Date: 1/11/25 7:29 am From: Derb Carter (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Birding recommendation (beyond NC & SC)
I am no expert on cruise costs. In fact, this was the first cruise I had taken. With this cruise there is a base price depending on the type of room (e.g. interior vs balcony) and then you can add on if you want alcohol packages, internet, land excursions, etc. and spend all you want at the casino. My wife and I opted for an interior room less than a minute from the bow deck where we planned and ended up spending nearly all our time with other birders. I looked back and our base cost for the 16 day cruise including a mandatory service charge was $1200. For day trips in ports we generally split the costs of renting a car with other birders. I know there is a significant range because I have a friend who just returned from a 12 day Antarctic “adventure cruise” on a much smaller ship with zodiac landings and even a submarine for $17,000.
Out of interest I checked the Princess site and this cruise next season is now priced around $3000. I say now because a friend who takes a lot of cruises for diving says they usually start high then begin to drop depending on how fast the ship is filling. We booked about 5 months out.
Edmund points out the advantages of going on one of the scheduled birding tours using this ship. Simon and others are great leaders on these tours. The big advantage would be the scheduled land tours at the port stops with all the logistics and guides covered, especially if you have never visited these areas. For me, I had birded all these areas in the past (except the Falklands) and had only a few targets on land all of which I found. I did not find the pelagic birding that challenging (yes splitting Wandering Albatross into 5 species makes it more challenging) but I have also done a lot of offshore birding. With planning and the resources out there you can almost predict the species you are likely to encounter each leg of the cruise There was no birding tour group on the cruise I took but we quickly hooked up with other sharp birders providing more eyes and insights and photos. It all depends on what you are comfortable with.
Derb Carter
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From: <carolinabirds-request...> <tcarolinabirds-request...> on behalf of Christopher Hill <carolinabirds...>
Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2025 8:39 AM
To: Terry Anderson <tpaulanderson...>
Cc: carolinabirds <carolinabirds...>; <mtove...> <mtove...>
Subject: Re: Birding recommendation (beyond NC & SC)
As long as we have a thread with words like "budget" thrown around liberally, would one of you be willing to quote the cost for the budget solo version and the more "adventuresome" trips as mtove puts it? I checked the ventures page but didn't see a similar trip on the schedule.
Chris Hill, Ph.D.
Professor
Biology Department
Coastal Carolina University
Office: Douglas 207H
(843) 349-2567
email: <chill...>
On Jan 10, 2025, at 5:08 PM, Terry Anderson <carolinabirds...> wrote:
External sender <carolinabirds...><mailto:<carolinabirds...>> Make sure you trust this sender before taking any actions.
I did that trip with Ventures on the same ship last year..I highly recommend it.
Terry Anderson
Lawrenceurg, KY
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From: <carolinabirds-request...><mailto:<carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...><mailto:<carolinabirds-request...>> on behalf of mtove <carolinabirds...><mailto:<carolinabirds...>> Sent: Friday, January 10, 2025 3:40 PM
To: 'carolinabirds' <carolinabirds...><mailto:<carolinabirds...>> Subject: Birding recommendation (beyond NC & SC)
Last month, there was a general inquiry on this site about recommendations for birding to Antarctica.
I just returned from a 17 day cruise to South America & Antarctica on board Sapphire Princess, a 1000’ luxury cruise ship. Apart from the usual amenities, the birding was excellent and for budget-minded travelers, at a fraction of the more “adventuresome” trips (which I’ve also done). For disclosure, I’m NOT employed by the cruise line and this is not a “crass commercial” but it did provide an excellent opportunity to see an incredible number of species not easily seen otherwise – certainly not at the far more affordable rates – and at times, in mind-boggling numbers.
Anyone who is interested should contact me directly for details but as an overview, I saw:
10 species of Albatross
13 species of Petrels, Prions, etc.
6 Penguins
5 Shearwaters
3 Storm-Petrels
1 Diving Petrel
6 Skuas & Jaegers
6 Whales
3 Dolphins
5 Seals
1 Sea Turtle
The only “downside” is there are no shore excursions in Antarctica but for the price and the rest, it’s well worth while.
