Different between expedition ship and Jupiter for Chilean Fjords cruise?

[Snowcat1]

We are wanting to do a cruise in South America and have looked at the ones with the expedition ship and then noticed the Jupiter also does a trip around the Cape of Horn. 
Can anyone tell me how different the 2 cruises are? Has anyone done both?

Anyrecmmendations?  Thanks

[wine-wine-wine]

We took the Jupiter one and loved it, especially as we were able to reach the Falklands successfully. 
 

That said, I secretly dream of taking the expedition version.  It seems like one gets so much closer to the glaciers and wildlife. Maybe someday - just have to convince DW. 😎

[OneSixtyToOne]

While we haven’t done the VO cruise of the fjords, we have taken the Viking Expedition cruise (see link to my full review below) and have taken many VO cruises so I think I can draw a valid comparison.

 

The biggest difference is in the amount of time doing scenic cruising in the fjords themselves. You see more glaciers and are able to get up close and even do a zodiac landing at one. You have fewer days on the ocean and more days sailing very close to land. The scenery and wildlife sightings were amazing.
 

Expedition cruising is a totally different experience from ocean. The ship is smaller and phenomenal, the food is amazing, the pax to crew ratio is almost 2-1, and the experiences on the zodiacs, special op boats, and kayaks means you are literally on the water for most of your included “excursions.” The whole cruise “entertainment” is geared around science and nature presentations, which we throughly enjoyed.

 

As far as “rounding the horn” we were able to get much closer to Cape Horn than the ocean cruise because we had a Chilean pilot the entire cruise. Because of the nature of the cruise, we were also able to take short detours in the fjords when wildlife was spotted. It was the trip of a lifetime and we would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

Cape Horn 

 

Glaciers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stateroom View

 

 

Penguins

 

 

Edited July 23 by OneSixtyToOne

[TayanaLorna]

Took the Santiago to Buenas Aires - Around Cape Horn cruise in 2020 on the Jupiter and it was a fantastic 18 days.  Saw lots of wildlife but on land excursions.  Really loved our scenic cruising days through Chilean Patagonia so much that we want to go back for the expedition ship cruise as it spends the majority of its days in the fjords.  I see the big difference between the Jupiter and the expedition ship cruise in the number of ports visited.  The Jupiter has more pirts.  The stops are a combination of cities (Santiago/Valparaiso, Montevideo and Buenas Aires) and small towns with nature/wildlife excursions options.   Even the smaller ports of Puerto Montt, Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn and the Falklands are awesome.  Compare each itinerary for ports visited, number of sea days and number of scenic cruising days to get an idea.  On the Jupiter ocean cruise you do get up close to a glacier but not in a Zodiac.  We also had a Chilean pilot on board for rounding the horn.  The day we did it was quite calm and we did get close but that is not always the case.  Each cruise has a different niche.

[Snowcat1]

Do you think it would make any difference in which direction you sailed?

[OneSixtyToOne]

41 minutes ago, Snowcat1 said:

Do you think it would make any difference in which direction you sailed?

Personally, if doing an expedition cruise, I’d rather start in Santiago. It’s a loooong way to Ushuaia. It’s 3+ hours from Buenos Aires. Since all flights back to the U.S. are late night flights, I’d rather do all that flying at the back end.

 

 The expedition cruise is a repositioning cruise for the change in seasons. It goes only south in the fall and only north in the spring. 

Edited July 24 by OneSixtyToOne

[Peregrina651]

3 hours ago, Snowcat1 said:

Do you think it would make any difference in which direction you sailed?

 

Years ago, before VO, we chose to depart from BA because the view we wanted to see was the Beagle Channel west of Ushuaia (the glaciers).  If you sail from BA you see it in the late afternoon/evening as you are departing Ushuaia; if you sail from Santiago, then you see it before you reach Ushuaia in the early hours of the morning. (I am not an early morning person; there was only one choice).

 

 

[wolfie11]

The expedition cruise has a lot more toys on board to play with.  You will cruise right up to the glaciers in zodiacs and land among the penguins.  We were lucky to be able to land on Hornos Island and walk up to the lighthouse.

[deec]

We did the Jupiter around South America.  We did Antarctica on the Octantis.  I would love to do South America on the Expedition Ship!  However, if you love the evening shows and  more passengers and big pol area you might enjoy the bigger ship.  Buenos Aires and Montevideo were great ports but we missed the Falklands because of their Covid pre- cautions.  I think you would enjoy either cruise.

[island lady]

On 7/23/2024 at 11:54 AM, OneSixtyToOne said:

While we haven’t done the VO cruise of the fjords, we have taken the Viking Expedition cruise (see link to my full review below) and have taken many VO cruises so I think I can draw a valid comparison.

 

The biggest difference is in the amount of time doing scenic cruising in the fjords themselves. You see more glaciers and are able to get up close and even do a zodiac landing at one. You have fewer days on the ocean and more days sailing very close to land. The scenery and wildlife sightings were amazing.
 

Expedition cruising is a totally different experience from ocean. The ship is smaller and phenomenal, the food is amazing, the pax to crew ratio is almost 2-1, and the experiences on the zodiacs, special op boats, and kayaks means you are literally on the water for most of your included “excursions.” The whole cruise “entertainment” is geared around science and nature presentations, which we throughly enjoyed.

 

As far as “rounding the horn” we were able to get much closer to Cape Horn than the ocean cruise because we had a Chilean pilot the entire cruise. Because of the nature of the cruise, we were also able to take short detours in the fjords when wildlife was spotted. It was the trip of a lifetime and we would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

Cape Horn 

 

Glaciers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stateroom View

 

 

Penguins

 

 

 

OMG...thank you so much for posting those!  Looking forward to Octantis!  🥰

[deec]

If I could afford it I would only cruise on Expedition Ships  everywhere they go.

 

 

We did SA on the Jupiter and it was great!  But we are seriously considering the portion that the Expedition Ship does to get more "adventure" and be closer to nature.

 

You have to decide what you want from the cruise.  You will see more of SA if you do Ocean on the Jupiter.