WHY 100 MATTERS
The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) regulates the frequency and number of guests visiting all sites. No more than 100 guests can land at the same site at the same time. If you choose a ship with less than, or close to, 100 guests all guests will be able to go ashore the same time.
Ships with up to 130 guests will often have up to 24 kayakers not going ashore, which means the remaining clients can all land. Effectively you maximise your time ashore on a smaller ship.
WHY 200 ALSO MATTERS
If your chosen Antarctic cruise ship has up to 200 guests wishing to go ashore at the same site, some guests will have to wait whilst the first 100 go ashore. This also means you spend less time on shore as each site has a set time allowed for the ship to land guests. Some operators will offer Zodiac cruises to those guests waiting for their turn to go ashore.
On the Antarctic Peninsula it is sometimes possible (but not always) to position the ship close to two sites, allowing half the passengers to visit one site and half at the other. This will not always be possible and there is a greater likelihood that these vessels will visit fewer sites (than those with closer to 100 guests) – as a result of taking longer to allow all clients to go ashore.
Whilst only 100 guests can go ashore at the one time ships with under 200 guests can still visit most sites on the Antarctic Peninsula.
WHY SHIPS WITH 200-500 GUESTS VISIT LIMITED SITES
Ships with over 200 guests and less than 500 can visit a very limited number of sites. Given the number of clients it will also take more time to get everyone off the ship.
Ships with over 500 guests are not allowed to have excursions ashore from the ship – they are ‘Cruise Only’.
