Our last day in Antarctica began with more breathtaking Antarctic scenery: the morning sky was overcast with high clouds as National Geographic Resolution sailed into Andvord Bay. The approach to our morning destination, Neko Harbor, was a spectacle to remember. We were surrounded by dozens of glaciers and the jagged peaks of the continent. While we admired this otherworldly landscape, two humpback whales appeared at the ship’s bow to greet us. We anchored just in front of the landing site and prepared for our last landing in Antarctica. Half of us went on land to enjoy a gentoo penguin colony with newborn chicks while the other half took an unforgettable Zodiac cruise, where we had the privilege of encountering three humpback whales engaged in bubble-net feeding in the vicinity.
After our morning activities, National Geographic Resolution repositioned in Paradise Bay for our last activities in Antarctica before heading back to the infamous Drake Passage. Half of us went on a wonderful, hour-long Zodiac cruise while the other half kayaked around the vicinity. Antarctica could not have bid us a better farewell. Mirror-like conditions in the water enhanced the experience. We observed dozens of blue-eyed shags with their young, Arctic terns, gentoo penguins, Weddell seals, and, of course, hundreds of pieces of icebergs, most sculptural, most insanely beautiful pieces of art by Mother Nature. We closed our eyes and listened to the sounds of the pristine wilderness. After the cruisers and kayakers switched activities, we had another go at the most fun activity in polar waters: the polar plunge! Twenty-eight brave souls threw themselves into the ice-cold polar waters.
Tired but happy, we reluctantly bid farewell to the most unique place on our planet and slowly began our northbound sailing to Ushuaia. While enjoying our delicious Argentine barbecue dinner buffet, we had one last farewell gift from the White Continent: a humpback whale and a calf breached just in front of our beautiful ship.
