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Drake’s Passage looms as a malevolent toll taker, in between the southernmost tip of South America and the continent of Antarctica. In this 400 mile stretch of ocean, the weather is difficult, many currents collide and there is no land to temper the water. I only expected to see penguins and icebergs out there. Because I didn’t research Antarctica, I knew nothing about its geography or its history.  I didn’t know what to expect, and I certainly wasn’t thinking the continent would amaze me like it did. You will gain a deeper understanding about antarctica cruise prices by checking out that resource.

Our captain and crew prepared us all for the massive storms and battering we were likely to take at Drake’s Passage. However, we found the passage to be very calm. It was the return trip that we would have to spend clutching at our beds while we slept. Our first morning in Antarctica was met with a grey, calm sea.

We didn’t see the ice until after we’d see tall, hazy grey-brown mountains in the distance. Small sections of ice rested on the water like frozen marshmallows. I grabbed my camera and zipped right up into my red expedition parka - standard issue for all of us passengers - and rushed out into the brisk Antarctic day.

The sky was low and the sea was just as gray as the sky.  We spent part of our day outside, looking for whales or dolphins, or even penguins.  The rest we spent inside, listening to lectures by the ship’s naturalists. We were so excited to set off the cruise vessel in a little inflatable raft.  It was thrilling to be so close to those giant ice floes. The rocky coast line came into view, and with it, many, many penguins at the water’s edge.  They looked like they were thinking about taking a swim. Read this site if you want Recommended Antarctica Cruises information.

We were surrounded by hundreds of penguins, from all sides. A group of researchers shared this bit of land in Paradise Harbor with these disheveled and gentle little penguins. The penguins made their way to the shore all over the island. Their movements purposeful and committed. Some of them stood on rocks and observed us smiling and pointing at the, occasionally snapping a photo or two. Most penguin parents had already left their chicks to survive on their own. And many of those kids were still trying to figure out what they were supposed to be doing. At this point the chicks are provided a down covered pouch containing krill, the food that the parents harvest from the water and return to regurgitate into the eager mouths of the chicks.

We saw that they evidenced different phases of molting. Most of them had developed the smooth, patterned feathers of their parents, some of them still had fluffy gray down that made them look a bit like they were victims of a particularly sadistic barber, or wearing funny looking earmuffs. As we floated back to the ship, we were able to near some of the bay’s ice. Upon one such jagged, little mountain of ice that our driver took us past rested a lone majestic seal. He yawned at us as we passed, which seemed to say that he cared very little for our affairs.  It was just the right way to end our day. was the perfect ending to a really wonderful day. |He gave us a giant tongue-filled yawn; maybe he was telling us how boring we were to see. |Maybe he was commenting on how boring we were when he gave us a giant yawn. |Evidently we bored him because he gave returned our stares with a huge yawn. |He yawned, exposing his enormous pink tongue. His lack of concern for our presence belied the unspoiled characteristic of this beautiful land where we’d spend a perfect day. |He presented us with a large, pink-tongued yawn, by which he could have been indicating just how impressed he was that we were there, but which certainly was an ideal manner of concluding our day. ]

The penguins immediately did their cutest trick. Who could withstand the very appealing penguin waddle? The contrast of orange feet with the formality of the black and white feathers Because these islands were less dirt and more rock or ice, the penguins tended to be very clean and neat looking. There was even a thin little black line under their chinny chin chins that gave them a jaunty little dash of style which made their cheeks look chubby and cute.

I waited for the waves to break before doing my thing once I carefully stepped down the gangway of the cruise liner. I settled into a small rubber boat with one quick stride. Within minutes, our small group of tourists bounces by floating chunks of strikingly blue ice and a napping seal. I take the cue as my boat stopped along a rocky beach, putting my legs right above the zodiac to get to the Antarctic Peninsula’s northern area. You can get the best antarctica cruises information by visiting this website.

Walking by beached ice blocks, my nose caught a pungent guano smell and a breathtaking imagery. Around where I stood, adorable adelie penguins waddled. Up a craggy slope their numbers rose, right as far as I can behold. This is the first landing we have on this remotest among all the continents, and indeed, this two day cruise through infamously unrelenting oceans, from Ushuaia, Argentina, is worth every cent. Many tourists all over the world are now being captivated by this crystalline kingdom located at the end of the Earth and make them realize it is worth going to.

Some 26,000 visited in the past year, and the number increases annually. Swirling patterns of blue are broken by talks about very sneaky penguins. Come the December days of the austral summer, the weather is pleasant and relaxing, far from its image of being the world’s most mercilessly coldest continent. Temperatures often get above freezing even into the 40s on the peninsula. Trips are usually held from November up to March.

This 100 meter long cruise ship is capable of traversing through icy waters travels the seas for around 11 days and carries around 100 travelers most of the time. The vessel is not so fancy, but it is very comfortable. Most passengers frequent the bar and lounge, but also enjoy what the library and auditorium have to offer. Going on a trip to Antarctica can be done with tiny yachts. We leave port on a Friday night. The next day, we’re already able to watch the powerful glides and graceful arcs of wandering albatrosses and other birds of the southern seas. You can get the best exciting antarctica cruises information by visiting this website.

An artist that teaches passengers to draw and paint penguins or icebergs along with lectures from a historian, geologist, bird specialist, marine biologist are some of the ways tour guides may the stay on the cruise trip exciting. Global warming lectures, shockingly, did not figure during the trip but the topic is usually spoken about.

Continental landings and nearby island action comprised most of the highlights of the trip. Seeing an avalanche in action or perhaps listening to the boisterous sound produced by a calving iceberg will never be forgotten. Still, there is plenty to see from the ship’s decks. With few hours of darkness this time of year, tourists are able to maximize sightseeing.

Make sure that you are dressed to stay warm as you go against the chilling winds on the ship deck, enabling you to witness the icebergs drifting by, wind sculpted visions of dazzling white and blue. High mountains with big hanging glaciers and pristine landscapes swept us off our feet. Whales rising into view would be a pleasant rarity. Lighting up the wide sky with bright orange and red, sunsets last long.

One elderly passenger needed to be evacuated soon after getting so sick and this shocked us as we got back on our cruise liner. Basically, this means that we need to get an airstrip way back in the Islands in South Shetland after a very long detour overnight. Because of evacuations like this, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars, many tour groups highly recommend that passengers get medical evacuation insurance.

The passenger finally got evacuated to Chile and as for us, we just had to see how the newly Gentoo penguins were being fed by their parents as we went to Ardley Island. An adult penguin delicately takes the chick’s head into its mouth and regurgitates a snack of krill into the chick’s mouth, leaving a slimy strand from beak to beak.