Chasing Dreams: My Journey to Antarctica
I hadn’t ever truly considered traveling to Antarctica previously. It didn’t seem like a place any normal person would be crazy enough to visit. However, COVID changed everything. On a long drive home all by myself, I decided that I wanted to do something crazy. I wanted to visit every continent with my family before our son was old enough to live on his own.
The Decision and Preparation
So, our adventure began. I started researching and planning. Eventually we landed on going to Antarctica with Polar Latitudes – a small expedition company that specializes in that area. We then booked flights and hotels, and everything was set.
First Stop: The World’s Southernmost City
We traveled to Antarctica for Christmas 2022. After several long flights, and a short stay in Buenos Aires, we finally made it to Ushuaia, Argentina – known as the world’s southernmost city. We stayed at the Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa for a couple of nights before embarking on our cruise. The hotel was simply amazing, and we were able to meet several other people that would be on a ship. On embarkation day we did a quick tour of the Tierra Del Fuego before heading to the ship.
Boarding the Seaventure and Crossing the Drake Passage
Our home for the next week was the Seaventure. She was a beautiful ship – a laid back atmosphere where we instantly felt at home. We set off that evening through the Beagle Channel and then entered the infamous Drake Passage. They say you’ll either have Drake Lake or Drake Shake. It is very unpredictable as it’s where the Pacific, Atlantic and Southern oceans all meet with no land to block the wind. While we were fortunate to experience Drake Lake, my son, G, and I both got seasick.
After two days crossing the Drake, we finally had our first glimpse of land. We had finally reached Antarctica. It was nothing short of amazing. Words cannot adequately describe Antarctica.
Daily Adventures and Explorations
Our days were spent eating breakfast, doing a zodiac tour or landing, followed by lunch, then another zodiac tour or landing, and finally back to the ship for dinner, drinks and hanging out to socialize in the lounge. One of the coolest places we visited was Deception Island. The ship anchored in the caldera, and we were taken to land where we got to climb the volcano – an active one at that. It was so baren and stunning. You could see forever from the top of where we climbed.
Penguins are absolutely adorable and extremely stinky!
One day was spent cruising the Lemaire Channel. Tall snow-capped mountains surrounded us, and we went by so many icebergs – no two the same. On another day, the weather was so beautiful that we were treated to a BBQ on the top deck of the ship. The music was pumping, and the food was delicious. All the while, magnificent Humpback whales were swimming around the ship. For at least two hours we watched the whales.
A Christmas Unlike Any Other
Christmas Eve will remain a favorite core memory – that was the day we did the polar plunge. As I was taking a rest in the room, I could hear us going through ice. I was thinking to myself “are they crazy? This is going to be like jumping into a martini glass full of ice!” The ship stopped and the captain anchored. This was it. I had told everyone at home that I was going to do this – I couldn’t let them down. So, in just a swimsuit and bathrobe I headed down with all my new friends. Steve and G watched from above. The music gave it a fun, energized feeling. After watching several people take the leap it was finally my turn. I DID IT!!! What a BLAST! The cold didn’t register until long after I was done. The best part was being treated to a towel and a delicious spiked hot chocolate upon exiting the water. Truly the opportunity of a lifetime.
The polar plunge. Yes, it was cold. Yes, I’m crazy. And yes, I would do it again!
There is nothing like spending Christmas on a ship in Antarctica with amazing new friends. It was relaxing, with no need for making plans, as we knew it was just another day filled with friends, laughter, zodiac tours and celebrations. And really, how many other people can say they spent Christmas hanging out with penguins and seals?
Final Days and Farewell
We had just a couple more days before heading back across the Drake. Debarkation day was such a sad day for me. I wasn’t ready to leave and go home to reality. The entire experience changes you in so many ways. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t shed a tear at the airport saying goodbye to our new friends, knowing that our paths might never cross again. But the time had come, and we all went our own separate ways to start our long journeys home.
I will never forget this experience – how I felt, what I saw, the smell of the penguins, the exhilaration of seeing the whales and seals. Antarctica is one of the last places that is largely untouched and natural. I feel fortunate to have visited. I would give just about anything to go back. It was an experience that you can’t truly understand until you’ve been there.
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