If one must have a final day in Antarctica, it might as well be a day like we had today—paradise. Our Antarctic excursions offered us everything we could have hoped for. Before breakfast, surface-feeding humpback whales upstaged the buffet line. During our morning Zodiac cruises, we spotted three types of seals: crabeaters, Weddells, and even a leopard seal. Our skillful captain was able to make a lee behind the ship so that even in 35-knot winds we were able to go ashore, and we spent the afternoon on the continent at Neko Harbor. Indeed, today was a day that will remain in our hearts and minds for a long time to come.
3/12/2025
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea towards Ushuaia
It was a day for reflection. Our journey was coming to an end as we left the Falklands behind and National Geographic Endurance steamed towards South America and Ushuaia. The seas were kind to us, and despite low winds, we had black-browed albatross, among other birds, around us. In the morning, we listened to the naturalists onboard as they presented on different subjects in the ice lounge. Land-ho! Mid-morning we had land in sight, South America was appearing on the horizon. Upon entering the Beagle Channel, we saw possibly a hundred sei whales. While the seabirds were waiting for the wind on the surface, the whales were feeding a short distance from the ship. As our vessel waited for the pilot to arrive, we could still see whale blows in the distance. We enjoyed a teatime extravaganza with Chef Sara and her team. Cheese and wine brought most of the ship’s inhabitants to deck 8, and while sipping wine we watched sea lions, dolphins, and stunning views of Tierra del Fuego go by until it was time for Captain Aaron’s farewell toast. As much as we are reflecting on our expedition today, it has also been a day of celebration! It has been an incredible journey of many miles, great people, and wonderful experiences. Thank you all!
