Customer Reviews

I am adding a little personal information because my perspective was very much colored by my physical limitations. I am way beyond middle age. I am a breast cancer survivor however one of the medications also left me with osteoarthritis resulting in mobility issues. Also since birth I have been legally blind (US gov term) I see about 10% of what the average person sees. However I think I see more because I look more intently at things but I do travel with a "seeing-eye-elbow" to make certain I get where I intent to be. Everything was a high-light. Having never encountered the likes of the Antarctic I was delighted with the chance to be able to experience everything which came my way. The expedition staff were incredibly helpful without being fawning. Their assistance on the gang-plank and boarding an off-loading from the zodiacs was wonderful. They seemed to anticipate my needs and assisted in my enjoyment of the trip.

Loved the trip. Weather was good the first four days after arrival. We personally loved Iceberg Alley. Wildlife was great. A big surprise was that 65% of the travelers were a French group. Although they were often separated from the English speaking group with their own interpreters in the sessions where both languages had to be presented it became a problem because the French passengers continually talked through the English speaking portion and we needed to listen to the French. I was under the impression that if the trip was advertised as English speaking that is all it would be. It did not take long before we realized that the French group did not feel they had to obey staff instructions - particularly staying behind certain boundaries while waiting for zodiacs on shore, waiting in lines for eating,stairs,and boarding zodiacs from ship, etc. Some of the guides had difficulties with the group getting too close to penguins and not staying within the red poles while walking. Even boarding the buses to the airport presented problems with the drivers because of how the French guides wanted them to board, etc. and had to spend their time trying to sort things out. It was a distraction that did not have to happen. The ship operator's Staff and guides were top notch. Very calm, capable and knowledgeable.

While on ship, the trip was near perfect. The highlights occur all the time, be they ice bergs, orcas, or just the fascinating light. The travels to and from could have been better organized

Highlight: Lemaire Channel with some of the staff members. It was the most beautiful place I have ever seen. For instance the glaciers pressed up against the mountainous areas on either side of the ship. My senses were heightened during this experience. I also enjoyed the polar plunge at the Antarctic circle. I met the most incredible people from my neighbors on the 4th floor to some of the staff members. I enjoyed talking about polar exploration with staff member Sam and David the expedition leader. I made a new friend with one of the passengers who lives in Malaysia! -- We plan to visit one day.

The complete journey was fantastic. Every day would reveal yet more wonders of the cold continent. Words cannot describe what your eyes see. No camera can capture the experience. You name it we saw it - no polar bears though. (people back home kept asking) There was not one negative about the "experience". People from 15 to 89, from every walks of life added to the expedition. The surprise was the adventure itself, how fantastic it was.

Main highlights: walking amid penguins and seals, watching icebergs float by, watching up to 40 blue whales feeding around the ship, following into the footsteps of Shakelton and just gazing at the glaciers. we met a lot of varied nationalities and interesting people. biggest surprise was how tame the dreaded Drake passage was!

Highlight was kayaking landscapes were beautiful, and the wildlife, although not comparable to Africa, was enjoyable Nice people on the trip No surprises

The trip was incredible and I enjoyed all of the landings the most. I think the highlights were seeing all of the wildlife, like penguins, whales, and seals, and experiencing the stillness and vastness of the place. The people I met on the boat were a lot of fun, and I was happy that this trip had young people (millennials) who I hung out with, as well as older people. The only surprise was how much Antarctica affected me on a deep and almost spiritual level with its beauty and remoteness.

Trip was great but there are too many other places to explore. Wildlife cooperated! Staff and other guests were great. Accommodations and food were excellent

The highlight of the trip is being remote and off the grid for a week. It gave us the chance to soak in an untouched part of the world. The landscapes were dramatic and opened our eyes to other part of the world. The people, crew member, and ship operator's staff all made the trip extra memorable. We got to met with everyone and they were some of the nicest people. The staff were professional and made sure everyone on board was safe, happy, and had fun. This is a special story for us and it will be told to our grandchildren as the trip that we got engaged on the summit of Paradise Bay, Antarctica.

