March Reviews

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!

Immense colonies of king penguins on South Georgian Island.

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.

Awesome, Incredible, Amazing, Wonderful, Perfect, Great Response, I would do it all again! Tough to give only one example, camping, polar plunge, cruising on Zodiac's, landings, lectures, food, cabins, talent show Wildlife, great. Everyone was amazing passengers, great expedition team leader and members, and crew It was all a surprise. Whatever I thought I knew, what I thought I expected everything surprised me. Especially the icebergs, colors, wildlife, history Can't limit to one answer hitting the water in the polar plunge, watching the leopard seal catch penguins and being only feet from all of it, the whales, the penguins were so amazing.

The Zodiac rides where (1) we were in the middle of three humpback whales for 30-45 minutes as they circled and approached our Zodiac, getting no more than 6 feet away from us, and (2) we were watching 15-20 seals playing near an iceberg that lost a portion of ice at one end and then began rotating and turning as we watched this rare and memorable sight.

Seeing a glacier calving to create an iceberg. Seeing Leopard seals on icebergs.

Overall, and underall and in between, it was fabulous. Kayaking was the highlight, though it was pretty exciting to see baby penguins. Landscape, particularly the icebergs, was sublime, surreal, dramatic, transcendental, magical. Wildlife was a hoot, never got tired of penguins or seals. The people we met were fine. When you said we'd see "a lot" of penguins, I didn't quite grasp just how many that would be or how close we'd get to them ... a pleasant surprise. Biggest surprise was just luck -- the phenomenal weather.

Meeting Swoop’s Michael Battley! Michael was such a lifesaver when it came to getting me and my sister to even come on this trip after struggles with the Chilean mobility pass. He stayed with us on the phone every step of the way and I could not be more grateful. Beyond traveling mishaps, Michael turned out to be a great friend as well! He was one of the best parts of this trip.

The trip was amazing. I took 3 girlfriends with me and we had a blast. Spring Break 2017! (J/K it was not a Spring Break holiday) We met so many amazing people who had fabulous stories to tell, and the crew was just as fun too. My highlight was landing on the continent in Paradise Bay and going to Deception Island. That water is freeeezzzinnngggg. We repeatedly said we felt like we were on an ocean safari we saw so much wildlife everyday. We also had the most amazing weather. LOVED IT!

First stepping foot on the Continent of Antarctica!!! That has to be the first. But there were so many many more!

Kayaking a few feet from humpback whales

Everyday was a highlight, every landscape wae a new vision of a pristine, untouched planet. Seals, penguins, birds, whams and dolphins... it was like being in a National Geographic documentary but with all the sensations of doing something unique. Not just seeing, but doing, living, and feeling exceptionally humble. Surrounded by nature but also by an amazing staff and respectful travelers, all with a deep sense of respect, kindness. sharing the moment all together. The hardest part of the trip after disembarking was to share with family and friends. An impossible challenge, which can only be understood by going there!

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.

First seeing Antarctica from our ship after crossing Drakes Passage.

The wild life was the best part of the trip.

The highlights were the abundant wildlife and spectacular landscape of icebergs, glaciers and snow covered mountains and ice shelves. I was surprised by the abundance of wildlife including Humpback whales and the many close encounters we had with whales, seals and penguins who were often curious about the humans visiting their world. The ship operator's team and the Russia. Crew of the Vavilov were fantastic. The Expefition leader and guides were knowledgeable, skilled, friendly, helpful and passionate about Antarctica and its environment and wildlife. It was also great to have scientists on board who were conducting research on whales and provided lectures on board the ship. We met many like minded passengers - who we will stay in contact with. I think the most magical moment was in Charlotte Bay on the Zodiacs seeing and experiencing so many Humpback whales, a few Minke whales and having a few close encounters with some curious Humpbacks.

Polar Plunge

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.

It’s a tie: A leopard seal trying to mate with our boat, the polar plunge, and the wonderful friends I made (GO MICHAEL)

The overnight camp out was special , we had a beautiful starry night and we’re lucky . Mountaineering came a close second !