It is almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever. Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish. Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions, and wildlife opportunities. We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals, and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts, and explore some of the favorite spots along the peninsula. While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to participate in the activity whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting! The polar plunge can take place at any time during the voyage, so listen out for the announcement from the expedition team and get ready for the most exhilarating dip of your life! In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales traveling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge (open at the captain's discretion) for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendor. Listen out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve into sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of the pristine paradise of the splendid white continent. Onboard, you will find a range of areas to socialize or relax. There is a number of lounges, including the Glass Atrium Lounge and Observation Lounge. The wellness center houses our sauna (with a large window, so you can still enjoy the passing scenery) and offers treatments (book with reception). Across from the wellness center you will find the gym with a range of equipment for your use. Perhaps you would like to take a dip in one of the jacuzzis on the back deck or enjoy a quiet moment in the library. As part of the deck theming, expeditioners can learn about the impressive and important conservation work these female scientists are doing across the globe, leading the way in global conservation initiatives. These women work tirelessly to make the world a better place through their innovation, education, and activism. If you are interested in them, the hallways of each deck will introduce you to: Dr Sylvia Earle - Dr. Earle was the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; a National Geographic explorer-in-residence since 1998; and was named by Time Magazine as its first 'Hero of the Planet'. Her conservation initiative Mission Blue is creating a global network of marine protected areas known as Hope Spots, and her new Deep Hope project aims to deliver two deep-dive submersibles to collect crucial scientific data of as-yet-unseen ocean depths. Dr. Carden Wallace AM - Principal Scientist Emeritus at the Queensland Museum since 2014, Dr. Wallace is a preeminent Australian scientist and the first curator/director of the Museum of Tropical Queensland from 1987 to 2003. She is an expert on corals and was part of a team that discovered the mass spawning of coral in 1984. In recognition of her contribution to marine science, Dr. Wallace was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021. Joanna Ruxton - Joanna has the rare distinction of being hailed as 'the person responsible for the plastic-free movement' by Sir David Attenborough himself. She spent many years at the BBC Natural History Unit working on the first Blue Planet documentary series. Her award-winning film A Plastic Ocean, released in 2016, shows the devastating impact of plastic waste on ocean ecosystems and has helped to turn the tide against single-use plastics. In 2009, Joanna co-founded Plastic Oceans UK (now known as Ocean Generation), to inspire an inclusive global movement to restore a sustainable relationship between humanity and oceans. Sharon Kwok - In 2013, Sharon founded the AquaMeridian Conservation & Education Foundation to promote marine education and inspire the next generation to protect and preserve ocean biodiversity. Sharon continues her advocacy as a Mission Blue and WildAid board member and Executive Director of the AquaMeridian Conservation & Education Foundation. Bernadette Demientieff - Bernadette is a passionate mother/advocate for the rights of Alaska and the Gwich'in people in northeast Alaska and northwest Canada. As Executive Director of the Gwich'in Steering Committee, she speaks for the protection of the calving grounds of the porcupine caribou herd, known as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, against destruction from oil and gas companies. Dr. Asha de Vos - Internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan marine biologist, ocean educator, and pioneer of blue whale research in the northern Indian Ocean, Dr. Asha de Vos founded Oceanswell, Sri Lanka's first marine conservation research and education organization. Her flagship initiative, The Sri Lankan Blue Whale Project, has led to many key research publications and informs policy on whale conservation at a local and global level. Asha's award-winning work has been showcased by the BBC, National Geographic, The New York Times, and TED, among many others, and in 2018 she was named one of the 100 most inspirational and influential women in the world by the BBC. Hanli Prinsloo - Hanli Prinsloo is the founder and executive director of I AM WATER, an ocean conservation foundation based in Cape Town, South Africa. Dedicated to protecting oceans through human experience, I AM WATER helps children in underserved South African communities experience the ocean's transformative beauty for the first time. A champion freediver, Hanli co-founded I AM WATER Ocean Travel with husband Peter Marshall, offering intimate wildlife encounters with the ocean's most majestic creatures. ...
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