A TO Z OF CRUISING

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ANTARCTICA

AFTER EMBARKING UPON a bucket-list Antarctic voyage onboard Hurtigruten's hybrid-powered ship, the MS Roald Amundsen, I earned myself some bragging rights – I had finally ventured to the frozen frontier. A land of extremes: the coldest, driest, windiest, iciest and most remote continent on Earth. There's something satisfying about having set foot on all seven continents, to say nothing of sailing to the ‘ends of the Earth’ by traversing the Drake Passage, a notoriously rough stretch of water between the southernmost tip of South America and Antarctica. I've dined out ever since on stories about the state-of-the-art expedition ship gliding into the sunken caldera of a still-active volcano and exploring Antarctic ‘ghost towns’ of abandoned whaling stations. As far as wildlife encounters go, there's definite kudos for spotting a pod of orcas from the ship's observation deck and kayaking alongside penguins porpoising through glass-like waters strewn with soaring iceberg sculptures. How many people can say they've done a shot of vodka made from melted glacial ice served at the most far-flung bar in the southern hemisphere? Or been foolish enough to strip down to a swimsuit and dive into the frigid waters for a rite-of-passage known as the ‘polar plunge’? But do you want to know the best part? The Norwegian cruise company Hurtigruten is a trailblazer in sustainable cruising. So, I explored Antarctica's pristine, icy realm onboard one of the world's greenest expedition cruise ships. Now that's a talking point. Edwina Hart

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BOARDING

THE PRACTICE OF STAGGERED boarding that has long been in place is serving the cruise industry well given the new protocols required of guests prior to setting sail. Many cruise lines, including the likes of Carnival, are still operating vaccinated-only cruises, with its Have Fun. Be Safe. protocols and procedures requiring guests to check in online and nominate an ‘arrival appointment’. Guests must then produce proof that they are fully vaccinated (including boosters when applicable based on age etc.) and have taken either a RAT or PCR test prior to boarding on cruises longer than 16 days or when required by the destination. While the process might take a little longer than you are used to, it's all about making sure your time onboard is safe as well as pleasurable.

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CRUISE ETIQUETTE

WHETHER IT'S your first time stepping onboard a cruise ship or you're a seasoned cruiser, here's a