Such Fun Day Trip Expedition Adventures On An Antarctica Cruise
We had so much fun on day trip expedition adventures on an Antarctica Cruise. There was so much to see and do on the Silversea Cruises trip on the Silver Endeavour expedition ship. Many days we were sure we would be perfectly happy to just stay on the ship and enjoy the amazing sights. While we planned a few of these “down” days, we actually had very few days when we did not head out off the ship.
We did not want to miss the great adventures planned for our visit to Antarctica. An increasing number of non-expedition cruise ships now headed towards Antarctica. In fact, we saw two Oceania Cruises ships as they sailed in the northern waters along the Antarctic Peninsula on this trip. But those cruise ships never landed or let passengers explore off the ship.
Expedition adventures are why we booked this Antarctic cruise to remember. Trips on the zodiac boats brought us close to some great sights. And when we unloaded from the zodiacs onto kayaks we explored this amazing land in a slow and up close way.
Landings on the shore showed us wildlife and historical sights. And when we went on the hike ashore, we got some great panoramic views.
Each of the day trip adventures on an Antarctica Cruise offered another learning experience and a chance to experience Antarctica up close. We were never disappointed when we headed off for another excursion adventure.
Nightly Pre-Briefing Before An Expedition
Shortly after we boarded the SilverSea Endeavour, we were split into expedition groups. For our cruise, we had about 100 people onboard and 4 colour groups – this meant about 24 people per group. The zodiacs carried from 8 to 10 people so each group typically filled 2 or 3 boats.
Our expedition days began the night before at the 6:45pm briefing. At that time we were given the plan for the coming day. We learned where we would be stopping, what expeditions were offered, what we were likely to see, the expected weather and the schedule for departure. If kayaking was offered on the next day, there was a sign-up sheet for those wanting to kayak.
If we had an expedition that day, there was a debrief of what we saw. It was an opportunity to learn more and to learn about some of the experiences of the different teams.
Morning Pre-Briefing For Expedition Adventures On An Antarctica Cruise
In the morning about an hour before the first group left the ship, the expedition leader came over the speaker. With such a small number of people onboard, the earliest we ever started was 8am which meant a 7am announcement. But when we did our research we learned that with large groups the expeditions often started before 7am!
On the initial briefing, we got an update on the weather and the site to confirm whether the expedition would proceed or not. The expedition team did an advance scout for the planned expedition. They confirmed what we might see. And if there was a landing, they got the site ready for us. Paths were marked out and if there were buildings to visit, they were prepared for us to enter.
Only a few times on our 16 days in the deep south was an expedition cancelled. It was either because the winds or the swell were too high. Sometimes planned landings were changed to zodiac tours if a landing site was risky. This was usually because there were too many animals by the landing site or the approach was risky because of water conditions.
When we returned to the ship there was always something warm waiting for us. Hot drinks were provided right at the Mud Room and hot soup and coffee was available at the Arts Café.
And at 6:45 pm we were again prepared for the next day’s expedition adventures on an Antarctica Cruise.
Getting Ready To Leave The Ship For An Excursion
On our 20 day Antarctica cruise we enjoyed a full 16 days deep in Antartica. Of the 16 days, day trip excursions left the ship every day but two for a variety of expeditions. On two days we cruised and saw the sights from the ship.
During our initial briefing we learned about the processes used to ensure that nothing was brought ashore to contaminate Antarctica. Bird flu was a new concern this year. And enhanced processes onshore ensured nothing but our boots and poles touched the ground. When we first arrived, our pants, boots and gloves were inspected and sanitized. This ensured we brought nothing on our gear from our home countries.
On every excursion day we dressed in layers in our cabin. As Canadians we had lots of practice with layering up and we even planned a winter escape and tested out our layering. We were glad we took our time packing for Antarctica and generally had all the clothing we needed. With each layer we got warmer and moved slower. It was no wonder most people waddled like penguins on snow and ice when fully geared up. We learned to leave the last layer open and not overheat too early.
After we were dressed, we then headed down to the Mud Room with our group and grabbed our boots to finish dressing. The bottom of our boots and pants were sanitized before we left the ship and again when we returned. This ensured no transfer of contaminants between different parts of Antartica.
Through the trip we quickly learned that we packed well for Antarctica. It was time consuming process to dress and undress for each excursion off the boat. But it was an important part of the day trip expedition adventures on an Antarctica Cruise.
