Highlights From Our First Voyage of 2021
With our first voyage back in action completed with great success, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the highlights. It just feels so darn good to be back doing what we love!
We were pleased to see the many protocols we put in place to keep our guests and staff healthy payoff. Through diligent planning, a nimble approach to organization and incredible efforts made by everyone on the Polar Latitudes team, finally the Seaventure set sail with everyone healthy on board.
Speaking of the Seaventure, our new ship is a real beauty! The common areas and staterooms are the epitome of comfort and luxury, while keeping with the expedition spirit and Polar Latitudes feel.
Guests experienced a relatively smooth Drake Passage crossing, during which they were treated to presentations by several onboard experts. Special guests of note were environmental scientist and adventurer Tim Jarvis, acclaimed mountaineer Conrad Anker, and distinguished professor of physical sciences at UC Berkeley, Alex Filippenko, Ph.D., brought aboard to provide deep insight and knowledge of the solar eclipse that was on the calendar.
Our first glimpse of land was Shag Rocks in the northern Scotia Sea. Humpback Whales, Albatross and Cormorants provided some of the first wildlife sightings of the voyage. Our first landing was accomplished at Peggotty Bluff, where guests were able to steady their legs while wandering the tussac grasses viewing King Penguins, Fur Seals, Elephant Seals and Arctic Terns.
What followed was several days of excellent weather, with landings at Prince Olav, Salisbury Plain, Grytviken, Saint Andrews, Royal Bay and Gold Harbour in South Georgia. Passengers relished the incredible mountain scenery while visiting Penguin rookeries and spotting Elephant Seals, Fur Seals and endemic birds. Respects were paid at the graves of famed polar explorers Sir Ernest Shackleton and Frank Wild.
Sadly, the clear skies weren’t to last, and our eclipse day saw heavy cloud cover at our coordinates. Nonetheless, guests enjoyed the day with a lively narration during the eclipse followed by an epic party.
After everyone recovered from the revelry of the eclipse party, we made our way to the peninsula. Clear blue skies returned and we had wonderful landings at Cierva Cove, Prospect Point, Paradise Bay and Useful Island. We also paid a visit to Point Wild and Neko Harbour, where a rookery of Gentoo Penguins and a pod of Orca mesmerized the passengers and crew.
During our time on the peninsula, there was a wedding held for two guests, who were serenaded with the blows of nearby humpback whales. The celebration created a great party atmosphere on board, and all the guests enjoyed cake, champagne and a show of stunning lenticular clouds to finish off the day.
Before returning to the Drake Passage, many guests participated in fun activities such as the polar plunge, onboard auction and BBQ on the outer decks.
We couldn’t be happier with how our first voyage of the season went. Thank you to our amazing guests, staff and crew for helping us kick off the 21/22 season in splendid fashion.
Interested in joining us for a voyage to Antarctica and having an experience like this? Reach out to our team or check out our itineraries.
