December Reviews

Loved everything. Being welcomed by penguins and ignored by seals was priceless. Traversing the LeMaire Strait on a clear, blue, calm day with mirror-like reflections of snowy peaks in the water was stunning. The guests on the cruise were highly compatible and the ship crew and expedition staff were wonderful.

There were several highlights. The day that we cruised the Lemaire Channel and visited Port Charcot (the "iceberg graveyard"). When three humpback whales swam up next to the cruise ship. Camping on the snow overnight.

The first glimpse of a massive iceberg, close up. So stunning that the captain circled the ship around it so everyone could get a view.

This adventure has exceeded my expectations on many levels. The event that will be forever engraved on my heart will be when I completed the 2nd Polar Plunge at Deception Island. It was a culminating celebration of mountaineering, kayaking, camping, and new discoveries with the wildlife. It was also an opportunity to celebrate like children at a birthday party. I loved the bonds I established with the other participants over cold and hot waters. It really felt like a celebration.

Seeing the humpback whale from our zodiac, camping overnight, kayaking and mountaineering.

It seems impossible to name just one highlight, but if I must, it would be the hour or so we spent cruising amongst a group of 200 or so Humpback whales. They were so close you didn't know where to look first. We got closer to the wildlife than I expected, particularly the nesting albatross and penguins sitting on eggs. I can now tell 6 species of penguins apart! The only real surprise was when a wave hit the ship straight on the side and broke a window while we were all sitting in the lounge.

An incredibly hard question - so hard to pick between that first thrill of wildlife at West Point with the albatross and rockhopper colony, the full day sitting amongst and soaking in all the wildlife at sunny Saunders Bay, or the Adelie penguin overload at Paulet island. Or maybe the excitement at seeing an orca pop up out of nowhere on New Years Eve. It really is a trip of endless memorable moments that would each be the highlight of any other holiday.

Too many to choose from! Highlights include: an exhilarating polar plunge, seeing a beautiful Antarctic sunset, camping on Antarctica, seeing the majesty of Brown’s Bluff, every time I got to see penguins swimming

Waking and being the first on deck for the first week and seeing the sunrise with the tabular icebergs for the first time...or was it the first Wandering albatross...or maybe the Southern Ocean...whales...penguins (you're not in Wisconsin anymore!). Most memorable? See me in 20 years when I've lost most of my memory and see what's left. ;)

Lemaire Channel was outstanding unable to land but the resultant cruise around left me speechless (not a common problem). Again no camera can do justice to the omnipotence of Antartica it is humbling, penguins were cheeky, seals were unphased and the whales / Orcas gave hope that we haven't destroyed the planet YET. Most fellow travelers were warm, friendly and shared their photos / films. The 'ladies" I shared with were individuals who shared a joke, welcomed you and we have formed firm firm friendship despite our disparate ages interests and nationalities. Only Antartica.

The trip was the best I’ve ever had. The landscapes were out of the world and we were lucky to come across a lot of wildlife including tons of orca whales over two days. The co-passengers were amazing and we all got along very well. The expedition crew were superb- experienced, friendly and very concerned about our safety. The hotel and housekeeping staff ensured we were comfortable and had ample food to eat. I never thought I would do the polar plunge but I did.

It was amazing - beyond expectations. At times, it was quite physically challenging but always entirely safe. It is virtually impossible to describe the sense of wonder of being in a pristine landscape, quite unlike anything one has seen before. I have walked in the Himalayas, been to the Sahara, visited the Grand Canyon - but the experience of Antarctica tops them all.

Photographing humpback whales and penguins.

Camping on the continent

If I had to pick a highlight, it would be kayaking on a heavily overcast day in an ice-filled bay enclosed on three sides by terminal glaciers and snow-filled mountains, watching a humpback whale roll nearby as I listened to the sizzling of the bergy bits around me. But, in truth, there were lots of magical moments. Every day was full of anticipation and delight. The only true surprise, however, was when a rogue wave in Drake's Passage took out a window in the lounge of Deck 3!

Coming across dozens and dozens of feeding humpback whales one morning. Some of them came right up to the ship!

Kayaking around the icebergs!

Kayaking in antarctic bays; observing the penguins; going through the ice with the ship; standing in the bow of the ship in incredible light at 1 am

Hard to say, there were so many.....stepping onto the continent for the first time was really a special moment, I loved camping on the continent...the kayaking was amazing, I could go on forever. What a fantastic trip!

We came upon a pod of Orcas in the middle of the Gerlasch straight. The expedition team quickly decided to cancel all activities, drop ALL zodiaks and get everyone on the water to chase them. We caught up with them and found ourselves in the middle of 25 Orcas...with 3 humpback whales in their midst (not being hunted). it was amazing!