For the past thirty-six hours, the bridge team of National Geographic Explorer navigated the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, Argentina to Barrientos Island in the South Shetland Island group off the northwest tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. We spent our morning learning about seabirds and glaciers on board, and in the afternoon, we made our first landing of the trip and finally set foot in Antarctica! Our guests were filled with delight as most saw their very first penguin colonies! The island is home to chinstrap and gentoo penguins, both of which had chicks, as well as southern giant petrels, skuas, snowy sheathbills, and other birdlife. We even had a beautiful sunset at the end of the day as we sailed away from the island after Captain’s Welcome Dinner. What a fantastic and unforgettable day!
1/19/2025
Read
National Geographic Resolution
The Drake Passage
As we navigated north across the Drake Passage, conditions gradually improved and blue petrels and black-browed albatrosses graced our journey as visitors. John Pailthorpe delivered a captivating retelling of Shackleton's attempted crossing of the Antarctic continent, recounting the trials faced by those rugged men who cared little for comfort yet had a penchant for taking mortal risks. Following him, National Geographic Photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins shared some of the many future exploration options available to our guests through National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. As we approached Tierra del Fuego, the seas calmed. Although the skies remained overcast, wildlife became increasingly abundant as we neared the entrance to the Beagle Channel. Captain Martin presented a fascinating overview of the construction of MV National Geographic Resolution and her impressive capabilities. As we entered the channel, we were greeted by hourglass and dusky dolphins while enjoying empanadas for teatime. Once we entered the Beagle, sailing was smooth all the way to Ushuaia.
