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Small Ship Polar Adventures Since 1999 +46 31-333 17 30 info@polar-quest.com
© Erik Edvardsson

Pre-departure information

WELCOME ON BOARD!

You are about to travel to one of the world’s most scenic places. The Antarctic regions may be a bit cooler holiday destination than most, but it evokes warm feelings and lots of inspiration. Everyone at PolarQuest is truly passionate about its pristine nature and fascinating wildlife. Once back home, we hope that you will have the same passion for these unique environment and become a true ambassador.

POLAR SPECIALISTS

Everyone working at PolarQuest has been on an expedition cruise. If you give us a call or send us an email, our enthusiastic travel consultants will answer all your questions regarding your trip – clothing, weather, landings or Zodiac cruises – we have all the answers! Hopefully you will find some of the answers in this document as well.  

GUIDES

We know that one of the keys to a successful expedition is having knowledgeable and enthusiastic leaders. Many of PolarQuest’s guides have more than ten years’ experience of the Polar Regions and commute between the Arctic and Antarctica every year. A few weeks prior to your voyage, you will receive a short introduction of the guides who will be on your trip.

INSPIRATION

Don’t forget to follow our blog, Facebook or Instagram and take part of news, images and travel stories. On our website you find several inspirational movies from all our unique destinations.

BEFORE YOUR TRAVEL

GENERAL

Please note: The itinerary on your trip works only as a guideline. Factors such as the weather or the ice situation in Antarctica play an important role in where the ship can venture. The daily schedule is decided by the Captain and the Expedition Leader, who both have great experience of the areas we are travelling in. Remember that flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!

STATE OF HEALTH

To participate in this expedition cruise, you must be in generally good health and have good mobility. If you have had any major surgery in the last two years or have any pre-existing medical conditions that the staff and crew on board need to know about, please complete and return our medical form. You can find the form here. Open the form, save it to your computer/tablet. If you tick any of the boxes, please fill in the form with your physician and send it to us. 

We also ask you to bring a list/description of your medication.

If you occasionally are in need of an extra hand, you must have someone travelling with you. Our guides need to be available to all passengers on board and can unfortunately not provide extra attention to someone in need of special assistance.

INSURANCE

It is very important to have full medical, emergency evacuation and repatriation coverage throughout your voyage. 

PASSPORT AND VISAS

  • Passport & Visa Requirements: Your passport is your key to adventure. Please make sure it’s ready for the journey ahead! 
  • Passport Validity: Your passport must be valid at the time of disembarkation; however, we strongly recommend it remain valid for at least six (6) months beyond your planned return date. Some countries may deny entry if your passport expires before your trip.  PolarQuest cannot be held responsible if entry is refused due to insufficient passport validity.
  • Blank Pages: Ensure your passport has enough blank pages for visas, entry stamps, and exit stamps. Page requirements vary by country. 
     
    Visa Requirements 
    Visa policies vary widely depending on your nationality and the countries you plan to visit. It is your responsibility to verify and obtain all required visas prior to travel. 
    For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please contact your nearest embassy or consulate well in advance of your travel. 
    PolarQuest cannot be held responsible for denied boarding or entry resulting from incomplete, missing, or invalid travel documentation

MONEY/CURRENCY

Payments on board
Life onboard is designed to be simple and cash-free. All purchases, including bar drinks, laundry, internet access, and other incidental expenses, will be charged to your personal onboard account, so there is no need to carry cash around the ship.
At the end of your expedition, you will receive a final statement summarising all charges.
You may settle your onboard account using:

  • Cash in USD
  • Major credit cards, including Visa and MasterCard

Please note:

  • Please bring a physical credit card, as Apple Pay and Google Pay may not always work onboard.
  • American Express, Diners Club, and Visa/MasterCard debit cards may not be accepted.
  • Personal checks/cheques are not accepted.

Using Your Credit Card
Many banks apply security measures to international transactions, which may result in your card being declined if overseas use has not been activated in advance.
To help ensure smooth payment onboard, please contact your credit card provider before departure and:

  • Let them know you will be traveling internationally.
  • Inform them of the countries you will visit during your trip.
  • Advise them that the ship’s onboard payment system is registered in Austria for Ocean Nova

Request international activation for the full duration of your journey.
This helps prevent declined transactions or delays when settling your onboard account.

Cash for Incidentals Ashore
While most onboard expenses are handled electronically, we recommend carrying a small amount of local currency for purchases while ashore. Card payments are widely accepted in many towns and cities, but smaller communities, local markets, or remote coastal areas may prefer cash, and ATMs may be limited or unreliable.

  • Argentina: Argentine Pesos (ARS): US Dollars generally accepted, most shops accept credit cards
  • Falkland Islands: Falkland pounds (1:1 to Pounds Sterling). Alternatively, you can also pay in Pounds Sterling (GBP), USD, and Chilean pesos (not Argentinian pesos). Credit cards are generally accepted.
  • South Georgia: Only Card payments accepted in GBP.

Bringing a modest amount of the appropriate local currency for your ports of call will help ensure you are prepared for small purchases, snacks, local crafts, or tips where card payments are not available.

SAFETY

Please use caution, especially in the larger cities. For example, leave valuable jewelery at home.

LOST LUGGAGE

Lost luggage is beyond our control. In case your luggage does not arrive in time we recommend you take the following precautions:

  • Pack your hand luggage with your essentials, such as medication and valuables
  • Fly wearing your jacket or carry it with you on board.
  • Bring a change of clothes in your hand luggage
  • Lithium batteries for cameras, laptops, etc. must always be carried in the carry-on luggage
  • If you have a travel companion, pack a few items in each other’s luggage. If your luggage goes missing, you will still have some of your items available.