Chills & Thrills

Cruising Antarctica Will Bring Out Your Inner Explorer

- Steve Leland

Living outside the borders of any discernible cruise demographic, I am well aware that I have an insatiable appetite for anything divergent or off the beaten path. Cruising the Antarctic on Hurtigruten’s MS Midnatsol (Midnight Sun) is the realization of a long-held yearning for travel to the frozen subcontinent. This penchant for adventure aligns perfectly with the Hurtigruten spirit, an enterprising initiative that has propelled the line into the coveted niche of expedition cruising.

Hurtigruten’s unique approach to this engaging experience begins with a pre-cruise, one-night stay in Santiago, Chile. The encounter with this fascinating city reveals stunning regional color and culture, transcending its reputation as a not-to-be missed destination. Rather than board the ship here and consume valuable cruise time sailing to the southern nether regions of the planet, guests are flown by charter plane to the waiting ship in Punta Arenas. Following a comprehensive tour of the city, the ship’s odyssey to the ends of the earth begins as Midnatsol sets sail for adventure.

Scenic Grandeur

Prior to the main event arrival in Antarctica, Midnatsol graciously carves its way through the majestic fjords of Chile for a full day of riveting landscapes culminating in a face-to-face meeting with the mighty Garibaldi Glacier. The initial encounter of this enormous wall of ice initiates a barrage of camera clicks by rail huggers, burning through digital memory. Late afternoon cruising through the Beagle Channel and the Avenue of Glaciers keeps everyone on deck as the landscapes roll out a pageant of spectacular scenery.