
ANTARCTICA — TWICE
ARCTIC — TWICE
FOUR POLAR PLUNGES
65+ COUNTRIES
ALL SEVEN CONTINENTS

Meet Nanci Ott
Antarctica Travel Specialist & Polar Expedition Advisor
I’m Nanci Ott, founder of Tinker Travel and an Antarctica travel specialist based in California.
I have personally traveled to Antarctica twice and the Arctic twice, completed four polar plunges, explored more than 65 countries, and visited all seven continents. But simply traveling to Antarctica does not make someone a specialist.
My real expertise comes from combining those firsthand experiences with over two decades of professional travel planning. I help travelers understand the important differences between Antarctica itineraries, expedition ships, seasons, cabin locations, activity programs, and cruise operators.
Antarctica is not a destination where I believe you should simply choose the prettiest ship or the lowest advertised price. The right journey depends on what you want to experience—and the choices you make before booking can determine how much time you actually spend exploring Antarctica.
My role is to help you choose wisely.
Nanci Ott
FOUNDER, TINKER TRAVEL
Why Travelers Trust My Antarctica Guidance
WHY TRAVELERS TRUST MY ANTARCTICA GUIDANCE
Firsthand experience. Independent comparisons. Details that matter.
THE POLAR REGIONS,
EXPERIENCED PERSONALLY
Cross the Drake.
Board the Zodiac.
Walk among penguins.
Understand what matters.

I Have Experienced the Polar Regions Personally
I understand what it feels like to cross the Drake Passage, board a Zodiac, walk among penguins, navigate unpredictable weather, and stand at the edge of the Antarctic wilderness.
I can tell you what matters because I have experienced it—not because I read it in a brochure.
I Compare Cruise Lines, Not Just Cruises
I work with leading luxury and expedition operators, including Silversea, Seabourn, Quark Expeditions, Aurora Expeditions, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Swan Hellenic, HX Expeditions, and others.
I am not here to place every traveler on the same ship. I compare the experience, ship size, itinerary, expedition operation, included activities, cabin choices, comfort level, and overall value to identify the best match for you.
I Understand the Details That Can Change Your Trip
These details can be the difference between simply seeing Antarctica and truly experiencing it. The next section shows the exact questions we will explore together.
THE QUESTIONS THAT SHAPE THE JOURNEY
The Details That Can Change Your Trip
When comparing Antarctica journeys, I help clients evaluate questions such as:
How many days will you actually spend in Antarctica?
How efficiently can passengers board the Zodiacs?
Which wildlife is most active during your travel dates?
Which cabin location provides the greatest comfort and convenience?
Is the ship small enough to provide meaningful landing opportunities?
Will you sail across the Drake Passage or fly over it?
Are kayaking, camping, snowshoeing, or photography programs offered?
What is included before and after the expedition?
Does the journey match your preferred balance of luxury and adventure?
These details can be the difference between simply seeing Antarctica and truly experiencing it.
MY ANTARCTICA PLANNING PHILOSOPHY
The Right Expedition Is Personal
There is no single “best” Antarctica cruise for everyone.
One traveler may want the intimacy and flexibility of a smaller expedition ship. Another may value spacious accommodations, exceptional dining, and luxury service. Someone else may want to avoid sailing the Drake Passage entirely.
I begin with the traveler—not the cruise line.
BEFORE RECOMMENDING AN EXPEDITION, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND:
What you most want to see and experience
Your preferred level of comfort and adventure.
How many days you can travel
Your feelings about the Drake Passage
Your wildlife priorities
Your physical abilities and activity interests
Your preferred cabin type
Your realistic investment range
ANTARCTICA IS A SPECIALTY—NOT A BOUNDARY
Extraordinary Travel Reaches Far
Beyond the Polar Regions

