Nexta Expeditions - FAQ
Welcome to Nexta Expeditions
Frequently Asked Questions

General

Payment

Cabins

Clothing advice

Meals

Health & safety protocol

Guidelines

Embarkation and disembarkation

Life aboard the ship

Preparation of the voyage

Reservations

Safety

s/v Rembrandt van Rijn

m/v Plancius

m/v Ortelius

m/v Hondius

Antarctica

Arctic

Antarctic Circle

Antarctic Peninsula

Ascension Island

Falkland Islands

Greenland

South Georgia

South Orkney Islands

South Shetland Islands

Jan Mayen

Ross Sea

Weddell Sea

St. Helena

Svalbard

Tristan da Cunha

Adelie Penguin

Polar Bear

Emperor Penguin

Mountaineering

Antarctic Camping

Basecamp

Polar Diving

Hiking

Ski Mountaineering

Photo Workshop

Helicopter Tours

Kayaking

Snowshoeing

Northern Lights

Bird Watching

Zodiac Cruising & Shore Program

Whale safari

Sailing

Blog
go-leftgo-right
Churches in Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Churches in Antarctica

'Below 40 degrees South there is no law; below 50 degrees South, there is no God', goes the old adage. When faced with a storm in the turbulent and freezing waters of the Drake Passage, one might think so.
Weddell Sea: the Original Antarctic Adventure - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Weddell Sea: the Original Antarctic Adventure

According to historian Thomas R. Henry, visiting the Weddell Sea requires a brave heart. In his 1950 book, "The White Continent," he described sudden “flash freezes” that occur in the region. It was one of these flash freezes that trapped Ernest Shackleton’s ship, Endurance, in January 1915, forcing his crew to endure over a year in the harsh environment before they could escape.
Eight Antarctic Misconceptions - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Eight Antarctic Misconceptions

Antarctica has given rise to some pretty far-fetched rumors.
Greenland: East vs. West - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Greenland: East vs. West

East and West Greenland offer vastly different experiences due to their unique climates, wildlife, habitation, and geology.
Spitsbergen: a true polar bear trip - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Spitsbergen: a true polar bear trip

On the third day of our Svalbard cruise, we navigated through the sea ice north of Spitsbergen. The morning greeted us with fog and fragmented ice, but conditions gradually improved. A swarm of black-legged kittiwakes trailed behind us, as our ship stirred the waters, pushing aside ice floes to reveal the tiny dark polar cod beneath.
Spitsbergen: Alkefjellet magic - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Spitsbergen: Alkefjellet magic

If they knew their way home, why not follow them? Equipped with GPS and compass, we approached the cliffs by zodiac. First, we heard the noise from the colony – the distinct calls of guillemots, kittiwakes, and Glaucous gulls. Then the cliffs gradually emerged from the mist.
Polar Bear Primer: Eight Facts About the Arctic Wanderer - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Polar Bear Primer: Eight Facts About the Arctic Wanderer

Polar bears inhabit the Arctic region across 19 subpopulations, including areas in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. These majestic creatures prefer the edges of pack ice where currents and wind interact, creating a dynamic environment of melting and refreezing that forms ice patches and leads, which are open spaces in the sea between sea ice.
The World Is Changing for Greenland's Native Inuit People - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The World Is Changing for Greenland's Native Inuit People

You may know them as Eskimos, but the people of the Arctic are officially called the Inuit. Historically, they were hunters in the truest sense. For hundreds of years, they survived the world’s harshest conditions, living off their prey of whales, seals, polar bears, musk oxen, birds, fish, and reindeer. This has always been their way of life.
The Impact of Small vs. Large Cruise Ships - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Impact of Small vs. Large Cruise Ships

The generalization that larger ships impact the environment more than smaller ships seems like such a no-brainer that if someone said it to you, you’d be easily forgiven for thinking you were being tricked.
Weddell Sea, Shackleton’s Endurance, and New Swabia - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Weddell Sea, Shackleton’s Endurance, and New Swabia

Our Antarctica 2023-24 cruise program is packed with incredible expeditions, including a new itinerary that explores key locations such as South Georgia, the Weddell Sea, and the more easterly region of New Swabia (Neuschwabenland).
Top 10 Tips for Packing Your Polar Photography Equipment - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Top 10 Tips for Packing Your Polar Photography Equipment

One of the most common questions I get asked before a cruise is, “What photography equipment should I bring?” It’s a broad question, and answers vary based on the individual. There are, however, a few key pointers that apply to almost everyone.
The Eight Albatrosses of Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Eight Albatrosses of Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic

Our guests are typically wildlife enthusiasts, with a particular interest in bird life. While many bird lovers focus on the penguins we encounter, there's a smaller yet equally passionate group that favors the more airborne seabirds. Among this birdwatching subset, the albatross is a species that garners (and deserves) significant attention.
Not Eskimos: 10 Enlightening Facts About the Inuit - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Not Eskimos: 10 Enlightening Facts About the Inuit

If you are planning to join an Arctic cruise, you might be intrigued by the Inuit culture. To help you gain a deeper understanding of these people, especially if you are considering a trip to Greenland, here are 10 fascinating facts about the Inuit that everyone should know.
15 Falkland Islands Bird Photos - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

15 Falkland Islands Bird Photos

The remote sub-Antarctic archipelago of the Falkland Islands is a haven for bird enthusiasts, offering a unique and abundant selection of birds, especially seabirds.
The First Buildings in Antarctica: Borchgrevink’s Historic Huts - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The First Buildings in Antarctica: Borchgrevink’s Historic Huts

Borchgrevink’s huts at Cape Adare hold a significant place in Antarctic history, being the first structures ever built on the continent.
Scenes from St. Andrews Bay:  12 Pics of Penguins, Seals, and More - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Scenes from St. Andrews Bay: 12 Pics of Penguins, Seals, and More

If you ever find yourself exploring the breathtaking sub-Antarctic island chain of South Georgia, one of the most captivating spots you'll encounter is the picturesque shoreline of St. Andrews Bay.
Eight Ultimate Antarctica Adventures - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Eight Ultimate Antarctica Adventures

Antarctica has adventure in its bones. Long before most travelers even reach the continent, they have to cross the Drake Passage, an oft-tumultuous waterway considered by many a hallmark of high adventure in itself. Once you do reach the Antarctic shores, the variations of landscape and wildlife are as multiform as the activities you can pursue there. While not all of these activities can or should be shoehorned into a single article, this piece will give you a survey of the top eight. Like everything in the polar regions, these activities are subject to weather conditions – and your own threshold for adventure.
10 Common Misconceptions About the Arctic - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

10 Common Misconceptions About the Arctic

The Arctic is a vast region. Truly immense.
Svalbard’s 12 Most Iconic Animals - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Svalbard’s 12 Most Iconic Animals

Each of our Arctic regions offers its own distinct and unforgettable features: Greenland boasts mountainous shorelines and record-setting fjords, Northern Norway is renowned for the aurora borealis and historic masted schooners, and Svalbard (especially Spitsbergen) is where you're most likely to encounter a variety of Arctic wildlife.
The Arctic Hare: Easter Bunny - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Arctic Hare: Easter Bunny

Although the Arctic hare’s stern expression might make it seem like the least amused member of a serious tribunal, this polar animal is actually one of the most charming creatures on the planet – especially when Easter Sunday comes around.