This was truly a trip of a lifetime. The staff ensured it was a safe and incredible experience. The other guests were interesting like minded individuals. The wildlife was up close and personal. The views were beyond imagination. To be a guest in such a magical place was a true privilege.

The trip was amazing. The landscapes, glaciers and icebergs were beautiful. Michael particularly liked the whales that were diving within 10-15 feet of our zodiac; my favorite was seeing all the penguins and, in particular, the chicks. The Vavilov was an excellent choice. Our suite was spacious and very comfortable and the passengers were a very diverse and interesting group. The only surprise, after 8 days of spectacular weather and amazing excursions, was the fog at King George Island that prevented our flying back to Punta Arenas on the final day. Our excursion leader, Chad Gaetz and the entire staff did an amazing job of keeping us engaged with additional lectures, excursions, contests and other activities on the days that we were stuck near King George Island and also when we crossed the Drake Passage. The only reason we would not visit again is that there are many other places to visit.

Everything was amazing. Great scenery and wildlife, great activities. Highlights were kayaking and mountaineering plus being able to do 2 landings a day for 6 days. Ship was great, with enthusiastic fellow passengers.

The staff and crew were outstanding. The food was incredibly good. The excursions and workshops were highly informative. We had amazing weather so things couldn't have been better

We loved the excursions, especially kayaking. The age range onboard made it fun to hang out with other passengers, and the expedition crew was out of this world.

We experienced everything from close encounters with whales (while kayaking), playful penguins and seals, crumbling glaciers, to the roar of mother nature when the wind went from calm to more than 50 knots in less than five minutes. The staff was superb, and the ship and service impeccable.

We had a one day delay due to weather but once we got to Antarctica we couldn't have asked for more. Gorgeous weather for most of the trip and the views were sublime! Paddle boarding was our most favorite activity, but every single landing and zodiac ride had something amazing to offer. The crew is phenomenal - so smart, so fun, and so very friendly you can't help but have fun with them!

The only land with no country ,no human being living there, only wild life and breathtaking landscape. No pollution , and when not windy the fantastic sound of silence. But how long will it last untouched ? So it is been a privilege to be there while still pure .

It is almost impossible to describe Antarctica in a few simple sentences. We were treated to her best - spectacular weather, amazing wildlife, surreal scenery. Having spoilt us, Antarctica decided to throw a tantrum and fog delayed us somewhat at King George Island. This just added another dimension to our trip and we got to sail the Drake. (Sof got her wish!) Highlights - way too many. Cruising through the ice to the Antarctic Circle in glorious sunshine, Kayaking with Humpback Whales - literally! They were that close we got caught up in their bubble nets. Watching the kamikaze penguin come face to face with a Leopard Seal. (Have you ever seen a surprised penguin? He loved!) Feeling so small, insignificant and wanting to desperately protect the fragility of this amazing continent as we listened to calving ice and absorbed the silence of the glacial splendour that is one facet of Antarctica. The ship operator's staff were amazing. They worked really well together as a team. As Kayakers we were exceptionally lucky. Great group, great guides, awesome experience. A great group on board - even with the Chinese. I think the delay and Drake Crossing highlighted how well the dynamics between crew, staff and passengers worked. We felt very protective of the staff when we finally left the Vavilov. Antarctica was a surprise, the fog was a surprise. Epic. Just epic. The whole trip was epic! Biggest surprise - our upgrade and that bottle of wine.

Incredible! Every day was surprising, filled with adventure. Highlights: seeing gentoo and chinstrap penguins in a snowstorm, crossing the Antarctic circle, seeing humpback whales up close, and watching penguin parents tend to their hatchlings. I traveled solo and met plenty of like-minded fellow travelers. I would encourage anyone considering it but who might be nervous to go for it! It is the perfect trip for solo travel. The ship operator's team was just phenomenal - great energy, positive attitudes, fun, and generally just good humans. We weren't able to fly back on schedule because of weather conditions but for me this just added to the spirit of adventure. It is not for everyone though! You need to be able to let go of control and roll with unforeseen circumstances.