The International Maritime Organization has banned the carrying of heavy fuel in Antarctica waters effective August 1, 2011. This will likely mean that larger ships will no longer cruise the region. Smaller expedition cruise ships are unaffected, as most of them run on marine gas oil and diesel oil, neither of which was included in the ban, but the larger ships will likely not want to incur the added expense. The number of passengers could plummet from 14,350, to just 6,400 next year. Holland America, Princess Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas have all cruised the Antarctica region from South America. Celebrity has already announced that after the Infinity cruises the region next year, it will no longer send ships, instead their sister company, Azamara, will send the 700 passenger Azamara Journey to sail the region. It’s too soon to know what the other cruise lines will decide, but prices are sure to increase if the capacity drops. View Antarctica cruise options for November 2010 through March 2011 travel.