Being Prepared For Zodiac Tours
Almost every day we sailed in Antarctica we boarded a zodiac boat. The zodiac boats were the only transport to get from the ship to landing areas. But on many days the zodiacs were also used as tour boats. In groups of 8 – 10 passengers we boarded the zodiacs and headed off for an adventure. Everyone was fitted with a low profile inflatable PFD (personal floatation device).
On the days we had zodiac tours, we made double sure that all our clothing was fully waterproof and not just water repellant. The water often sprayed up on the zodiacs when they moved fast or hit a wave wrong. We also made sure to dress extra warm to deal with the lower relative temperatures created by the wind. Dressing for a zodiac trip was something we considered when we did our packing list for Antarctica.
We knew there would be photo and video opportunities during the fast zodiac trips. Our camera gear needed protection from the cold, wind and water. And special lanyards to make sure they were not lost overboard. It was easy to carry all we needed in waterproof camera bags or backpacks.
Being properly prepared ensured our zodiac day trip expedition adventures on an Antarctica Cruise went well.
Great Sights On Zodiac Tours
The zodiac tours let us travel around the areas we stopped at each day. They were always exhilarating trips with much to see.
We were fascinated when our zodiacs ploughed through the icy waters. The drivers slowed the boats to protect the propellers as we pushed the ice aside.
It was great to see the massive ice structures from the water level. On the many sunny days we had, the ice colours were quite stunning. And when we found ice structures with holes, they made perfect picture frames.
On every zodiac trip we had a wide range of animal sightings. It was awesome to get so close to the whales. We saw active penguins putting on a show. And lazy seals that sometimes lifted they heads to gaze at us. And when we got too close to an elephant seal, he squawked loudly. The bird enthusiasts used their binoculars or camera zoom lens to locate the birds we saw as we cruised.
While we saw lots of icy shores, we were surprised at how much open rock we saw on our zodiac cruises. Stunning rock features and volcanic sites added variety to our scenes every day.
We saw so much on our great zodiac expedition adventures on an Antarctica Cruise.
Special Considerations For Kayak Tours
Shortly after we boarded we had a special session related to kayak tours. David and I kayaked many times so we were not concerned about our ability to kayak for a few hours. But we needed to understand the boarding process. The kayaks were boarded from the zodiacs. And we really did not want to miss and fall in the frigid waters.
On our first kayak trip, we found it relatively easy to move from the zodiac to the kayak. Staff held the boats relatively stable so we could slip into our seats. But I will say that leaving the kayaks and returning to the zodiac boats was a little less graceful.
The second difference with kayak tours was the clothing required. The ship provided a full dry suit and booties for everyone. A fitting determined the best size. But like most rental gear, the sizing was just “close”. When we made our packing list for Antarctica, we me made sure we brought clothes for under the dry suit that kept us warm.
We were properly prepared for our kayak expedition adventures on an Antarctica Cruise.
Kayak Adventures Close To The Water In Antarctica
When we finally got everyone settled into kayaks, we glided off with a guide. We had a sunny and calm sea day for our kayaking in Antarctica. The quiet of Antarctica was broken only by the slapping of paddles. Our guide pulled us together for instructions or information about what we saw.
We soon settled into a rhythm and fell into line with the group. The expedition leader was at the front with another team member at the rear to keep us all together.
The day we kayaked penguins and seals lazed on the beach and a few seals even drifted close in the water. It was a lovely day to paddle along the shore for a view of Paulet Island at water level.
The kayak expedition adventures on an Antarctica Cruise left a lasting impression on us. It took us so close to the awesome environment in Antarctica.
Zodiac Landing Expedition Adventures On An Antarctica Cruise
We had many opportunities to take the zodiac to shore and we explored the areas close to the landing area. When we planned our trip to Antarctica we spent some time learning more about these “wet landings”. The zodiacs drove close to shore and we all exited into the shallow water. The recommended boots helped ensure the water did not get our feet wet.
It turned out that wet landings were much easier than we worried. In most cases the boats were pulled in enough that we only exited in shallow waters. Sometimes we got lucky with sandy shores. But most of the time the rocks were smooth and the exit was easy. Only once did we have to be careful on very slippery rocks covered with kelp.
