MS Seaventure

We’re serious about what we do. We also have fun.

There are as many reasons to sign up for an Antarctica voyage as there are people who do. But one thing people universally say when they return to port is that ours was one of the most fun trips they’ve ever been on. We’re proud of that. By day 3 the kayakers all know each other by name, the photography buffs are sharing astounding iceberg photographs with our photography coach and each other, dinners have become lively, celebratory affairs, and even our tight knit kitchen crew has a personality (and a song) all their own.

A member of the Leading Hotels of the World

All of Polar Latitudes’ departures begin with an overnight stay at the Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, among the finest hotels in the world. Settle in, attend the optional evening briefing, meet your fellow explorers, or stretch your legs on one of the surrounding hiking trails. It’s the perfect place to begin leaving the world behind, as you prepare for the journey of a lifetime.

A network of hiking trails begins at the hotel and winds its way through beautiful forest, prairie and mountain settings, while state of the art spa & exercise facilities offer guests a plethora of pleasant activities.

The Lobby Piano Bar features splendid views and an assortment of tasty local treats to accompany your cocktails. The Resort’s “La Cravia” restaurant offers both Argentine and international cuisine. Typical dinner entrees include Argentine barbecue, spider crab, lamb and black hake.

In the morning enjoy a complimentary breakfast before your afternoon departure. Relax at the resort, or head into Ushuaia for some preembarkation shopping.

Accommodations Include:

• A Pre-Voyage stay at the Arakur
• included in the cost of your trip
• International Power Outlets
• Breakfast
• Wi-Fi Internet and Business center
• Guided hiking tours in Cerro Alarkén
• Ushuaia city center shuttle
• Heated pool and Gym Facilities

Award-Winning Coaches for Every Skill Level and Camera

Whatever your level of experience, and whatever camera you happen to carry, our award-winning photography coaches will help you bring home images that capture the unparalleled natural beauty and sheer magic of your Antarctica adventure. On every voyage, a dedicated photography coach will be at your disposal with invaluable tips and advice on how to capture the natural beauty of this unique landscape and all that inhabit it – in the unique light and weather conditions that can make Antarctica both special and challenging to photography lovers of all skill sets.

Here’s How It Works
Photography coaches are available to all passengers without limit, and our coaches remain available all day onboard our vessels, to give advice on Zodiac cruises, on shore landings, or on deck; when you want to photograph seabirds on the wing, if a pod of whales swims by, or during an amazing sunset.

The Photography Coach doubles as the trip photographer and will be on hand to document the most memorable moments from your voyage. At the end of every trip, each guest is given a USB Flash Drive Keepsake – this is a collection of not only photographs, but maps, staff bios, landing site info, and general information about Antarctica. Print and frame your favorites, create photo books or slideshows, or share on social media!

About Our Coaches
Each Photo Coach comes with his or her own unique perspective and skills. Coaches will have advice for everyone from those using simple point and shoot cameras, iPhones, or GoPros, all the way to those with sophisticated Digital SLR set-ups. More importantly, they will challenge you to experiment with new settings and techniques and expand your creative possibilities using your camera's manual settings. They may cover topics from basic photographic theory like ISO, shutter speed, and aperture, to composition techniques and dealing with the specific challenges of polar photography.

Questions? Put Our Coaches to Work!
Have more questions about cameras, lenses, lighting, recharging batteries, additional equipment to bring (or not)? Well, then, let’s put our photography coaches to work right now. Check out our photography guide, where our resident pros try to answer any and all of your questions.

Citizen Science on Every Voyage

Having a Citizen Science program on every voyage is an effort we first pioneered in 2013 and it continues to give our passengers an opportunity to play a small but meaningful role in recording and better understanding the increasing impact of climate change. This is particularly helpful in the Antarctic, where we support long-term academic observation teams that would find it nearly impossible to be as ever-present on their own.

The projects offered may vary slightly by voyage and scientific need. Everyone is welcome to participate. If you are interested, please see the onboard daily bulletin and join the scheduled Citizen Science Introduction Meeting at the start of your voyage. There is no additional cost.

Citizen Science Projects

Cloud Observations for NASA Globe Observer
By observing and recording cloud cover & type timed to NASA satellite fly-overs, we help scientists understand how surface and air temperature are affected by cloud cover, and how clouds respond to a changing climate.

Seabird Surveys for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and eBird
The project is building a long-term ecological monitoring program of seabirds in the Southern Ocean and along the Antarctic Peninsula. These recordings help researchers understand how birds use oceanic habitat, to discover new details about the lives of these remote species, and ultimately how their behavior and populations might be changing as a result of climate change.

Phytoplankton Data for Scripps Institution of Oceanography
By collecting phytoplankton samples in fjord systems along the Antarctic Peninsula, we help scientists obtain a seasonal picture of phytoplankton abundance, composition, and distribution, as well as how phytoplankton are influenced by (increasing) melt-water inflow from glaciers.

Secchi Disk Study for the Secchi Disk Foundation
Measuring Secchi depth, a measure of the depth at which you lose water clarity, is another important indicator of the relative abundance of phytoplankton, critical to Antarctica’s food chain. Using a Secchi Disk, our Citizen Scientists record and report findings to The Secchi Disk Foundation in the UK.

Identifying Whales for Happywhale
We photograph unique identifiable markings on a whale’s fluke (tail) and dorsal fin, so Happywhale can non-invasively track their movements over time. By focusing on whales, we bring attention to the marine ecosystem as a whole and the challenges we face as a global community.

Collecting Data for the South Georgia Big Seaweed Search
The aim of this project, led by scientists from London’s Natural History Museum, is to study the seaweed diversity and distribution in South Georgia, assessing threats from climate change and invasive species.

