Calling all Trekkies. Captain Kirk needs crew — but not for the USS Enterprise. And as a substitute of Andoria, the destination is sunny Antarctica.
“There are specialists who might be amongst us on the boat that can find a way to elucidate the mysterious continent,” an eager William Shatner told The Post. The “Star Trek” star, who turns 93 this month, might be just certainly one of 260 passengers on Space2Sea’s first Antarctica voyage. Astronauts Scott Kelly and Chris Boshuizen can even be on board.
The ten-night trip, scheduled to set sail Dec. 19, is presented by Way forward for Space, a company whose mission is to bridge the divide between Earth and space.
“Space2Sea Antarctica is a curated event destined for certainly one of the last untouched frontiers,” Daniel Fox, Way forward for Space’s co-founder and “Chief Visionary” told The Post. “We set the stage for like-minded explorers, adventurers and influential leaders within the space and non-space sectors to return together.”
Why the White Continent? Fox says it’s the one place, besides space, humans haven’t really explored. Shatner, host of History’s hit show,“The UnXplained,” agreed. “The entire place is cloaked in mysterioso,” he said.
Plus, there are penguins. Fox has a friend who has been visiting Antarctica for 35 years and believes “with all his heart” that in the event that they live streamed these tuxedoed cuties 24/7 in prisons, the violence levels would drop significantly. And why Captain Kirk?
“Shatner embodies the spirit of discovery, even when he isn’t an explorer-explorer,” said Fox, who met the legend last yr at SXSW and began planning the trip shortly after. “He’s inspired generations to boldly go.”
For the ship, Way forward for Space is chartering a latest luxurious expedition vessel that boasts 132 all-veranda ocean-front suites, two custom-built six-person submersibles, and maybe most significantly, SpaceX’s Starlink Wi-Fi.
Because they’re offering so many bells and whistles, along with access to A-listers (a minimum of in relation to the cosmos), Fox said he expects the trip to sell out by summer. Rates include a pre-departure hotel in Buenos Aires, a roundtrip charter flight to the port, all meals (including 24/7 room service and wine), a keepsake parka and complimentary muck boot rentals — a must in a spot covered in penguin poo.
While the ship’s least expensive room, the $35,500 (based on double occupancy) veranda suite, is sold out, there are still $37,500 rooms available. All of them feature walk-in closets and heated wardrobes. The costliest suite, a $91,500 two-story oasis with its own glass-enclosed solarium, can also be taken (probably by Captain Kirk). But still up for grabs is a penthouse with floor-to-ceiling panoramic views. It’s just $60,500.
After all, you’re paying a premium to mingle with Captain Kirk and Kelly. In response to Fox, “The ship is small and intimate, so our guests will feel like being on a non-public yacht with them, while at the identical respecting their space.”
Like most celebs, Shatner can have an entourage in tow. “I’m bringing my three daughters and a few grandchildren,” he said. “They’ve mentioned we’ll have stormy seas from the purpose of South America to Antarctica, but apparently Christmas week, which is once we’re going, is the quietest.”
The cruise will depart from Ushuaia, and the itinerary features a total of three sea days.
The remaining of the time passengers are promised an array of experiences including kayaking and cruising around in a Zodiac. The ship’s 24-person expedition crew can even host “seaside chats.”
After all, the highlight of the trip might be the landings. Scheduled stops (every little thing depends on weather in Antarctica) include these hot spots: Half Moon Island, Deception Island, and Elephant Island where Ernest Shackleton’s crew were stranded for 128 days. Shatner, who did his homework, isn’t too apprehensive about being on the following Endurance or Titanic, though: “It’s a really established boat that’s done this trip again and again with many individuals, so we’re within the hands of experts.”
And if you might have a hankering to see Endurance — which sank in 1915 but was finally present in 2022 — attempt to persuade the crew to take you down in certainly one of the ship’s submersibles.
Unfortunately, those excursions aren’t included in the speed. Fortunately, the submersibles weren’t designed by Stockton Rush.