Antarctica Voyage: the Ship

November 2019  [by Bill]

We boarded the Hondius ship around 4:00 PM, with a 6:00 PM departure from the port of Ushuaia, Argentina. The first 2-full days on the ocean include sailing through the Beagle Channel, and the infamous Drake Passage, known for its unpredictable weather, rough seas, and strong winds.

I’m going to document the boarding process, cabin area, and a few other features of the amazing Hondius ship. While this won’t be nearly as exciting as the other photos and videos I’ll be sharing, some of you may be wondering how this process works, as well as what the cabins look like.

I’ll reveal the total cost I paid on my last Antarctica posting, which will be a few days from now. I know everyone wants to know about the costs involved, as it’s not cheap, but once your expedition is over, and you depart the ship, you come to realize it truly is one of the few pristine areas left in the world, you’re at a loss for words to attempt to explain the grandeur, the scope, the beauty, the images, the animals, the mountains and ice, the water, and Antarctica is absolutely, 100% worth every penny you spend. 

After getting on board the Hondius ship, you’re given a plastic card and zip cord, which you attach to your belt. This is used to swipe each time you depart or enter the ship, for on board purchases, as well as for safety drills or emergency situations. 

We watched a safety video, and also went through a safety drill, including putting on a life vest, and gathering in a pre-determined meeting area, based on what level your cabin is on.

The cabin I was assigned accommodates 2 passengers, so I shared this space with another guy. While the actual bed was small, there was an abundance of storage area, so much so that, even after unpacking, I had several bins left completely empty. The decent sized bathroom includes a nice sized shower. I didn’t feel crowded at all. 

During one of the introductory talks, the passengers were invited to fully explore the ship, including the bridge (they asked that you request to visit a short time in advance, just in case they are navigating through a difficult waterway). 

The bridge is really impressive, very large, great lines of site, and the captain couldn’t have been any more generous with his time, explaining what a number of the complex controls do or how they work. 

Each day there were optional lectures on different subjects, including what types of wildlife and plants we might encounter, photo critics, messages about how to keep the Antarctica pristine, which is an absolute must, as well as many other informative topics.

Our ship held 197 passengers, and about 80+ crew members. Because of its overall small size, they call this an expedition ship. 

 Approximately 45,000 people visit Antarctica each year, according to the last set of statistics taken.

Antarctica Voyage by Bill: 2019

• The Ship
• Getting There: the Beagle Channel & the Drake Passage (Day 1 – 3)
• Antarctic Peninsula (Day 4 – 7)
• South Shetland (Day 8)
• Return Journey (Day 9 – 10)