Ponant Explorations hosted a trade group to Antarctica, as it notes Kiwis’ strong appetite for reaching New Zealand’s Subantarctic and venturing further out to the Ross Sea directly from the South Island.
Antarctica is the second most popular destination within this market for Ponant Explorations, as it reports that a large portion of passengers who choose to sail out to the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands on its end of year expeditions are Kiwis, describing it as a huge domestic bucket list trip that continues to attract guests nationally.
Voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula ex Ushuaia are also ‘a bucket list destination for Kiwis’, and the cruise line notes that this has been made easier with non-stop flights from China Eastern operating between Auckland to Buenos Aires.
. . . The Famil
The agents experienced the trip aboard Le Boreal recently, sailing for 18 days ex Ushuaia to Buenos Aires, with the opportunity to explore Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and the Valdés Peninsula in Patagonia.
For all nine agents, this was their first time visiting Antarctica, and it didn’t disappoint. Highlights include wildlife encounters with penguins, seals, seabirds, whales, sea lions, orcas and dolphins, as well as the 12 zodiac landings and guided shore excursions, and the evening talks from onboard expedition experts.
“It’s hard to put into words just how special Antarctica is,” says Shirley Watson from Auckland’s Private Travel Company. “Being there in person, seeing the scale of it all and experiencing it with Ponant has made a huge difference.”
Returning from the trip, Watson says it’s something they can now genuinely recommend with confidence.
