The Ross Sea is a vast region along the Antarctic coastline that provides a largely uncharted Antarctic experience. Unlike the more frequently visited Antarctic Peninsula, the Ross Sea offers a journey into a more remote, pristine, and historically significant part of the continent. This area is regarded by scientists as one of the clearest oceanic regions on Earth.
Reasons to Visit the Ross Sea
Aside from being an alternative to the conventional Antarctic Peninsula route, the Ross Sea provides compelling reasons for a visit:
Unique Landscapes: The Ross Sea boasts the largest ice shelf globally (Ross Ice Shelf) covering 700,000 square kilometers. Witness stunning views of towering ice cliffs, colossal icebergs, and the vast expanse of sea ice.
Rich History: The Ross Sea holds significant historical importance as the site of early explorations led by famous figures like Sir James Clark Ross, Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton. Visit well-preserved historic huts that serve as reminders of their pioneering expeditions.
Logistical Benefits: Very accessible for those living in Australia and New Zealand, a journey to the Ross Sea often includes visits to rarely seen sub-Antarctic islands like Macquarie and Campbell. This makes it an attractive option for travelers seeking a shorter cruise that still spends ample time in this historically rich region.
Voyages extending from New Zealand to Argentina, or vice versa, allow travelers to explore even lesser-known coastlines, though these itineraries tend to be longer and spend slightly less time in the Ross Sea. Regardless of the chosen route, the region offers a unique chance to reach further south than most Antarctic cruises, with historic sites like the huts at Hut Point, Cape Adare, and other locations on Ross Island, which provide a glimpse into the Heroic Age of exploration.
The Ross Sea Ice Shelf is Antarctica's largest ice shelf. (Cath Corpuz)
Nature and Wildlife
The Sea features dramatic landscapes, including the world's largest Ross Ice Shelf. This ice shelf's massive platform influences the coastline, leading to the formation of icebergs from calving events.
This region has a rich, though less diverse, ecosystem. It is known for large Adélie penguin colonies, especially at Cape Adare, home to over 100,000 breeding pairs, as well as King and Emperor penguins. The nutrient-rich waters support marine mammals like orcas, minke whales, crabeater seals, and leopard seals, alongside 95 fish species and over 1,000 invertebrate species. The establishment of a Marine Protected Area highlights the Ross Sea's ecological significance and the need for ongoing preservation.
An Emperor Penguin stands with its chicks in a colony located near Cape Crozier on Ross Island, Antarctica. (Cath Corpuz)
Why Choose the Ross Sea Over the Antarctic Peninsula?
The Ross Sea route represents a journey beyond the typical Antarctic itinerary. While requiring more extensive planning and a longer trip, the rewards are unparalleled. The Ross Sea's unique landscapes, abundant wildlife, and historical significance create an experience that is distinct and far removed from the more commonly visited areas of Antarctica. It's a destination for adventurous travelers seeking a truly immersive and exclusive exploration of this pristine Antarctic realm.
To make your journey smoother and more memorable, reach out to Adventure Life's Trip Planners today. They will guide you through the process, share insights about our specialized expedition cruises, and help you plan your extraordinary Antarctic adventure to the Ross Sea!
We were a group of three that initiated our research by independently searching for the best agency to help us in the somewhat complex experience of traveling to the Galapagos. We chose adventure life because they were the most responsive in the website provided the most comprehensive overview of the trip. Their reviews were also very good.
Adventure, life splits up its booking process in two parts. First Jeff, the booking agent helped us decide which experience best suited are interests. We chose a small 14 to 16 group sized yacht. Once the booking was made with Jeff, we were handed off to Coleene, who oversaw the complex process of assembling all of the necessary documents and making sure we had everything we needed to make the trip go smoothly. The adventure, life website, then becomes your personal place of reference for all things related to your trip from door to door. It’s a lot of information to assemble, especially for three travelers, but the website makes it easy and Colleen‘s gentle reminders kept us on track. In all, from the beginning, we had four months from the time we started our research till the time we departed. We felt that was, a good amount of preparation time and don’t think it would be wise to do it in less than four months. Mostly because I think you have more options with that amount of time. There were others on our trip that took six months and more from the time they started planning.
The trip itself was outstanding. We ended up on an excellent yacht (Galapagos Angel II) with a great group of guests that we were able to connect with and put together a really nice google photos album to share.
Jed
6 days ago
Mary was very helpful. Quick to reply with helpful information and closure on arrangements.
Nicola Maxwell
1 week ago
Mary Curry and Elma are always so responsive and nice to deal with.
Michael
1 week ago
I enjoyed working with Jess to put together a private N.Z. trip. Jess has been my go-to person at Adventure Life over the past several years. She listens to what my husband and I want in a trip, and is always responsive to questions. Nothing seems to be too much of a bother for Jess.
DIANNE GRAY
1 week ago
Jane was my AE agent for the 2 months of helping me decide that this will be the most amazing trip we will ever experience in our lifetime and a memorable way to celebrate our 40th!
I was also able to work with Mike from Quark who was also very helpful.
Once I had decided to go ahead with my booking Kevin took over to assist Jane while on vacation.
Kevin was able to tweak the quote even more
and truly sealed the deal! He was patient with receiving my full payment as it took time to “round up that much cash” Were booking a delux balcony and there’s no looking back
I feel confident and very satisfied that I have made the best decision choosing Quark Expeditions and look forward to a top notch experience aboard the Ultramarine.
Both Jane and Kevin are sincere, professional and courteous. They met all of our needs
to ensure my process was stress free.
I’m looking forward to all our daily excursions then enjoying a Sauna and my own cold plunge in the tub! My back up plan
to the “Antarctic Plunge”
I look forward to getting to know and dealing with Mary Rose for all the final details that will make our trip complete. Great company!
