There were many memorable moments, but no one "most memorable".

Great holiday

Yes

We saw a lot on the Zodiac excursions and they were a valuable part of the trip. The Zodiac excursions were usually planned ahead by the team with the view to showing us highlights, special views, significant wildlife habitats in the area, etc. This was much appreciated. The expedition team were safety conscious, excellent drivers, and made us feel safe at all times. However... there were too often too many people (10 plus the team driver) to be able to see adequately, and those with cameras (of which there were (too) many) took up a lot of physical and visual space. Only one expedition driver made a point of asking people to share the prime viewing spots. When it was suggested to other drivers that they do something similar, the response was simply that it was 'an interesting idea'. By the end it became hard to look forward to the Zodiac excursions…

All were very good to superb in terms of knowledge and ability to convey that knowledge. They each had their own areas of expertise and delivery styles, and I learned a lot. This was such an important part and a major contribution to the high quality of this trip. It almost seems unfair to single out anyone, but Gaby is an all-around rock star! Her presentations were excellent, her knowledge base was astounding, her enthusiasm was unflagging, her sense of humour helped pull us together, and she did a great job as auctioneer at the fundraiser at the end of the trip, helping to raise thousands for 2 good causes. I also enjoyed the more in-depth presentations by Leo, who brought a significant science and research perspective to his talks. The expedition leader, Jeff, was excellent, too. He appeared laid back, but it was clear that he was an expert who was constantly thinking of ways to make it a great (and safe) trip, working "behind the scenes" - i.e., in concert with the ship's captain and his own team - to get us to the shore and Zodiac excursions that would delight, educate, and give great memories. The daily briefings and lectures were informative and well-presented, and they did a great job of preparing us for what we were going to see and then further contextualizing it during the wrap-up sessions. The expedition team were knowledgeable, friendly, and approachable - always ready to converse, answer questions, point out interesting and important sights, etc. They made a point of joining us during meals to further engage, answer questions, and add a more personal touch to the trip.

I would choose this ship again. The cabin was comfortable, well-laid out, and very user-friendly. The beds were comfortable, as were the pillows, and there were extra pillows and blankets, too. There was plenty of space for clothes - both in closets and in drawers, and there was a safe in the closet which was a nice “plus”, though we didn’t feel the need to use it. (Ditto the bar fridge.) Suitcases fit easily under the beds, so were not in the way. It would have been nice to have seats on the balcony, though I understand that in rough seas, which we did encounter at times, that could be a problem. (On a future trip I would take a small squeegee to clear the windows and balcony railing, which became coated with rain or spray at times. Clearing with a cloth was OK - and made a huge difference! - but a squeegee would have been more efficient.) There were more than enough electrical plugs for appliances, etc. (make sure you have European adapters), and USB-A plugs for devices. If you have devices which need USB-C plugs, though, make sure you take your own adapters, as there are no USB-C plugs. The heated floor in the bathroom was a definite plus. It was a luxury to step into a pre-warmed shower, and wet clothes - whether from spray in the Zodiac or hand washing - dried quickly. Water pressure in the shower was great. Body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion were provided and regularly replenished. It was a pleasant surprise to find that the two hot tubs were open during much of the trip. That was a treat. There was also a sauna and exercise room, neither of which I used. The food ranged from good to excellent, the menus varied, and all the staff were friendly, attentive, and personable. They made an effort to get to know people and to remember specific things we enjoyed. Amazing! My only “complaint” about the food is that there was too much of it and it seemed that much too much would go to waste. We were told that staff “down below” would get access to whatever was leftover (which, in itself, was a bit disconcerting, as I would have hoped that the staff were fed as well as we were. They all worked very hard to make the trip comfortable, safe, and enjoyable for us.) but even then it seemed that there would be a lot wasted. We certainly didn’t need 3 full and varied meals each day given how little we did physically on most days. The dining room was comfortable, but much too noisy. It was difficult to have conversation, which was unfortunate. It was a bit quieter in the Tuscan “restaurant”, but the menu there wasn’t very interesting and did not vary, so it was not as desirable as the main dining room. A rather heavy refillable metal water bottle was provided for everyone and there were water stations throughout the ship. Taking water on the daily excursions really wasn’t necessary, as they were all relatively short. I had a smaller plastic bottle which I took for the longer excursions and hikes. This was much lighter than the provided water bottle would have been. While we encountered rough seas at times, and sea sickness was an issue for many, I understand that the ship’s design helped mitigate this considerably. (I also understand that the Captain made route decisions to try to avoid storms, very rough seas, etc. I’m sure this was done more than we were made aware of, and I greatly appreciate this, too.) I made use of the Meclizine provided, and this also helped, I’m sure. The Muck Boots provided were excellent, which came as a very pleasant surprise. They were comfortable, fit well with heavy socks, and easily accommodated the Spenco arch inserts I had brought. We walked and even hiked in them for hours and my feet were always comfortable and warm, and I got no blisters. I will be getting a pair for use at home.

Unfortunately, influenza and other upper respiratory viruses made the rounds amongst the guests. The expedition leader and doctor could have taken steps early on to limit the spread by insisting on masking or quarantining those obviously ill for the days of acute illness. Instead, in spite of a few people being obviously very ill at the outset of the voyage and a number of guests speaking with the team about it, the response was rather tepid: they told us they were not going to do anything because "you are all adults", i.e., leaving it up to individuals to self-manage. Unfortunately, those who arrived ill did not. That meant many more people became ill and lost out on expeditions, lectures, etc. due to illness. We were told that 3-in-1 jackets would be provided and that all sizes would be available. I requested a specific size on the pre-trip form but found a smaller size waiting for me in my cabin. My size was not available, only a larger size, so I have ended up with a jacket much too big for use anywhere else. This was a disappointment.

Go to South Georgia and Falklands, if you can. Read the comments to get more info and tips for whichever trip you choose. Choose a smaller, expedition ship, if you can.

No

Very! I had done my homework.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

I don`t know