The US reissued a travel warning for the most remote continent. Are you going?
The State Department reissued its routine travel advisory for Antarctica on July 28. The icy landmass has a Level 2 designation, urging travelers to exercise increased caution because of 'environmental hazards posed by extreme and unpredictable weather.'
The advisory also warned of limited emergency services.
Antarctica has become an increasingly popular tourist destination in recent years. During the 2024-2025 season, 80,455 people visited the ice, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. Fewer than 56,000 did so during the 2019-2020 season.ewer than 56,000 did so during the 2019-2020 season.
Cruise operators visiting the region prepare for the unexpected, and passengers can take steps to stay safe, too.
How to stay safe on Antarctica cruises
Antarctica's weather is unpredictable, and visitors may get a taste of that before they even get there.
Most travelers will need to cross the infamous Drake Passage. During the roughly two-day journey, passengers could get a smooth 'Drake Lake" or a rough 'Drake Shake,' so it doesn't hurt to bring seasickness medication just in case. (Cruise line medical facilities typically have some on hand, as well.)
Cruise operators arrive ready. After video footage of 35-to-40-foot waves during a Quark Expeditions crossing went viral earlier this year, for instance, the company provided a statement to USA TODAY noting that it 'has over 30 years of experience navigating polar waters with a purpose-built, ice-class fleet and expert crew.' Passengers completed the voyage safely.
Some operators also offer flights over the Drake Passage. However, those itineraries are 'exponentially more expensive' and may be more vulnerable to delays in bad weather than ships, Kristin Winkaffe, a luxury travel designer and founder of Winkaffe Global Travel, told USA TODAY last year.
Cheapest Arctic, Antarctica cruises: How to book an epic voyage without overspending
Once ships arrive, they must remain vigilant about changes. During an Antarctica cruise with Aurora Expeditions in December 2023, the onboard team assessed conditions at each intended stop, altering plans as needed (exploring by Zodiac boat instead of going on land, for example, or moving the ship to another area).
Cruise ships carrying more than 500 guests are also not permitted to disembark guests in Antarctica and operate cruise-only sailings there, according to IAATO.
The State Department 'highly' recommends purchasing travel insurance before visiting (cruise operators may also require it), and warned that there are no U.S. consular services in the region. 'The closest U.S Embassies/Consulates are in Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa,' its website reads.
Travelers should also consider visiting with a professional guide or organization like an IAATO member, among other precautions. A list of members can be found on IAATO's website.
'Antarctica is a totally different beast in that you basically just have to accept that you're going on a tour to Antarctica and not get attached to any specific place,' Winkaffe said previously.
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New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
US reissues travel advisory for the least visited place on Earth
Think twice about traveling south — way, way south — this summer. On July 28, the State Department reissued its routine travel advisory for Antarctica with a Level 2 designation, meaning travelers should 'exercise increased caution.' The advisory was put out due to 'environmental hazards posed by extreme and unpredictable weather.' Advertisement It also noted that there are limited emergency services. There are four levels for international travel advisories: Level 1 ('exercise normal precautions'), Level 2 ('exercise increased caution'), Level 3 ('reconsider travel') and Level 4 ('do not travel'). The Level 2 warning remains unchanged, although the reissue emphasizes the unpredictable weather events that have been occurring in the region. Advertisement The weather warnings likely refer to the extremely low temperatures seen earlier this year as well as the deterioration of the Thwaites Glacier, also referred to as Antarctica's 'doomsday' glacier. Antarctica's weather is unpredictable, and cruise operators prepare for the unexpected, but passengers should take precautions as well. The State Department 'highly recommends' that visitors buy travel insurance before traveling to Antarctica. The Level 2 designation means travelers should 'exercise increased caution.' Asya M – Advertisement They also suggested traveling with a professional guide or organization, or, if going on a private expedition, travelers should be self-sufficient and have emergency medical evacuation insurance. The State Department warned that there are no US government consular services available to American citizens in the Antarctic Region. Most travelers will likely deal with Antarctica's weather before even getting there while crossing the infamous Drake Passage. Passengers might go through a smooth 'Drake Lake' or rough 'Drake Shake' during the two-day journey. Advertisement Antarctica has become a popular tourist destination in recent years, with 80,455 people visiting the icy landmass in the 2024-2025 season, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. The increase in interest is fairly recent. Fewer than 56,000 visited Antarctica in the 2019-2020 season.
Forbes
12 hours ago
- Forbes
See Norway In A New Light On A Midnight Sun Cruise
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USA Today
13 hours ago
- USA Today
She took all 16 grandkids on individual trips. They just surprised her with her own.
