With all the factors an expedition cruise has to consider, flexibility is key to enjoying your experience. When narrowing down cruise options early on in our search, we all tend to scour through itineraries looking for the best possible experience. But, what I learned on this trip is that the reality of improvisation is at the core of all expedition cruising. On this trip, we were visiting some of the most remote, delicate and volatile regions on earth and the environment can have a huge impact on the day to day line up.
Due to rapidly cooling temperatures and changing sea conditions that we were experiencing in the first few days of our voyage, rather than stopping along the coastline of the Peninsula as we headed south to start our shore excursions, the captain and our expedition team made the call to change our plan and push as far south as we could get in hopes of succeeding in our mission to cross the Antarctic Circle before unfavorable conditions made this impossible. Our expedition leader called a ship-wide meeting to let us know that we were now moving on from our regularly scheduled programming to Plan C.2.5. He also let us know that if anything adjusted again, he would be sure to keep us updated.
These changes could happen at any point in your trip. We experienced this phenomenon almost daily. Some days, storms would roll in creating weather the ship needed to avoid. Other days, we cruised into harbors the team wanted to explore to find them completely frozen and inaccessible. In these instances, the expedition leader works closely with the captain to alter the plans for the day to find an amazing alternative spot to land ashore or magically arrange an impromptu site visit at an Argentinean Research Base that was not on your itinerary. One day, we were hindered from getting ashore because there were too many penguins at the landing site and literally zero space was available to park a zodiac! We made up for this by taking a zodiac cruise along the coastline observing all the gentoo penguins who were crowding along the shore observing these funny looking creatures in red jackets and rubber boots floating in rubber boats (us). Up close like this, we could see all the adolescent penguins huddled together- in the middle of the delicate process of moulting their baby feathers and growing adult waterproof ones.
Regardless of the changes that were announced on our trip, Pablo (or expedition team leader) and the rest of the team never failed to impress and entertain the guests with a new and better spot to explore or a well crafted new plan! By the end of our trip, we could safely say that we were on Plan Z.6 or 7, but I can honestly say that regardless of what plan it was, it was still the experience of a lifetime.
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.