Antarctica is a bucket-list destination, and for travelers Jess and Justin of Uprooted Traveler, this trip was supposed to be the culmination of years of saving and planning.
According to their YouTube video, they spent $26,000 on a 16-day cruise with Atlas Ocean Voyages, eager for the chance to step foot on the remote seventh continent. Instead, their trip turned into a logistical disaster, leaving them and fellow passengers feeling deceived and robbed of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
A promising itinerary, then an abrupt change
Jess and Justin, along with many other guests onboard, booked the 16-day cruise as a bucket list adventure. The original sailing was meant to take them from South America to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and finally, Antarctica.
The brochure and itinerary were detailed and promising, showcasing luxury accommodations and incredible shore excursions. This was reflected in the cost, with a price of anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 per person.
Issues started almost immediately after they boarded in Argentina. This is when guests learned that their itinerary had been reversed—losing a day in Antarctica and gaining an additional day in the Falkland Islands. No clear explanation was provided, and to this day, they and other passengers still do not know why this decision was made.
While itinerary changes are common in expedition cruising, what made this more suspicious was that another Atlas ship, which left on the same day, successfully followed its original plan and made its landings in Antarctica as scheduled. This was the first sign of many issues throughout the doomed voyage.
Rushed landings and poor planning
With the reversed itinerary, the expedition ship sailed to South Georgia and guests were able to explore the remote island. Even still, it wasn’t smooth sailing.
But, when the ship reached South Georgia, passengers were only given 45 minutes per landing—significantly shorter than the usual 2-3 hour excursions. According to the YouTubers, the guides were repeatedly asked to usher people back onto the boat, leading to frustration.
A guide even told passengers they should be excited to have sailed over the 60th parallel into Antarctica, but many felt that was comical considering they spent tens of thousands of dollars to visit the peninsula.
Cruise passengers never stepped foot in Antarctica
After receiving the itinerary change, guests immediately raised concerns about whether they would actually make it to Antarctica. Because of the fragile ecosystem in Antarctica, the continent is regulated strictly. Cruise lines need to reserve these landing locations far in advance due to these restrictions.
Knowing Atlas had to reserve landing sites in advance but reversed the itinerary, guests were already worried about which landing areas they would be able to visit. By this point in the season, their ship would be left with whatever spots other cruise lines hadn’t booked, resulting in a subpar experience and visiting the “scraps.”
When these concerns were raised, guests were assured by the expedition leader that they would indeed step foot on the continent. Considering this was a bucket list exploration for most guests onboard, stepping foot on the continent was their top priority.
However, when they finally arrived in Antarctic waters, they simply sailed past Elephant Island—a scenic sailing often done by cheaper mainstream cruise lines. They also circled Penguin Island, but without seeing much wildlife or landscape up close.
On the second day in Antarctic waters, passengers were devastated when an announcement over the speakers informed them that an excursion had been canceled due to weather. However, as they stood on deck, they could see another nearby ship successfully unloading its passengers onto land. They were able to see passengers hiking on the continent while they were stranded aboard their ship.
This alone raised suspicions—why was it safe for one ship but not for theirs? They trusted the ship’s leadership and maritime experts, but this incident left them confused and doubting the explanations they were given.
Captain announces early return to Argentina
By the third day, passengers were called into an emergency meeting. The captain announced they were heading back to Argentina early because the weather at the next landing site would prevent guests from disembarking. However, he clarified that this was not a safety issue—he simply didn’t want to continue if guests couldn’t get off the ship.
This announcement sparked immediate outrage. Passengers had paid tens of thousands of dollars for a 16-day expedition, only to be told they would never reach the Antarctic Peninsula. Some had spent over $40,000 and would leave without setting foot on their seventh continent. Justin and Jess filmed the announcement, knowing they had suspected this decision was coming. The room erupted as guests demanded answers.
When asked if they could at least attempt to reach Antarctica, the captain replied that doing so would mean missing out on an extra day in South America. When pressed further on why the itinerary had been changed in the first place, he initially claimed it wasn’t his decision but rather Atlas Ocean Voyages‘. The lack of a clear answer only deepened suspicions that the original plan was never logistically feasible.
Atlas World Voyager turns back to Antarctica
After an outcry from passengers, the ship abruptly reversed course and sailed back to Antarctica at full speed. Given the earlier claims about poor weather, many expected terrible conditions, but what they experienced was calm seas, icebergs, and whales—exactly what they had hoped for.
Despite returning, passengers were told they would only be allowed to do a zodiac cruise, not land on shore. The much-anticipated polar plunge was also canceled despite the cruise’s flexibility to offer it. Everything felt rushed, as though they were simply checking off a box before immediately turning back for Ushuaia.
Passengers later learned that expedition guides already knew landings likely wouldn’t be possible, making the decision-making process appear even more disorganized. After the short zodiac cruise, the captain announced they had to return to Ushuaia immediately.
Upon arrival, they docked a full day early, yet no additional activities or landings were scheduled. Meanwhile, the captain was supposedly “sandbagging” the journey back instead of offering guests an alternative experience—some believed this was a form of retaliation for the passenger complaints.
Atlas Ocean Voyages’ lack of accountability
For many, this was their one chance to visit Antarctica, and Atlas Ocean Voyages had taken it away. Passengers reached out to the cruise line for explanations, an apology, or compensation. Instead, they received radio silence.
After weeks of complaints and a petition for a full refund or future cruise credit, Atlas responded with a lackluster offer: a 15% refund on the base fare and a 25% credit for a future cruise, which had to be used within one year. For most passengers, this was unworkable. Many had saved for years and used all their vacation time on this failed trip.
To make matters worse, the CEO of Atlas accidentally sent an internal email to all passengers, further frustrating those who had already lost trust in the company. What was supposed to be an internal response to Atlas’ PR team regarding the outcry from passengers was accidentally sent to all of the passengers aboard the ill-fated voyage.
A cautionary tale for future travelers
For many, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and they will never get another chance to visit Antarctica. Some passengers had saved for a decade to afford this trip, only for Atlas Ocean Voyages to mishandle the logistics and refuse to take responsibility for the failures.
This experience serves as a warning to future travelers: luxury expedition cruising comes with risks, and not all cruise lines are equal. Before booking, research a company’s history with logistics, landings, and customer service.
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I feel just awful for them and for the older passengers, those that may be too old or out of money to ‘try again’. I feel sad for them. I really think that the company should make them whole.
Agreed. It is a sad situation, especially for the older adults onboard!