South Shetland Islands

After two very rough days and nights crossing the Drake Passage, the Captain announced that it was the worst crossing he's ever experienced! But this morning Doug threw open the balcony curtains and said, "Oh, Wow!" Brilliant blue skies set off the icebergs and ice chunks in the calm water surrounding us. Whales spouts could be heard because there were no competing noises here. Even our hybrid ship was in stealth mode.
Two humpback whales were feeding just off the stern of the ship and they lazily dipped in and out of the waters until they waved goodbye with their flukes
We got our first experience of zodiac cruising, dressed in layers under our waterproof coat, pants and boots and we visited a colony of Adelie penguins with their fuzzy brown chicks that looked like old men in huge buffalo coats. We also got to see a crabeater seal basking in the sun on top of a rocky outcropping.
Icebergs with vivid blue cracks and glowing blue arches decorated this foreign landscape.
Later in the day, we donned our gear again and landed on a rocky shore to walk in Antarctica. We visited Gentoo penguin colonies with their grey fuzzy chicks and took photo after photo of these amazing birds!Read more