DelicateArch

I don’t know about the charter, but on a full sized plane from Ushuaia to Buenos Aries last week, they weighed my carry on and said I was over and had to remove stuff. They do not weigh you or your jacket! Find one with good pockets.

We just returned from the Valparaiso to Ushuaia segment on the Explorer. None of our landings were wet (in the sense of walking in water). Being in the zodiac is wet from splashing so I found the waterproof boot great for that. The zodiacs are completely stable and are just fine for the non-athletic. They even got one guy, who tires easily and uses a wheelchair a lot of the time, into them for glacier viewing.

I used those boots that are rubber, or something, up to about the top of your foot and neoprene the rest of the way up your calf while out on deck when cold and in the zodiacs. Make sure you have real gloves - like ski gloves that are warm when in cold areas. An extra hat, like a fleece beanie is helpful. And I ended up wearing ski pants in the zodiac and hiking in Torres del Paine. I was toasty and the left them behind with another woman heading to the Antarctic with no insulated pants. She will mail them when she returns.

Yes this is a lot to add into your luggage. But you will not be sorry. The other woman had carried more lightweight stuff (and consequently looked better at dinner than me!) but needed more for colder days. So if your itinerary is like the Explorer’s, consider making the sacrifice!