The latest head-turner from Crystal Cruises: a $10,000 shore excursion

[mercedes]

So this is how the other half lives.

Luxury line Crystal Cruises today is unveiling what no doubt is one of the most expensive shore excursions ever conceived: A $9,774 per person overnight tour to Antarctica.

The unusual outing, billed as a cruise industry first, is available to passengers visiting Ushuaia, Argentina on a 19-day Crystal Symphony voyage that begins Dec. 20 in Buenos Aires.

The Extreme Overnight Adventure in Antarctica, as it's being called, will include a visit to the breeding grounds of three species of penguin as well as the home of elephant and fur seals.

“Only a handful of people will ever have the chance to see this remarkable region so intimately," says John Stoll, Crystal's director of land programs. Passengers should “brace for a once-in-a-lifetime excursion."

Participants in the two-day excursion will leave the ship in Ushuaia and travel by plane to King George Island just off the coast of mainland Antarctica. From there, depending on weather conditions, they will visit the Chilean Eduardo Frei Antarctic Base and the Uruguayan Base Artigas; take a snow coach trip to King George's Collins Glacier and ride a zodiac boat to a penguin breeding ground on nearby Ardley Island.

Passengers on the excursion will spend the night at the Chilean Antarctic Institute on King George Island, and the trip also will include a helicopter ride to a humpback whale sanctuary and a visit to a King penguin colony. Passengers will rejoin the ship in Punta Arenas, Chile.

The excursion is limited to six participants, and the price is based on double occupancy. At $9,774 per person, the shore excursion notably costs more than the 19-day cruise itself. Prices for the voyage, which ends in Valparaiso, Chile and also include calls in Montevideo, Uruguay; Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Port Stanley, Falkland Islands; and Puerto Montt, Chile, start at $8,995 per person, double occupancy.

[sailingrose]

I can cruise several times for that kind of money............

[DebbieandJerry]

If someone offered it to me, I'd jump at it. As for paying for it myself, no thanks. I'll use that money to book a few more cruises.

[Shaunna]

Wow....what an opportunity but I'm obviously not in that other half. Maybe someday...LOL!

[lindasuelucas]

that's not the half i'm from. some times i dream...

[bowlcoach]

"Luxury line Crystal Cruises today is unveiling what no doubt is one of the most expensive shore excursions ever conceived: A $9,774 per person overnight tour to Antarctica."

Whatever happened to the cruise lines just nickelling and diming us to death??????

I thought $4.00 freshly squeezed juice was bad.

[lindasuelucas]

"Luxury line Crystal Cruises today is unveiling what no doubt is one of the most expensive shore excursions ever conceived: A $9,774 per person overnight tour to Antarctica."

Whatever happened to the cruise lines just nickelling and diming us to death??????

I thought $4.00 freshly squeezed juice was bad.