Customer Reviews

The highlight was probably seeing humpback whales breaching the water. The landscapes and wildlife were fantastic and we were able to get very close to whales, penguins, seals and sea birds. There were many interesting people on board and the academic staff from the ship's operator were really knowledgeable. The food on board was good and plentiful. I would probably have liked to do some more challenging hikes but I appreciate that is difficult with some of the passengers on board. I wouldn't go back because it's just so far to travel and always had it in my mind that it was a once in a lifetime trip. I would consider and Arctic trip.

I don't really do "favorites". There were so many incredible moments and each is special in its own way.

Seeing type D orcas.

Overall, the trip was great - the staff, the other passengers, the activities I participated in, the food, the overall quality of every detail. I loved kayaking, but the camping was cancelled due to bad weather. Also this voyage we visited Port Lockroy and could see the history of humans on Antarctica. The surprise was passing through the Drake in a hurricane.

Memorable...? Getting on the plane back to NYC

Everyday was a highlight, every landscape wae a new vision of a pristine, untouched planet. Seals, penguins, birds, whams and dolphins... it was like being in a National Geographic documentary but with all the sensations of doing something unique. Not just seeing, but doing, living, and feeling exceptionally humble. Surrounded by nature but also by an amazing staff and respectful travelers, all with a deep sense of respect, kindness. sharing the moment all together. The hardest part of the trip after disembarking was to share with family and friends. An impossible challenge, which can only be understood by going there!

Reaching 71 degrees 33 south, the further the expedition team and most of the crew have been

Ice climbing; camping, especially the feeling when our zodiac pulled away and I found myself somehow connected with Shackleton and the seabirds flying overhead; seeing a dozen or more Elephant Seals woven together in the pebbles surrounded by penguins; and the sheer exhilaration of participating in the polar plunge with like-minded thrill seekers!

Seeing icebergs for the first time

Wildlife sightings and zodiac cruises - can't narrow to just one!

Going through the Lemaire channel twice. First time was amazing. Also visiting the huts at port Lockroy, Petermann, and Wordie. What a way to have lived.

Bailey head and Spork Island. Indescribable. The wildlife we were able to see was a gift from God. The whales took our breath away. We all froze when one went under our Zodiac ;) Everyone was friendly. I happened to bring one of my grandchildren who has been obsessed with Penguins her entire existence and it was the best gift of her life. The new years celebration. The BBQ was awesome and to countdown in the middle of ice was a privilege with the beauty of the midnight sun.

The highlight was the sheer untouched beauty and proximity to nature. Landscapes and wildlife were awesome. The people we met were inspirational.... How deeply we were touched by the sheer beauty of the continent and how it felt to be pecked by a penguin chick and splashed by a whales tale... The excellence of the presentations onboard..... the close proximity of whales, seals and penguins... and the gigantic and beautiful array of icebergs

There were so many, it's impossible to pick one. The accommodations and equipment was top flight. The expedition leaders were exceptional -- SO knowledgeable in their fields, competent, inclusive --- their lectures were a high point when we were on the boat. Camaraderie among the passengers was also memorable --- such a diverse and eclectic group of travelers!!! The experience was unparalleled in every respect !

There are so many! Watching the penguins with the expedition guide Serena. After learning so much about them it was fascinating to observe their behavior which an expert!

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.

It's hard to pick a specific moment because the entirety of the expedition was exceptional. I would have to specify kayaking among the icebergs as my top priority, but this is only by a tiny margin compared with the wildlife encounters.

Too many to list, the animals, the feeling that it’s a place where humans have never existed, the realization that traveling there is dependent on the whims of the sea and weather that are out of human control

Humpback and Minke whales surfacing close to ship and zodiacs. They seemed as curious and interested in us as we were in them.

When I saw the first Iceberg and the penguins