Traveling with your loved ones can make for some of the most treasured memories – and Britney Lindgren's family knows this firsthand. For the past 24 years, Lindgren's grandmother has taken all 16 grandchildren on a dedicated one-on-one trip. This year, they returned the favor with a surprise trip to their Grandma Noreen's own dream destination. Since 2000, Grandma Noreen has planned a trip for each grandchild when they finish eighth grade. Along the way, they've made lifelong memories, from getting lost in Florida attempting to follow MapQuest directions to swimming with dolphins in California. At 87 years old, Grandma Noreen often calls herself blessed. The roles reversed this past July when eight of the 16 grandchildren took her on a trip to Hawaii, a place she's always wanted to visit. In a now-viral TikTok posted by Lindgren last week, the family is seen onboard a Hawaiian Airlines flight to Oahu when a flight attendant makes an unexpected announcement over the intercom of a "shout out from a very grateful group of grandkids" to a "true VIP" onboard – their grandmother. The grandchildren secretly planned this public declaration as a way to express their appreciation, the goal of making her feel special from the moment the trip began. "She's got a million stories, she loves to share them and it's so lovely," Lindgren told USA TODAY. "We were like, well, we're all gonna be sitting together. She might not be able to share her stories with people, so let's make sure her story is told." In the TikTok, the flight attendant reads a script written by Lindgren: "We're still not sure how she did it but somehow she made every single trip unforgettable and never met a stranger along the way. So now it's her turn. They're taking her on her dream trip and doing their best to stop her from organizing the whole thing." "Grandma Noreen, thank you for your love, your courage, and your endless curiosity, for being our biggest fan, our favorite travel buddy, and the queen of making memories," the crew member continued as the grandmother wipes tears from her eyes. Curious about a family trip? What it's like to cruise Disney with your whole family A longstanding family tradition The tradition started in 2000 with Lindgren, the eldest grandchild, when she was 14 years old. Lindgren's grandfather had suddenly passed in 1996, leaving Grandma Noreen wondering what to do during retirement – the idea of a grandmother-granddaughter trip struck. The two went to New York City, where they waved signs in the crowd for the "Today Show" and watched a river dance performance since Lindgren was a dancer growing up. Since then, Grandma Noreen has repeated the trip with each of her 16 grandchildren. (They propose several destination options, but the final choice is grandma-approved.) With one of them in tow, she's visited the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida; NASCAR race shops in North Carolina; and the Basketball Hall of Fame in Boston. She also took an Amtrak trip with another grandchild to Washington, D.C. – a journey that granddaughter hopes to recreate with her own children. Last year, Grandma Noreen went on her final trip with the youngest grandchild, so now was the time for her own travel dreams to come true. Story continues below. For years, the grandchildren had been discussing an all-cousin trip as a sort of reunion, but wanted to include their grandmother. They asked her where she's always wanted to go, and she answered with Hawaii. It was where her husband was stationed during the Korean War, and a place the couple never made it to together. "In my head, I was like, I can't hear my grandma say she wished she did something and not try and make it happen for her," Katie Sypniewski, one of the grandchildren, told USA TODAY. "So, I just shared the idea with my parents and then some of my cousins, and we just started kind of seeing how we could make it work." This past Christmas, the family surprised her with a trip to Hawaii by placing a lei, or flower necklace, around her neck. Although all 16 grandchildren tried to make the trip, only eight were able to go. Significant others weren't invited – it was just family time. Quality time in Hawaii Lindgren's family is quick to smile when thinking about their weeklong trip to Hawaii with their grandmother, from visiting Pearl Harbor to playing in the waves on the North Shore and becoming addicted to Dole Whip, the famous pineapple-flavored soft serve from the Dole Food Company. The eight grandchildren had been to Hawaii before, and wrote their own island-wide tour to take their grandmother on – each contributing something to show her. A moment that stood out to the family was touring Schofield Barracks, where their grandfather was stationed during the 50s. It was a must-do for Grandma Noreen. "We all have busy lives and we're all in our 20s and 30s, so it was just fun to be able to just slow down," Lindgren said. "I don't even know the last time we've spent six days together if we ever have consecutively, like all as cousins." The trip gave Lindgren and her family rare time with just each other, no outside distractions or obligations. "Even then (at family reunions), our partners, our kids, our parents, our everybody is in one house together, so it's not as much quality time, just the specific people," she added. In a little over a week, Lindgren's TikTok received over 4.5 million views. "It's been pretty cool to hear people's stories, how they wanna take my grandma's legacy and pass it on to their families, or sharing stories of their own family experiences," Lindgren said. "It's pretty cool to see that the impact she has on us, she now has on a lot of other people."