Featured Science Partners

Counting Penguins With Oceanites
Once again this year, Oceanites will be joining us on several voyages, recording penguin populations in Antarctica. We’ll be providing assistance as they continue their critical mission: helping to ensure a positive future for Antarctica’s most beloved citizens.

Whale Studies with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
We are thrilled to welcome back one of the world’s premiere scientific institutions who will be joining us on board several voyages this season to continue their studies on Humpback and other baleen whales.

Seeing Antarctica From a Penguins Point of View

To experience Antarctica up close and personal, there’s really no better seat than the one in your kayak, just inches above the water, navigating among icebergs and glacial ice dating back 30,000 years.

Gliding through an otherworldly landscape with a small team, led by our expert guides and occasionally joined by a family of playful penguins or seals, this is about as intimate and magical as it gets.

Beginning with the 2023-24 season, we will be offering 2 distinct kayaking programs on all voyages. Details below.

The Details:
Anyone 16 or older, in reasonably good health and with even a small amount of paddling experience is welcome to join.

Prior to your first kayaking adventure, our guides will do a thorough job of handing out and explaining all your gear, as well as the basic rules of operating an ocean kayak.

Typical excursions last anywhere from 1-3 hours.

We Provide:
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) tandem (two-man) kayaks with paddles, dry suits, personal floatation devices (PFDs), and pogies (neoprene gloves.)

You Provide
Guests pre-booked on both of our kayak programs should read and follow the detailed preparation notes sent prior to departure. Make sure to bring warm layers and a keen sense of adventure!

For more information regarding pricing and deposits, click here.

An Uninhabited Continent Opens Its Doors for One Incredible Night

What’s camping in Antarctica like? Long after most passengers are tucked away in their cabins, chances are you’ll still be lying awake, cozy in your sleeping bag, captivated by the ethereal sounds of gently lapping waves, creaking glaciers and perhaps the blow of a whale passing in the night.

The air seems even more pure than in the daytime, the scale of your surroundings even more humbling, and by morning you’ll find yourself wondering how you could possibly describe this once-in-a-lifetime experience to friends back on board.

What to Expect  
After dinner and a full briefing on board, day turns into dusk, and we head ashore to camp. We set up in a breathtaking spot near the edge of the water, surrounded by a landscape rarely seen by human eyes.

Our experienced Camping Team will be right there with you to show you how to dig a shallow hole for wind protection, how to set up your bivy and sleeping bag, and most importantly – how to use the portable toilet!

Once camp is set up, you’re on your own – explore along flagged routes if available, or just relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of Antarctica at night. Our team will gently wake you at dawn to start breaking down camp so you can get back onto the ship for a hot shower and a hearty breakfast.

What Not to Expect
Camping in Antarctica is not your typical camping experience, because Antarctica is not your typical destination. We have a responsibility to protect the environment and the wildlife, which is why you won’t see campfires, cookstoves, or coolers. Aside from emergency rations, essential medical supplies, and drinking water, it’s just you, the waves, and the ice.

Once you’re settled on shore, the ship will sail a short distance away to give you complete immersion in your surroundings. Be aware that once you are ashore, barring rapidly deteriorating conditions or a serious medical emergency, you will not be able to get back to the ship until morning. 

About Bivy Sacks
During your camping adventure, you will not be sleeping in a tent. Instead, you will use something called a bivy sack. Just larger than your sleeping bag, a bivy offers protection from water and wind, allowing you to truly experience your surroundings, while staying warm and snug.

Won’t I Be Cold?
Believe it or not, many people find themselves too warm at some point during the night! Our sleeping bags are designed for temperatures far lower than what we expect – you likely won’t see lower than 10° F (-12° C) overnight. It’s best to avoid sweating, which can make you colder while you sleep. This is why we recommend bringing a dry set of thermals and a pair of socks ashore to change into before getting into your sleeping bag. That being said, if you are a person who does not enjoy the feeling of cold air on your face while you sleep, this may not be the best experience for you!

What We Provide
We supply all the equipment you need to be comfortable, warm, and safe during your night on the ice.

• Mountaineering bivy sack
• Insulated sleeping pad
• Insulated sleeping bag (rated to -20° F / -29° C)
• Sleeping bag liner
• Dry-bag to carry all of the above
• Portable toilet for the group
• Emergency rations and medical supplies

What You Should Bring
Come ashore in your normal, daily excursion wear – warm layers, waterproof pants and parka, boots, etc. Using the dry bag we provide you, bring a clean, dry set of thermals (top and bottom) and a warm pair of socks to change into before getting into your sleeping bag for the night. You may also want to have a flashlight on hand.

Always remember you are in a wild and unpredictable environment, so be prepared to layer up if necessary!

It sounds like a crazy thing to do, but there are actually a number of reasons why hurling oneself into freezing cold water is one of our top activities.

Did you know that cold dipping is a long-standing Scandinavian tradition that has numerous health benefits? Taking a plunge in the coldest of waters provides plenty of perks for your well-being, including reducing stress, boosting energy, improving your immune system, and relieving pain. Doing a polar plunge on New Year’s Day is a way to celebrate a new beginning. “Polar Bear Plunges” are held in many parts of the world as a way to raise money for charities. And did you know that every December, the polar plunge is held as part of the “midsummer” celebration in Antarctica? It’s a rite of passage for scientists and visitors at several of the research bases.

But the biggest reason to take the plunge? Because sometimes, you just want to do something completely crazy! And we must have a lot of crazy passengers, because our polar plunge never fails to draw a huge crowd.