Last Updated on June 1, 2020 by PowersToTravel
I’ve read posts on some travel forums in which the poster says, “My husband is a diabetic, so he won’t go…” That statement makes me so sad. Of course diabetics can go. With the proper planning such a trip is no more difficult than a Caribbean cruise (not that I’ve ever been on a cruise!).
You stay in a stateroom. You have a choice of foods. Staff is always present to look out for you.
A hundred-passenger ship should be your max
Antarctica cruise ships are allowed to land only one hundred passengers at any one time at any one location. That’s law, not just a whim of the ship.
This means that if you choose a ship which carries more than one hundred passengers, you will compete to land each time. How that competition works out, I don’t know because I chose the hundred-passenger expedition cruise ship, the Polar Star.
You need to be able to use your knees
If you are wobbly – you have knee or balance problems – then perhaps you might not want to land. You have to take rides in rubber dingies (zodiacs), which means you have to be able to step from a level metal platform on the side of the cruise ship onto the rubber sides of the dingy and then step down into the floor area, sometimes when the seas are are little choppy. However, people are always reaching out to help support you.
When you land, most frequently the dingy will be grounded up on the beach, and you will need to walk forward in the dingy, step or sit on the side walls again and then out onto the land, which may be rocky.
A staff member will always be there to give you a hand, arm or shoulder to hang onto, but you do need your knees to work.
When you are on land, you are frequently walking on rocky terrain.
There were some seniors on our cruise who chose not to land, to just view from the observation lounge as the rest of their family departed.
My parents, who were around 75 years old, and whose 50th anniversary we were celebrating, had no difficulties.
Invest in a comfortable backpack
You’ll be carrying camera gear, extra clothing, perhaps even snacks, as I was. You may be out for hours. Make sure your pack is comfortable and fits everything. See my article “Antarctica Diabetic Travel Tips” for what I packed in my day-pack.
Ushuaia is a hilly town
I chose the Hotel Posada Fueguina, on Comodoro Augusto Laserre, for our pre- and post-trip accommodations in Ushuaia. By checking Google Maps, I could see that the hotel was only three blocks north of the main tourist drag, Avenida San Martin. Only three blocks, and the rates were acceptable and the posada looked to be very comfortable with breakfast served. It also advertises as having great views – that should have tipped me off!
What I did not realize is that three blocks up in Ushuaia means UP! We stayed several nights in Ushuaia and each day we went out on sightseeing trips – to the Martial Glacier, on a boat trip up the Beagle Channel, to local museums and browsing around. For many trips we needed to head down to the main street or the waterfront, and the trip down was fine, but the trip up was a real pain. And to have to go up after an adventure, to only go down an hour later for dinner, well, I tired of that.
I don’t know the relative price differences between hotels on Avenida San Martin vs hillier locations, and whether it matters to you. But be aware there will be a price to pay either way! I recommend checking out your desired hotel on Google Maps, and paying attention to the message “All routes are mainly flat” and clicking on the little down-arrow to see that you may be required to climb one hundred feet.
Observation Lounges are key
For our Antarctica voyage, I chose the Polar Star, which is sadly out of commission now. One selling feature of the ship was the tremendous observation lounge – three sides covered in floor to ceiling windows, outfitted with comfy sofas and a bar.
During your trip you’ll be spending a lot of time on the ship navigating from location to location. There is so much to see as you navigate – glaciers, icebergs, whales. Yes, you could stand at the bow for a while, but you’ll get cold, and tired, after a while. You could stay in the lounge bar, but you’ll see nothing. So, in selecting your vessel, consider the amount of time you’ll be on-board, and choose one that lets you maximize your investment.
The most important decision you’ll make is the ship. Bed configuration, bathroom configuration, price, schedule, all are readily available on the Internet.
Summary
I’d have a lot more to write about the excellent decision I made in going on the Polar Star, but sadly she’s gone, so it won’t benefit you. I can’t recommend any other ships personally. I too will have to dream of a time when I can return and this time bring my new husband with me.
