“It is scarcely possible to imagine anything more beautiful than the beryl-like blue of these glaciers, and especially as contrasted with the dead white of the upper expanse of snow.” ~Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the Beagle Cape Horn Five-thirty came early as we turned off the alarm and made our way to the Observation … Read More
Seabourn Quest
Antarctica Days 5 & 6: An Unexpected Ending & Life On Board
We had just finished our evening recap & briefing meeting and were heading to dinner when Captain Dag’s voice came over the public address system. Two guests needed serious medical treatment, he told us, and the ship had to change its course. The upcoming morning’s planned glacier hike on Niko Island would be cancelled. Instead, … Read More
Cruising the Lemaire Channel: Quite Possibly the Most Beautiful Place on the Planet
They call it Kodak Gap. A narrow, iceberg-filled passageway that is one of the most photographed places in Antarctica. Barely a mile wide and just seven miles long, it’s a world unto itself, with steep rocky cliffs, magnificent glaciers and the stillest of waters. With icebergs at every turn, it’s a challenging place to navigate, … Read More
Antarctica Day 1: Half Moon Island & Chinstrap Penguins
“Who will buy this wonderful morning? Such a sky you never did see. Who will tie it up with a ribbon And put it in a box for me?” ~ Lionel Bart, Who Will Buy? I couldn’t believe the shades of blue. It was as if tablets of Easter egg dye were being dropped into … Read More
Crossing the Drake Passage: Antarctica Here We Come!
“Where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.” ~Sir Francis Drake The boom was loud, jolting us from our sleep. It was the middle of our first night in the Drake Passage, and the gently rocking waves of early evening had become more intense, with seconds between their rise and fall, like hang … Read More