We have reached Antarctica! Today onboard National Geographic Explorer, we finished our crossing of the Drake Passage and made it to Dallmann Bay. Our Captain Peik Aalto welcomed us with a traditional Captain’s Cocktail Party. By the time we were seated for dinner, icebergs were gently gliding by the windows. After dinner, the ship cruised into the smaller Fournier Bay. We took to the decks amongst softly falling snow to get close views of icebergs and to peer at mountains through the fog. We have made it, and it is beautiful.
11/14/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
Drake Passage
Traveling south aboard National Geographic Endurance , we ride the steady rhythm of the following seas toward Antarctica. Albatrosses, prions, and petrels accompany us, their effortless flight a constant presence above the waves. These seabirds, perfectly adapted to the harsh conditions, escort the ship through one of the most remote regions on earth. In the galley, preparations continue as usual, with the occasional clatter of a spatula against a pan punctuating the ship’s daily routines. This small sound offers a sense of normalcy amidst the vast and untamed Southern Ocean. Outside, the air sharpens, and the sea begins to hint at the icy landscapes ahead. As the ship presses on, the anticipation grows. The seabirds continue to follow, a living connection to the wilderness around us. Soon, icebergs will break the horizon, and the familiar blue of the ocean will give way to the stark whites of Antarctica. Each mile south reinforces the sense of entering a world where survival is a delicate balance, and every element of life must adapt to extremes. The journey promises discovery and an encounter with one of the planet’s last frontiers.
