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You may not realize just how big the cruise ship tourism industry has become over the years. Cruise Market Watch, a site that covers the cruise ship business, estimates that the total 2011 take for cruise ship operators was nearly US$30 billion, and that this money was earned by moving approximately 20 million tourists. Now, you probably would guess - correctly - that the vast majority of this business is centered on cruises to warm-weather destinations, such as the various Caribbean islands. But that isn't the whole story; some vacationers want more than just a comfortable cruise to yet another sandy shore. This has led to an increase in cruises to more exotic locales, such as Antarctica.

Antarctic Cruises are not the typical sun-soaked sojourn. Antarctica is the coldest and windiest place on planet Earth; even during the "summer months," the continent remains covered in ice and snow, although that ice will retreat a bit. Still, for those sightseers with a taste for seeing more exceptional sights than yet another beach umbrella, these cruises are ideal. And unlike the typical big ship cruise, which often amounts to a small town afloat (to the tune of thousands of passengers), the average Antarctic cruise is a much more intimate affair, with around 100 often being the usual complement of people making the trek. In place of the giant "princesses" of the sea, you will find rugged small ships like the Marina Svetaeva, which has such important features as the ability to do some ice breaking, Naa Anveshana European journey if necessary, as well as electronic gear designed to operate in a sometimes harsh environment.

However, these ships are not scientific vessels or explorer ships; for all their special equipment, they remain ships intended to safeguard tourists, and so a degree of ease and even luxury is normally included in the design. The typical shipboard amenities, such as a comfortable lounge and bar area, are certainly included, and the food is well above subsistence levels. And while Antarctica itself is not a comfortable place, technology and preparation make visiting there as stress-free as possible.

The crew are all exceptionally well trained and experienced with regards to the unique challenges of such voyages. More individual attention to each traveller is also possible with these numbers. And the lower passenger count means you can mingle with the other snow-seekers and penguin lovers with more ease.

A great big vacation can certainly come in a "small" package when you book a small ship tour of Antarctica. Explore the options today!








The author of this article is associated with One Ocean Expeditions, a company that specializes in small ship cruise tours to the Arctic and Antarctic regions. For more information, please visit their Web site.