Testimonials

The best way to describe our experience of Antarctica is unbelievable. We did the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antartica trip on the Quark’s Sea Spirit. The whole adventure was outstanding from the vessel and it’s comfort, to the guides and their experience and knowledge. We were able to make every landing that was planned including a few in that the guides had not been able to do for the last few seasons. As a result of this our wildlife experience was fantastic and we have many memorable photos to show for it. Our highlights were:

• Landing on Elephant Island on Christmas Eve and during a snow fall.
• Salisbury Plain and the 250 000+ breeding pairs of penguins.
• Just watching the behaviours and individual personalities of each penguin, even though they all look alike.
• Arriving on the Antarctic Peninsula on Christmas Day with absolutely perfect weather.

We would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this trip to other travellers as it truly is an adventure of a lifetime. Saying that I can’t wait to go back. We have included a few photos that you might be interested in using.

Our trip to Antarctica on the Akademic Ioffe was a wonderful expedition, which we loved.

Standing on the ice surrounded by glaciers and silence was surreal.

Experiencing the variety of wildlife up close and personal without fear, is so different from animals in captivity.

The small ship experience,  Zodiac adventures and expedition leaders provided a wonderful variety of information and activities that will be in our memories forever.

Our Antarctic experience happened in December 2011.  This was a long time dream of my husband, Mark, who always wanted to see and experience the magic and beauty of this part of the world. He thought the experience was not just thrilling but highly emotional and a lot more than he expected. The ‘Antarctic Experience’ was one that was very difficult to describe to our family and friends.  The most exciting and emotional part, personally for me, was  the experience on my first landing.  I saw snow covered landscape, penguins on the move, icebergs of different sizes, shapes and colours all around us and very excited fellow travellers all seeing and trying to absorb what was the beginning of our ‘experience’.  I quickly took out my video camera to capture the moment and sang out (very quietly), ‘oh, look where we are’.  It is magical, inspiring and it was such a privilege for us to be there amongst the beauty of nature, snow and ice.

I have been to the Arctic six times and the Antarctic twice the last visit now a couple of years ago but it is something that I will remember for all time.

I know on my first visit It felt so unreal that I had some difficulty to believe I had actually arrived in the frozen south with all the wild life and breath taking scenery and the incredible history.

I still  examine all the new brochures each year on the off chance there may be something that will really capture my interest and encourage me to go again to the frozen south.

The fact that the ships only take limited numbers of passengers it makes for a more friendly experience and not like the large cruise ships with the thousands of passengers most of whom you never meet.

We’d travelled the world many times over-always a new and exciting continent or country to experience. But nothing, nothing at all, prepared me for this final frontier. Antarctic wilderness. This extreme destination has some of the last unexplored areas on the planet, with unrivalled views of glaciers, icecaps and pristine wilderness.

As I sit here reflecting on this memory, I am remimded of an evening on board ship cosied up in the Club Bar, where we travellers were regaled with hilarious stories by the team leaders of our expedition. Stories such as, “When will we see the polar bears?” and “Will it be cold on the ice?” And one nervous dear lady who met the captain on the bridge and asked, ”Do ships like this go down very often?” and to which he dryly replied, “Only once, Madam!”

Shipboard life  aboard a Russian icebreaker is very different from a Pacific cruise  on a luxury liner. But there is always excitement –  the excitement at seeing our first iceberg which sent many scrambling for the long lens cameras. It turned out to be an icecube compared with what was to come! Everyone on board was a seasoned traveller with tales of base camp Everest, trekking Nepal and suchlike. But all were mesmerized by Antarctica. Amazingly, some brave souls wearing only a cozzie, did the “5 second Polar Plunge!”

With the sea heaving below, a feeling of intrepidation assailed me the first time we disembarked the ship via the steep gangplank to board the small Zodiac craft, which would take us to land on the Antarctic continent. This was a fearful experience, dressed as we were, in heavy “moonwalker-like “ gear as protection against the cold. Once moving through Antarctic waters in the small craft, the feel of the crisp air  on your face could be treacherous if the wind blew up. Worse than that were the actual landings. No landings at all! Just ice, rock and snow.

The sights in Antarctica were almost indescribable. Massive icebergs that really are blue – the result of refracted light trapped over time – are the dominant feature. Crusted glittering snow belies the rock and ice just centimetres beneath your feet. The wildlife is remarkable. Orca whales, albatross lazily wheeling above, seals basking on the ice, and adorable little “Happy Feet” aka penguins. The penguins are captivating. Oh, and did I tell you a colony of them STINKS! Too much KFC. That’s krill, fish and crustaceans of course!

The carping of thousands of penguins when you’re near a colony and strong gutteral sounds from seals are occasionally heard, but overwhelming is the SOUND OF SILENCE. This is something one is totally unprepared for. SILENCE. And MORE SILENCE. A sense of eerieness. I struggle to find the words to do justice to Antarctic’s magnificence, and the humbling effect it had on me. It occurred to me that if you had lost your God of late, you’d rediscover Him again down there.

Befriending a group of ladies on the ship, I didn’t think we would ever connect again, in spite of exchanging contact details. One lady in particular, interested me. She was an astrophysicist, who had left  her husband at home in Florida, suffering progressive dementia. When Christmas 2012 arrived, there was a warm letter from her with an invitation to visit. And I’m thinking that maybe I’m not ready to give up my passport just yet.

Currently travelling and have spent decades travelling to odd places.   Have to say my one last wish in this world would be to go back to Antarctica on Le Boreal.  Expedition crew were fantastic and doubt there would be a more exciting trip than to Antarctica.  Great bunch of passengers, friendly ship and sights were outstanding, particularly when you are able to view up close on zodiacs.

The Ocean Nova departed Ushuaia on 1st March 2013, and with me on board…..yes ME!!!  Antarctica had been the life long dream and I was going to make the most of it.  Travelling alone but sharing the experience with approx. 70 likeminded people, soon turned us all into one big happy family aboard.  We experienced every form of weather imaginable, but nothing could take away what we were part of.  My highlights would be the morning we glided in the zodiacs around the startling weird and wonderful shapes of iceberg land – these icebergs were trapped in an area off the Lemair Channel, and with the dark misty morning, it was both eerie and sensational.  After one long day out on the ice and amongst the wildlife, we came back to a BBQ on deck, and it was snowing.  It added to the night of great food, wine/beer and company, the staff just as happy as we were, and the entertainment was free – a leopard seal chasing a penguin in the waters below for what seemed ages.  Half were barracking for the leopard seal, the other half for the penguin……sadly “Happy Feet” ran out of steam…….  As to the funniest moment, it has to be the crazies who thought they could jump into the Antarctic icy waters, no problemo!  Ha – it was hilarious – the guys would jump in all macho, the girls doing feminine swan dives – the outcome all the same…….and I was thrilled to catch the before and after shots of each of their leaps of faith and be so glad I was “sensible” for a change.

So many wonderful memories.  Would I go back?  You betcha!!

I’ve been to some amazing places (ask Marianne!) but if I had the time and the money I’d go back to Antarctica every year. It is just so gobsmackingly beautiful and so far removed from everyday life.

As tips, I would say the sea kayaking is a must do.  It added a whole new dimension to the trip and we saw and did things that the rest of the passengers never came close to.  I’d also recommend the night “camping” on the ice.  It wasn’t the most comfortable, but was certainly a memorable experience.