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Antarctica on a Luxury Ship with The Small Cruise Ship Collection
We did an absolutely unreal 14-day luxury cruise to Antarctica aboard SH Vega with my wife and our 7-year-old son, Pars, and honestly, we had the best days of our lives. It could not have been a better experience.
Antarctica is definitely a destination that requires advance planning, but in our case, we booked extremely last minute; only three days before our flight. Beth helped us with every single detail, including all the arrangements, shopping advice, clothing lists, medicine suggestions and everything else we needed. We honestly could not have done it without Beth. Her help made a huge difference, and she really was a superstar.
That said, I would highly recommend booking well in advance if possible, because for Antarctica you really do need the right equipment, smart clothing and enough time to prepare properly.
We flew from Turkey to Argentina, and the Hilton hotel in Buenos Aires was included in our trip. When we arrived at the hotel, The Small Cruise Ship Collection had a desk by reception and gave us all the information we needed. Everything was very clear and super well organized. We had an early charter flight to Ushuaia the next morning, and they collected our suitcases from our room at 10:00 pm, so we did not have to go to the airport extra early with all our luggage. The next morning, together with the other cruise ship guests, we flew to Ushuaia on a private charter flight and then went straight on board.
Our ship, SH Vega, was around 115 meters long, luxurious, and only a few years old, so everything felt brand new. The cabins were very comfortable and well designed. The ship had a swimming pool, which we used every day, a jacuzzi, a piano bar, two restaurants, a library, a laboratory and even a laundry room for guests. All meals and drinks, including various premium options, were included, and room service was available 24/7. The ship carried around 100 guests, which made the whole experience feel very personal.
The crew was outstanding. They somehow knew everyone’s names throughout the trip, as well as our food and drink preferences. I still do not know how they managed that, but it made us feel incredibly well looked after. The food was excellent, with both à la carte and buffet restaurants, and on some days there were BBQs by the pool. The cocktails were also very good.
The Drake Passage was an exciting part of the adventure. The views were amazing, and SH Vega had very good stabilizers, so even when the waves reached about 6 meters, we did not feel much movement. We only took motion sickness tablets on the first day, and after that we realized we did not really need them. In the middle of the crossing, it became rough for about 6 to 10 hours, but even that turned into a fun and memorable experience for our family.
On our third day, we woke up with an iceberg right in front of our balcony. It was epic. Antarctica is not a place you can easily explain; it really feels like another planet. Every day we went out twice, either landing ashore or cruising by zodiac, and every single excursion was unreal. We saw hundreds of whales in a single day, and penguins and seals were everywhere. To be honest, I never expected to see that many whales.
Our son Pars had the time of his life on board and during every excursion. Every day he was amazed by the wildlife, the icebergs and the whole environment. Antarctica was his fifth continent, and he is already very used to travelling, long walks and being around water, so he handled everything very well, even in this remote part of the world. The crew helped us on every excursion and always made sure he was safe and secure. It was cold, of course, but with the right clothing he was completely fine.
On our way back from Antarctica across the Drake Passage, we felt genuinely sad. We simply did not want to go back to the real world. Antarctica gives you a feeling that is almost impossible to describe.
After we returned home to Turkey, our son Pars appeared all over the Turkish news because he became the youngest Turkish person ever to set foot in Antarctica, having turned seven just before the trip. He has since been featured in many news stories and even appeared live on television. To keep the memory alive, we are now working on a children’s storybook based on his Antarctic adventure to the end of the world.
We feel incredibly lucky that we booked with The Small Cruise Ship Collection. We had almost no time to research, and they managed to place us on the best cruise, with the best crew, and made everything happen for us on very short notice.
It was truly the trip of a lifetime. Fingers crossed for another adventure one day; we very much look forward to it. Many thanks to the whole team from our family. You guys are the best!
Pars Danisan , Ebru Danisan & Murat Ned Danisan
Cruise to the Antarctic Circle - From Ushuaia to Ushuaia Expedition Cruise