Country guides
South & Central America
Electricity
Each ship and base has its own electricity supply.
Language
There is no official language.
Money
Most ships accept credit cards and US dollars and often there is a currency exchange facility on board. In Antarctica itself, each base generally uses the currency of their home country. Travellers should check which currency to bring with their tour or cruise operator.
Tipping
Staff on passenger ships will generally expect tips. The size of the tip varies and depends on the currency in use and type of cruise. It's best for travellers to check with their tour operators in advance.
Health
Extreme cold temperatures and wind chill in Antarctica can lead to hypothermia. Due to the thin ozone layer, it is essential that a high protection sunscreen be worn, and the glare from the ice and water necessitates the wearing of sunglasses. The crossing of rough seas will require most passengers to take some form of seasickness preventative medication. All passenger ships have an on-board doctor, but health insurance is imperative and must include emergency evacuation, which can be exorbitantly expensive.
Safety
The waters around Antarctica can be extremely rough and, in bad conditions, loose equipment not tied down on board ship can cause injury; similarly, passengers can be caught off balance in high seas.
Sea ice is a polar hazard and icebergs are capable of sinking even a large ship. Several cruise ships have hit icebergs in recent years, leading industry experts to question the safety of Antarctic cruise ships and highlighting the dangers of mass evacuations in extreme climates.
The US and UK warned a conference of Antarctic treaty nations that the tourism situation in the Antarctic region was a disaster in the making, with some cruise ships carrying in excess of 3,000 people, and more than 35,000 people visiting during the season. It's important to be aware of the potential dangers of travelling to such a hostile environment, but most cruises are trouble-free.
Local customs
When visiting research bases or stations in Antarctica, tourists are asked to remove shoes, never to enter a building unless invited, not to interfere with scientific work, and to remember that researchers are using up precious work time to accommodate them.
Travellers should make sure that restroom facilities aboard ship are used before visiting a base, as it is very bad practice to ask to use one onshore, as it adds to the amount of waste that has to be removed by the researchers at a later date.
Doing business
People who travel to Antarctica generally live and work on scientific research bases, or venture to the destination as tourists. There are no permanent residents or commercial industries.
Duty free
There are no duty free requirements for Antartica, though travellers may need to follow requirements for transit countries.
Communications
The international dialling code for Antarctica is +672. Ship-based communication is by satellite phone.
Passport & Visa
As no one owns the Antarctic continent, no visitors require a visa or passport; however, a valid passport will be required for any stops en route, and visas and passports may be needed for points of departure.