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Reservation
and Deposit
To
confirm your reservation, a $500-per-person deposit is required. Deposit is
required within 24 hours of booking. Booking information must include
passenger's full name, nationality, date of birth and gender. Final
payment is due 70 days prior to departure, and can be made using American Express, Visa,
MasterCard or a direct bank transfer.
Air
Transportation
Travel
is in Economy Class via IATA carriers according to the route of the
published itinerary. All airfares are subject to change without
notice. SAS, Finnair, Icelandair, or other IATA carriers are
responsible only for the air travel portion of the program in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the airline ticket.
Group
Bookings
Group
bookings are welcome. Special booking conditions apply.
What
clothes should I bring?
The
dress code aboard the ship is casual. You should pack comfortable
walking shoes, waterproof and windproof pants, warm sweaters, a pair
of waterproof gloves, inner-gloves (we recommend wool), a warm hat,
two sets of long underwear, a warm woolen sweater and warm socks. In
addition, we suggest two to three changes of indoor clothing, a pair
of regular shoes or sneakers to wear on board the ship and a warm
jacket. We recommend you wear several layers instead of one thick
piece of clothing.
Do
I need special clothing for PolarCirkel boat landings and excursions?
All
passengers will receive a wind and waterproof jacket to keep. A
sweater or fleece jacket is required to wear underneath. You will also
be lent one pair of boots to wear over woolen socks during landings in
Antarctica. Wind and waterproof clothing is a necessity at sea and on
excursions in Antarctica.
Any
tips regarding items to bring?
A
small waterproof backpack for shore excursions and trips ashore is
recommended. We strongly recommend that you bring a high UV-factor
sunblock and a pair of good quality sunglasses since the reflections
from the Antarctic sunlight and from the ice are sometimes very
strong. Since there are limited goods in the gift store on board you
should bring whatever toiletries you might need during the voyage, as
well as a supply of any medications you take. Remember to bring
sufficient medication to last through any unforeseen delays.
Seasickness pills are available on board. If you are prone to
seasickness, please bring pills you are familiar with. We strongly
recommend you bring binoculars and a camera. We advise you to bring
extra batteries for your camera, video films and any special brands of
film. (A limited supply of film is sold on board.)
Are
there laundry facilities on board?
Yes,
both ships have laundry facilities.
What
are the cabins like?
Cabins
are comfortable and cozy with private bathrooms with hair dryers. Each
is fitted with air conditioning, heating and a smoke alarm. All cabins
have two lower berths with private facilities. There are a variety of
elegant suites and junior suites, which are very high in demand and
should be booked well in advance.
What
if I prefer a single cabin?
A
limited selection of double cabins is available for single occupancy.
Do
you have triples?
A
limited selection of triple cabins is available.
Are
there cabins for physically-challenged passengers?
Both
ships have three cabins for physically-challenged guests.
Is
smoking permitted on board?
Smoking
is only permitted out on deck.
Is
there a doctor on board?
There
is an English-speaking doctor, as well as a nurse, on board at all
times. The ships have a small medical facility with the necessary
equipment and drugs to handle emergencies. In serious emergencies, the
nearest hospital will be contacted.
Are
there tour guides on board?
The
ships have expert lecturers with in-depth knowledge of Chile,
Argentina and the Antarctic. They conduct the lectures covering
various topics during the cruise. All information on board is given in
English, German and Spanish. Our experienced expedition leaders will
inform you about the daily program and take you ashore.
What
will the climate be like?
The
average low/high Fahrenheit temperature in Buenos Aires is 60/81;
Santiago 52/83; Punta Arenas and Ushuaia between 40/56; and Antarctica
22/39.
How
demanding is the tour?
Most
of the landings are by PolarCirkel boats and the terrain on shore may
be fairly rugged, so you should be reasonably sure-footed. These
excursions are not suitable for the physically challenged. Other than
the landings, the tour does not make any special physical demands on
the participants.
What
should I know about the environment?
Human
traffic in Antarctica is strictly regulated by the International
Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), which prohibits more
than 100 people from being ashore simultaneously. Passengers will be
instructed on how to comply with IAATO guidelines.
What
is the tipping policy?
On
our Antarctica programs NOK 50 (approx. $9) per day will automatically
be debited your Cruise Card. Should you wish to change the amount or
not tip, contact the reception staff at the start of your cruise.
How
about transfers and luggage handling?
Transfers
and luggage handling are included. Our meet-and-greet personnel carry
signs saying: "MS Nordnorge, Voyage of Discovery," or
"MS Fram, Voyage of Discovery."
Is
the voltage 110 or 220?