When we arrived for a landing, we got a more detailed briefing before we headed off on our way. Once ashore we were free to wander. Along the marked paths we found different expedition specialists to give us more information on history, geology, birds and more. They expedition team were always eager to answer questions and ensure we got the most out of every site.
Wildlife On Landings
The daily briefings provided information about what we might see ashore. And landings were often expeditions where we got close the amazing wildlife of Antarctica. There were strict guidelines for distances to stay back from different kinds of wildlife to ensure we were not disturbing them. And if approached by the animals we learned to safely back up. But that did not stop the penguins from chasing us!
The landings were often great trips for the bird lovers. The famed ornithologist author onboard (Peter Harrison) was on the shore and provided both information and help with bird sightings.
Day trip expedition adventures on an Antarctica Cruise often happened when we landed ashore.
Exploring Historic Sites On Landings
While many of the landings gave us amazing natural beauty or wildlife sightings, on many landings we explored historic sites on the shore. We saw so many bases abandoned by different nationalities over time. Entry to these buildings was often limited to a few people at a time but with only 100 people onboard it was always easy to get inside these time capsules.
Once inside we were fascinated to look at the conditions that people lived in for sometimes years at a time. We walked around and looked at the books that were read and the food cans rusting on the shelves.
We visited the British Base W on Detaille Island in the Lallemand Fjord. This base operated for 3 years before it was abandoned in 1959 when it no longer became possible to get supplies to the island. A fast evacuation meant that Base W was a station frozen in time. We found it intact with supplies, clothing and open magazines just as they were left on the hasty exit.
While we saw the state of these bases it was a bit hard to imagine the life these explorers experienced. But one day we watched the movie “With Byrd At The South Pole” made in 1928. Byrd’s team spent a winter at Little America before they successfully flew over the South Pole. This movie provided a much more visceral look into life in Antarctica.
We enjoyed many opportunities to learn more about the history of Antarctica on our day trip expedition adventures on an Antarctica Cruise.
Expedition Adventures We Missed
We first looked at visiting Antarctica on the Endeavour ship when it was owned by Crystal Cruises. At that time the ship was to have both a helicopter and submarine onboard. Some of the other cruise lines operating in the Antarctica still have these. But when Crystal Cruise went bankrupt and Silversea Cruises purchased the Endeavour, they chose not to include either a helicopter or submarine.
We definitely would have signed up for both a helicopter and submarine excursion. And were disappointed when this was not available on our long cruise to Antarctica. But we understood there were pros and cons to adding these adventures to an expedition ship.
Weather often limited the days when helicopters and submarines could be used. But on our cruise we had the most amazing weather and I am sure many days there would have been lots of opportunities. With small numbers allowed per trip, it was sometimes hard for everyone to get their turn. But on our ship, our smaller number of 100 passengers would have helped. The bigger issue might have been restrictions in Antarctica about where and when helicopters and submarines could be used.
Availability of helicopters and submarines would have been the icing on our day trip expedition adventures on an Antarctica Cruise.
Great And Varied Day Trip Expedition Adventures On An Antarctica Cruise
We had many great and varied day trip expedition adventures on an Antarctica Cruise. Virtually every day we had a chance for one or more opportunities to see the different sights that Antarctica offered up close. We saw wildlife every day! Zodiacs let us wander along the shore. Zodiac landings gave us a chance to explore on land. And kayaks gave us a peaceful look from the water.
Wildlife, amazing ice structures and historical sites kept our days filled with amazing discoveries on our cruise to Antarctica.
Did you have many day trip expedition adventures on an Antarctica Cruise? What was your favourite experience?
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Growing up on the expedition book of Amundson and Shakelton, a trip to Antarctica is one of my dreams. For a long time in life, I could not afford it. Now I have the money but I am relcutant because of the climate change. It is fascinating to travel with you in your pictures to Antarctica. Also intersting to read about the preperations for the excursions.
We loved that we had so many opportunities to get close to nature on our day trip expeditions. And so glad we visited when we still could experience it all.
Now, this post, my dear, is one that I’m reading with great…envy 🙂 I have few real travel-dreams, and Antarctica is definitely one of them. Since I’m postponing it for a couple of years until I’m – yap: retired and travelling 😉 – I meanwhile enjoy your great adventure from my lazy chair while you are living my dream 😀 Also, your pictures look very…promising.
