Overview Of Atlas Ocean Voyages’ World Traveller, Antarctica Cruise
I’ll be the first to admit I did not extensively research Antarctic expedition companies. We booked our trip through Divergent Travelers, which secured us a phenomenal discounted group rate that made the idea of traveling to Antarctica financially feasible. It was a pleasant surprise to discover the level of luxury and customer service Atlas Ocean Voyages delivers. Full disclosure - this was my very first cruise. Although I have no previous cruises to compare the experience with, the consensus from guests on the ship was that Atlas was top notch.
The Ship
There were various lounges with accompanying bars, a mudroom for changing before and after excursions, a nice restaurant and snack bar, and ample decks for viewing.
We thoroughly enjoyed the open bridge policy and spent time daily observing the crew at work.
The Room
Our room was very nice. Although we didn't spend much of our time there, we enjoyed having a balcony for optimal viewing.
The Staff
With 156 passengers and 136 crew, we became well acquainted with many of the staff. Everyone was incredibly friendly - from the expedition team, to the restaurant servers, to the housekeeping staff. We repeatedly sought out the same waitress, Sheila, because she made us feel like family. It was her first voyage to Antarctica as well, so we bonded over the excursions of each day and all of the unique things we all got to witness.
We appreciated the expedition team members that went out of their way to spend time with guests outside of the excursions and lectures. It was a great way to learn additional tidbits about Antarctica as well as more about where each of them were from. Every single person was willing to make sure we were as comfortable and taken care of as possible.
The Food
I will reiterate that I had not previously been on a cruise, so I cannot compare the food to other sailing experiences. What I can say is that everyone was very pleased. I couldn’t believe the variety of options at every meal! They offered a galley tour on the return trip home, which left us feeling utterly impressed that they were pumping out the variety and quantity of food from such a condensed space.
The Experience
It’s a guarantee that anyone who travels all the way to Antarctica is going to have a special trip with many wonderful experiences, but I truly believe Atlas Ocean Voyages takes it one step further. Being able to connect with nature and witness such a magical place, while also having luxurious creature comforts and being well taken care of is a combination that can’t be beat.
In my post-expedition research, I saw some older reviews about Atlas Ocean Voyages that surprised me. It seems like there was some oversight in their initial sailings (they began sailing to Antarctica in November 2021) that they have adjusted for. Here were some of the items mentioned:
- Lack of educational opportunities - we attended 8 of roughly a dozen optional lectures spanning topics like antarctic wildlife, polar exploration, the history of Antarctica, photography, and so much more!
- No certificates for activity completion - we received official certificates signed by the captain for kayaking, camping, and the polar plunge.
If I were to get another opportunity to visit Antarctica, I would wholeheartedly choose Atlas Ocean Voyages again!