Antarctic Island Trip Series (Part 1): Crossing the Antarctic Circle
If I only plan to go to Antarctica, are there more ways to enjoy it besides the classic 10-day itinerary?
credit: veloso.com
In the past, the Antarctic Circle was an imaginary line of honor, and the area south of the Antarctic Circle was considered "Emperor Penguin Territory." In the 19th century, sailors were proud to cross the Antarctic Circle and become members of the Order of the Red Nose.
Fast forward to 2023. If you can join a cruise that crosses the Antarctic Circle and become one of the 101 lucky 3T travelers who successfully cross the line each year, you'll be one step closer to meeting the legendary explorers of Captain Cook and Sir Shackleton. With an extra two to ten days and a higher budget, you'll not only have more landing opportunities, but you'll also have the chance to cross the Antarctic Circle and achieve the same milestone as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Today, we will introduce the itinerary across the Arctic Circle and its features.
1. What is the Antarctic Circle?
credit: oceanwide-expeditions.com
The Antarctic Circle is one of five imaginary lines on Earth (the others are the Arctic Circle, the Tropic of Cancer, the Equator, and the Tropic of Capricorn). Its latitude is 66°34′ South. Because traveling south of this imaginary line takes longer, only about 101 trips per year cross it, primarily single-island itineraries, followed by trips to three islands. The Antarctic Circle also marks the boundary between the southern temperate and southern frigid zones, and around December 22nd each year, it experiences a period of perpetual daylight.
Just as the South Pole moves annually, the Antarctic Circle is also slowly moving southward at a rate of 15 meters per year. Currently, the land area south of the Antarctic Circle accounts for approximately 41% of the Earth's total land area.
2. Introduction to the Arctic Circle Itinerary
credit: quarkexpeditions.com
In previous articlesThree Islands Series (Part 3): What does a ten-day single-island itinerary in Antarctica look like?As mentioned before, a classic 10-day single-island itinerary, excluding embarkation, disembarkation, and the round-trip crossing of the Drake Passage, actually only includes four days of exploration. Currently, itineraries crossing the Antarctic Circle typically include two days within the Arctic Circle, followed by two days of sailing north. Therefore, a crossing of the Antarctic Circle requires at least 13 days. This season, a triple cabin on the expedition ship starts at $8,810, while round-trip flights cost nearly $15,000.
However, this season one shipping company has launched an in-depth 21-day single-island Arctic Circle itinerary.
credit: silversea.com
This itinerary not only crosses the Arctic Circle but also spends another seven days further south, exploring an area previously visited by fewer than 11 tourists. Starting at US$19,950, this itinerary covers approximately 15 days, making it a significant bargain compared to other standard single-island itineraries offered by the same company, which are more expensive but offer only four days.
3. Features of the Arctic Circle Itinerary
Beyond the practical benefit of spending more time on the Antarctic Peninsula, a trip across the Antarctic Circle offers a sense of accomplishment and a sense of romance. Here are three key features.
1. Celebration Ceremony
Summer research station in Cierva Cove. Credit: Silversea
Before the last century, crossing the Antarctic Circle was an extremely dangerous and difficult voyage for sailors and adventurers. Therefore, although there is no traditional celebration ceremony for crossing the Antarctic Circle, after crossing, people will celebrate the crossing and represent themselves and famous adventurers in history (such asSir Shackleton) is closer, so each shipping company offers a different celebration to celebrate all passengers' crossing of the Antarctic Circle. Besides speeches by fellow shipmates' historians, passengers are also invited to toast or be baptized with seawater by Neptune, the Roman god of the sea. More festive occasions include male passengers wearing bras and female passengers dressing as sea monsters and kissing a wet fish.
credit: inverness-courier.co.uk
2. Follow in Captain Cook's footsteps
credit: collections.sea.museum
Captain James Cook, born in Britain, was the first explorer in history to cross the Antarctic Circle.
In 1763, Britain, victorious in the Seven Years' War, first proclaimed itself the "Empire on which the Sun Never Sets." However, for the empire at the time, the Pacific remained an unknown region. Determined to find "a continent or a vast, unexplored land mass to the south," Captain Cook made three voyages to the Pacific. On his second expedition, on January 17, 1773, he unknowingly crossed the Antarctic Circle for the first time. The following January, Cook entered the Antarctic Circle for the third time, setting a new record for the most southern point reached by an 18th-century navigator: reaching 71 degrees 10 minutes south latitude. At the same time, he also proposed that "there are no continents south of the Pacific." It wasn't until 50 years later, in 1820, that Antarctica was finally discovered.
Just as setting foot on South Georgia Island allows us to recall Sir Shackleton’s arduous adventures, crossing the Polar Circle also brings us closer to Captain Cook.
3. All we have to do to become a member of the British Royal Family is a single island trip across the Arctic Circle.
credit: rct.uk/the-antarctic-circle
"Do you know what this is? Can you believe this weird little thing is selling for $28.75 on an e-commerce platform?"
The "Crossing the Antarctic Circle" certificates available online today are very different in style from the one endorsed by the British royal family. This authentic certificate, however, has a story behind it.
credit: rct.uk/the-antarctic-circle
Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022, married His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who traveled the world aboard the royal yacht between 1956 and 1957. During those two years, he visited Melbourne, Australia, and traveled south to Antarctica, becoming the first member of the British royal family to cross the Antarctic Circle.
Crossing the Antarctic Circle qualifies one for induction into the Order of the Red Nose. This honor was previously reserved for sailors who crossed the Antarctic Circle for the first time, each receiving a commemorative certificate. Back then, traveling to Antarctica wasn't as easy and convenient as it is today. To commemorate this event, the Duke of Edinburgh and his companions designed a custom certificate, pictured above, aboard Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia.
In summary, although the number of animals will begin to decrease and the landscape will become more primitive and desolate as you get closer to the Antarctic Circle, you can also see thicker ice and fewer cruise ships at the same time. For readers who want to pursue the beauty of the Antarctic extreme, this will be an opportunity to get closer to the original appearance of Antarctica.
If you're looking for a spectacular view of numerous animals, be sure to include the Falkland Islands and South Georgia in your itinerary. For more information about these two locations, please refer to the following two articles:
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