4/3/2023 0 Comments Midnight memories![]() One of my favorite moments was sleeping under the midnight sun near Paradise Bay. Paddling between the brash ice and enormous icebergs was an incredible way to take in the beauty.Ĭamping: If you’re bored of your comfortable room aboard the cruise, then camping on the ice is a cool opportunity for you to be more present in the region. I was around penguins and seals face-to-face and surrounded by whales as they swam around the kayaks. Kayak: It’s an intimate experience to explore the inlets that cruise ships can’t navigate. In hindsight, the experience was worth the temporary pain for the exhilaration, and it’s a lifetime memory for me which is great for some dinner party stories that I continue sharing with my friends. I was then greeted with a shot of vodka to generate some heat throughout my body. I quickly surfaced and labored back to the safety of the shore as rapidly as possible. The icy water splashed at my ankles and then my thighs before I dived headfirst into the water with a half-hearted roar. As I ran into the shallow side of the water, I became acutely aware that the polar plunge was far more torturous. I was standing on a black sandy beach on Paradise Bay staring at the freezing water. The Polar Plunge: This was one of the most memorable and invigorating activities for me in the adventure. Once we got to Antarctica, the ship was much more sheltered from the rough waves which made my life a little better. Sometimes it was hard to walk around the ship or get a good night’s sleep because of the intensity of the waves. Passengers are most likely to experience motion sickness during days at sea – for example crossing the Drake Passage, the most turbulent waters in the world. Seasickness is common on these cruises during the travel to Antarctica. Before we’d arrive on site, the expedition crew would have marked territories for us to walk around to respect the wildlife around and for our own safety. Getting to landscape areas for walks was also not easy! We’d be divided into groups of 10 and transported in heavy-duty inflatable vessels to the landing sites and once there, we’d have to step into the water (usually ankle or calf deep) to get on shore. There were also some sensitive locations (including melting icebergs) where we’d have less time with strict observations from the marine and lifeguards. In the evenings we’d also have social events, like trivia competitions, and interactions with others on the cruise, which was fascinating for me as it was an opportunity to learn about other travelers’ motivation to visit Antarctica.ĭaily, we’d land at different docks two to three times for about 2 hours each which gave us plenty of time to observe the wildlife and hike around. There were presentations about Antarctic wildlife, icebergs and glaciers, the discovery of Antarctica, and the psychology of living and working in Antarctica, among others. The expedition crew consisted of a biologist, a geologist, a historian, and an anthropologist who gave lectures during days at sea. Life on a cruise ship was filled with educational and social activities. There’s a lot of spontaneity and free time on an expedition cruise so my need for independence and exploration was definitely fulfilled. I have never been a big fan of cruises, so I was worried about doing my bucket-list experience this way but was pleasantly surprised by the adventures of exploring Antarctica via a cruise. There are strict rules for tourists so it’s not a destination for independent travel. Nature dictates everything in Antarctica, so the expedition needs to adapt to any weather fluctuations (mostly ocean and ice conditions) and wildlife movements. The itinerary is not always followed by the book. Ships are much smaller so they can access remote places. Expedition cruising at its core is about exploration and adventure. If you’re planning to visit Antarctica for the first time, know that no matter how much research you do, the trip will be full of surprises, likely surpassing any expectations you have.Ī starting point to plan your travel journey to Antarctica is that you cannot explore the place on your own – you need to be on a guided expedition. ![]() From the abundant wildlife to the icy landscapes, there were plenty of jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring, and teary-eyed moments. And it certainly was!Īnyone who has traveled to Antarctica can attest to what a special place it is. ![]() I didn’t know what to expect from my journey to the white continent but was prepared for it to be a life-changing adventure. Two years ago, I started planning my expedition to Antarctica. Since then it really intrigued me, I wondered, “ what would a trip to these icy glacials and mountains be like”. It was the summer of 1998, one of our family friends gifted me the World Atlas that had landscapes from various countries, and I was awestruck by a picture of a Penguin jumping from an iceberg with a magnificent ice mountain. ![]()
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