Crossing the Antarctic Circle

Most memorable moment? The whole experience of the Drake Passage, going below Antarctic Circle at 68 degrees, being able to walk near penguins, elephant seals, watching humpback whales, the expedition team's awesome plan and inside the ship experience.

Travelled: December 2024

10/10 - We are so glad we chose THIS voyage because it gives you a long time in Antarctica and because it goes really far south. We ended up going all the way down to 68.5 South latitude which meant more snow and ice on the ground and more snowfalls in the air, which was what we wanted to see. Crossing the circle was special for us.

Travelled: December 2024

10/10 - Besides meeting amazing people, the ship is beautiful, a staff that prepared delicious food for us, or the reception desk personnel that greeted you every time you walked by, and an excellent beyond words expedition staff; I never felt like I was just another passenger when I was out with the expedition team.

Travelled: February 2024

10/10 - The ship was fantastic, the ship staff were most excellent and attentive, and the expedition staff extremely knowledgeable. All the activities were well planned, exciting, and real pleasures to do. New and different and exciting adventures every day.

Travelled: February 2024

10/10 - Amazing adventure.

Travelled: December 2023

Most memorable moment? A perfect day on Stonington Island. The temperature was about 45°F, no wind, and bright sun. We were off ship to go visit the earliest remaining US Antarctic camp (circa 1940). The magic started as we headed back. The ship was in this small bay waiting for all the zodiacs to get back to ship. We were in no hurry... but heading back, the floating sheet ice was continually moving with the current and making a "jigsaw puzzle" effect in the entire bay. None of the 5 zodiacs could follow the same path back. It was such a surreal feeling zig-zagging back and forth through the sheet ice... each zodiac finding its own path in the quiet and still bay. No one spoke... no one wanted to break the magic.

Travelled: December 2023

10 - It was truly a trip of a lifetime. My goal was to go below the Polar Circle. That was only the beginning of my incredible adventure. Every day was more inspiring than the next. What I was most pleased with was that being on such a small ship afforded us so much more than the large ships could provide.

Travelled: December 2023

10/10 - We had so many amazing wildlife experiences. Our ship’s crew and expedition staff were all absolutely top notch and made sure our entire trip was perfect. They were flexible and worked with conditions to ensure the best possible experiences for us. We had so much fun.

Travelled: December 2023

The awesome beauty of Antarctica is difficult, if not impossible, to put into words. My wife, Laura, and I read several books prior to the expedition, but nothing matched the experience. The most memorable moment was probably standing on the land for the first time. Everything there seemed larger than at home . . . and a great deal colder! A thought that struck me several times was that the Earth was its own and not necessarily meant for man. I was strictly a visitor to this creation.

Travelled: January 2023

Each of the Expedition team members were incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about their specific subjects. All were friendly. I really enjoyed A's sketching lesson. Ashley as team leader was amazing. Confident, no nonsense, caring, well liked by her team and all of us passengers.

Travelled: January 2023

10/10 - Crossing the Antarctic Circle was the ultimate experience for me as I have also crossed the Arctic Circle.

Travelled: January 2023

They really made us feel like a family on the ship. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable in their respective fields.

Travelled: January 2023

The trip cannot be put into words. To see and experience all that we were able to accomplish on our journey can only be experienced. We were fortunate in that we were able to get further south of the circle than we anticipated.

Travelled: January 2023

The people made everything run very well, the service and food were excellent and everyone was helpful and friendly from every angle.

Travelled: January 2023

10/10 - The trip was absolutely fantastic! We had an amazing crew that jam-packed as many landings, activities, and zodiac cruises as possible into just 6 days on the peninsula. I enjoyed the citizen science and many lectures about Antarctic natural and human history. This is an experience that I will never forget!

Travelled: January 2023

On our second day in Antarctica, we celebrated crossing the Antarctic circle. All guests and expedition guides gathered on deck 8 as we joined in an Antarctic circle ritual: stamping a circle on our foreheads! Afterwards, we enjoyed the most fantastic views of The Gullet - a narrow passageway surrounded by towering mountains covered in thick layers of ice. It was the most beautiful place I have ever seen!

