Lois : 𝙽𝚘 𝙲𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕

If you are planning an Antarctica cruise, chances are the Drake Passage is the thing you are most curious about.

It has a reputation like no other stretch of water on earth, and before you even set foot on the ship, people will be asking you about it.

Here is what you actually need to know.

What is the Drake Passage?

The Drake Passage sits between the southern tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula.

It is where the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans meet, with nothing to slow the water down for thousands of miles in any direction. It is considered one of the roughest stretches of ocean in the world, and crossing it is the gateway to Antarctica on a Celebrity Cruises voyage aboard Celebrity Equinox.

The crossing takes around two days each way, giving you time to settle into the rhythm of the ship before the real adventure begins.

Drake Lake or Drake Shake?

These are the two very different versions of the Drake Passage crossing, and which one you get comes down entirely to luck.

The Drake Shake is what most people fear. Rough seas, big swells and a ship that moves considerably underfoot. Many travellers stock up on seasickness remedies before boarding, and it is wise to do so.

The Drake Lake is the dream.

Calm, glassy water where the crossing feels almost serene. Icebergs begin to appear in the distance, seabirds glide alongside the ship and you find yourself standing on deck barely believing where you are headed.
Sailing on Celebrity Equinox, I was lucky enough to get the Drake Lake both ways.

The water was calm and the crossing felt peaceful rather than daunting. Icebergs drifted past the balcony and albatross kept pace with the ship.

It was a crossing I will never forget.

The honest truth is that you simply cannot predict which Drake you will get.

The ocean decides.

How Does Celebrity Equinox Handle the Crossing?

Celebrity Equinox carries around two thousand nine hundred guests and offers a stable, comfortable crossing whatever the conditions. The ship is beautifully maintained, with spacious public areas, excellent dining and plenty of places to settle in and watch the world change around you.

The Sky Observation Lounge is the perfect spot during the Drake crossing. Floor to ceiling windows give you an uninterrupted view of the water as the landscape slowly shifts from open ocean to the first hints of ice. With a warm drink in hand and the Southern Ocean stretching out in every direction, it is a genuinely special place to be.

What to Pack for the Drake Passage
Even in calm conditions the Southern Ocean air is cold, and the wind on deck can be biting. A snood or neck warmer is genuinely useful, as is a good windproof layer for time spent outside. Comfortable, grippy footwear is worth thinking about too, particularly if conditions are rougher underfoot.

Seasickness patches or tablets are worth having even if conditions look calm at departure. Weather on the Drake can change quickly and being prepared means you will not miss a moment of the crossing.

The moment Antarctica appears
whatever your crossing looks like, the moment the Antarctic Peninsula begins to emerge on the horizon makes every nautical mile worthwhile. The scale of it is difficult to describe. The light, the silence, the sheer wildness of it all.

Crossing the Drake Passage on Celebrity Equinox is not just a transit between two places.

It is the beginning of one of the most extraordinary experiences on earth.

Have you crossed the Drake Passage? Did you get the Drake Lake or the Drake Shake?

Please share your experience in the comments below. 👇