I recently was fortunate enough to have sailed to the Antarctica with Swan Hellenic cruise line. With so many places in the world to see, I must admit this itinerary wasn’t on my Bucket List Top 10. And I really thought that an “Expedition” cruise wasn’t really for me. But boy was I wrong! This cruise was like no other I have ever sailed on before. And I think it will be hard to top this incredible experience on any cruise I sail on in the future.
The cruise itinerary I sailed in December was the Antarctic Peninsula Discovery. This 10 day / 9 night itinerary started and ended in Buenos Aires, Argentina. You may be thinking an Antarctic cruise in December is a bad idea. But as Argentina is in the Southern Hemisphere, they are currently enjoying their summer season.
Once I arrived in Buenos Aires, I was met at the airport by a representative of Swan Hellenic who took me by car to the beautiful Alvear Icon Hotel located in the Puerto Madero area of Buenos Aires. This area is the most cosmopolitan neighborhood of the city. Where I enjoyed the most incredible views of the city and the River Plate. Later that evening I attended a “meet & greet” cocktail party at the hotel with my fellow cruisers. The next morning my group of 128 boarded a 3-hour charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. Ushuaia is located at the southernmost tip of Argentina. And is nicknamed the “End of the World”. Ushuaia is a small town perched on a steep hill surrounded by the Martial Mountains and the Beagle Channel. And is the starting point for many Antarctic cruises.
Later that day we started the 48-hour journey through the world-famous Drake Passage. Often called the “Drake Shake”. And for good reason. The Drake Passage is the body of water between Cape Horn in South America and the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica. And this is the area where the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern seas converge. And because the currents meet no resistance from any nearby landmass, it’s some of the choppiest waters in the world – AKA the “Drake Shake”.
On Day 3 of the cruise, we arrived at the Antarctica Peninsula and where my adventure begins! As the ship slowly made its way, we started to see our first iceberg sightings and the White Continent’s breathtaking landscape of massive glaciers and awe-inspiring ice cliffs. I have never seen anything like this before! Everywhere I looked was untouched.
Now that I have arrived at the Peninsula, I will embark on 4 incredible days of expedition with the highly trained and knowledge Swan Hellenic Expedition Team. Each team member are experts in their own field. Penguins, whales, birds, geology, environmentalists, ocean conservation…you name it. The vast knowledge that each team member shared with me and fellow expeditionists was incredible. Their passion for the Antarctic shined through day after day!
Each day I embarked on 2 expeditions from the ship. Once in the morning and once in the afternoon. We boarded a 10-passenger zodiac and off we went. Each outing was approximately 1.5 hours long. And we did a combination of zodiac cruises and going ashore for the next 4 days. The zodiac cruises were calm as we cruised around the plethora of massive icebergs, observed the penguins, birds and looking for whales. Day 1 was quite exciting as a huge piece of an iceberg broke off and crashed into the ocean not too far from the zodiac! The afternoon expeditions took us ashore to observe the penguins. In December it is nesting season for them. So, there were many times where we observed penguins perched up high on their nests. Other times we were walking amongst the penguins as they were going up & down the “Penguin Highways” they created. Back and forth all day long from the water to feed and back up to the nests. They are the cutest little birds (yes, they are birds!) as they waddle along. Non-stop pictures and videos all day long.
After 4 fantastic days exploring the Antarctica Peninsula the ship made its way back to Ushuaia through the Drake Passage once again. I then boarded another charter flight to Buenos Aires with my group where I spent one more night before heading back to Canada.
Since I have returned from this incredible trip, I have been asked many questions.
Q – Was it cold in December?
A – Yes and no. Most days the temperature on the cruise was 0 – 3 degrees Celsius. I had excellent weather during my sailing. I really lucked out with a lot of sunshine. So, it was quite warm when you are layered up and walking up a hill in some deep snow. But when there was no sun, and the wind came out it was cold. A couple times on the bow of the ship I felt like my forehead was frozen. So, gloves and hats are definitely needed.
Q – What did you do on the ship if you weren’t on an expedition?
A – Lots of down time to relax in the beautiful Observation Lounge of the ship. A very open area to kick your shoes off and relax on one of the many couches and chairs. Sit and watch the beautiful scenery go by as you sip on a warm bevy. Or hang out with your friends and talk about your day. Socialize with other cruisers, play games, or talk with the Expedition Team. Or listen to one of the many onboard informative “talks”. Or partake in a spa services, hit the outdoor heated pool, go to the sauna, or have a workout at the gym. One thing I really enjoyed doing is sitting on my balcony with a big cozy blanket and look at the icebergs and look for whales. Never bored that’s for sure.
Q – How was food on the ship? Small ship so the food must have been just, okay?
A – Absolutely not! The food was excellent. By far the best culinary I have ever experienced on a cruise. Swan Hellenic is a luxury cruise line. So, you can expect top of the line culinary, onboard service, accommodations, and travel experience.
Q – How did you pack for the trip? You were in Buenos Aires and the Antarctica?
A – I spent 2 nights in Buenos Aires, but it is their summer in December. So, I did need to pack t-shirts, shorts, hat, and sunscreen. When you board the ship, you will be in pants and a sweater or long sleeve shirts. And when you go off the ship it’s all about the layers and merino wool socks! Swan Hellenic provides a parka to each guest. The parka is wind and water resistant (a definite must have!). And very warm and yours to keep after the cruise. And I was also provided warm rubber boots to use during the cruise portion of the trip. The dress code onboard is super casual all day and night. No ballgowns or suites required for this trip.
This cruise was like no other I have ever been on before. There were some many highlights on the trip I don’t think I can put my finger on just one thing. But if I had to it would be seeing the penguins in their natural habitat. Followed by out of this world scenery! An absolute mecca for photographers. It was truly a trip of a lifetime. And experience I will never forget!
Soon I will be posting a video on my Facebook page of this incredible trip. If you would like to view the video, please join my Business Facebook page – SandraKopeckTravel. And please give me a call or send me an email if you would like more information about this trip. Or would like to discuss other trip ideas.
Want to learn more about Antarctica?
Join a live webinar on Tuesday, January 30th at 5pm (MDT).
Discover the extraordinary wilderness of Antarctica on an epic once-in-a-lifetime expedition in sophisticated elegance. Join our Swan Hellenic Antarctica expert, they take you on a virtual expedition to the 7th Continent. You will hear the details about the authentic, intimate and unforgettable moments of discovery in Antarctica, all the while enjoying a sophisticated elegant atmosphere onboard- marrying the adventure of a true expedition with 5-star service and accommodations. Join this webinar to learn more about 5-star expeditions in Antarctica and the special incentive available for those who join us.