r/antarctica

So seems as though things have changed for reimbursements. Amentum wants the statement from your banks. Itemized bill from either dentist or medial. But they are wanting parts of your PQ packet too. What’s this? So if it’s dental they want page 12? Is this correct?

That be vibe!

You know, "the nice/fancy stuff". Do/did you bring any and if so for what occasion?

During the 2025–2026 season I worked aboard charter flights between Santiago, Punta Arenas, and King George Island. Over 15 rotations I saw the same surprises hit passengers again and again — people who had spent tons of money and arrived without basic information about how the logistics actually work. Not because operators hide it, but because nobody had put it together in one place.

1. The flight window has a hard cut-off: Operators will only attempt the outbound flight for a limited number of days before the expedition is officially cancelled. The window varies by operator and isn't always clearly communicated upfront. Knowing this in advance helps you plan your international connections and insurance accordingly.

2. Ship size determines your time on the ice: IAATO caps shore landings at 100 passengers at one site at a time. Smaller ships can land everyone simultaneously. Larger ships rotate groups, meaning part of your landing time is spent waiting on board. Neither is wrong — but knowing the difference helps you choose.

3. Standard travel insurance doesn't cover medevac: An emergency evacuation from Antarctica can cost USD $100,000+. You need a separate policy. It's not common knowledge and it's worth sorting before you book.

4. Special meal requests frequently don't make it to the manifest: I documented multiple flights where dietary requirements confirmed at booking weren't on the manifest. Reconfirm in person in Santiago — it's a simple step that avoids a frustrating situation.

5. Your return date is not guaranteed — in both directions. If weather delays the outbound flight, those days are lost — the return date doesn't shift to compensate. If weather blocks the return flight, you stay on the ship and keep cruising. In either scenario your international connection home is not the operator's responsibility. A 2-day buffer between your scheduled return to Santiago and any international departure is essential.

Happy to answer questions here or DM

Where I live in the world, it is basically summer most of the year and I love winter. I’m looking for a nice book that talks about the climate of Antarctica—the animals in it, landmasses, and all the natural things. Ideally, I get I’m looking for are those quasi-textbook books you find at the library as a kid with pictures, maps, and explanations. I need some visual escapism in this current 29°C in heat.

I’m not planing travel or tourism. Just a book or two to look at.

See also: The study as it was published in Physical Review Letters

Right now, all I'm waiting on is a phone call to tell me I've been bumped from alternate to primary for a summer season at McMurdo. I'm really excited, but I haven't thought much about what "resuming" my life afterwards would be like, and I'm starting to think it might not be easy

What was life like for you after returning? Were you able to find decent-ish employment? Did you struggle to reintegrate and "pick up where you left off"? Did you go back to a "normal" job of some kind or was your career completely different after Antarctica?

I understand why UTMB does not consider restorative healthcare as reimburseable by the employers. But there’s another category that they seem keen on hitting me with: extra evaluations. “Go see a doctor and have them write a paper that says [issue] is fine and supports your deployment to remote polar environment”. This isn’t restorative healthcare- nothing is being fixed. It’s just UTMB farming protection from liability.

This has become profoundly costly for me as an uninsured individual, and I cannot obtain insurance for a frustrating bureaucratic reason.

UTMB is also regularly updating their conditions on what’s acceptable and what isn’t. So I’m also getting hit on very old health concerns that weren’t so much as a blip in my previous deployments. Really weird.

My travel plan is for December 2026, and I need a balcony cabin for two people.

Do you have any excellent and responsible agency recommendations? It's better to have a discount. thanks

I’ll be heading down to McMurdo to work in Cargo for the summer, and I’m trying to sort out my boot situation early. I have big feet. I usually wear a men's 14 but often need a 15 for larger work boots, and I absolutely need wide sizes. I always struggle ordering shoes that fit right on the first try. It seems that past size 13 shoe manufacturers just start guessing at dimensions.

I know we get issued boots for the extreme cold days, I'm using the boot stipend and getting my own boots to use for the bulk of the season. Finding a boot that fits a yeti and meets all the Cargo requirements is tough. Here is the criteria I need to hit:

• Composite toe

• Insulation: 200-600g Thinsulate

• Roomy enough to accommodate thick socks and toe warmers without getting tight (size up!)

• Soles: Vibram or IceTrek is ideal. I'm told they need to be true Arctic/freezer work boot.

• 5" shaft or taller

If any other cargo folks with big dogs have found a boot that comes in a 15W and checks all these boxes, please let me know, any recommendations would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!

hey everyone!

im a recent graduate (US) with a mechanical engineering degree, abt to start a job as a distribution design engineer with leidos near my hometown. i want to work in antarctica eventually, what are my chances with this kind of experience on my resume in a few years? does working for leidos previously help in getting one of their usap jobs?

any experiences/advice/input from anyone who did something somewhat similar or anyone who worked an engineering position here in general is appreciated 🙏 :)