January Reviews

I would say that the highlights were the landings and zodiac cruising. The landscape and wildlife were in a word amazing! Otherworldly! The expedition team MADE the experience... so informative and caring! I was surprised that the Drake crossing was SO SMOOTH! Wonderful Crew and perfect weather. The morning we spent on Useful Island... it was a pre-breakfast landing and it was just perfect... I will never forget it!

Very luxurious cruise, fantastic exploration team that provided though information, lectures, trips on zodiacs and large "citizen scientist" programs. Icebergs and all wildlife was observed close up and the whenever anyone saw more animals, it was announced over the PA system so everyone could see them. It included some fun events like a photo contest, charity auction, and "get to know your team" game.

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.

The general itinerary was great, but we found the extra activities such as kayaking and camping to be the most memorable. I liked the idea of the closed group for kayaking since it did seem to take a while for people to get comfortable, and I could not imagine having to repeat that process every outing. The scenery kayaking through some of the harbors seemed out of this world. We also saw orcas on multiple occasions with the pod coming right up to the ship. One pod was even hunting a seal. It was all very exciting!

From beginning to end the trip was fantastic. It was so educational and I learned more about the wildlife, geology and history of Antarctica than I could have imagined. All the staff and crew members were knowlegeable and helpful. The highlight had to be getting so close to the humpback whales while we were on the zodiac

Thoroughly enjoyed the landings and all the wildlife, but unfortunately due to a medical evacuation we spent the majority of the holiday at sea, which was a big disappointment.

Our trip on Polar Pioneer was outstanding. We loved the ship and it’s crew, who together with the expedition team make our voyage unforgettable. Highlights: sleep over on the ice, sun sets, icebergs Landscapes: sensory overload

The trip lioved up to all our expectations and more. Highlight was the bubblenet fishing of the Humpback whales really close to the ship and the Antarctic plunge which could have been on a beach at home for air temperatures but not the ocean. The guides were so knowledgeable and helpful, it became like one big happy family

The reason I have chosen NO in the previous question is because I feel very content on having seen Antarctica thoroughly and learning and seeing so much about the place. I do not think I missed anything in the trip, and so if I visit again I might just end up doing the same thing. This was one of my best trips ever in terms of being satisfied. Highlights were aplenty (in order): ~ Spending time in Ushuaia the southern most city in the world ~ Living a comfortable life in the ship with good passengers for company, and the best possible expedition team ~ Witnessing Orcas, Dolphins straight from the portside cabin window ~ Crossing the Polar Circle ~ Polar plunging (twice!) ~ Encounters with humpback whales swimming so close to the zodiac ~ Sitting ashore and absorbing the calm and vastness of the peninsula on a bright sunny day ~ Good variety of food and beverage

Over the top fabulous trip. Surprise: 1)I don't think I understood that the trip was not a "Swoop" trip but rather a brokered trip booked through the ship's operator. 2)I didn't expect that over half the people of the trip (China residents) would not speak English. Made it tough for getting them understanding instructions. The variety of people from 13 countries was great; the other 12 countries could speak some or fluent English.

Two highlights were crossing the Antarctic Circle and stepping foot twice on the continent.

Kayaking made it for me, doubled crewed with a lovely man (lent by his wife for kayaking)My biggest surprise was beaching on an ice berg and a snowball fight! The people were friendly to a lone traveller,and I was very lucky with my cabin share partner. Scenery and wildlife up close and personal magic.

No surprises - except relatively quiet Drake Passage. Trip met all expectations in terms of wildlife, scenery and history. Staff and guides excellent. Fellow travelers largely as expected. Only downsides were day lost with cancelled flight, and inability to access the Weddell Sea.

Very pleased with the ship's operator - the expedition staff were first class. Highlight - - - as on the previous trip, South Georgia A pity that we 'lost' 3 days because of the weather - - - but you've got to take what Mother Nature throws at you.

Every day brought a new highlight - tagging the Minke whale, seeing a baby king penguin creep out from under his mom, watching other penguin chicks being fed, seeing an iceberg calve...so much. Everyone on the cruise was quite friendly.

If you have never been there, there is no way of preparing for the impact of being there. The untouched, natural beauty, the mighty icebergs, the silliness of the penguins. You will be spending hours just sitting in one spot adoring the view. Also don't forget: this is not a luxury cruise, this is an expedition.

The landscapes and wildlife were amazing. The crew and guides were top-notch professionals.

The icebergs, wildlife and landscapes were hard to all take in. The Vavilov was the perfect venue in every respect.

I am adding a little personal information because my perspective was very much colored by my physical limitations. I am way beyond middle age. I am a breast cancer survivor however one of the medications also left me with osteoarthritis resulting in mobility issues. Also since birth I have been legally blind (US gov term) I see about 10% of what the average person sees. However I think I see more because I look more intently at things but I do travel with a "seeing-eye-elbow" to make certain I get where I intent to be. Everything was a high-light. Having never encountered the likes of the Antarctic I was delighted with the chance to be able to experience everything which came my way. The expedition staff were incredibly helpful without being fawning. Their assistance on the gang-plank and boarding an off-loading from the zodiacs was wonderful. They seemed to anticipate my needs and assisted in my enjoyment of the trip.

Loved the trip. Weather was good the first four days after arrival. We personally loved Iceberg Alley. Wildlife was great. A big surprise was that 65% of the travelers were a French group. Although they were often separated from the English speaking group with their own interpreters in the sessions where both languages had to be presented it became a problem because the French passengers continually talked through the English speaking portion and we needed to listen to the French. I was under the impression that if the trip was advertised as English speaking that is all it would be. It did not take long before we realized that the French group did not feel they had to obey staff instructions - particularly staying behind certain boundaries while waiting for zodiacs on shore, waiting in lines for eating,stairs,and boarding zodiacs from ship, etc. Some of the guides had difficulties with the group getting too close to penguins and not staying within the red poles while walking. Even boarding the buses to the airport presented problems with the drivers because of how the French guides wanted them to board, etc. and had to spend their time trying to sort things out. It was a distraction that did not have to happen. The ship operator's Staff and guides were top notch. Very calm, capable and knowledgeable.