Too many to mention them all. We were so close at times to bubble-net-feeding humpbacks in our Zodiak, I could not fit the huge heads in my photo frame! We sailed through a "conference" of orcas about 50 strong; one swam under the Ortelius (our ship) and popped up right under where I was standing. I gained a deeper appreciation for the athleticism and resourcefulness of gentoo, chinstrip and Adelie penguins. The blue-eyed shags were a hoot with the crazy necking courtship dances. Even more impressive were the people. The guides, crew and staff were super helpful and worked hard to make as many adventures possible while keeping us safe. I enjoyed the camping in a snow pit, kayaking through brash ice, snowshoeing in blizzard conditions, the polar plunge, the photo workshops, the many related talks about wildlife, glaciers, avalanches, history. I especially liked being included in viewing the weather forecast maps. The travelers (about 113 from 20 countries, I heard) were as excited and enthusiastic about our adventures as I was. I have found a new "tribe" to which I am proud to belong.

Great holiday

Yes, they were knowledgeable and friendly. I especially liked Choe's lectures about the micro-lifeforms --- informative, engaging, humorous. She is a skilled educator.

Ortelius exceeded my expectations. It was pleasant, well kept and comfortable, a great refuge after our sometimes frigid and wet adventures. The only thing I missed was an on-board gym. My deluxe twin cabin was wonderful -- spacious, with three windows, comfortable. Food was better than I expected; delicious and varied and with plenty of healthy, delicious foods I prefer, like veggies, fresh fruit, salmon, lean meats. Yes, I would choose this ship again, though I am curious about the other ships.

Bring two sets of base layer top and bottoms, insulation layers, thick socks, water resistant or water proof gloves, head gear like buffs balaclavas, beanies, so if one set gets wet, you have a second dry set for your next Zodiac excursion (often two per day). Zodiac rides can be quite wet and cold. A good set of waterproof pants and hooded jacket goes a long way to keeping you dry, but my ski gloves were not as waterproof as I thought, so my hands sometimes got wet and cold. The hairdresser in my cabin was useful for at least partially drying wet items, so they were dry the next day. Also, I brought one grid-fleece hoody and a light-weight down parka for my torso insulation layers; for really cold Zodiac rides or outside activities, I could wear the down parka over the fleece hoody under my Goretex rain parka. Also, bringing a daypack ashore is a good idea, because you need to dress more warmly for the Zodiac ride than for the on shore activities. You can strip off some layers and put them in your pack while on shore and generating more body heat snowshoeing, mountaineering, etc.

This Antarctica experience reminds me of the majesty and fragility of our planet; we need to take better care of it and each other.

So excited it was hard to sleep. I felt quite well prepared.

Yes

Yes

Yes