I don’t think you can ever really describe the feeling of the first sight of Antarctica and the first time you put your foot on the ground. Cruising past your first ancient iceberg and breathing in the fresh southern air are memories that will last forever.
The first time you “gear up” for your first Zodiac ride seems to take forever but you get so good at it by the end of your cruise! On our twice daily Zodiac excursions we saw so much wildlife: humpback whales, penguins and curious leopard seals. We cruised along spectacular ice cliffs and icebergs. On our first Zodiac cruise we went back in time to see a shipwreck which was a relic from the whaling days a century ago. We were also entertained by a frisky leopard seal. He was fascinated by our Zodiacs, swimming up to us and laying his flippers alongside the rubber hulls and giving a kayak a big hug.
When we went ashore we would visit penguin rookeries, climb up to see the amazing views, explore the historic huts where people survive the cold winters. My favourite was the iceberg graveyard. We were so close to them, we could appreciate the size and colours, some of them thousands of years old.
On all our expeditions we were accompanied by scientists, naturalists and local specialists. In the evenings and on our sea days there were information sessions so you could learn about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and the environment. We all came away as “Antarctic Ambassadors” with a deep understanding of the region.
One memory that will last forever and I am so glad I did it was the “Polar Plunge”. You certainly feel the cold when you take the plunge into the zero degrees Antarctic waters. The four of us at our dining table raised over $4000 for our favourite charities back home.
One morning we woke up to the news: The Endurance – Shackleton’s famous ship was finally found. Could there be any better place than Antarctica to receive this information and think about the brave men and their incredible journey.
My Antarctic adventure was aboard the Greg Mortimer with Aurora Expeditions. This vessel is purpose built for expeditions. It has the lowest polluting marine engines in the world and the state of the art engines deliver an 80% reduction in emissions. The revolutionary Ulstein X-Bow cuts through the swell, reducing vibrations and making for quicker transits through the waves. This helps reduce fuel consumption by 60%. The onboard desalination plant converts seawater to fresh water that’s safe to drink. Carrying less freshwater on sea crossings also reduces the fuel consumption. Aurora Expeditions are committed to travelling respectfully and providing a “trip of a lifetime” immersive experience while aiming to protect the planet and the diverse places they visit.
It was cold, sometimes -4 degrees, but you hardly notice it with all the excitement around you. All passengers are given Polar Expedition Jackets and mud boots for all the Zodiac and shore excursions. The jacket is yours to keep.
If Antarctica is on your bucket list, I urge you to pursue it. If it’s not yet on the list, then add it! It’s like nowhere else and I’ve made memories that will last a lifetime. I highly recommend Aurora Expeditions to take you there.
Do you have an account?
Log In Or Sign UpYou can easily save this cruise to your favourites in your account.
Log in or sign up for your free online account now.
Are you sure you’d like to sign out?
Sign out