It is a luxury cruise ship offering extensive amenities and a comfortable polar exploration experience for guests.
You might also like to read-
- Biggest U.S Cruise Ship Company
- World’s Biggest Cruise Ship
- 10 Popular Cruise Ships With Golf Course
- 10 Top Cruise Ships With Water Slides
- 10 Top Eco-Friendly Cruise Ships