Mtn- it was incredible! We were on the Ocean Nova. I also thinnk that quark adventure or something like that does the same trip. We never interacted with them as only 100 passengers were allowed on an island at time. But we followed the quark through the Ferguson channel and a few straits. We also saw a few yachts and sailboats in our travels. This was my first cruise. Cruising previously conjured up cheesy love boatesque images in my head. I usually opt for skiing traverses from yurt to yurt or backpacking trips or exploring cities by foot and bike. However, my godparents graciously invited my brother, my SIL, my DH and me along for an incredible experience. We went in January 2010. Our polar circle cruise was to be 7 actual sailing days. However it was only 6 IIRC. We were not able to fly out the first day due to inclement weather. Some of the grumpier passengers were immediately in a tiff worried that they would only get 5% back if we didn't make it out by day 4. The trip after ours had to be cancelled entirely. They worried for nothing as we were able to fly out on day 2 to king George. I thought the programs they had set up to choose from for our extended stay in p.a. were varied and interesting. I think the ship can accommodate 70 passengers or so, but we only had 51. A varied group. A few retired couples checking their last trip off the bucket list. A few families with school aged children. Everyone was great. I really enjoyed mingling with all the guests. Meals were better than I expected. On king George, I was oddly fascinated by trinity church at bellingshausen. I'm agnostic and find the determination to build a church on such a remote outpost intriguing. I expected to be awed by my natural surroundings as it was my first step into the foreign sea and land, but I didn't expect to be weirdly captivated by such small a building. It was only our first day but there were seals, chinstrap penguins, and gentoo penguins! I was in no hurry to leave. But eventually it was time to head to our ship. This was the first time I had ever been in a zodiac. I finally felt at ease in one on day 6! There's just something slightly unnerving to me about the prominently displayed "emergency box" in each zodiac. Although I knew we were in great hands, I was never 100 percent at ease while tendering to shore. The scenery on every day is amazing, fjords, calving glaciers, minke whales, penguins!!! the intense blue of the water.... Deception island was amazing. We didn't need jackets on many of trips ashore. The weather was about 40 degrees or so. Great hiking. Sailing through the entrance into the caldera of an active volcano was incredible! Around paradise bay and culverville bay we saw humpback whales with their calves.crab eater seals, leopard seals, singing seals..... Soooo much to see! The views from the ship are amazing, but I really liked the fact that we were able to get closer views of the massive cliffs of ice or the frozen waterfalls on evening zodiac cruises. Being the dork that I am, I enjoyed the lectures on board. The day after a lecture on whaling and fisheries we'd see signs of the whaling wreckages or old abandon huts. I enjoyed the lectures on wildlife because it became immediately helpful on zodiac sails shore excursions to identify birds or seals or what I was seeing in the distance when I trekked up some craggy incline. Oh and I found the photography lessons extremely helpful! We Had signed up for the sea kayak group. However the conditions were only deemed safe enough for sea kayaking on one day. That 895 dollar fee was never charged. Despite the delay the captain did reach the polar circle! Sorry for writing a novel. Best experience ever. We experienced mild weather except for day 1 and day 6. Day6 was awful. I stayed in our cabin. Winds of like 80-90 mph or something and huge waves. It had been very tense on the zodiac earlier in the day when the storm began approaching sooner than expected. Unlike the night before when we had anchored and had midnight cocktails under the moonlight on the frigid deck. The two weather occurrences were not enough to dampen my experience. I highly highly recommend to anyone. The key I think is just to be flexible without have any expectation for which islands you'll visit as the circuit is so weather dependent. My husband wants to take another fly/cruise excursion again when our son is in middle school. I'm definitely game. Where else will you be traveling?

These Noro outbreaks have been happening for years, just usually not as bad as the 1 on this ship! 1 Reason why I try and avoid the buffet as mush as possible on the cruise as some passengers don't adhere to proper manners. And another reason why we keep to ourselves,lol So I guess were not ur normal cruiser, lol But if you have never been on a cruise, you should try it, probably a lot better than what you think! Lots of room--and that comes from me--very introverted. But I do suggest you check out cruisecritic.com as it has a pile of info!! Right down to whats the best room, and learn how to save $$$ etc etc

Toad_ca, I usually check and see what's available in the library. As I rarely explore the whole country I'm visiting, I don't see much point in buying a guide book, but I do make a travel dossier with important information like opening and closing times, holidays, food to try, and so on, and a list of places I want to visit. Then, when I get there, there are usually plenty of free maps and brochures available, sometimes about interesting places not mentioned in any guide book. As to guides in general, I have found that when you use them to get ideas and suggestions and don't let them dominate you, they are fine. When I was in India I met some people who so slavishly followed the Lonely Planet guide that they never ate or slept in any place unless it was mentioned in the guide, and they never went anywhere unless the guide mentioned the place. It gave me the creeps and I swore I would never allow myself to get like that.

I always buy travel insurance. It's important to buy it within a few days of making your first trip payment or purchase in order to get the best rates and choices. (The questionaire on the website will ask you when you make the first payment, and if you still have any payments or purchases outstanding.) Another thing to compare between policies is whether the insurance quoted is "primary" (pays first when you need it), or "secondary" (pays after your existing health insurance is exhausted). I buy the "primary" coverage so there will be no delay in treatment while out-of-the-country providers are trying to verify health coverage. One more tip, don't skimp on the medical evacuation coverage. You may find yourself in health-trouble somewhere, where the medical care is not what you need, and you require evacuation. That can be eye-wateringly expensive, so I buy either $500K or $1 M depending on the destinations of each trip. Most policies have a 24-48 hour change your mind for a refund policy.