On my second QE2 cruise from New York, Janaury, 1970, the ship encountered force 10 winds and voluminous seas. Furniture raced around the public rooms, churning the ships interiors as the waves churned the exterior of the ship. Sleeping was very hard, impossible, as the ship pitched, you were forced up from the bed, and then crached back down. As she rolled, you rolled out of bed on to the floor. This went on for two days, in an unnamed “perfect storm”. China and glass ware were destroyed. The ship was sea of puke. The ship had to turn around in one day to begin a world cruise. Gotta love the crew that tackled that feat.

While sailing back to New York, in January 1978, from the Caribbean, in the S/S Guieilmo Marconi the ship hit another horrendous storm, similar to the above forementioned storm. There were no facts announced on board the ship about the storm. The ship limped into NYC two days after the scheduled end of the cruise. The captain diverted the ship to Bermuda, not as a port, but to escape as much of the storm as possible.

Cruises that claim to be “Antartic” do not call there. The fine print in the brochure will alert to that. The boats that most ships use to take you to Elelphant Island are zodiacs, also used in more remote regions of Alaska.

These themed cruises have been operating for decades, pioneered by the likes of Linblad, Quark, and National Geographic Tours and Cruises. Princess and HAl have entered this market as well.

In the quest for more unusual ports of call, obviously there is a market, as cruises to this region point out.

I’d never undertake such a voyage unless I was in good physical condition. To that end I’d advise a medical review and physician’s approval prior to going for anyone eligible for AARP membership.