Customer Reviews

The entire adventure was tremendous. It's one of the hardest trips I've been on to identify a single "this is the top" moment, so I'll give three examples. 1) We were caught in the middle of what the Polar Latitudes team called a "Super Pod" of humpback whales, 100+, just playing and showing their flukes and bubble netting. It was stunning to see in person. 2) A large pod of Orcas hunted penguins directly next to our ship. No more than a meter or two off of the ships port side. Mother nature is truly powerful 3) The ice! All of the ice. It is so pretty and unique and hard to understand and also very simple at the same time. Wow.

There were two - setting foot on the main continent of Antarctica during sunset and experiencing the sheer size and scope of the wildlife on South Georgia (especially seeing the playful personalities of the Gentoo penguins and seal pups).

There really isn't just one. I think seeing the glacial ice and the wonderment of the environment were among my most memorable moments. Watching penguins waddle and slide, seals swim and humpbacks letting their presence be known were other memorable moments. Sharing the experience with 150 strangers from around the world and a very talented staff also provided memorable moments.

I stepped on Antarctica - the final continent for me! The combination of the landscapes and wildlife will always be a highlight for me. It is hard to believe that such a place still exists on earth. I mailed a postcard from Port Lockroy, Antarctica! The crew of the Plancius were outstanding. They even remembered my name among all the passengers. Food and services were outstanding. There were many surprises. The Plancius was able to go through the Lemaire Channel for the first time this year, so we were very fortunate. Also, the captain took us to Deception Island and Cape Horn on the way back. I was very fortunate that I was matched up to a great roommate from Finland. I met many people from many different countries, all with very interesting stories.

Overall, the trip was good. Excellent guides, service on board, etc. The landings we were able to do were excellent, and we totally lucked out with beautiful weather and a calm Drake Passage on the way back.

Everything on the trip was great, even the weather (which I know is out of anyone's control, but still an added bonus). The best part of the trip for me were the excursions and the optional activities. Being on land, so close to the wildlife is a great experience. I also did kayaking, which I would recommend to anyone. Being on the water, among the icebergs and brash ice gives a whole new perspective to the gorgeous landscape. One of the best moments while on the kayak was when we were surrounded by hundreds of gentoo penguins, which were in the water, swimming around us and jumping in and out of the water. Amazing experience. In addition to the kayaking, camping on the continent was an amazing experience as well the polar plunge. stories that I will be telling for a long time to come. The people I met on board the ship were also a pleasant surprise. I expected a much older crowd and that I would be one of the youngest ones on board the ship. It turned out that there was a group of about 40 of us youngsters (late 20s / early 30s). I had a great time on board the ship and made some new friends. The staff was also very friendly. They were very helpful with anything that was needed. Many of them would also often socialize with the guests, both during the day and later at night after all activities had finished. It made it a much more personable experience.

The highlight of the trip is being remote and off the grid for a week. It gave us the chance to soak in an untouched part of the world. The landscapes were dramatic and opened our eyes to other part of the world. The people, crew member, and ship operator's staff all made the trip extra memorable. We got to met with everyone and they were some of the nicest people. The staff were professional and made sure everyone on board was safe, happy, and had fun. This is a special story for us and it will be told to our grandchildren as the trip that we got engaged on the summit of Paradise Bay, Antarctica.

Close encounter with two humpback whales while kayaking.

The highlight was the enormity of the scale of the peninsular and the pristine, untouched solitude of the environment. The landscape was overwhelming and all encompassing, with a grandeur that we had not expected. We loved the antics of the penguins and the curiosity of the chicks. Up close viewing of seals and whales was awe inspiring. Our outstanding leaders helped to deepen our understanding and appreciation of this amazing world. Our fellow travellers were all like minded so sharing our experiences increased the enjoyment.

Incredible! Every day was surprising, filled with adventure. Highlights: seeing gentoo and chinstrap penguins in a snowstorm, crossing the Antarctic circle, seeing humpback whales up close, and watching penguin parents tend to their hatchlings. I traveled solo and met plenty of like-minded fellow travelers. I would encourage anyone considering it but who might be nervous to go for it! It is the perfect trip for solo travel. The ship operator's team was just phenomenal - great energy, positive attitudes, fun, and generally just good humans. We weren't able to fly back on schedule because of weather conditions but for me this just added to the spirit of adventure. It is not for everyone though! You need to be able to let go of control and roll with unforeseen circumstances.