My expertise extends beyond Antarctica.
I have traveled through more than 65 countries across all seven continents and personally experienced expedition cruising, luxury ocean cruising, river cruising, African safaris, escorted touring, and complex international journeys.
That broader experience matters because an Antarctica journey rarely begins and ends with the expedition itself. Travelers may also need international flights, hotels in Buenos Aires or Santiago, transportation to Ushuaia or Punta Arenas, pre-cruise arrangements, travel protection, and carefully coordinated connections.
I look at the entire journey—not merely the cabin on the ship.
THE WORLD,
THOUGHTFULLY
PLANNED
Luxury ocean cruising
River journeys
African Safaris
Escorted touring
Complex international travel
Luxury Ocean & Small-Ship Cruises
Refined ships, exceptional service, and the right itinerary for your travel.
European River Journeys
Culturally rich travel with seamless planning from embarkation through every port.
African Safaris
Wildlife, lodges, flights, and transfers coordinated into one extraordinary journeys.
Complete International Trip Planning
Flights, hotels, tours, protection, and connections planned as one complete experience.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Experience You Can Verify
Founder of Tinker Travel LLC
Over two decades as a professional travel advisor
Antarctica and polar expedition specialist
Approximately $4 million in annual travel sales
Independent agency in the Avoya Travel Network
181 independently published traveler reviews
100% recommended on Travel Leaders
Featured in TravelPulse’s Travel Advisor Success Story
Interviewed as an Antarctica specialist by Real Travel Experts
Experienced with luxury, expedition, ocean, and river cruise planning
181
INDEPENDENTLY PUBLISHED
TRAVELER REVIEWS
100%
RECOMMENDED ON
TRAVEL LEADERS
WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY
Guidance That Makes a Big Journey Feel Clear
"Planning our trip felt overwhelming until we contacted Nanci. She listened carefully, narrowed the choices and matched us with an experience that fit our priorities perfectly. Her knowledge and personal attention gave us confidence from beginning to end."
Suzi Jones
"We had too many cruise options and no idea how to compare them. Nanci explained the differences between the ships, itineraries, cabins and included experiences. She turned a confusing decision into an exciting and manageable one."
John M
"You can research travel online for weeks and still not understand which option is right for you. Nanci quickly identified what mattered most to us and reduced dozens of choices to the few that genuinely fit."
Ting
"Nanci’s firsthand knowledge of Antarctica gave us complete confidence. She helped us compare expedition ships, seasons, wildlife opportunities, cabin locations and Drake Passage options. We could never have made such an informed choice on our own."
Mercedes H
“Working with Nanci gave us something online booking could not provide: confidence. We knew why we had selected our ship, itinerary and cabin, and we understood exactly what was included. That peace of mind was invaluable.”
Mrs. Lacey
"Nanci’s firsthand travel experience makes an enormous difference. She understands the details that most travelers would never think to ask about and explains everything clearly. We felt informed, supported and completely comfortable with our decision."
Mr. Wellincamp
"What impressed us most about Nanci was her honesty. She explained both the advantages and the compromises of every option without pressuring us. We always felt that she was helping us make the right decision for ourselves."
Tom Taylor
"Nanci made us feel like more than a booking number. She remained available, answered our questions and handled the details with genuine care. Her personal service allowed us to relax and enjoy the anticipation of our trip."
Laurie Erickson
"Nanci understands that the most expensive trip is not automatically the best trip. She helped us determine where spending more would improve our experience and where it would not. Her recommendations were thoughtful, practical and completely personalized."
Jane St. Marten
"Nanci’s extensive travel background gives her a perspective that cannot be found in a brochure. She combines professional expertise with firsthand experience and offers honest advice about what a destination and journey are really like."
Andrea L
"Nanci did not simply recommend the first available trip. She took the time to understand how we wanted to travel, what mattered most to us and what we did not want. The journey she helped us choose was an excellent match."
Dennis Watts
"Nanci’s experience with expedition and luxury travel was invaluable. She knew which questions to ask, identified details we had overlooked and helped us avoid making an expensive mistake. We would absolutely work with her again."
Aaron K
"We appreciated that Nanci was knowledgeable without being pushy. She gave us the facts, explained the trade-offs and allowed us to make an informed decision. Her guidance saved us an incredible amount of time and uncertainty."
D Garcia
"From our first conversation, it was clear that Nanci genuinely cares about matching people with the right journey. She listened to our concerns, respected our budget and created an experience that felt designed specifically for us."
Charlene D
"Nanci helped us plan more than a vacation—she helped us create memories we will treasure for years. Her expertise, patience and attention to detail made the entire process easier, and the final journey exceeded our expectations.”
John Hallstrom
All photo and videos are from Antarctica expeditions


Antarctica
like no other place on earth

















