We've been exploring via Antarctic cruises for over 20 years. In that time, we've honed an incredible trip—from Zodiac cruises among massive icebergs to hikes along glaciers, and all of the wildlife you get to see, our trips are truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. To help give you a better understanding of what one of our Antarctic cruises is really like, we offer you a day in the life:
8:00am Zodiac Cruise
"Waking up this morning, we were surrounded by icebergs, gentoo penguins swimming and porpoising alongside, and even fur seals popping up. And this was all just a precursor to the whales—humpbacks were everywhere and no one got a better look than our hardy kayakers. The rest of us enjoyed Zodiac cruises where we saw plenty of flukes and even bubble feeding!" ~ Across the Antarctic Circle: Voyage to the 7th Continent, 2015
Floating Icebergs, Antarctic Peninsula | Photo Credit: Jim Wilson
Humpback Whale, Frolicking in Front of the Sea Spirit | Photo Credit: Rick Price
10:00am Continental Landing
"A perfect day for our continental landing—deep blue skies and bright sunshine welcomed us to Portal Point on the Antarctic Peninsula. Landing on pink granite rocks, many of us stood, for the first time, on our seventh continent. We hiked up a snowy slope onto a small headland with stunning views across beautiful iceberg-packed Charlotte Bay to the high plateau of the Peninsula beyond, its dark rocks cut by massive glaciers. Zodiac cruising and kayaking amongst the icebergs in these conditions was truly memorable." ~ Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands, 2017
Portal Point, Antarctic Peninsula | Photo Credit: Jim Wilson
Portal Point, Antarctic Peninsula | Photo Credit: Jim Wilson
12:00pm Kayak Excursion
"Once we returned to the ship, we enjoyed a leisurely brunch before heading out once more. The kayakers disembarked in calm waters and blinding sunshine, and the rest of us set out for Charcott. We observed even more molting gentoos, a fascinating magnetic hut, and even some wood that appeared to be from an early 20th-century ship." ~ Across the Antarctic Circle: Voyage to the 7th Continent, 2015
Kayaking in Antarctica | Photo Credit: Axel Fassio
Gentoo Penguin, Charcott, Antarctic Peninsula | Photo Credit: Sam Crimmin
Gentoo Penguin, Pleneau, Antarctic Peninsula | Photo Credit: Jim Wilson
2:00pm Glacier Hike
"In the afternoon we ventured to Paradise Bay, a stunning harbor surrounded by massive glaciers, their seracs towering like a frozen cityscape. Our landing at the Almirante Brown scientific center was one of the few encounters with other people we would have our entire voyage. A short but steep climb up soft and deep snow provided many of us with sweeping views of the entire bay. Some of us took the fast way down the hill, glissading all the way to the base." ~ Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands, 2015
Neko Harbor, Antarctica | Photo Credit: Michael Moore
Neko Harbor, Antarctica | Photo Credit: Michael Moore
Paradise Bay, Antarctica | Photo Credit: Michael Moore
4:00pm Polar Plunge
"Back on board, the call was made for all brave souls to accept the challenge of the infamous Polar Plunge! Two dozen fearless sailors walked the gangway and immersed themselves in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean, while the less hardy watched and cheered from deck four, in the warmth of their many layered Antarctic ensembles." ~ Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands, 2015
Polar Plunge, Paradise Bay, Antarctica | Photo Credit: Michael Moore
6:00pm Zodiac Cruise
"We came back to the Sea Spirit for a brief respite before our Zodiac cruise through Pleneau where we saw countless gentoos porpoising in the water; crabeater, leopard, and Weddell seals on ice floes; and phenomenal icebergs floating around. There were a few particularly friendly leopard seals—some of the Zodiacs had minor chase scenes! And, our expedition team treated us with a warming Bailey’s and hot chocolate as we cruised in the cold. An early dinner enabled us to cruise, once again, through the Lemaire Channel at sunset, before prepping for our final day in Antarctica." ~ Across the Antarctic Circle: Voyage to the 7th Continent, 2015
Pleneau, Antarctica | Photo Credit: Sam Crimmin
Lemaire Channel, Antarctica | Photo Credit: Sam Crimmin
8:00pm Zodiac Cruise
"In the late afternoon we made it through the Lemaire Channel, which had been blocked in recent days. Later in our briefing, Russ told us what was on tap for tomorrow, before a delightful dinner and later, a Zodiac cruise by Pleneau Island, often an elephant graveyard of icebergs. In addition to several seal species—Weddell, leopard, and crabeater—we were treated to a spectacular ice show. We returned to the ship chilled but thrilled and made our way to our cabins late in the evening." ~ Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands, 2014
Lemaire Channel, Antarctica | Photo Credit: Zegrahm Contributor
Lemaire Channel, Antarctica | Photo Credit: Zegrahm Contributor
Lemaire Channel, Antarctica | Photo Credit: Zegrahm Contributor
10:00pm Dinner & Drinks on Deck
"We celebrated our spectacular last day in our Antarctic paradise (while taking advantage of with the long-lasting hours of austral summer) with a BBQ dinner—complete with humpback whales blowing not too far off!—and prepared to say goodbye to this unique continent as we set out into the infamous Drake Passage."
Dinner in Paradise Harbour, Antarctica | Photo Credit: Jim Wilson
Drinks in Paradise Harbour, Antarctica | Photo Credit: Jim Wilson
Learn more about Antarctica here: The Ultimate Antarctica Guide