There were too many to select just one. Each day seemed to build upon the previous one. Encountering such a wide variety of wildlife and being fortunate to have such great weather made it super.

To many highlights to mention. The weather could change almost in an instant, changing the light and the landscape before your eyes, completely captivating. Lots of wildlife despite being late in the season, and being later we saw lots of whales. The ships crew and the expedition crew were exceptional. There were 98 passengers on board the Island Sky and we were surprised by the age range, 22 to 78 with an average of 62 (this must be accident rather than design) but it made for a wonderful atmosphere with people prepared to mix in chat, and eat together. We hope to meet up with a few in the future. Most magical moment, that's difficult, probably being in a Zodiac among sleeping Humpbacks.

While on ship, the trip was near perfect. The highlights occur all the time, be they ice bergs, orcas, or just the fascinating light. The travels to and from could have been better organized

There were so many memorable moments. Seeing a pod of Killer Whales, setting foot on the 7th continent, the Elephant Seal pups looking up with those adorable eyes, the King Penguin chicks running and flapping around trying to shake off their down coats. What a trip!

Our trip was in three parts. For me one of the highlights was completing the W trek, the variety of terrain and the smooth organisation added to this. We then visited Los Glaciares where a highlight was seeing thePerito Moreno Glacier. Antarctica offered us the opportunity to reflect on a wonderfully different world. A highlight for me was waking up after camping out on the ice and seeing the wonderful colours reflected in sky and sea. And also the fantastic and uninhibited display of curiosity and fun all around us by a pod of whales. To be so close to creatures like this was a truly one of experience

It's difficult to pick one. Our first day on land, the fog was so thick that we could barely see the ship in the water. As we hiked up the hill to penguin colonies, we turned around and saw what looked like an outline of a mountain through the fog, but figured it was just thin clouds. We turned around just a few moments later to see a massive, glacier-laden mountain towering over the water, making our boat look miniscule. It was a moment of surprise and awe that kick-started this amazing trip. Each whale sighting had me on my toes, in awe of the humpbacks especially.

For me the highlight was being at the top of Useful Island early in the morning with clear blue skies. Everywhere we looked there were white mountains, islands, wildlife and blue water. I was really impressed with the professionalism and friendliness of the ship's operator and the Hebridean Sky staff.

Everything! The scenery was fantastic. The food was amazing. The guides were great. All the wildlife and all the experiences of being there. It is hard to describe how awesome it was. Those who have been to Antarctica can relate. So much fun!

Landscape and beauty like no other place on Earth. The staff went above and beyond. They were specialist in their fields and loved their jobs, Amazing. Wildlife everywhere, just so peaceful and serene out there in Antartica. Yes there was bad weather, it was a bit cold but that’s what you get for going to the bottom of the earth! The cruise itenerary did change and we got to go to Falkland Island as well, what a lovely surprise. We had a famous person on our ship, such fun!

The vast and magnificent beauty of the Antarctica Peninsula. The Gentoo, Adelie, Chinstrap penguins and their chicks were so cute and adorable. The birds, Killer whales, and the humpback whales were so beautiful. The glaciers, floating ice, icebergs, blue sky and white clouds, the sunset, the rain, wind, and the snow, and the whole environment were all magical. You have to be there to feel the power of Mother Nature and we were admiring Her in awe! My most memorable and unexpected moments: -Our Ocean Adventurer cutting through the float ice and entering the Lemuir Channel to cross the Antarctica Circle! - Our first landing and walking on ice in the Antarctica Pennisula! - When our zodiac was surrounded by several humpback whales who were swimming towards us and showed us their tails, heads, and backs!! - When our zodiac parked near an Alcove area with surrounding icebergs, floating ice, and snow falling on us, so quiet that we could hear the voice of the gentoo penguins talking to each other, so quiet that we could reflect on the wonders of this end of the world!