Is it dangerous to cross the Drake Passage in Antarctica?

Drake Strait

The Drake Strait is the widest strait in the world, with a width of 970 kilometers and a narrowest point of 890 kilometers. At the same time, the Drake Strait is the deepest strait in the world, with a maximum depth of 5,248 meters. If two Huashan Mountains and a Hengshan Mountain were stacked in the strait, even the tops of the mountains would not be exposed to the sea.

The Drake Strait is world-famous for its violent waves. Because the Pacific and Atlantic meet here, and it is located at a high latitude in the southern hemisphere, storms dominate the Drake Strait. Therefore, the Drake Strait is called the "Storm Corridor" and "Devil's Strait".

Antarctica has a protector like the Drake Passage that keeps the Antarctic continent pure and beautiful behind the westerlies.

The feared "Drake Strait" is often a major concern for travelers and explorers on their way to Antarctica. They are afraid of the discomfort of seasickness and the danger of strong winds and waves.

Nowadays, Antarctic expedition ships with advanced technology can solve your worries.

And 90% of Antarctic trips take place on ships. Choosing a cruise ship is half the battle!

We were the first to choose the new Antarctic cruise ship, the Greg Mortimer. Its most important feature is its resistance to the strong winds and waves in the westerly belt

The full name of the Greg Mortimer is: Greg Mortimer. It is a new type of cruise ship that is super strong against wind and waves! (Domestic media also calls it "Cruise 1")

While technology is changing the world, it is also affecting Antarctic travel. The Greg Mortimer uses technology to subvert polar exploration. Instead of flying over, using ULSTEIN?

New bow design, no longer afraid of polar waves

Compared with other cruise ships, the advantage of the Antarctic Tour Greg Mortimer is that it changes the traditional V-shaped bow shape. Using a smoother Passengers will noticeably feel "more stable". The application of X-BOW? technology has greatly shortened the cruise time. By absorbing the energy of sea waves, the Greg Mortimer will achieve higher transport speeds, allowing passengers to cross the channel faster and reach the Antarctic.

The super strong performance against wind and waves means that passengers can enjoy the scenery outside the cabin as much as possible. They do not have to be locked indoors due to wind and waves, but can go to the 360-degree open viewing deck outdoors. Enjoy watching and photographing wildlife. In addition, the Greg Mortimer has also redefined safety standards for polar navigation in Antarctic travel. Advanced ship technology, coupled with Rolls-Royce's stability system, can drive normally and safely even if it encounters engine failure.

Separate landing platform + hydraulic viewing platform

In order to ensure passengers’ experience in Antarctica, the Greg Mortimer also pioneered the design and construction of two special platforms to ensure Passengers can get on and off the Zodiac more quickly and gain a richer view of the landscape.

Landing platform: The Greg Mortimer's polar voyages are limited to 100 passengers and equipped with 15 Zodiac boats, far more than other cruise ships. Four separate assault boat landing platforms can effectively ensure that passengers can get on and off the assault boat quickly and efficiently. All passengers can log in at one time, increasing the number of daily landings and winning more time on shore.

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Viewing platform:

In order to make it better for Antarctic tourists to use The camera records the surrounding seabirds, penguins, seals and whales. The design of the Greg Mortimer also deliberately leaves enough space for viewing.

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The 8th floor has an indoor 180-degree viewing room and an outdoor 360-degree viewing deck; the 7th floor has a 270-degree open sundeck; the 5th floor has a new There are two large hydraulic viewing platforms full of technology.

Cruise No. 1, the Greg Mortimer (Gremo), is 104 meters long and 18.4 meters wide. It has 135 cabins and can carry 254 people. These 254 people include crew, and counting tourists only, the purpose-built expedition vessel can accommodate 100 landing passengers as well as polar kayakers and divers, an average of 120 people.

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Greg Mortimer's rooms are divided into: captain's suite, junior suite, balcony suite, balcony cabin, twin room, triple room and other types of rooms. Among them, 1 captain's suite is 44.5 square meters in size and is equipped with a large seating area, balcony, walk-in closet and independent bathroom; 4 junior suites also have balconies and are equipped with binoculars; 2 balcony suites have private balconies , floor-to-ceiling windows, private bathroom and comfortable work area.

