When deciding when to visit Antarctica, time of year does make a difference, but deciding which time of year is “best” depends on what you are looking at getting out of your Antarctica adventure. Specific wildlife sightings – mating season – new hatchlings – weather – icescapes – mud – penguins poo smell at its worst/best…? While January is typically considered the heart of the Antarctica travel season, visitors shouldn’t [...]
If you enjoy stocking up on great gifts for mom and dad during the holiday season, then a Europe river cruise option is available that allows you to explore various Christmas Markets in Europe on an 8 day cruise. Let us help you this year with some great gift ideas! Enjoy a week of shopping in Europe on a great holiday vacation getaway. Trip Planner, Mary Curry, had the opportunity [...]
Book by September 30, 2010 to save 30% off an 11-day polar voyage onboard the Antarctic Dream. This discount applies to the November 7, 2010 departure. Here’s a beautiful clip of an Antarctic Dream expedition to give you an idea of what you might expect during a trip to the Great White Continent. Click here for details on the expedition and discount. The month of November (late Austral spring and [...]
Continuing my love affair with Alaska, I’m living vicariously through Adventure Lifer, Marissa, and this short clip of her adventures in Alaska. In mid-May, Marissa spent a week in the famous panhandle. Spreading her time between hiking to caves, a camping trip, taking a polar plunge, and sea kayaking in one of the last remaining frontiers, her home-base for her Alaska voyage was the 49-passenger expedition vessel, Wilderness Discoverer. And [...]
Wildlife has come to define Alaska. Images of grand grizzlies, a breaching humpback whale, or a bald eagle snatching a salmon from a stream have come to symbolize the spirit of the United States’ largest state. The list of Alaskan wildlife is long and diverse. Here is a sampling of Alaska’s most famous inhabitants. BEARS Nearly 98 percent of the country’s grizzly bears live in Alaska. They are found throughout [...]
Flat Stanley: The ingenious little international phenomenon that encourages school children to expand their geography know-how and explore the world… arrived on my Missoula, Montana doorstep at the end of October, via US Post. He came compliments of my darling 6-year-old cousin, Evan, from Olive Branch, MS. The timing was perfect — I was only weeks away from departing on a two-week trip to Argentina and Antarctica. And while Stanley [...]
An absolutely stunning day today! Due to departing Antarctica a half day early, the Expedition Leader requested permission for an additional landing in the Falklands. The landing was at Steeple Jason Island and the highlight was the largest Black Browed Ablatross nesting site in the world. Thousands of the enormous birds covered the beach and upland slopes – a literal sea of wings and squawking. Intermingled with these charismatic birds [...]
Yesterday’s attempt at the Shetland Islands was a bust, again due to weather. Winds were blowing hard, and word was that all the ships in the area that had planned similar visits canceled their trips as well. This meant that we immediately turned toward the Falkland Islands and have now been at sea for over 36 hours. Expected land arrival is tomorrow afternoon, which will mean my longest time ever [...]
November 29 This is it. Our last chance to make it to the Emperor Penguin Rookery at Snow Hill. At 5:30 AM, Shane’s voice wakes us with the announcement that visibility is only 100 meters and the helicopters need 300. We wait and see. At 7:45, he comes on again. Penguin Plunge will be at 8:30 sharp! What’s a Penguin Plunge? Its a jump and a swim in the ice [...]
November 26 Woke to poor visibility and the 5:30am announcement that helicopter flights to Snow Hill were delayed. An hour went by and another announcement came regarding further weather delay. Then, another announcement later in the morning that we had missed our daylight window. No worries, however, as we backed out of the ice and headed over to Paulette Island for our first landing via zodiac. Thousands of Adeli penguins [...]
