I was thinking about my Antarctica trip recently, and how I managed to drink in 4 different places on the trip (OK I'm cheating as three of them were onboard the boat!!!). But I thought I'd give all you Antarctic bound travellers some tips on how you can drink in Antarctica, yes there is even a bar there, there is even a Happy Hour and drinking in Antarctica is part of the experience to the world's southern most continent. Here's my Top 6 places to drink in Antarctica (of which I drank in only 4 of them, as sadly 2 of them we didn't visit)! One of my favourite Thirsty Thursdays to date.
1. Antarctica Drinking - on Antarctica itself
Having a beer on the continent of Antarctica is something you should definitely do. Strictly speaking you're not meant to but having a small celebration and toasting to your landings on Antarctica is a great way to bond with your ship mates and savour the taste of alcohol in the world's southernmost continent.
2. Alcohol in Antarctica - a drink on the deck of the boat!
OK so we were sailing down the Gerlache Strait and were welcomed by an amazing snowstorm. I was sitting in the indoor bar onboard our ship, the MS Expedition when my drinking buddy on the trip, Russell and I turned to each other and said almost at the same time "Let's go outside for a beer". It had to be done. We sat out on deck in the snowstorm - Russell in his shorts and flip flops/thongs! We were joined out on deck by Canadian Mike MacSween who even came barefoot! There was no need to keep the beers chilled as it was absolutely freezing! Great place for a beer. Try and get as many from the boat to join you, even if it's just for 5 minutes or so.
3. Having a drink in Antarctica: Happy hour on board!
If you're on a tight budget, have no fear, happy hour is here! On board your boat you should be able to take full advantage of the Happy Hour meaning you can enjoy your backpacker lifestyle while sailing down the world's epic cold continent.
- The lounge bar on board the boat is open from 4pm - 7pm normally.
- The Polar Bear Bar was open from around 8pm until closing time (whenever you wanted to stop drinking)
Alcohol was also available at dinner, served to you in the onboard restaurant, everything you ordered was added to your bill. There was no payment accepted in cash as far as I remember, they just added everything to your bill and you paid at the end of the trip. Be careful not to get too happy though, as even Happy Hour in Antarctica is more expensive than what you are used to!
4. Having a drink in Antarctica - bring some alcohol on-board
This is also a backpacker style option and where the real money saving is - buy some beer in Argentina and bring it on board to enjoy with your travel buddies!
5. Having a drink in Antarctica: Vernadskiy Station Bar
OK this could well be a regret in life, but on our trip we just didn't make it to the bar or even to the actual Ukrainian Vernadskiy Station, which not only has a cool bar but even makes its own hot pepper Vodka (I'm not even kidding). The Vernadskiy Research Station is the longest continually running one on the entire continent. It was the British that put the pub there when they owned it!!! We were caught up in a crazy snowstorm off the coast of Petermann Island, and seeing an Argentine Research Station from the boat was the closest we got to the set of Argentine Islands where the Vernadskiy Station sits.
6. Having a drink in Antarctica - head to the South Pole and celebrate with a drink
Visiting the south pole is one of the best travelling things you can do on planet earth, so what better way to celebrate than by cracking open a beer to celebrate! Congratulations!
If you ever make it to the South Pole it would be an incredible moment to open a beer!
If you have managed to do all six of these I salute you!! I was happy with the four I managed to get in on my amazing Antarctica adventure back in 2010.
1. Antarctica Drinking - on Antarctica itself
Having a beer on the continent of Antarctica is something you should definitely do. Strictly speaking you're not meant to but having a small celebration and toasting to your landings on Antarctica is a great way to bond with your ship mates and savour the taste of alcohol in the world's southernmost continent.
2. Alcohol in Antarctica - a drink on the deck of the boat!
OK so we were sailing down the Gerlache Strait and were welcomed by an amazing snowstorm. I was sitting in the indoor bar onboard our ship, the MS Expedition when my drinking buddy on the trip, Russell and I turned to each other and said almost at the same time "Let's go outside for a beer". It had to be done. We sat out on deck in the snowstorm - Russell in his shorts and flip flops/thongs! We were joined out on deck by Canadian Mike MacSween who even came barefoot! There was no need to keep the beers chilled as it was absolutely freezing! Great place for a beer. Try and get as many from the boat to join you, even if it's just for 5 minutes or so.
3. Having a drink in Antarctica: Happy hour on board!
If you're on a tight budget, have no fear, happy hour is here! On board your boat you should be able to take full advantage of the Happy Hour meaning you can enjoy your backpacker lifestyle while sailing down the world's epic cold continent.
- The lounge bar on board the boat is open from 4pm - 7pm normally.
- The Polar Bear Bar was open from around 8pm until closing time (whenever you wanted to stop drinking)
Alcohol was also available at dinner, served to you in the onboard restaurant, everything you ordered was added to your bill. There was no payment accepted in cash as far as I remember, they just added everything to your bill and you paid at the end of the trip. Be careful not to get too happy though, as even Happy Hour in Antarctica is more expensive than what you are used to!
4. Having a drink in Antarctica - bring some alcohol on-board
This is also a backpacker style option and where the real money saving is - buy some beer in Argentina and bring it on board to enjoy with your travel buddies!
5. Having a drink in Antarctica: Vernadskiy Station Bar
OK this could well be a regret in life, but on our trip we just didn't make it to the bar or even to the actual Ukrainian Vernadskiy Station, which not only has a cool bar but even makes its own hot pepper Vodka (I'm not even kidding). The Vernadskiy Research Station is the longest continually running one on the entire continent. It was the British that put the pub there when they owned it!!! We were caught up in a crazy snowstorm off the coast of Petermann Island, and seeing an Argentine Research Station from the boat was the closest we got to the set of Argentine Islands where the Vernadskiy Station sits.
6. Having a drink in Antarctica - head to the South Pole and celebrate with a drink
Visiting the south pole is one of the best travelling things you can do on planet earth, so what better way to celebrate than by cracking open a beer to celebrate! Congratulations!
If you ever make it to the South Pole it would be an incredible moment to open a beer!
If you have managed to do all six of these I salute you!! I was happy with the four I managed to get in on my amazing Antarctica adventure back in 2010.
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For more stuff like Drinking in Antarctica visit Don't Stop Living, the nomadic site from Jonny Blair for more stories and tips.
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