December Reviews

Highlight - being so close to humpbacks in a kayak (maybe 2 meters). Having someone catch that experience on a brief video was priceless as a souvenir. Similar to the giraffes in east Africa, I was surprised how much I found the penguins to be an interesting animal. I had never seen how they swim. It was excellent to meet people that have traveled as much as we have; that was very unique and enjoyable.

Opening the drapes in my cabin the first morning and seeing Antarctica

My most memorable moment was finishing the hike from Godthul to Sandebrugten and being greeted by a curious baby fur seal who cutely charged at me.

Standing on South Georgia with 100,000+ breeding pairs of King penguins.

It is hard to pick out a highlight, the penguins especially seeing a Macaroni penguin on the first landing (I could watch penguins for hours), making a dash against the conditions to reach the Antarctic Circle and some of the scenery around Neko Harbour. Unfortunately we didn't camp due to the wind conditions, but this didn't have much of an impact on the enjoyment of the trip. Such a wide range of people from all over the world.

Brilliant! Thousands of penguins, delightful weather, stunning scenery. We feel very lucky to have been able to experience such an amazing place.

There were two - setting foot on the main continent of Antarctica during sunset and experiencing the sheer size and scope of the wildlife on South Georgia (especially seeing the playful personalities of the Gentoo penguins and seal pups).

There really isn't just one. I think seeing the glacial ice and the wonderment of the environment were among my most memorable moments. Watching penguins waddle and slide, seals swim and humpbacks letting their presence be known were other memorable moments. Sharing the experience with 150 strangers from around the world and a very talented staff also provided memorable moments.

The highlight of the trip is being remote and off the grid for a week. It gave us the chance to soak in an untouched part of the world. The landscapes were dramatic and opened our eyes to other part of the world. The people, crew member, and ship operator's staff all made the trip extra memorable. We got to met with everyone and they were some of the nicest people. The staff were professional and made sure everyone on board was safe, happy, and had fun. This is a special story for us and it will be told to our grandchildren as the trip that we got engaged on the summit of Paradise Bay, Antarctica.

Close encounter with two humpback whales while kayaking.

Incredible! Every day was surprising, filled with adventure. Highlights: seeing gentoo and chinstrap penguins in a snowstorm, crossing the Antarctic circle, seeing humpback whales up close, and watching penguin parents tend to their hatchlings. I traveled solo and met plenty of like-minded fellow travelers. I would encourage anyone considering it but who might be nervous to go for it! It is the perfect trip for solo travel. The ship operator's team was just phenomenal - great energy, positive attitudes, fun, and generally just good humans. We weren't able to fly back on schedule because of weather conditions but for me this just added to the spirit of adventure. It is not for everyone though! You need to be able to let go of control and roll with unforeseen circumstances.

Landscape and beauty like no other place on Earth. The staff went above and beyond. They were specialist in their fields and loved their jobs, Amazing. Wildlife everywhere, just so peaceful and serene out there in Antartica. Yes there was bad weather, it was a bit cold but that’s what you get for going to the bottom of the earth! The cruise itenerary did change and we got to go to Falkland Island as well, what a lovely surprise. We had a famous person on our ship, such fun!

There were many memorable and each unique moments. While penguin sighting was not necessarily a highlight, seeing tens of thousands of them all gathered together for as far as your eyes can see, was very special.

The extraordinary landscapes and phenomenal wildlife were highlights of the trip. I fell in love with penguins, and can't get enough of them. Most of the people were educated and interesting; however, there were some Asian travelers who were challenging due to their rudeness. I only hope Antarctica is still there for my grandchildren to see with their own eyes!

Seeing penguins for the first time as we were on the mountaineering walk. Chinstrap penguins - they were so close! ?

Highlight was kayaking alongside a humpback whale in stunning scenery. Both clients and staff/crew on board were very friendly and the big surprise was the amount and quality of the food.

ALL OF IT!! Kayaking with humpback whales, seeing some much wildlife, the indescribable landscapes, the overwhelming awe, the incredible captain, staff, and crew, and all the open minded and flexible passengers who brought so much positive energy to the experience.

Kayaking in the quiet, majestic bays

The trip was amazing. The landscapes, glaciers and icebergs were beautiful. Michael particularly liked the whales that were diving within 10-15 feet of our zodiac; my favorite was seeing all the penguins and, in particular, the chicks. The Vavilov was an excellent choice. Our suite was spacious and very comfortable and the passengers were a very diverse and interesting group. The only surprise, after 8 days of spectacular weather and amazing excursions, was the fog at King George Island that prevented our flying back to Punta Arenas on the final day. Our excursion leader, Chad Gaetz and the entire staff did an amazing job of keeping us engaged with additional lectures, excursions, contests and other activities on the days that we were stuck near King George Island and also when we crossed the Drake Passage. The only reason we would not visit again is that there are many other places to visit.

Kayaking among dozens of "porpoising" Macaroni penguins off the shore of South Georgia Island. It was our first experience with ocean kayaking, and riding the swells in the bright sun with mountains and dramatic clouds all around and the playful penguins entertaining us was a truly magical experience.