Antarctic Basecamp Adventure Reviews

Tough to identify only one. Crossing the antarctic circle was important to me, so the moment we did that was special. Oddly, I would rate the drake passage as highly memorable; we got the "drake shake" but I had actualy wanted that to be a part of the experience so I quite enjoyed that too. But I enjoyed every single moment.

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!

It's hard to choose from so many; every day I thought was the best ever but I think I will say that the zodiac 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!

Waking up the first morning on the ship to see icebergs out to w window and the sound of whales over the ship’s loudspeaker. It was clear that we had arrived in another world.

Everything! The scenery was fantastic. The food was amazing. The guides were great. All the wildlife and all the experiences of being there. It is hard to describe how awesome it was. Those who have been to Antarctica can relate. So much fun!

There is no one most memorable moment. Every day had memorable moments. But if I had to choose one, it would be seeing the icebergs and absorbing the incredible landscape.

There were so many. One really incredible one was when a minke whale played near the zodiacs for over an hour, coming up to look at us and even breathing on us

Oh so many! Kayaking up to an ice floe to stand on it, our Polar Plunge (!), watching humpback whales play near our zodiac, seeing the sea ice fracture beneath our ship's bow as we pushed farther South, and the cuteness and absolutely endearing quality of all of the penguins!

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 Greg Mortimer 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.

Seeing my first large building-size iceberg in real life was heart-stopping. I also saw ice fields and tried to imagine what it is like when everything is frozen.

Kayaking south of the Antarctic Circle.

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.

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

Whale, pinguins, seals … their sounds, watching them. The views, every nice

The hump back whales all around us in the Lemaire Channel.

It's hard to come up with just one! Loved seeing the penguins, watching two whales play alongside the ship during dinner, seeing all the beautiful icebergs.

Anchoring in Borgen Bay - such a beautiful place Polar Plunge!

So many memories it’s hard to break it down to just one

I don't know if I can pick a single moment. The entire trip was wonderful and the staff was great and very knowledgeable in their respective fields. We were able to get farther south of the circle than was anticipated from the beginning and we were able to accomplish all that was expected. There were of course changes in the schedule as Antarctic weather is always changing, but no real negative changes during our trip.

Stepping in the antarctic continent. seeing close up the humpback whales. seeing the vastness of the antarctic.