The
ships and hotels in Santiago and Buenos Aires have an electrical
supply of 220V/50hz sockets and one socket 110V for razors. An adapter
and converter are required.
What
types of meals are served on board?
At
breakfast and lunch, a buffet of Norwegian and local specialties is
served. Dinner is a three-course meal, with your choice of fish, meat
or vegetarian as main course. A selection of wines is available at
lunch and dinner, including various brands of the celebrated Chilean
wine. We do our best to meet special dietary requirements. All
requests for special meals should be requested well in advance of
departure.
What
documents are required?
U.S.
citizens traveling on leisure or business trips are allowed to enter
Chile and Argentina without a visa for 90 days. However, some airport
fees and taxes will apply. In Chile, at the immigration booth, a
one-time entrance fee of US$100 must be paid in cash in U.S. currency.
In Argentina, an exit tax of US$18 must be paid in cash. All fees are
subject to change.
What
inoculations do I need?
Check
with your local health authorities regarding recommended vaccinations
for travel to Chile and Argentina.
What
currency is accepted?
American
Express, Visa and MasterCard are accepted on board. The currency on
board is Norwegian kroners. When using credit cards on board the ship,
your account will be debited in Norwegian kroners (NOK) with the rate
of exchange of that day. Upon arrival aboard you will receive a Cruise
Card, which works as a "credit card." Ashore, U.S. dollars
and the local currencies are accepted-Chilean pesos in Chile and
Argentine pesos in Argentina. Major credit cards are accepted in some
places ashore but smaller towns only accept cash in local currency or
U.S. dollars.
Are
there any special savings?
Yes.
Please visit www.cruisenorway.in/specials.html
How
do I reach India on board?
Both
ships have Internet cafés.
What
about travel insurance?
We
strongly encourage passengers to purchase travel insurance.
Are
there any helpful travel guides I can read before my trip?
Larger
bookstores have a selection of books on Antarctica and South America.
You'll also find a list of suggested reading material on the home page
of our website.
Bar
service
The
ship has a bar with a wide selection of spirits, wines, beers and soft
drinks, and a lounge with coffee service.
Equipment
that every participant should have
Indoor
Clothing
The dress code aboard the ship is relaxed and casual, and you are not
expected to dress formally for meals. Bring casual and comfortable
indoor clothing.
Outdoor clothing
We suggest several layers instead of one thick piece of clothing, as
the temperature may vary quite a lot during the day.
- Wind and waterproof pants/ jacket are a necessity at sea and on
excursions in Antarctica.
- Warm cap or headband
- Scarf or fleece-tube
- Gloves or mittens
- Long underwear (we recommend wool)
- Warm woolen sweater or fleece sweater/jacket
- Warm socks (we recommend wool)
According to IAATO regulation and to avoid any transmission of
deceases to the vulnerable ecosystem in Antarctica we ask our
passengers to bring clean clothes to wear ashore
In
addition we recommend:
Binoculars
We recommend you to bring a pair of binoculars to get a closer look at
wildlife and nature.
Camera
During your voyage you will have the opportunity of photographing
wonderful nature and unusual scenery, so we strongly recommend that
you bring your camera equipment that will allow you to capture this
unforgettable experience.
You should always use UV or skylight filter and lens hood. If you use
special brands of film make sure you bring your own, special films are
difficult to obtain in South America. Professional photographers
normally prefer slow speed film (100 ASA or less) in Antarctica.
We advice you to bring extra batteries for your camera as battery life
is shorter in cold areas. If you have a digital camera we recommend
you to bring a memory card with a large capacity.
There are sockets in the cabins for charging video camera batteries.
We recommend that you bring sufficient video films, as the ship's
kiosk only carries limited stocks.
Swimsuit Please bring your swimsuit to take advantage of the 2
on board Jacuzzis.
Excursions
ashore
Apart
from trips included in the program, we offer a selection of additional
excursions. Most excursions can be booked on beforehand, or aboard/at
the hotel upon arrival*. Unfortunately, excursions are not adapted for
handicapped passengers.
*Excursions in Buenos Aires or Santiago, are booked at the Hospitality
desk in the hotels, if not pre-booked. Guests will be asked to sign a
charge authorization and the cost will be charged to the cruise card
account upon arrival on board of the ship.
Most excursions will have English and/or German speaking guides. In
the Falkland Islands/Malvinas no German translation is offered.
Due to remoteness, equipment (buses etc) used in Southern Chile as
well as the Falkland Islands/Malvinas, may not always be equivalent to
European/US/Australian standard. The excursions are subject to
cancellation depending on the number of participants and weather
conditions.
