The wildlife we saw and history we learned was amazing, but it was the quiet moments when we could just sit and experience the otherworldly landscapes that truly stood out to us, and the Aurora Expeditions team seemed to innately understand the importance of that.

Life changing

Potential travelers should know that this is not a guaranteed experience: the expedition leader and team must weigh weather and other safety considerations along with how this excursion might affect the overall expedition experience for the entire ship. We were disappointed we were unable to experience this, but the communication from the leadership helped us feel comfortable that this decision was not made lightly.

The destination and adventure-heavy aspect of this expedition could make it easy to overlook the luxury-cruise treatment we received. The stateroom was even larger than we expected, the food and hospitality was first-rate - everything about our treatment while onboard enriched and encouraged our experiences off-ship.

The Zodiac excursions and landings are a must. The Expedition Team was experience-driven, but never lost sight of the comfort and safety of the passengers. It was never which Expedition Team member or passengers we would be with, which allowed us to experience Antarctica through many different lenses. On one excursion, we were in a harbor filled with ice, making the sea a "slurry." At one point our pilot killed the Zodiac engine and we just sat for 15 minutes in silence, surrounded by dramatic mountain-scapes, drifting with the waves - this was one of the early moments when the incredibleness of our surroundings really sank in, and I am grateful that our Expedition Team, after any number of voyages to Antarctica, still understood how it needed to be experienced for the first time.

Yes

The Expedition Team came from so many different nationalities and backgrounds, so every excursion gave us a new perspective. They were friendly and always willing to share their knowledge and experiences. The Citizen Science programs, led by Marcos Goldin and Linda Steutel on our expedition, was such a meaningful way to engage with Antarctica and better understand the continent, how it is changing, and how we can do small things to affect change for the better.

Yes

Yes

Yes

We booked our expedition very last minute, which always creates some anxiety, but the pre-departure guidance we received from Swoop and Aurora Expeditions was spot-on, and we had everything we needed to get the most from the experience.

This won't be helpful, but no: the Swoop team delivered exactly what we needed, answered all of our questions, and helped us all along the way. Keep doing it just like you're doing it! (And shoutout to Rebecca Porritt and Mariana Marino, who were our contacts - thank you!)

Don't expect a relaxing vacation, and don't expect an itinerary! There was too much to experience from pre-breakfast wakeup call to the daily recap/debrief, we didn't take any time to relax, but we still came away feeling restored. There were so many unique experiences, we would often get previous days' excursions mixed up with one from earlier the same day (thank you Aurora team for your daily logs!). Be adaptable and trust the leadership team to deliver a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I would say my perspective was enriched, more than changed. I know facts about humpback whales and Adélie penguins, about climate change and political decisions that affect our interaction with our environment. And I can find better photos of Antarctica on a web search than I will ever take with my own camera. But to experience these things in situ, see a humpback whale surface 30 meters from your Zodiac, but also see countless fishing vessels competing for the same food source; to be surrounded by the stark and rugged beauty of an untouched land, while also seeing the abandoned stations and other ways we have already marked this place - it adds an emotional, even spiritual, layer of understanding to a one-dimensional intellectual awareness.