Author Topic: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!  (Read 26103 times)

Offline Something Fishy

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 8707
  • Total likes: 6069
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 44
    • View Profile
    • Kosher Horizons
  • Location: Iceland
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #40 on: July 19, 2018, 01:33:32 PM »
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?
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Online moko

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 4567
  • Total likes: 1484
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
  • Location: BOS
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #41 on: July 19, 2018, 01:34:28 PM »
Is the cruise exclusively kosher? Who is the Mashgiach? Too bad I didn't know earlier....

Offline ExGingi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2015
  • Posts: 15618
  • Total likes: 7710
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 19
    • View Profile
  • Location: 770
  • Programs: בשורת הגאולה. From Exile to Redemption. GIYF. AAdvantage Executive Platinum®
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #42 on: July 19, 2018, 01:39:08 PM »
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?
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline ushdadude

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 6300
  • Total likes: 923
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
    • View Profile
  • Location: NY
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #43 on: July 19, 2018, 01:39:14 PM »
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

Offline ExGingi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2015
  • Posts: 15618
  • Total likes: 7710
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 19
    • View Profile
  • Location: 770
  • Programs: בשורת הגאולה. From Exile to Redemption. GIYF. AAdvantage Executive Platinum®
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #44 on: July 19, 2018, 01:42:04 PM »
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.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline Aerial Dag

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2013
  • Posts: 1046
  • Total likes: 78
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
  • Location: MS Desert
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #45 on: July 19, 2018, 01:43:53 PM »
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  ::)


Offline Geshmak25

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 3430
  • Total likes: 127
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
    • View Profile
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #46 on: July 19, 2018, 01:44:32 PM »
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.
PUTPAC = PITA

Offline ExGingi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2015
  • Posts: 15618
  • Total likes: 7710
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 19
    • View Profile
  • Location: 770
  • Programs: בשורת הגאולה. From Exile to Redemption. GIYF. AAdvantage Executive Platinum®
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #47 on: July 19, 2018, 01:52:24 PM »
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:

Quote
I’ll be giving seminars on credit cards and miles while the boat is in transit from Ushuaia to Antarctica
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline EJB

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 5409
  • Total likes: 254
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
    • View Profile
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #48 on: July 19, 2018, 01:59:32 PM »
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?).

Offline EJB

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 5409
  • Total likes: 254
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
    • View Profile
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #49 on: July 19, 2018, 02:01:41 PM »
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

Online aygart

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 17395
  • Total likes: 14333
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
    • Lower Watt Energy Brokers
  • Programs: www.lowerwatt.com
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #50 on: July 19, 2018, 02:03:18 PM »
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.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Online Mordyk

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2013
  • Posts: 4102
  • Total likes: 1015
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Some of this and some of that.
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #51 on: July 19, 2018, 02:04:07 PM »
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...
#TYH

Offline jj1000

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jun 2008
  • Posts: 13470
  • Total likes: 6095
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 29367
    • View Profile
  • Location: The value of a forum such as this one is not in that one can post a question and receive an answer, but in that the question has most likely been asked before, and the answer is available to him that will but only use the search function.
  • Programs: 1. Search on google. 2. Search in the right board of DDF with a general word or two. 3. Read the wiki. 4. Read the thread. 5. Ask away.
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #52 on: July 19, 2018, 02:05:19 PM »
@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?
See my 5 step program to your left <--

(Real signature under my location)

Offline EJB

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 5409
  • Total likes: 254
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
    • View Profile
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #53 on: July 19, 2018, 02:05:53 PM »
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.

Offline EJB

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 5409
  • Total likes: 254
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
    • View Profile
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #54 on: July 19, 2018, 02:07:44 PM »
@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!

Offline ChaimMoskowitz

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jun 2014
  • Posts: 6738
  • Total likes: 1097
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Female
    • View Profile
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #55 on: July 19, 2018, 02:08:25 PM »
@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.  :)
I just found a new supply of forks!

Offline Geshmak25

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 3430
  • Total likes: 127
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
    • View Profile
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #56 on: July 19, 2018, 02:08:46 PM »
@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...
PUTPAC = PITA

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67598
  • Total likes: 16909
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #57 on: July 19, 2018, 02:09:46 PM »
You can make fun, but you're the one going for free...
Good news @jj1000, seems like @Geshmak25 is sponsoring you to come :D
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline EJB

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 5409
  • Total likes: 254
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
    • View Profile
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #58 on: July 19, 2018, 02:10:50 PM »
Good news @jj1000, seems like @Geshmak25 is sponsoring you to come :D
I thought he was the mashgiach

Offline EJB

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Sep 2012
  • Posts: 5409
  • Total likes: 254
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
    • View Profile
Re: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Kosher Catered Trip To Antarctica!
« Reply #59 on: July 19, 2018, 02:11:41 PM »
On a serious note, do you need a certain amount of commitments to do this? If so how many?