Polar Plunges, Seals, and Hikes!!!
Linda, Passenger
We woke up on Christmas morning to a beautifully set breakfast table, which was only used after the morning’s daunting challenge for some:
The Polar Plunge.
I was only convinced to participate when I heard we would receive a certificate for braving the icy waters. Well, peer pressure and no backbone did the trick. Everyone survived with varying degrees of grace and courage.
After breakfast (Scottie continued to pleasantly surprise us), we made our first landing. We began with a brief encounter with a mother humpback whale and her baby. Then, for the first time, we set foot on the continent of Antarctica!
It was a small landing spot, but we were lucky: about 100 meters away, a Weddell seal was relaxing comfortably. Initially, the plan was to search for whales again with the Zodiacs, but the plan quickly changed to another landing at Nansen Island.
On the island, we spotted several seals on the shore. Once ashore, after a short climb, we discovered that this was a hotspot for seals that day. We saw 20 to 30 seals, including a few pups. All of this unfolded against an incredible backdrop: a glacier reflected in a small pond nestled between the pebble beach and the snow-covered ice. The glacier’s layers of ice, built up over many years, were clearly visible in the glacier wall. We spent over two hours exploring and photographing the many Weddell seals and a beautiful Crabeater seal. Occasionally, a seal would approach us or its neighbor. It was amazing!
After the landing, Rienk and Linda took a short hike with Hugh to a lookout point. They enjoyed a bit of fun in the snow to wrap up the morning. Afterward, Gonzalo safely brought us back to the ship. The Christmas lunch was already prepared, complete with Christmas crackers.
In the afternoon, we sailed to the next destination. We anchored between Cuverville Island and Ronge Island, where a lovely Christmas dinner with small bites was served. Due to the wind, no further tours or landings were possible, but this allowed for more good conversations and a glass of wine.
