At Earth’s southernmost point, Antarctica encompasses over 5 million square miles of ice sheets, towering glaciers, and rugged mountains, with colossal icebergs and volcanic islands in the surrounding waters. The only crowds you’ll spy are colonies of penguins (especially gentoo and emperor penguins), plus seal pods and seabird rookeries – these species have all adapted to the continent’s harsh climate.
“Each time I’ve been to this incredible continent, I’ve fallen further and further in love,” says Virtuoso travel advisor Ralph Iantosca, who has cruised to Antarctica five times.
Most voyages depart from South America’s southernmost tip and cross the Drake Passage’s unpredictable waters (where pods of orcas and dolphins often appear) en route to the Antarctic Peninsula. Because National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ polar expedition fleet uses X-Bow technology – an innovative ship design featuring an inverted bow that slices through waves – sailing in the Drake’s potentially choppy conditions feels smoother and more comfortable.
Aboard the 148-passenger National Geographic Explorer and 138-passenger National Geographic Endurance, days at sea build excitement for the landings ahead. In the main lounge, educational films and lectures by historians, scientists, marine biologists, and photographers span subjects including wildlife, conservation, and the history of Antarctic exploration. And with such a small passenger capacity, cruisers have easy access to National Geographic experts and the ship’s staff.
“I loved our captain, Heidi Norling,” Iantosca says about a previous expedition aboard the 138-passenger National Geographic Resolution. “While we were sailing through the Lemaire Channel, I FaceTimed my family back home, and she took the time to chat with my 15-year-old niece about our experience.”
Travelers’ days are spent both on and off the ship – bird-watching from the balcony, riding Zodiacs to the mainland for hiking and spying penguins, paddling kayaks with a guide through the Antarctic Sound, and looking out for fin, southern right, and blue whales. By journey’s end, every passenger experiences the unparalleled sense of calm found only at the bottom of the earth.
Buenos Aires, Argentina to Buenos Aires, Argentina
Not Included