Handicap
cabins
The
ship is suitable for wheel-chairs. Heavily disabled persons or persons
in need of special assistance must travel with a companion. Landings
in Antarctica are unfortunately not possible for wheelchair users, or
for persons with walking disabilities. Some of the excursions in Chile
and Argentina will not be suitable for wheelchairs. For further
information, please contact us.
Life
saving equipment, life vests and safety onboard
The
ship complies with all safety requirements and is classified as a
polar vessel suitable for sailing in icy waters. Upon arrival aboard
all passengers will be instructed in safety procedures, the use and
location of the safety equipment. There is a rescue map in the cabin.
We stress the importance of reading the safety brochure carefully.
Special security regulations will apply on landings with the Polar
Cirkel boats (RIB's). Please follow the instructions of the Expedition
Leader. A mandatory briefing regarding the safety guidelines will be
held.
Luggage
Arrival:
After declaring your luggage at the airport in Santiago or Buenos
Aires our meet & greet personnel will have the luggage sent to
your hotel. The luggage will be marked depending on what hotel you are
staying at. On day 2 the luggage will be transported to the airport
before departure for Punta Arenas or Ushuaia. The luggage will be
labeled with your cabin number and it will be transported directly to
your cabin.
Departure:
The evening before arrival in Punta Arenas, Ushuaia or Buenos Aires
you will be asked to place your luggage outside your cabin before
23:00 hrs. It will be transported ashore, to the airport/the hotel.
Please ensure that your luggage is clearly marked with your name and
home address.
Those passengers participating on excursions soon after arrival in
Buenos Aires or Santiago are recommended to bring suitable clothes for
the excursion in their hand luggage in order not to loose time if the
luggage is delayed.
Passport/
visa
Make
sure to have a valid passport that extends more than six months after
you return to your home country. Check if you need a visa for Chile or
Argentina.
Before embarking the plane to Punta Arenas or Ushuaia your passport
will be collected by our supervisor and taken to the vessel, in order
to clear immigrations and customs. Passports will be kept in the
vessels safe throughout the whole voyage and be returned at the end of
the trip, either in Punta Arenas, Ushuaia or Buenos Aires. Please
bring a copy of you passport with you.
Post
You
can hand in your mail in the reception. You have to pay 2 USD for
every postcard you send from the ship; this amount covers service fee
and stamp. We will forward the post in every port where it's possible.
The time used from sending the postcard to it gets to the receiver may
be relatively long.
Room
service
The
cabins are cleaned daily.
Seasickness
Seasickness
pills are available in the reception at a low cost. If you are prone
to seasickness please bring pills you are familiar with. You may also
buy "sea band" onboard.
Shop
A
limited assortment of local souvenirs, handicrafts and postcard are
for sale in the shop onboard. In addition we also stock a small
selection of soap, toothpaste and other personal effects. Woolen
sweaters and fleece jackets as well as wind/ waterproof hats and
gloves are also for sale on board. We offer a small selection of books
and Antarctica souvenirs.
Address
and contact information to the ships
There
is a satellite telephone and fax on board the ship:
MS Nordnorge:
Phone no: + 47 51 40 71 40
Telefax no: + 47 41 48 01 85
E-mail: nordnorge@hurtigruten.com
MS Fram:
Phone no: + 47 51 40 64 40
Telefax no: + 47 51 40 64 49
E-mail: fram@hurtigruten.com
On board, you may buy telephone cards enabling you to call from your
cabin. Please ask reception staff for prices.
You may use your own GSM telephones on board of the ships at all times
at an international price level. The price will vary depending on
which mobile operator you use. Please check with your local phone
company for rates for use of your phone abroad. In addition to your
operator's tariff, a roaming-fee of € 1 per minute for both calling
and receiving calls will be charged.
Depending on the carrier company with whom you have subscribed, mobile
phones will function in the biggest cities ashore. In Chile and
Argentina the only system working is GSM1900
There is an Internet café onboard and access may be purchased in the
reception.
Tax
(Airport)
Chile:
A VISA reciprocity fee is applicable for certain nationalities when
entering Chile. The fee is paid in cash (USD) per person or by credit
card upon arrival at the International Airport. The fees are:
Nationality Price
Australia US$ 56
Canada US$ 132
USA US$ 100
Mexico US$ 15
Argentina: Airport tax of approx USD 18 must be paid by all guests
when leaving Argentina. This is not included in the package and is
payable only in Argentinean pesos, Euro or USD. Visa and Diner Credit
cards are accepted as well. Please note that payment currencies might
change throughout the season. 
Download
the 2008/09 Antarctica Brochure.
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