We are a family of four, planning to visit New Zealand in late 2007, and take a cruise from there to Antarctica. Is this possible? Consuela Moorman, by email

Doc Holiday responds: The usual place to join an Antarctic cruise is the Argentine city of Ushuaia, located at the southern tip of the country, in Tierra del Fuego. It may seem odd to think of any aspect of Antarctic tourism being "usual", but despite the great white continent's incredible remoteness and inhospitable weather conditions, the number of tourists enjoying cruises there has been rising steadily. This year the number is thought to be about 30,000.

However, Orion Cruises heads for a part of Antarctica that for the moment, is hardly visited by tourists. And the perfect thing for anyone wanting to add Antarctica onto a trip to Australia or New Zealand, is that they sail from Hobart in Tasmania, and Invercargill on New Zealand's South Island.

Due south of Australasia is the Ross Sea, which borders the vast Ross Ice Shelf. It's an even more southerly area of sea than that south of Tierra del Fuego, and to get to it you have to sail below Antarctic Circle. You'll learn a whole new lexicon of place names too, like Commonwealth Bay, Cape Dennison, Port Martin, Dumont d'Urville, and the Macquarie, Auckland, and Snares Islands. You'll also be able to visit some historic expedition bases, used by Scott, Shackleton and Mawson. And of course, there¹s no shortage of icebergs, penguins, and spectacular seascapes.

The vessel is the Orion, which carries 100 passengers, weighs 4,000 tonnes, and was built in 2003. It's specially reinforced for cruising in Antarctic waters, and has a gym, internet access, jaqqusi, library, observation lounge, restaurant, plus an outdoor café and bar.

Cruises last either 15 or 20 nights and there are a couple of dates still available in December 2007 and January 2008. Bridge & Wickers (020 7483 6555) offer the cruises for a cool £6,425pp, which includes your cabin, all on board meals, 24-hour room service, educational programmes, use of ship's sporting equipment and facilities, frequent Zodiac and tender transfers for sightseeing, and access to the ship's library of CDs and DVDs. Flights are extra, and finalised fares have yet to be published, but expect to pay about £1,100pp for flights into Hobart and back from Invercargill, also through Bridge & Wickers.

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