TREK ME OUT
Set your phasers to stunning on Bill Shatner’s voyage to Antarctica
CALLING all Trekkies. Captain Kirk needs crew — but not for the USS Enterprise. And instead of Andoria, the destination is sunny Antarctica. “There are specialists who will be among us on the boat that will be able to explain the mysterious continent,” an eager William Shatner (inset) told The Post. The “Star Trek” star, who turns 93 this month, will be just one of 260 passengers on Space2Sea’s first Antarctica voyage. Astronauts Scott Kelly and Chris Boshuizen will also be on board.
The 10-night trip, scheduled to set sail Dec. 19, is presented by Future of Space, an organization whose mission is to bridge the divide between Earth and space. “Space2Sea Antarctica is a curated event destined for one of the last untouched frontiers,” Daniel Fox, Future of Space’s co-founder and “Chief Visionary” told The Post. “We set the stage for like-minded explorers, adventurers and influential leaders in the space and non-space sectors to come together.”
Why the White Continent? Fox says it’s the only place, besides space, humans haven’t really explored. Shatner, host of History’s hit show,“The UnXplained,” agreed. “The whole 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 if 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 if he isn’t an explorer-explorer,” said Fox, who met the legend last year at SXSW and started planning the trip shortly after. “He’s inspired generations to boldly go.”
For the ship, Future of Space is chartering a new luxurious expedition vessel that boasts 132 all-veranda ocean-front suites, two custom-built six-person submersibles, and perhaps most importantly, SpaceX’s Starlink Wi-Fi. Because they’re offering so many bells and whistles, in addition to access to A-listers (at least when it comes 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 place covered in penguin poo.
While the ship’s cheapest room, the $35,500 (based on double occupancy) veranda suite, is sold out, there are still $37,500 rooms available. They all feature walk-in closets and heated wardrobes. The most expensive suite, a $91,500 two-story oasis with its own glassenclosed solarium, is also taken (probably by Captain Kirk). But still up for grabs is a penthouse with floor-to-ceiling panoramic views. It’s just $60,500.
Of course, you’re paying a premium to mingle with Captain Kirk and Kelly. According to Fox, “The ship is small and intimate, so our guests will feel like being on a private yacht with them, while at the same respecting their space.”
Like most celebs, Shatner will have an entourage in tow. “I’m bringing my three daughters and a couple of grandchildren,” he said. “They’ve mentioned we’ll have stormy seas from the point of South America to Antarctica, but apparently Christmas week, which is when we’re going, is the quietest.”
The cruise will depart from Ushuaia, and the itinerary includes a total of three sea days. The rest 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 will also host “seaside chats.” Of course, the highlight of the trip will be the landings. Scheduled stops (everything is dependent 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 worried about being on the next Endurance or Titanic, though: “It’s a very established boat that’s done this trip many times with many people, so we’re in the hands of experts.”
And if you have a hankering to see Endurance — which sank in 1915 but was finally found in 2022 — try to convince the crew to take you down in one of the ship’s submersibles.
Unfortunately, those excursions aren’t included in the rate. Fortunately, the submersibles weren’t designed by Stockton Rush.