Top Things You’ll See on an Antarctic Cruise

Have you considered heading south for the winter? I mean way, way south – to Antarctica! When it’s winter in the U.S.A., it’s summer in the southern hemisphere and this is the perfect time to visit the Seventh Continent. The days are long – almost 20 hours of daylight – and the wildlife is plentiful. If you like wild vistas and spectacular scenery, an Antarctic cruise is for you.

Departing from ports in South America, Marina will make three voyages to Antarctica this coming season. Heading south from either Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, or Santiago de Chile (San Antonio), Chile, Marina will make a trip around the very bottom of South America, including some wonderful ports. But unlike some trips which round Cape Horn, we’ll also be dipping even further south, down to the Antarctic Peninsula. Here we’ll spend about 3 days cruising among the islands and beautiful fjords, taking in the view from the deck of your comfortable ship. With deep water close to shore, there are many places where Marina can safely bring you close to icy peaks and tremendous glaciers that rise straight up from the coast. All Antarctic voyages carry a specialist Ice Pilot for navigation and an Antarctic Expedition Team of experts who will help enrich your visit to some of the most dramatic landscapes accessible by ship.

Due to the wild, unpredictable nature of Antarctica, no two voyages there are exactly the same. But here are a few things you are likely to see on Marina’s Antarctic voyages:

Ice-covered mountains – Imagine a large mountain range shooting straight out of the sea, covered in thick layers of glacial ice. Ice dripping off the peaks, down the sides, and filling the valleys. Ice covering everything except the few vertical rock faces where the land is simply too steep to hold it. It’s like no other sailing destination.

Icebergs – So many icebergs! As glaciers flow down to the sea, they spawn icebergs as pieces break off and float free. The shapes and sizes challenge the imagination – some are smooth, sculpted by the sea and contain deep blue caves while others show the sharp, clean corners of a ‘berg that has only recently broken free. And in some places you may even see a large tabular iceberg, bigger than the ship and flat on top, like a table.

Whales – The waters along the Antarctic Peninsula are a prime feeding zone for several species of whales. Humpback whales are very plentiful, and a lot are seen on every voyage. At this time of year, they are busy feeding, gorging themselves on the abundant krill found in the cold Antarctic waters. Fin, minke, and killer whales are sometimes spotted, too.

Penguins – This area supports many colonies of Adelie, Chinstrap, and (especially) Gentoo penguins. They are often seen swimming like tiny porpoises as they commute to and from their nests, bringing food for their chicks. Other times they are found at rest, loitering on an iceberg, taking a break from the busy breeding colony.

Albatrosses – The seas that separate South America from Antarctica are a great place to find seabirds like albatrosses, enormous birds whose long, thin wings allow them to gracefully soar over thousands of miles of remote ocean in search of prey. The black-browed albatross – about the size of a bald eagle - is the most common species seen, but those watching carefully may also spot the even larger wandering albatross, which at around 11 feet (3.5m) has the longest wingspan of any bird.

Seals – Several species of seals make their home in the Antarctic Peninsula and it is not unusual to spot crabeater seals or leopard seals sleeping on small icebergs. Their thick layers of blubber allow them to comfortably lie directly on the ice.

A voyage to Antarctica is an opportunity to comfortably explore one of the wildest parts of the world, where the ice and the weather dictate the itinerary. And with Marina’s Antarctic Expedition Team on board to share their knowledge and passion for the region, these voyages are a truly dazzling and enriching travel experience.

About Antarctic Program Director Dr. Peter Carey
Dr. Peter Carey is a zoologist who has worked in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean since 1983. In addition to doing research with the national Antarctic programs of New Zealand and Australia, he has worked in polar tourism for several decades as a program developer, expedition leader and educator. Dr. Carey is co-author of the Antarctica Cruising Guide (Awa Press). In addition to his work in tourism, he is also the Director of the SubAntarctic Foundation for Ecosystems Research, a non-profit organization that works to enhance native biodiversity by ecologically restoring islands in the subantarctic Falklands archipelago and also includes invasive species control and re-vegetation efforts. He is a Global Fellow of the Polar Institute of the Wilson Center. As Antarctic Program Director for Oceania Cruises, Dr. Carey leads the enrichment program for our cruises to Antarctica.