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Enquiries & Reservations
Booking With Coastal Cruises
Booking an Antarctica expedition should be the easy part. Call us, talk it through with someone who knows the ships and the routes, and we will look after everything from the first quote to the day you fly.
Why Book With Us
Coastal Cruises is the trading name of Westgate Travel, an independent travel agent in Talbot Green, South Wales, established in 1989. We have been selling polar expedition voyages for many years, first with Hurtigruten and now with HX Expeditions. When you call, you speak to one of a small team who can explain the differences between the ships, the cabins and the itineraries, and give you a straight answer about which voyage suits you. And you have someone in your corner from the first question to the day you come home.
Step by Step
Tell us when you would like to travel, how long you have, and what matters most to you: South Georgia, the Antarctic Circle, whales, a balcony, a budget. If you are still at the browsing stage, have a look at our Antarctica cruises page first, or send us a message through our contact page and we will call you back.
Cruise lines use flexible pricing, so fares move with demand and the brochure price is only a guide. We check live availability on your chosen dates, across the cabin grades you are interested in, and look at any current offers, such as reduced fares or deals for solo travellers. Then we give you a clear quote with everything that is and is not included.
Where the cruise line allows it, we can hold a cabin for you for a short time so you can check dates with your family or travel companions without losing it. Popular departures and suites can go quickly, so it is worth holding early.
When you are ready, we confirm the booking with the cruise line and take your deposit. The cruise line then sends a confirmation invoice, which you should check carefully. If you book close to departure, the full price is usually due straight away. Deposit amounts and payment dates vary from line to line, and we set them out clearly before you commit.
Arrange travel insurance as soon as you have paid your deposit. It must cover cancellation, medical treatment and evacuation and repatriation from Antarctica, and the cruise line will ask for your insurer's name and 24 hour emergency number. UK residents can get a quote from our insurance partner Allianz Assistance. Closer to the time, you will also be asked to complete a medical screening form online.
The balance is due on the date shown on your confirmation, usually a few months before you travel. Cruise lines do not always send a second invoice, so it is worth putting the date in your diary. (Coastal Cruises will send you a reminder if you go over by a few days). You can pay by debit, credit card or bank transfer, and we will explain the other options when you book.
Your final documents are issued around 7 to 14 days before departure, with flight details, hotel information and joining instructions. If you have any last minute questions, we are still here to answer them.
Payments
Each cruise line sets its own deposit, balance date and cancellation charges, and your contract is with the cruise line, under its own booking conditions. Cancellation charges normally rise on a sliding scale from the deposit up to the full price as departure approaches, which is why insurance from the day you book is so important. The full terms are always available from us before you book.
Making the Arrangements
Most Antarctica cruises include the flights between the gateway city and the ship, such as Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and back on most HX voyages. International flights from the UK are not usually included, but we can find and book them for you, or you can arrange your own.
We strongly recommend arriving in Buenos Aires or Santiago at least a day early. Long haul flights do get delayed, and the charter flight south will not wait. We can book extra hotel nights before or after the voyage, and the cruise line's optional pre and post programmes, from Patagonia and the Iguazú Falls to a tango show in Buenos Aires. Read about the cities on our gateway cities page.
Peace of Mind
Coastal Cruises is a member of the Travel Trust Association, membership number Q9151. Your voyage is provided by the cruise line, and flight inclusive packages are protected under the cruise line's own ATOL licence (for HX voyages, that of HX Group Ltd). You will receive an ATOL Certificate from the cruise line when your booking includes flights. Please check it carefully when it arrives.
Get in Touch
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 10:00 to 17:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 to 13:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Call us on 0333 405 0194, or write to Coastal Cruises, 91 Talbot Road, Talbot Green, Pontyclun CF72 8AE. Outside opening hours, use our contact form and we will get back to you as soon as we are open.
Or call 0333 405 0194