A trip to Antarctica was definitely a great retirement dream for us. It was great to visit while we still were able to take part in all the great active day trip expeditions.
How magical this trip sounds and looks. Antarctica is on my bucket list as I really want to see the wildlife in their natural habitats.
It was wonderful to get out each day and see the wildlife so close up on our day trip expeditions on our Antarctica cruise.
A definite “top of the bucket list” one for me. I loved reading your post and seeing all the great photos! What an amazing way to see the remarkable wildlife. Thank you!
We loved all the different ways we got off the ship to explore on our Antarctica cruise. Amazing day trip expeditions to see it all.
This looks amazing, I would love to do this cruise. Thank your for sharing you camera gear and the British Base W looks really interesting. I never know about it.
We were not really sure what the day trip expeditions would be like on our Antarctica cruise. So we wanted to share how amazing each day was.
Wow, one day I would love to do this. I would love to have a look around the historic sites, such a fascinating insight to people who lived there for long periods of time. And so much wildlife – dreamy!
Ice, wildlife and history were all great reasons to head off on day trip expeditions on our Antarctica cruise. A dream vacation for us for sure.
What a dream destination! I’m always worried it’s too cold but the arctics are definitely on my wish list and these excursions looks amazing!
We were surprised that Antarctica was actually warmer than Toronto at home in February. Who would have thought? But proper clothing makes all the difference.
We did the Falkland, South Georgia, Antarctica cruise on the Silver Endeavour start October 31st to November 18th 2023, so just 2 weeks ago. It was once in a lifetime experience. We are both over 70 years old, but very fit and could handle all the hikes, the zodiac tours etc.
This cruise is fantastic and unique 👍👍
We missed South Georgia on this trip but we heard it was great. With pacing and a little help the expedition cruises are great to get close to nature. Glad you enjoyed your experience.
I want to be as adventurous as you when I am retired and traveling. Thanks for posting the pic of the camera equipment. I always like to see what other people use.
We are glad we booked Antarctica when we were still healthy and relatively fit so we could enjoy all the amazing day trip expeditions on our Antartica cruise. We took a variety of camera gear and used it all – each for its own unique strong points.
What a fantastic trip to Antarctica! The insight into the zodiac rides, kayaking, and wildlife encounters paints a vivid picture. It’s on my bucket list!
Many people don’t know what to really expect on a cruise to a place like Antarctica. So I wanted to show the variety of great outdoor experiences we had.
I’ll be honest, I hate the cold (and by hate I mean loath entirely) BUT you have been convincing me to give Antarctica a chance. It looks like SO much fun. I’m saving this for when I muster up the courage to freeze to death for the sake of having all the fun.
We normally never look for cold weather travel spots. And we booked Antarctica at a time when it was warmer there than at home in Toronto. But we were properly dressed and had no issue with the cold. The polar plunge of course was another matter totally!
We are going to Antarctica on the Endeavour in about 3 weeks! Were the Zodiak excursions solely on the zodiak or were there some opportunities to get off on land as well?
Whether you land will depend on weather and on the shape of the shore. But they do try to do landings. We were lucky because we had 16 days in Antarctica and we had incredible weather. So we did landings maybe every second day. Some were hikes to see nature or views and many others were stops at islands with abandoned bases.
I would love to visit Antarctica! What an amazing trip! The kayak adventure looks like so much fun and a wonderful way to explore. Also, the penguins are adorable! Thanks for the fabulous guide!
There are so many great day trip adventures. You can do as much or as little as you want. We had two per day on most days and each offered so much variety. A cruise to Antarctica is a great one for the travel wish list.
You two are really enjoying the retirement life. I love reading about all your adventures jetting around the world.
It was great to get to Antarctica this year. We tried several times and had to cancel or got cancelled. We picked an amazing cruise and it was really the trip of a lifetime.
Your photos and weather both look spectacular. I’ve said before how much I would like to try and make this happen for us….still hopeful.
We had the most amazing weather for our trip to Antarctica. It really helped with enjoying the outdoor adventures.
So much fun on your day trip expedition adventures on your Antarctica Cruise! This is such a great overview of what to expect and how to prepare for the zodiacs, kayaks, and landings and what to wear. And your pictures are amazing! Love all the wildlife and I was surprised by all the open rock landscapes as well.
