Customer Reviews

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.

The ship's crew was the highlight of the trip for us, they were simply magnificent. While it was good to go and see Antarctica, once was enough for us there. The surprise was how desolate it was. Very austere and lonely.

Great. If you are going late in February or March I would highly recommend a circle crossing. The feel and look of Antarctica certainly changes down there.

The highlight was navigating, and often cutting, through ice to get through the Gullet. The landscapes all along were majestic - desolate but beautiful. The wildlife was so easy to spot. Have never been on a wildlife trip where one sees almost everything one expects to see.

The luggage was picked up from our hotel without hassle and delivered to our cabin. The size of the ship, about 90 passengers was perfect. There were enough people to have dinner with different groups but it wasn't so big you got lost. The trip out and back was packed with lectures from scientists, there wasn't time to be bored. The accommodation was better than expected, it wasn't a pokey cabin. The food was great. The range of peoples age and background was vast but everyone was friendly and enhanced the social side of the trip. The wildlife was enchanting, there was a buzz every time we were going off the ship. Visiting active or unused stations was a thrill.

Highlight- the penguins Landscape- I was surprised at how little snow there was and how rocky the terrain was Wildlife - penguins were amazing and the sea lions were very cool People- my travel companions were terrific! We are got along very well. Great group Surprises- accommodations. We expected to be in a thermal tent and instead stayed at the Russian scientific location in bunk beds. It was good but unexpected. Also the weather. We were supposed to leave Monday mid day and do half a day with tours on Antarctica and then half a day the next day and head home. Instead we left late Monday night. Just had time for dinner and bed and then only half a day tour Tuesday because the weather turned bad on Wednesday afternoon.

Very professional arrangement and passionate crew onboard.

The sunlight on the snow covered mountains reflected in the still sea was incredibly beautiful. We met a lot of interesting people and the talks were very good

We saw 1,000's of penguins and the landscapes and peaks were wonderful. Lots of seals and whales. The people we traveled with were friendly and from several countries. The iceburgs shapes and colors were amazing. Crossing the drake passage was not plesant with rough water.

Wildlife the landscape, fellow travellers were a good bunch, young and old. The ship's operator looked after us all very well. the ships crew could not do enough for anyone, and the food was excellent.

The wildlife was the highlight of Antarctica, although the landscapes and icebergs were also spectacular. The people on the ship were a delight -- very interesting and congenial. The one surprise was the afore-mentioned need to spend one less day on the Antarctic peninsula.

The landscapes were even more beautiful than I could have imagined. Getting so close to wildlife was certainly one of the highlights of the experience. All of the people on the boat were kind, open, and interesting.

Definitely lots more wildlife other than penguins than I was expecting. The ship & other passengers were fantastic. The ship was way more comfortable than I was expecting and definitely didn’t feel too small. Was great to meet like-minded people from around the world too.

We had amazingly good luck with weather and were able to make about 10 excursions from the ship. The encounters with the whales were just incredibly wonderful. The icebergs and bergy bits were artistic, majestic, noisy, imaginative and splendid. I think we met people from nearly 20 different countries aboard ship. The crew were all friendly, competent, attentive and knowledgeable. I learned a great deal about history, geography, birds and penguins. Drake's passage is long even in good weather.

The landscapes and wildlife were spectacular. After awhile you almost stop taking pictures of whales because you have so many. The other passengers were diverse, adventurous and many will hopefully be friends for life. It was a bummer the weather made us head north a day early, but no worries.

My trip on the G Expedition was exceptional. Life on the ship was much more luxurious than I expected or needed, but I enjoyed it very much. Great food, attentive and kind staff service staff, extraordinary subject experts. The other guests were interesting, friendly, and diverse, and I appreciated the mix (Brits>Australians>US, with many other countries represented) and the high number of solo travelers. I was paired with a delightful and age-appropriate roommate, and indeed all the solo travelers seemed to do fine with their assigned roommates. The trip itself was extraordinary, and the excitement built through the itinerary. Falklands was great for its history and our first encounter with penguins, followed by a wonderful tea at the farmhouse of a Falklands family. South Georgia took the scenery up a notch, and the penguin colonies are unforgettable, as were the visits to the Shackleton sites. Among many magical moments, I especially loved the Zodiac cruise around Cierva Cove in Antarctica, which had it all: seals, penguins, glaciers, ice, mountains. Other favorite times were sitting on the snow watching penguins.

Overall, this trip was a dream come true. The highlights for me were the whaling station at Grytviken and Shackleton's grave, and being able to hike the ridges above our landing sites. In regard to the wildlife, the vast quantity of wildlife, and how close you are to it, leaves you speechless. I was surprised at how easy it was to meet people on the ship. The entire experience was well planned out. As for 'magical moments', arriving in Grytviken and toasting Shackleton's grave (before the other passengers had arrived to the cemetery) was probably the most memorable.

Highlights were the icebergs! That is what drove me to Antarctica and we were not disappointed. Of course the penguins were icing no the cake. Kayaking was superb! We don't remember signing up (did Swoop comp us?) and we loved every moment of it!

Which magical moment to describe? I was so elated once we embarked on our epic journey to South Georgia and feel ever so lucky to hit the big 3 colonies - St Andrews, Gold Harbour and Salisbury Plain, as well as King Haakon Bay and Drygalski Fjord. Yes my anxiety levels peaked at the start of our expedition with a flight cancellation and an aborted landing in the Falklands but yes, I am now proud to be part of a statistic shared - only 0.04% of the population has ever visited South Georgia. After dealing with the initial feeling of being overwhelmed when greeted by 150,000 pairs of kings plus their furry offspring, I discovered so much more to penguins - I love how they use their becks not just to feed but also to push themselves up or to climb hills. Their cuteness, curiosity and cheekiness is so mesmerising, and their inflappable nature - I could watch them for hours. Whilst I joined the expedition as an independent traveller, I disembarked from the Vavilov with some new found friends, some moving stories, magical moments and many cherished memories. If it wasn't for the photographic evidence, I think it was a distant dream!

The presentations were very educational and useful.