It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.
Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.
Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.
We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.
While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting!
In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.
On board, you will find a range of areas to socialise or relax. We have a number of lounges, including our Glass Atrium Lounge and Observation Lounge. Our wellness centre houses our sauna (with a large window, so you can still enjoy the passing scenery), and offers treatments (book with reception). Across from our wellness centre you will find our gym with a range of equipment for your use. Perhaps you would like to take a dip in one of our jacuzzis on the back deck or enjoy a quiet moment in the library. As part of our deck theming, we hope to educate our expeditioners on the impressive and important conservation work these female scientists are doing across the globe, leading the way in global conservation initiatives. We honour these women who work tirelessly to make the world a better place through their innovation, education and activism.
If you are interested in the women who have inspired us, the hallways on each deck will introduce you to a series of influential figures in the fields of oceanography and wildlife conservation, such as Sylvia Earle, former Chief Scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Dr. Carden Wallace AM, Principal Scientist Emeritus at the Queensland Museum; Joanna Ruxton, a pioneer of the plastic-free movement; Sharon Kwok, founder of the AquaMeridian Conservation & Education Foundation; Bernadette Demientieff, an advocate for the rights of the Gwich’in people in Alaska and Canada; Dr. Asha de Vos, an internationally renowned Sri Lankan marine biologist; and Hanli Prinsloo, founder of I AM WATER.
Destination
Departure Date
Meals
Transport
Accommodation
Included Sightseeing
