Cheapest Antarctica Cruise - Our Experience
Antarctic Peninsula PortArgentina CountryFalkland Islands CountryUruguay CountryNorwegian Cruise Line Cruise LineScenic Cruise LineBluff PortBuenos Aires PortMontevideo PortPuerto Madryn PortUshuaia PortNorwegian Star Cruise Ship
We set out on an unforgettable adventure to Antarctica on the **cheapest cruise we could find** – but was it worth it? In this video, we share our full experience, from the highs to the lows, and give you our honest review of what it’s really like to take a budget cruise to the White Continent. 📍 **Our Journey:** ✨ Pre-cruise stay in vibrant **Buenos Aires** 🚢 Sailing south via **Ushuaia** 🌊 Crossing the **infamous Drake Passage** 🏔️ Exploring **Paradise Bay** on the Antarctic Peninsula (with a few surprises from the unpredictable weather!) 🐧 Visiting the incredible **penguin colonies of the Falkland Islands** 🌅 Stops in **Puerto Madryn** (Argentina) & **Montevideo** (Uruguay) While we didn’t have the luxury or in-depth exploration of the expensive expedition cruises, we still got breathtaking views, unforgettable wildlife encounters, and a taste of Antarctica—on a budget. 👉 In this video, we’ll show you: * Stunning highlights & unexpected lowlights of this cruise * Honest reflections on what you gain (and miss out on) with a budget option * Whether we think this cheaper alternative is really worth the spend If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing Antarctica but wondered if the budget-friendly routes are worth it, this video is for you. 👍 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more travel reviews and adventures! #AntarcticaCruise #BudgetTravel #NCL #AntarcticaOnABudget #CruiseReview #cruisevlog #cruiseholidays #travel #travelvlog Follow Us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cooksexplore?igsh=MTlxa3luZXZ1YmRwcQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Please subscribe to see more content like this - https://youtube.com/@CooksExplore?sub_confirmation=1 Chapters 00:00 Intro - Our 7th Continent Goal & The Cheapest Cruise We Could Find 00:38 Why Norwegian Star - Paradise Bay & Elephant Island Scenic Cruising (No Landing) 01:24 Heathrow to Madrid - Luggage Not Booked 03:30 Buenos Aires Arrival Tip - $15 Waiting Fee vs $20 Uber 04:50 Savoy Hotel Check-In 05:47 Day 2 - Private Buenos Aires Tour with Pablo (£100 via Viator) 06:54 Recoleta Cemetery - 16,000 Pesos & Finding Eva Perón 08:40 Floralis Genérica - The Broken Mechanical Flower 09:36 Puerto Madero 11:08 Plaza de Mayo - Pink House, Demonstration & Changing of the Guard 13:51 San Telmo - Indoor Market Empanadas 14:31 Street Tango Show in San Telmo Square 15:36 La Boca & Caminito - Colourful Houses & Football Art 20:29 Mojitos at Savoy 21:34 Day 3 - National Congress, Street Art & Free Morning 23:09 The Black Cat Tea Room 24:57 Embarkation Norwegian Star Buenos Aires - Smoothest Ever 26:54 First Dinner at Aqua - BBQ Ribs & Honey Crème Brûlée 28:09 Found a Cruise Duck! 28:54 Enrichment Lecture #1 - Intro to Antarctica 29:40 Sea Day Sun - Pool Deck Feels Like The Caribbean 30:21 Pampas Devils Tango Show Review 31:43 Sunset on Promenade & Violin Trio in O'Sheehan's 33:00 Sea Day 2 - 3-Mile Promenade Walk & Petrels 35:22 Sick Bags Appear & Trivia in Bliss Bar 36:32 Laundry Hack - Detergent Sheets Hand Wash 37:48 Cagney's Steakhouse 41:05 Desserts - Raspberry Crème Brûlée & 7-Layer Death by Chocolate 43:26 Seas Turn Rough - Decks Closed & Stabilizers Working 44:31 Into the Beagle Channel - Sailing into Ushuaia 46:44 Ashore in Ushuaia - End of the World Sign 47:27 Martial Glacier Park 49:01 Hiking Martial Glacier - Streams, Bridges & Ski Slope 51:24 Summit Viewpoint - Panoramic Views Over Ushuaia 52:48 Tea Room at Park Entrance - Earl Grey with Blue Flowers 54:14 Exploring Ushuaia Town - Souvenirs & Street Dogs 55:00 Falklands War Memorial & Shipwreck Photo Spot 55:47 Bar Ideal - Quilmes Stout 57:20 Sail Away - Cape Horn & Drake Passage Preview Lake or Shake? 58:03 Delayed Departure - Incident On Board 58:48 Drake Passage Day 1 - Drake Lake & Staggering Corridors 01:00:26 Full Ship Tour in The Drake - What's Open, What's Closed 01:05:40 Lectures, Whiskey Night & Rock in Bliss Lounge 01:08:30 Day 9 - Paradise Bay Arrival - Snow, Rain & 2°C 01:14:15 Icebergs, Humpback Whales & Hot Chicken Broth 01:18:30 Deep into Paradise Harbour - Bow Open & 180° Turn 01:22:00 Cancelled - Elephant Island & 10m Wave Storm 01:25:00 Unexpected Sea Day - Shackleton Lecture & Snow 01:30:00 Drake Shake Returns - 6-8° Tilt & Storm Dodging 01:39:00 Day 12 - Stanley, Falkland Islands - Tender Ashore 01:42:00 Bluff Cove - King & Gentoo Penguins Up Close 01:47:30 Sea Cabbage Cafe - Yorkshire Tea, Scones & Gift Shop 01:49:30 Victory Bar - Fish & Chips & Rockhopper Ale 01:52:00 Exploring Stanley - Cathedral, Thatcher Bust & Dockyard Museum 01:54:30 Sea Day Drama - Petition Over Missed Chilean Fjords 01:57:00 Day 14 - Puerto Madryn - Long Pier & Beach Walk 02:00:30 Punta Cuevas - Welsh Caves & Indigenous Monument 02:03:30 James Beer - Patagonia Blonde & Pier Sea Lions 02:06:00 Final Sea Day - Pool Party, Fruit Carving & Packing 02:08:30 Day 16 - Montevideo - Old Town to Las Ramblas & Flora Cafe 02:10:30 Final Night, Disembarkation & 16hr Flight Home via Rio