Customer Reviews

Paddling among ice fields; having whales all around us; so, so many penguins; camping on Antarctica; doing the polar plunge!

Too many to mention really - orcas playing in the ship's wake, penguins, cruise through the Weddell sea icebergs, polar plunge from the continental shore ....

We experienced everything from close encounters with whales (while kayaking), playful penguins and seals, crumbling glaciers, to the roar of mother nature when the wind went from calm to more than 50 knots in less than five minutes. The staff was superb, and the ship and service impeccable.

A perfect day on Stonington Island. The temperature was about 45*F, no wind, and bright sun. We were off ship to go visit the earliest remaining US Antarctic Camp (circa 1940). The magic started as we headed back. The Greg Mortimer was in this small bay waiting for all the zodiacs to get back to ship. We were in no hurry... but heading back, the floating sheet ice was continually moving with the current and making a "jigsaw puzzle" effect in the entire bay. None of the 5 zodiacs could follow the same path back. It was such a surreal feeling zig-zagging back and forth through the sheet ice... each zodiac finding its own path in the quiet and still bay. No one spoke... no one wanted to break the magic.

There was not a most memorable moment. I have hiked, backpacked, and mountain climbed throughout my life and seen and experienced a lot. There are always fanatic experiences that are unimagined and unexpected prior to a trip. We did not know what to expect or anticipate on our own in Chile (Torres del Paine / Patagonia) or especially in Antarctica over the three weeks we were there, six of those days on the exploration vessel Ocean Nova. Especially in Antarctica there were surprises at every turn that resulted in fantastic experiences. As a geologist I think I liked the hiking the active volcano, hiking over the ice and snow fields up to higher elevations to get good overviews of the ice fields, glaciers, and mountainous terrain. Also the Zodiac trips that repeatedly resulted in close encounters with whales, boating among the floating ice and icebergs, and close up look at the geologic structures visible by Zodiac. Because there were not relatively many people on the vessel, we enjoyed the close comradery that we experienced. There was no one else on Antarctica that we saw in our little part of the continent besides Ocean Nova people which gave a feeling of the vastness and remotness of were we were which was a great and unequaled experience.

Arriving in the Antarctic and standing on the deck watching the icebergs drift by....walking on the ice for the first time! Hard to choose as there were so many memorable moments!

The impressive silence (except for the sounds of breeding penguins) in the area, being so close to wildlife and respecting that for a full 100%

Very difficult to pick anything out, it was all memorable. Every aspect stands out, from the onboard food and amazing "hotel" staff, cabin comfort, the sheer quality of the onboard experts, and of course the incredible destination. Antarctica21 as the provider were absolutely first rate in all aspects.

The entire adventure was amazing, I could literally highlight all the activities one by one. The crew was fun and extremely helpful, the food and the services were excellent and every little thing on the ship was designed to make sure that we had the time of our lives. What did I love the most? The animals for sure! I wanted to snuggle up with those curvy seals that always had a smile on their faces and I had a hard time not to hug those clumsy little penguins always curiously staring at us. Seeing a whale made us run to the windows or out to the deck every single time, even on the last day, even if it was 6 am in the morning and we wore nothing but our pyjamas under our coat. Last, but definitely not least, Antarctica is the cupid in my life's love story. My boyfriend had never heard of anyone dreaming about Antarctica before but wanted to get on board. One thing led to another and we suddenly were not only planning the trip but were also falling in love. My best and dearest memories would already tie me to this amazing continent but in Neko Harbour he also proposed to me making this journey truly unforgettable.

Out of everything - exploring the 7th continent, eating ice from the ocean, feeling like I'm at the end of the world, seeing all the wildlife with my own two eyes - my most memorable moments were meeting all of my new friends on this trip.

Seeing tens of thousands of penguins going about their business, and realizing that I was irrelevant.

Seeing the penguins actually present pebbles to the nest was amazing!

St Andrews Bay and the whales circling us while kayaking in Neko Harbour

The entire trip was absolutely memorable. One activity the stood out was the camping night. The silence and the beauty of the clouds changing overnight allowed me to really stop and think how grateful I am to be able to experience this sene of peace and calm. A feeling I will cherish forever. The great expedition team made me feel safe and able to enjoy each moment and the experience overall.

Everything about the trip to the Peninsula aboard MV Ushuaia was wonderful. The ship, crew, staff, and especially the expedition leaders were great. They really took care of us well and ensured that we all had the journey of a lifetime. The landscapes and seascapes were breathtakingly otherworldly. Of special note were the awesome tabular icebergs and the various hues of the ice and snow. Penguins topped the list for the wildlife experience. And for the humans, we met some interesting fellow passengers from around the world. The certificate and info disc were welcome surprises, icing on the cake.

While kayaking in Graham Passage I was lucky enough to witness a huge ice calving. Throughout the voyage there were so many whale sightings and even a few leopard seals.

There were many, clearing the Drake Passage, making the first landing on Antarctica, seeing just all the beautiful snow capped scenes, and the connection with fellow travelers on a ship the size of the Ocean Albotrsoe were equally life memory moments.

The only reason I wouldn't visit again is it's a "once in a life" opportunity! Going once was enough. I'm not sure I'd be up for the Drake Passage a second time, and it just costs a chunk of money to go in the first place. The highlights for me were Cuverville, Cierva Cove and Wilhemina. The landscape was beautiful. I wanted to go early in the season to see white - snow, icebergs, clear landings. And I definitely saw that! Blue icebergs were breathtaking. We saw all three peninsula penguins, seals, minke, killer and humpback whales - fantastic! The people were wonderful. There were only 63 passengers on the ship which was really nice having a smaller group. The crew is stellar, top-notch. So helpful, knowledgeable, and safety conscious. I will tell my grandchildren that I saw the great white continent and if they ever have a chance in their lifetime, they should go. It's truly a spiritual experience.

There were many- but cruising up to glacier at thee d if an amazing day with bright blue skies, the glacier in full view with sun shining and a leopard seal flaring by on an iceberg was spectacular. Zodiac raising with the humpback whales and floating among the icebergs south of the Antarctic Circle was full on wonderful!

It would be impossible to choose the most memorable moment because the entire trip was so incredible! The first time we stepped onto the ice is definitely high up on my list!!