Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Poseidon sees rising demand for off-ship camping in Antarctica, polar kayaking

af103950bb81d7b9107dd44392970e20_XL
Camping slots increased to 40 per voyage this year (Photo: Poseidon Expeditions)
In response to growing interest in off-ship excursions in the polar regions, Poseidon Expeditions increased camping slots per voyage in Antarctica. The company also continues to offer guided kayaking adventures in the Arctic and Antarctica on select voyages.

'Last year we had only 30 overnight [camping] slots per voyage available,' said Steve Wellmeier, managing director of Poseidon’s North American sales and reservation office. 'These allotments quickly sold out so this season we decided to offer 40 spaces.'

In Antarctica, Poseidon's Sea Spirit provides quality synthetic mummy-shaped sleeping bags rated for temperatures to -18ºC (0ºF). Travelers are issued a cotton sleeping bag liner and a full-length insulated foam sleeping pad. They may opt to sleep under the stars singly in a bivvy sack that slips over the sleeping bag and provides an additional 5º to 10ºC (9º to 18ºF) of insulation.

Partners may opt to sleep in a deluxe two-person stable, waterproof, freestanding dome tent instead. These measure 87 by 49 inches with additional vestibule space for gear.

Travelers may also choose to bivouac by digging their own fox hole in the frozen world. They have access to a toilet tent for use during the time spent on shore. No food is allowed ashore.

Children between ages 12 and 18 at the time of their voyage are allowed to participate in Antarctica camping if accompanied and supervised at all times by their parents or a designated representative.

Campers pay a $250 supplement to their cruise fare.

Poseidon's Sea Kayak Club is limited to eight people per voyage in the Arctic and 16 per voyage in Antarctica. Participants are part of a guided paddling group using stable tandem sea kayaks with one or more qualified guides leading each group and helping people into and out of the kayaks.

A dedicated safety Zodiac (security boat) accompanies each paddling group, and participants receive a comprehensive orientation and safety drill before getting into the kayaks. They also don polar‐quality Kokatat paddling suits and paddling-specific life jackets as well as other gear that along with the kayaks are checked and maintained prior to each cruise.

Kayakers can expect a real workout on these excursions that are on water sometimes for up to three hours, requiring paddling for up to six nautical miles or 10 kilometers.

Those wishing to kayak must subscribe to the club for a supplemental fee of $595 (Arctic voyages) or $750 (Antarctic Peninsula voyages)/$850 (South Georgia and Falkland Islands voyages).