We really wanted to share the experience of doing such an expedition cruise. We were not sure what to expect but it sure exceeded expectations.
What a fascinating trip, definitely an amazing experience. I have to admit the cold would be a consideration, I live in Spain and anything under 10 degrees C is freezing to me! Although it’s definitely one for the future if I ever get the chance to retire! Thanks for sharing!
The cold is definitely something that many people may struggle with. We went later in the season and it was a bit better. But well worth it to really enjoy the amazing day trip expeditions on an Antarctica cruise.
An Antarctic Cruise is very much on my bucket list, and shore excursions would be a must for me. I loved reading about your experience and seeing the otherworldly photos of the ice caps and stunning blue waters. Reading about the prebriefing and the preparation for such a journey gave me good insight into what such a trip would entail. The wildlife photography, though, that you shared was my favorite. Especially the adorable yawning seal.
We wanted to share what it was like to actually experience the great adventures on an Antarctica cruise. We were not really sure what it would be like. But it was so amazing! Hope you do get to visit one day.
It is my dream to go to Antarctica one day. The only thing putting me off at the moment is the very high price, especially when you include flights from Europe as well. I love that you get a briefing before each excursion, knowing what to expect and what you are supposed to do whilst on land. Penguins are some of my favourite animals, I think I would cry if I would see them so close to me. That would be the highlight of my trip, seeing penguins in their natural habitat, so close to me.
I hope you do get to Antarctica one day. It was on our list a long time before we finally made it. We love when we see penguins and have been lucky in South America and Antarctica too. An earlier cruising would have got us hundreds and hundreds. Go earlier in the season if that is your real excitement.
This is for sure my dream bucket list trip. I read with interest on the preparation both you undertook for packing as well as the ship preparation for guests to go on excursions. I will definitely use your packing list as it looks very well thought over. Finally what lovely pictures you managed to capture of this frontier.
Our trip to Antarctica was definitely a bucket list trip. And we were surprised at how much thought and prep it took. But so worth it for the amazing day trip expeditions we enjoyed each day.
I am looking for an ideal place to plan an adventurous trip to. Your experience of Antarctica looks really inspiring to me. The idea for a cruise trip is great. I also feel fascinated seeing the kayaking expedition, wildlife sightings (especially the penguins) and white ice capped structures. The landscapes seem straight out of a movie.
Antarctica is an amazing spot to visit. You will get all the excitement and sights you want on day trip expeditions.
Wow! This is amazing and I am happy to see that there are so organized. It’s nice that they conduct nightly pre-briefing to manage everyone’s expectations.
It’s cool that you were able to kayak. I personally would sign up too. Love that you were able to interact with the wildlife up close. The penguins are so cute.
We too were amazed at how well organized the day trip expeditions in Antarctic were. We loved trying new excursions each day.
This is so cool. I can imagine how complicated it could be to pack for Antartica and to wear all the layers every time you set your foot out of the ship. This is news to me that most cruises don’t let you step off on the land. I have to keep in mind this when planning my trip. Zodiac landing adventure is just too awesome.
Landings in Antarctica are based on length of time, weather, animals on shore and how many people on your cruise (because they limit the number on shore at one time). Definitely something to check out in advance.
Oh wow! I didn’t realize that you all traveled with so much equipment, but keeping it protected from the water and cold makes sense. Also, I didn’t realize how the excursions worked on an expedition cruise. I’ve always wanted to do one, so this was a great intro to how it works. I’d love to go to Antarctica! I also hate when excursions are canceled for weather reasons, but it’s understandable – that’s happened to us in warm weather climates before.
We did not really know how the cruise expeditions worked in Antarctica when we booked. So we wanted to share information for others to feel more comfortable with what it would be like. Glad you found it helpful.
Wow! I wish I could do this. This is like a dream tour. I have seen penguins in South Africa. But seeing them live in Antarctica must be something really special. Lovely insightful post.
We were happy to see penguins in Antarctica. We too have seen them in other spots but this was a special experience.
Antarctica is one of the biggest dreams on my travel bucket list. An expedition cruise is definitely the way I’d want to experience it. Zodiac cruises, shore landings, kayaking, and seeing wildlife up close sound absolutely incredible. Thanks for sharing such a detailed look at what an expedition cruise is really like!
Antarctica was our first expedition cruise. It was so much more exciting than other cruises we have done.