Customer Reviews

The whole experience was fantastic, from beginning to end (apart from BA flight home which you did not book!). Mixture of elements to meet both our interests: wildlife (Jane), photography (Mike), landscape (both) and history (both). Highlights included walking amongst the animals (particularly on South Georgia), doing the Shackleton Walk (SG), kayaking amongst icebergs and the privilege of being there - all this was helped by weather which Hayley had never experienced in 15 years of working in the area. Expedition staff were outstanding in enthusiasm/ knowledge/ mixing with clients and we will nominate leader Hayley for the Wanderlust Guide Award 2017. Good mix of people with similar interests meant conversations over many meals were always interesting. The ship was very well run with great crew and high quality catering (too good for our waistlines).

The whole of Antarctica is the highlight without a doubt. All the senses are overwhelmed and truly a special and spiritual experience. Landscapes were spectacular from the glorious sunny days and magnificent mountains, glaciers, and icebergs. Equally spectacular was watching the weather close in and clouds descend down the mountains. Of course a highlight for me was to dive there and especially within the Antarctic Circle, dive and iceberg and dive with penguins and seals. Saw more penguins, whales and seals than I expected and the ability to land and get up close and personal with them was fantastic. The crew on Plancius were fantastic, very knowledgeable, exceptionally professional and very accommodating. I met some great and very interesting people among both divers and passengers. Surprises included the quality of the service, expedition staff on Plancius, and restaurant quality meals!

Seeing our first iceberg, before seeing land, was quite memorable, as was seeing the amount and size of the glaciers. Also, seeing the number and diversity of wildlife, in such a harsh climate, was not only memorable but encouraging as to the adaptability of nature.

The highlight for us was the day we went through the Lemaire Channel, visited Pleneau Bay and Port Charcot, did the polar plunge, and had a deck BBQ dinner. It was an amazing day. The landscape and wildlife were incredible. Conceptualizing the sheer quantity of ice surrounding you is breath taking. And the penguins were always funny to watch. The guides were incredible and beyond knowledgable. Their passion is contagious and it was clear they love their job. Fellow passengers and other ship crew were also extremely friendly and interesting. One unfortunate surprise was the final payment process. The payment processor was through a different company and country than any of the previous payments, so getting approval from one's card issuer was unnecessarily challenging for many passengers. This could've been prevented by communicating the information prior to departing Punta Arenas. Our most magical moment was at the Port Charcot hike where scenery was truly amazing and looked like a painting.

South Georgia was the surprise! The extra sailing days were not the easiest but it was definitely worth it once arrived. That's definitely something incredible to know that there's a place like this on this planet. Lived up to every expectation Plus more.

On our second day in Antarctica, we celebrated crossing the Antarctic circle. All guests and expedition guides gathered on deck 8 as we joined in an Antarctic circle ritual: stamping a circle on our foreheads! Afterwards, we enjoyed the most fantastic views of The Gullet - a narrow passageway surrounded by towering mountains covered in thick layers of ice. It was the most beautiful place I have ever seen!

No question, hard to choose one. Far the best: zodiak cruise with the whales. Second: Paradise bay zodiak criuse on an amazing suny afternoon. Third: Deception Island on an amazing sunny day.

Zodiac cruise with multiple whales, one popped up just a couple feet away

Sleeping on the continent in my bevy bag to wake up at 3am to light snow, peace and a phenomenal view of glaciers and a waterfall. The watching a group of artic turns chase a skua right over me as I lay snug in my bag. The windy wet ride through iceberg alley with dark clouds on the horizon, making it look like one could fall off the edge - cerulean blues iceberg caves, huge icebergs with turrets and knife edge peaks and, to top it all off, a leopard seal on an iceberg. And penguins frolicking in the water - torpedo like in their speed and jumps, clearly having a blast. I could go on...ice climbing with calving icebergs, swimming penguins and seals below, and snow waterfalls from avalanches in the mountains across the bay; Damvoy Point - blue sky with great clouds coming across the peaks and that amazing blue streaked, cracked glacier ...and baby penguins! Love the Adeline's her and there and sharing the penguin highways with them...wacthching them hoping, sliding, jumping, braying....could watch pimguisn forever.

For Peggy, she was overwhelmed by Atacama because she couldn't believe that there were Flamingoes at 14,000 ft elevation with limited water. She was also astounded by the Antarctic oceans with the stark colors between the ocean and the icebergs and the oceans as compared to the animals that we saw. For CC- I really loved getting to go below the Antarctic circle and seeing the differences a we moved up the peninsula. I thought the Crew did an amazing job with their ceremony for crossing the circle and I really enjoyed being out on deck with lots of people as we gathered around GPS systems and cracked champagne as we crossed the circle. I also really enjoyed getting to see all of the wildlife and it has made me want to go to the Falklands and South georgia to see how it is different

A very difficult question. Being completely engulfed by amazing wildlife in such a close proximity. It was a sensory overload in every sense of the word.

My first zodiac ride and my first time on land in Antarctica

Watching penguins hop up and down on the rocks, also moving through the snow on their bellies using their flippers.

There were 3 - 1. Charlotte Point when it was so quiet I could hear a lone humpback whale sing against a snowy highland backdrop and pink skies during dawn - when mother nature took me to its heart; 2. Overlooking the colony of some 250,000 adult and chick King penguins in St Andrews' Bay on a clear sunny day brought tears to my eyes as nature thrives against all odds; 3. 2 humpback whales swam under and over to our zodiac, raising their heads a few times within an inch of our zodiac to check us out and listen to my husband and I talk to them, showing such sentience, consciousness and gentleness.

Everyday involved an impact fill experience of majestic power and the serene strength of the Antarctic. At the peak of a snowshoeing event I came to realize all of what surrounded me did not seem real. Words can not describe what I saw and felt on this journey.

Standing above a colony of over 300,000 King Penguins at Saint Andrews Bay, South Georgia ...... although that ties with also being able to stand on Antarctica with my husband, Mark, as we celebrated our 52nd wedding anniversary.

Immense colonies of king penguins on South Georgian Island.

More varied than we expected in terms of landscapes and wildlife. We were pleased to have so much time ashore - more than expected. Crew and staff were great but an awkwardness in the composition of the passengers meant less companionship than we had experienced on previous similar holidays.

Encountering the icebergs close up and the pristine Antarctic landscape in some areas as well as maneuvering through the brash ice with the zodiac.

Trip was fun and seeing the wildlife and various landscape up close was the main highlight. There were some hiccups with the trip that seemed to be weather depending. We did not get to make many landings in Antarctica which upset many people on board and there didn't seem to be as much empathy from the staff regarding this. The itinerary said that we would make landings or do something everyday but there were several days when we could not leave the ship. Expectations of the trip were poorly managed and several passengers left disgruntled and saying they wouldn't travel with the ship's operator again. We had a great time and tried to just go with the flow and enjoy what we could but there definitely was some negative feedback expressed by many other passengers.