Included Antarctica by Zodiac & Walks Ashore
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Port
The Seabourn Antarctic Experience (Day 6)
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$0.01
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 1.5 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
At the very edge of the world, hop into the Zodiacs with an Expedition team driver-naturalist for a journey like no other. Here, in the vast desolation of Antarctica, we'll explore among iceberg giants dwarfed by behemoth tidewater glaciers.
Zodiacs provide an astounding vantage point from which to experience this icy wonderland. Seascapes of wild blue, punctuated and pierced by mesmerizing ice forms sculpted by the Southern Ocean, captivate even those most widely traveled. Icebergs drift aimlessly, sheltering seals and penguins from killer whales on the prowl.
Some days may include landings. Whether a strenuous hike up to a glacier viewpoint or a short walk along a beach to admire penguins, the Expedition team guides your steps and your processing of this extraordinary moment. Both ashore and aboard the ship, biologists, geologists, glaciologists, and historians interpret this remarkable continent that teems with the hardiest of life.
Seabourn is a member of IAATO, a member organization founded in 1991 to advocate, promote, and uphold the practice of safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. Potential highlights of your visit to Antarctica include:
Ice landscapes: The White Continent is etched and shaped by its abundant glaciers — raw power unleashed within a harsh landscape to soften and burnish its edges. Shades of blue and grey, set against a vast whiteness, create delicate patterns in the snow and ice. Expedition staff guide you ashore to point out the glaciers' activity and their icy footprints.
Penguins: Absurdly comical and utterly serious at the same time, penguins are a delight to watch. They waddle about, busily collecting rocks with which to build their nests. Here, they will lay eggs and raise their ever-hungry chicks. They create actual penguin highways, treading down the snow with their tiny webbed feet. The mission of the moment could be preening, courting, stealing rocks from their neighbor's nest to embellish their own, or even running away from their own chicks in search of a moment of peace — it seems every parent has limits.
Marine mammals: Crabeater or leopard seals rest on ice floes, and Weddell seals sometimes sneak ashore for a snooze on the sand. Watch for minke whales feeding on crustaceans and small fish, humpback and fin whales sifting plankton with their baleen mouths, and killer (orca) whales patrolling in search of unlucky penguins or hapless seal pups perched on the lip of an iceberg. These giants are not afraid of the Zodiacs and can often be sighted at close range.
Seabirds: Pelagic birds, such as petrels and albatrosses, soar merrily overhead in the Drake Passage. Years spent at sea make them happy, and gusty days are their best friend, allowing them to surf air currents and remain effortlessly aloft, through a process called 'dynamic soaring', so that they can watch us and delight in our presence as we do in theirs.
Human endeavors: The history of humans in Antarctica is brief. Research stations belonging to many different countries from all over the globe are manned — sometimes year-round and sometimes seasonally. Catching a view of these provides an interesting perspective on the world of science. Life for station workers can be easy and sociable or harsh and lonely, depending upon the circumstances. A few historic remnants of the whaling era can still be seen — the skeleton of a wooden boat tasked with delivering water to factory ships, mooring chains on the shoreline, or a rudimentary hut stocked for explorers. If you are lucky enough to glimpse these, consider them a last gasp of those who tried to commercialize this unforgiving continent.
Please note: Included Expeditions cannot be booked in advance. The ship's Expedition team will communicate finalized content and departure information. Dress warmly in layers with a windproof and waterproof outer layer; bring a warm hat, gloves and a scarf. Life jackets are provided and must be worn. Wildlife sightings are likely but are not guaranteed.