A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!

[Something Fishy]

Main issue seems to be your desire to make this about photography as opposed to the experience.

Not at all. Photography is a significantly tiny part of this trip. Look at the site - how much is photography discussed? Barely. It is all about the experience.

Want to learn how to capture that experience? That's where the photography comes in.

You really think it’s impractically difficult with basic food and camera gear?

Absolutely. Ships in Antarctica do not allow and/or do not accommodate kosher food - just see @Dans experience last year. So unless you plan on living on crackers for a 10 days, yes, it's "impractically difficult".

but the issues and risks you mention don’t seem insurmountable.

You're in Antarctica and the incoming plane is delayed two days. You get kicked off the ship (which is starting a new cruise as soon the plane lands).

It's Shabbos and your options are remaining alone on a rock or taking the plane back.

This sort of delay happens so often that all fly/cruise trips have a fine print contingency plan that states that in case of a delay they will give you a bus tour of Patagonia instead.

Are you willing to take that risk?

[moko]

Is the cruise exclusively kosher? Who is the Mashgiach? Too bad I didn't know earlier....

[ExGingi]

Is the cruise exclusively kosher? Who is the Mashgiach? Too bad I didn't know earlier....

Is the mashgiach in it for the $$$ or for the experience?

[ushdadude]

Different strokes for different folks. Some will be happy going to the zoo and see penguins for free. 

and some people trek all the way to the arctic and don't even see a polar beer

[ExGingi]

and some people trek all the way to the arctic and don't even see a polar beer

That's why we get BBC Planet Earth DVD's from Amazon, so the kids (and us) can see all the penguins, polar bears, Arctic and Antarctic circles (and lines), etc. etc. without ever worrying about packing, food, babysitting, etc. etc.

[Aerial Dag]

That's why we get BBC Planet Earth DVD's from Amazon, so the kids (and us) can see all the penguins, polar bears, Arctic and Antarctic circles (and lines), etc. etc. without ever worrying about packing, food, babysitting, etc. etc.

yup you're right, it's the exact same thing 

[Geshmak25]

Lots of sarcastic remarks. I don't see the point in bashing a trip that Dan and others have clearly spent alot of time and thought putting this together.

[ExGingi]

I just read the DDMS post, and found where many might find value in the price of this trip. While this might not be a once-in-a-lifetime event, this is definitely something that is close to extinct, and people might actually recover the cost of the trip from this:

I’ll be giving seminars on credit cards and miles while the boat is in transit from Ushuaia to Antarctica

[EJB]

Not at all. Photography is a significantly tiny part of this trip. Look at the site - how much is photography discussed? Barely. It is all about the experience.

Want to learn how to capture that experience? That's where the photography comes in.

Absolutely. Ships in Antarctica do not allow and/or do not accommodate kosher food - just see @Dans experience last year. So unless you plan on living on crackers for a 10 days, yes, it's "impractically difficult".

You're in Antarctica and the incoming plane is delayed two days. You get kicked off the ship (which is starting a new cruise as soon the plane lands).

It's Shabbos and your options are remaining alone on a rock or taking the plane back.

This sort of delay happens so often that all fly/cruise trips have a fine print contingency plan that states that in case of a delay they will give you a bus tour of Patagonia instead.

Are you willing to take that risk?

You’ve obviously spent more time researching, but if you don’t need dozens of catered meals and are fine with bringing what you can and supplementing with fruit, vegetables, perhaps fish, drinks, etc, I wouldn’t think it’s impossible. Difficult and risky, sure. Of the 100 operators none are willing to cater kosher fish for a large group, for example? What have the other kosher tours done (including the one being planned for late December?).

[EJB]

I just read the DDMS post, and found where many might find value in the price of this trip. While this might not be a once-in-a-lifetime event, this is definitely something that is close to extinct, and people might actually recover the cost of the trip from this:

That’s a great point. If dan grants access to the soooper seekrit forum with admission I’m sure loads of ppl will sign up

[aygart]

You’ve obviously spent more time researching, but if you don’t need dozens of catered meals and are fine with bringing what you can and supplementing with fruit, vegetables, perhaps fish, drinks, etc, I wouldn’t think it’s impossible. Difficult and risky, sure. Of the 100 operators none are willing to cater kosher fish for a large group, for example? What have the other kosher tours done (including the one being planned for late December?).

Having them cater kosher fish is much more complicated.

[Mordyk]

Is the cruise exclusively kosher? Who is the Mashgiach? Too bad I didn't know earlier....

did you read the post? it specifically says that its part of a larger cruise...

[jj1000]

@Dan @Something Fishy Will we be guaranteed to see Polar bears in the south pole?

I would want a refund if we don't see any.

Thanks!

P.S. What is the cost? And will there be a daf yomi shiur? Will you be printing a tanya on the trip? Will the chef be shomer shabbos?

P.P.S. I can't afford this but I'm willing to wash dishes one night a week on the trip, does that work?

[EJB]

Having them cater kosher fish is much more complicated.

Perhaps though there definitely are ways If the operator is flexible given a nice block of ppl. And even if there weren’t you don’t have to eat crackers the entire time.

[EJB]

@Dan @Something Fishy Will we be guaranteed to see Polar bears in the south pole?

I would want a refund if we don't see any.

Thanks!

P.S. What is the cost? And will there be a daf yomi shiur? Will you be printing a tanya on the trip? Will the chef be shomer shabbos?

P.P.S. I can't afford this but I'm willing to wash dishes one night a week on the trip, does that work?

P P P S - will JJ be in attendance? If so I expect seminars on how to find amazing amazon deals!

[ChaimMoskowitz]

@Dan @Something Fishy Will we be guaranteed to see Polar bears in the south pole?

I would want a refund if we don't see any.

Feel bad for those that don't get it. 

[Geshmak25]

@Dan @Something Fishy Will we be guaranteed to see Polar bears in the south pole?

I would want a refund if we don't see any.

Thanks!

P.S. What is the cost? And will there be a daf yomi shiur? Will you be printing a tanya on the trip? Will the chef be shomer shabbos?

P.P.S. I can't afford this but I'm willing to wash dishes one night a week on the trip, does that work?

You can make fun, but you're the one going for free...

[Dan]

You can make fun, but you're the one going for free...

Good news @jj1000, seems like @Geshmak25 is sponsoring you to come

[EJB]

Good news @jj1000, seems like @Geshmak25 is sponsoring you to come

I thought he was the mashgiach

[EJB]

On a serious note, do you need a certain amount of commitments to do this? If so how many?