Now, Where Can I Go Next Christmas?

Tired of those gay cruises around the Caribbean or the Mediterranean?  Tired of beach holidays in the gay resorts of Florida, Gran Canaria?  Tired of the “city” holidays in such gay-friendly places like Toronto, Vancouver, Philadelphia or the capitals of Europe?

You have gone on a gay safari in Africa, done the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Mardi Gras in Sydney, visited the Great Wall of China, or even wallowed in the history of the ancient temples on the banks of the river Nile.

In fact you have been on every continent on the globe, North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Africa – all on “gay tours”.

So there is nowhere else to go …

Wrong.  You have forgotten Antarctica!

New gay adventure travel company Out On The Water, based in Canada, announced this month that it was organising an “expedition” for gay and lesbian adventure travellers to Antarctica in December 2005.

“We are thrilled to be able to announce the creation of Out On The Water, which is definitely not your average gay tour company, and absolutely intended that way,” said company president David Ferguson.

“Exploration is the order of the day with any Out On The Water expedition,” he said.  “Our knowledgeable, professional and necessarily experienced staff provide enlightening presentations about history, wildlife, culture, geography and a range of other subjects relevant to the areas being visited.

“Imagine,” he continued, “following those presentations up by leaving the ship, climbing into a Zodiac and going ashore to experience the destination firsthand.  Fortunately, you no longer have to imagine it.  With our first full gay adventure travel expedition to Antarctica in 2005, tours of this nature are now a reality.  Pride is definitely an understatement.”

The Antarctic cruise is between December 15 and 28 – and despite it being summer in Antarctica, snow is guaranteed!

Beginning in Buenos Aires, Argentina before continuing to the ship embarkation point of Ushuaia (the world’s most southerly city), spend eleven days discovering one of the world’s last great frontiers during this 13-night/14 day expedition.

In Argentina, discover the architecture, food and fabric of life that is quintessentially Buenos Aires, where you’ll also have the opportunity to visit the tomb of Eva Peron before continuing on to Tierra del Fuego, the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Boasting an abundance of spectacular marine mammals and bird life, expedition highlights include five species of seal, penguins, seabirds and some of the best whale watching the world has to offer.

“We are committed to providing the gay adventure travel community an experience that transcends their current knowledge of what ‘all-inclusive’ means,” promised Ferguson. “To Out On The Water, all-inclusive entails not only creating an open and all-inclusive environment with style, comfort, service and a full suite of amenities this community has come to expect.  It also means a commitment to the complete adventure travel experience.

“Certainly we would be remiss without the laughs, the memories and the camaraderie of the traditional cruise ship experience, and those will absolutely be there, but the Out On The Water experience also means adventure and learning in unique, exquisite environs,” he said.

Intrepid adventurers will visit one of the last remaining “frontiers” on this planet on the 100-passenger R/V Akademik Sergei Vavilov, which comes complete with a bar, reading lounge, gymnasium, plunge pool and sauna.  The Akademik Vavilov is a modern, ice-strengthened vessel that is very comfortable and ideally suited for polar exploration.

Trips like this do not come cheap.  This one costs from $US 4,890 per person in a triple cabin to $US 8,990 per person in the Shackleton suite.  These prices are from Buenos Aires and do not include travel to Argentina.

Rates Include
• Voyage aboard the R/V Akademik Sergei Vavilov as indicated in the itinerary
• Shipboard accommodations as selected
• 2 hotel nights in Buenos Aires; 1 hotel night in Ushuaia
• All meals and non-alcoholic drinks aboard ship plus meals as indicated in itinerary
• All shore excursions by Zodiac and activities throughout the voyage
• Program of lectures by expedition staff and leadership by an experienced expedition leader
• Transfers and baggage handling between hotels, airports and ship as indicated in itinerary
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
• Comprehensive pre-departure materials
• Commemorative expedition jacket
• Detailed post-expedition log

In the spring of 2006, Out On The Water has a trip to the Galapagos Islands.

For full details and online booking visit the Out On The Water website.