Is the Drake Passage calm?

With good conditions the Drake Passage can be wonderfully calm, and even enjoyable. If you're lucky enough to experience the 'Drake Lake' you can expect to be lulled by small swells and soft winds, and to spend your time out on deck spotting your first albatross. The far more famous experience is the 'Drake Shake'.



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Today, modern ships can cross the Drake Passage and its waves very reliably, as they handle the swells better and have much more advanced navigation systems. However, the Drake Passage may well also be calm, which some people refer to as the 'Drake Lake'.

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Dealing with the Drake Passage You can help to minimise the effects of sea sickness with a few basic techniques: Staying hydrated is key, as is avoiding drinking alcohol. Eat light, regular meals. Stay active by going for a walk around the ship or venturing up to the deck.

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If You Want a Quieter Space If you plan on your cruise being a peaceful experience, you'll want to seek a cabin on the quietest side of the ship. This tends to be the aft or the rear of the ship. The aft is away from the hustle and bustle of midship, where all the action tends to happen.

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Cabins anywhere close to the bow Anchor noise issues aside, the big reason you might want to steer clear of the front of a ship is that you'll likely feel the motion of the waves more distinctly. The front of a ship can be the most uncomfortable place to be in big waves.

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From the tip of the South American continent to the northernmost shores of Antarctica: here's where you'll find the reputed roughest sea-passage in the world. The Drake Passage is the stuff of legends, and crossing it is an experience some passengers on Antarctica cruises look forward to the most.

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As they continue to drift north, icebergs are usually pushed east by the powerful Antarctic Circumpolar Current funneling through the Drake Passage. From that point, icebergs often whip north toward the equator and quickly melt in the area's warmer waters.

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The choppy waters of the Drake Passage, named after English explorer Sir Francis Drake, who never actually traveled through the waterway but sailed close to the location in 1578, are believed to have caused more than 800 shipwrecks.

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