After securing my Argentine e-visa in my home country, I eagerly monitored Xiaohongshu for discounted flight tickets. However, after some back-and-forth, I found it a bit cumbersome and decided to purchase the ticket locally instead. On December 4th, following an exhausting 30-hour journey, I finally set foot in Buenos Aires, the vibrant capital of Argentina.
Two days later, at precisely 12:45 PM local time, I arrived in Ushuaia, known as the southernmost city in the world and the gateway to Antarctic expeditions.
While waiting at the airport, I struck up a conversation with two middle-aged women who were also traveling solo. They had purchased 11-day cruise tickets for a hefty $9,000 in their home country. As soon as I stepped off the plane, the biting cold reminded me of its proximity to Antarctica. In the afternoon, I ventured out to find discounted cruise tickets.
After navigating through several bustling streets and gathering conflicting information from various sources, I finally asked a young man who was waiting for the bus. He kindly guided me through a few more winding streets to the right place. Without his help, I might not have had the courage to enter.
Inside, a group of locals were engaged in lively conversation. After a brief exchange, the owner assured me that someone who spoke Chinese would be arriving shortly. Sure enough, a charming girl from Hong Kong appeared. She provided detailed information about the upcoming Antarctic cruises, including a US ship departing on the 8th, built in 2021, which offered Chinese translation services.
Her company acted as an agent, and she suggested I could contact the cruise company directly.
I followed her advice and communicated online with the US company, which accepted Visa card payments. I ended up booking a cabin with a balcony and a double bed. If it had been a private room, the original price would have been $10,249 * 1.5 = $15,373, but with the discount, it came down to $3,449 * 1.25 = $4,311, a generous 28% savings. The price included gratuities and a complimentary down jacket, perfect for the 12-day voyage ahead.
