You don’t have to think of yourself as an adventurer or an explorer to go on an expedition cruise to ‘the Great White Continent’. The region has become a popular choice for those looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in a destination that is truly off-the-beaten-track and packed with wonderful landscapes and wildlife, including Travel Counsellors’ MD, Kirsten Hughes.
Kirsten and her family sailed aboard the fantastic Seabourn Venture on the 11-Day The Great White Continent itinerary, the first time she’d embarked on such a getaway, “Antarctica? Me, really? I don’t like the cold!” reveals Kirsten. “Well, I’m converted… it is just incredible. It’s hard to put into words but: spectacular, humbling, and the most memorable place I have ever been in the world. I feel so privileged. If you find yourself in the fortunate position to be able to consider doing this… just go for it! You will never regret it.”
After a night in Buenos Aires, she flew to Ushuaia, the southernmost city on earth, where there are fantastic trekking trails in nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park and vibrant historical heritage at The End of the World Museum.
From Ushuaia, it’s time to cross the Drake Passage, kicking off the Antarctic adventure. During this cruise, you’ll spend five days kayaking amidst vast icebergs, hiking to see penguin colonies, and whale watching from a Zodiac boat. You’ll also get the option to don your cosy robe and head down to the Landing Zone to take the plunge into the icy water. “So… the ‘polar plunge’ is a thing,” explains Kirsten. “I know a few Travel Counsellors who have ventured here before and been brave enough to do it. I certainly wasn’t sure whether I would, but when in Rome… the plunge swiftly followed by a couple of shots, then a glass of Champagne!”
The itinerary also includes the enigmatic Aitcho Islands with their chinstrap and gentoo penguins, the Antarctic Sound with its ‘Iceberg Alley’ of huge tabular icebergs (some of them miles long and towering up hundreds of feet above the sea), and the Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station which carries out fieldwork at nearby Adélie and gentoo penguin rookeries.
You’ll also see Brown Bluff, part of an extinct and rare tuya volcano that erupted under the glacier a million years ago, with a substantial penguin population that can make it a great place to spot hunting leopard seals. Another geological wonder, Deception Island has black-sand beaches, and sometimes clouds of steam rising along the shoreline.
This spectacular itinerary operates on Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, both of which are intimate, ultra-luxury expedition ships purpose-built to PC6 Polar Class standards to make some of the world’s most remote and fascinating destinations accessible. Their thrilling, state-of-the-art features include custom-built submarines giving you an eye-opening view of life between the ocean’s surface, plus double sea kayaks, mountain bikes, and Zodiacs for the most immersive of adventures.
Both vessels have several all-oceanfront Owner’s, Signature, and Wintergarden Suites exceptional in size, luxury, and amenities – including Swarovski® binoculars for making sure nothing of these remarkable landscapes goes unseen. All suites on Venture and Pursuit have separate bedrooms and dining areas, guest baths, and wet bars, and many can connect to form Grand Suites with several sleeping areas, bathrooms, and verandas.
“I cannot put into words just how magical Antarctica aboard Seabourn has been,” says Kirsten. “We’ve created memories to last a lifetime – and I’m already looking at doing a polar cruise!”
To book your Seabourn expedition cruise to Antarctica, call your Travel Counsellor today.
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