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The largest number of rooms is the balcony superior cabin. According to the size of the cabin, it is divided into three cabin types: A, B and C, with 23 rooms each. , 21, and 14, with access to the deck via internal stairs and elevators.

In addition, there are cheaper twin and triple rooms. 8 twins and 6 triples are equipped with portholes and private bathrooms, and these rooms are close to the mudroom and loading platform.

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Many facilities are specially prepared for polar exploration

On this Antarctic cruise ship, there are many facilities specially prepared for polar exploration. facilities. For example, the "hydraulic observation platform" provides the best view of the spectacular scenery outside the ship. The platform can be accessed from the deck. After the two platforms are hydraulically folded, visitors can enjoy an unobstructed view of marine life and seabirds. In addition to this observation platform, there are many "observation points" on the ship, from the indoor 180-degree lounge to the outdoor 360-degree open deck, including 8 decks, and the 7-layer 270-degree open sundeck, all allowing tourists to enjoy The scenery outside the window.

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For shore excursions, Greg Mortimer can land two to three times a day, depending on weather and schedule, to see everything from rock formations, ancient ruins, or It's a cute group of penguins. The four dedicated "Twelve Zodiac Landing Platforms" on the cruise ship are a major feature of the design. According to the introduction, the "Twelve Zodiac Signs" allow tourists to get close to the adventure area and sneak into areas that are out of reach of the No. 1 cruise ship, allowing tourists to talk more. Multi-time exploration will land 2-3 times a day. The cruise ship has a dedicated landing platform that can easily and quickly load the "Twelve Zodiacs".

Another example is the "customized activity platform", which provides many additional activities on the cruise ship, including kayaking, diving, rock climbing, skiing... This area also includes personal storage in the spacious mud room Quick-drying area for lockers and wetsuits to help guests warm up quickly after exploring. However, most of these activities are extra charges.

The rich cruise life includes expert lectures, libraries, and various catering services

In terms of catering, Greg Mortimer said, “Our goal is to provide you with the best Great hotel service. Starting with an official captain's welcome, as our guest you can enjoy free coffee, tea and snacks 24 hours a day, as well as a variety of different menu options and meals."

The ship also has a family-style restaurant, "ideal for swapping stories with new adventure families," with private dining areas available, and a bar offering a range of signature wines, beers and soft drinks in the evenings.

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On the last day of the trip, the Greg Mortimer Antarctic Cruise Team will host a special farewell four-course dinner and cocktail reception. Saying goodbye to the trip this way also cements friendships with the people you meet.

In addition, Greg Mortimer also arranges a wealth of on-board activities. For example, during expeditions, experts will give lectures in spacious lecture rooms, which often cover a wide range of topics such as history and culture, biology and climate change; libraries, multimedia centers, fitness centers, saunas and spas, etc. Provide more services to tourists.

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In terms of safety, the Greg Mortimer has a high level of safety and is built with the Rolls-Royce Stable System. If the cruise ship cab encounters an emergency such as water loss or fire, the safe return console can be controlled to safely return to the nearest port by relying on the cruise ship's own redundant power. Even in bad sea conditions, the safe return to port endurance can reach 1,500 nautical miles, and the design fully meets the cruise distance of the cruise ship returning to the port. There is also a medical center on board, where a well-trained medical team can provide necessary treatment in a timely manner.

All in all, the Greg Mortimer (Gremo) is the best choice for Antarctic tourism. From 2020 to 2021, take a new ship and travel to Antarctica with China’s first Antarctic travel agency!

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Guangzhou Jizhi International Travel Agency has been specializing in polar travel for 14 years and has launched a number of Antarctic routes, covering November to February. Travelers who have time permitting can also You can choose to extend your trip to South America to enrich your journey. In addition, if you want to explore Antarctica in depth and capture more animals, you can choose the 27-day King Penguin In-depth Exploration Tour in October to see more animal species. If you have already experienced the above two Antarctic trips and want the ultimate Antarctic travel experience, there is also an Antarctic Emperor Penguin Tour route in November for you to choose from.