Travelled: January 2023

The expedition team were some of the most experienced and impressive group of people I have ever met. Many of them both led zodiac cruises and were knowledgeable experts in varying Antarctic subjects.

Travelled: January 2023

10/10 - The team promised to take us south and explore, rather than just tick off boxes, and they delivered and tried to get us ashore as much as possible, which they did.

Travelled: January 2023

It was the right combination of luxury and comfort and excellent expedition leaders and lecturers. We also appreciated their years of experience in Antarctica.

Travelled: January 2023

10/10 - The ship, crew, and expedition team exceeded our expectations

Travelled: December 2022

The entire trip greatly exceeded all expectations! From the great weather affording us the opportunity to leave the ship on zodiac cruises, landings and other excursions twice most days, to also travelling as far south of the Antarctic Circle as we did.

Travelled: February 2022

Cruising below the Antarctic circle near Crystal Sound (can't remember the exact location) and witnessing the otherworldly site of a sea of bergy bits, growlers and icebergs tightly packed together as far as the eye can see. Like a broken-up ice shelf with pieces so close it looked like you could hop from one to another for miles.

Travelled: February 2022

Kayaking was fantastic, as well as the many zodiac cruises and landings on the different islands and historical sights.

Travelled: February 2022

Best encounter with penguins was the final day. If you sat down, some of the more curious youngsters would come up to you and check you out. Made for some memorable pictures.

Travelled: February 2022

Most memorable moment: kayaking south of the Antarctic Circle.

Travelled: February 2022

Cruise was all it was cracked up to be. Kayaking was very special. Food was surprisingly good.

Travelled: February 2022

Most memorable moment: the humpback whales all around us in the Lemaire Channel.

Travelled: February 2022

The trip was perfectly designed. Allowed us to cross the Drake Passage by air and use the extra days to sail below the Antarctic circle. Greg Mortimer's leader - Flo - did an excellent job picking locations to land and zodiac as well.

Travelled: February 2022

Expedition team were extremely knowledgeable and on task with any inquiries you might have. There were years of experience as the team had been in Antarctica a number of times.

Travelled: February 2022

What a powerful experience. How many people in the world get to experience this? I feel humbled. The reactions and enthusiasm of the staff at achieving the crossing reinforced how privileged my experience was.

Travelled: February 2022

Flying-in and crossing the Antarctic Circle aboard a small, sparkling maintained vessel were of central importance to my trip.

Travelled: February 2022

The flora, fauna, scenery were all interwoven to create a memorable sometimes overwhelmingly awesome experience.

Travelled: February 2022

The staff on the Greg Mortimer exceeded any expectations for the entirety of the trip with their desire to give us the best experience possible in every way, from caring for us, our comfort, our nutrition to our desire for fun, and to see the micro and macro fauna.

Travelled: February 2022

It's hard to choose from so many memorable moments; every day I thought it was the best ever but I think I will say that the zodiac excursion across Paradise Bay with the whales right in front of us, or the cruise through Spert Islands channels and the iceberg graveyard with it all set off by the amazingly blue water. Also getting to 68 degrees south was incredible!

Travelled: February 2022

I expected it to be an amazing trip and it was even better than expected. I don't think you can really be prepared for the experience.

Travelled: February 2022

I loved all the zodiac trips; the landings were incredible too but I could do zodiacs all day every day. The zodiac across Paradise Bay and Spert Island were the best; we used the term "white water zodiacing" at Spert and it was so much fun!

Travelled: February 2022

Everything was perfectly organized by Swoop. Fast, precise and very much in details. I can also say I had perfect advice which ship took for my Antarctica adventure. Great communication at all times. Would highly recommend.

Travelled: November 2018

I am very glad I booked with a polar specialist. I would have chosen a different itinerary if I had gone with a local travel agent, and I probably would not have enjoyed it. I also felt I was prepared for the trip.

Travelled: November 2017