The staff, guides and crew were amazing. They were attentive, highly educated and informative and always kept a great sense of humor. The guides were always patient and so wonderful about helping each person experience the trip in their own way. They were masters of finding wildlife during zodiac rides, and each guide seemed to have a special area of interest or education which made for a very well rounded team and great lectures! The dining room staff was above and beyond.  They would come find my daughter each meal and ask if they could make her something special. Danny, the Head Waiter, even delivered pizza to our cabin when he heard she was not feeling so well on the Drake Passage. 

The experience with ExpeditionTrips was very positive. Abby was exceptionally helpful in finding a trip that would allow my 9 year old to travel and making sure I had realistic expectations about the trip for her. We will miss the ice and the wildlife! How can anything compare after this?

We expected a lot and received much more than we expected. The entire trip was conducted in a very professional way, yet also a very personal way. The weather was great, the scenery fantastic and the wildlife awesome. There is not much that could be done to improve this trip. The staff, guides and crew did everything possible to answer any questions, concerns or needs. The cabins aboard ship were modern, roomy, and kept exceptionally clean and it was a joyful experience all the way around.

Antarctica was a lifetime dream of my wife, Marianne, and since we are getting older we decided to make it happen. There is no "one" memorable part as the entire trip was totally memorable.

The staff, guides and crew was outstanding: very knowledgeable, educated in the area of expertise and very, very helpful if anyone had questions or needed further explanations. All guides were helpful if anyone needed help walking in difficult areas such as down the mountains and in and out of the zodiac. We did the Polar Plunge which was a hoot and, can you believe, we actually landed on Elephant Island. It was a very small area and a bit slippery but we set foot on the island. That we will never forget. Of course, we had very good weather and did 27 landings which apparently was above what the leaders expected. We did not expect to do hiking trips over the mountains where the ship picked us up at the end of the trail, and several hikes over glaciers where we sledded down on our bottoms—what fun! I’m not sure you can really explain to anyone all the experiences unless someone has been there.

Everybody associated with the trip (crew, guides, staff, hotel services aboard) were absolutely great and did everything in their power to maximize our experience. They put daily logs, daily agenda's, certificates of accomplishment (polar plunge, camping, etc.), routes and maps, and a photo slide show on the internet so we had many things to help us savor the experience after we got home. Prices aboard ship were surprisingly low. No gouging for drinks, souvenirs, supplies, laundry, etc. That really surprised me! Also, the crew was very knowledgeable about the continent (its history and flora and fauna) and they were all very safety conscience. 

The trip was about what I expected, but truly, until you've been there and experienced it first hand, you don't know what you're missing. Several days in particular felt like I was on another planet. Photos don't really do it justice.

I've always wanted to go to Antarctica, but never had the time. It's been on my bucket list for a while. I was afraid that eco-tourism would hasten its pristine condition, but was happy to see all of the "conditions" put upon us to keep the continent pristine.

For as long as I can remember, Antarctica has been on my "To-Do" list.  The opportunity to photograph the isolation and wildlife has been a dream of mine for many years. This trip exceeded my expectations. The ship staff, from the captain to our room attendant, were all stellar. The ship's open bridge policy was a special treat that I have not experienced on other ships.

So many king penguins, albatross, and whales! South Georgia was the main reason we chose the longer trip rather than the short trip to just Antarctica. We would have liked to have experienced Stanley on Falkland Islands--just a taste maybe for a short visit--not even a full half day. The area around Paradise Bay was spectacular and our weather was much better than it could have been.

Pictures alone cannot convey the grand scale of things in Antarctica or the context in which things exist. Our encounters with wildlife were endearing: the humpback whales who came up to our Zodiacs to check us out and the curious penguins.

Antarctica was the 7th continent I had yet to set foot on. The timing of this trip worked into my schedule and so I signed up!

Everything was smooth and easy - and safety was always the first priority of everyone. I eat a vegan diet and the staff was amazing - taking care of me, making sure I always had delicious food, and went above and beyond to meet my dietary needs and ensure I was happy with what they were providing. [Antarctica] had been in my mind for years - I've read about trips, thought about going. I was fascinated by the environment, the Antarctic explorers and history, the wildlife, and the vastness of the mostly untouched continent (for now).

They were always available to help out and make the trip exciting.

Everyone from the bartender to the marine mammal specialist truly love their jobs and Antarctica in general. One special staff member is a major "historical" figure. She was in the first all-female party to cross to the South Pole—she was incredibly inspiring. The most memorable part of the trip was that it was so much more than I could've ever expected. The continent was astounding…words and photos don't begin to do the beauty and majesty of Antarctica justice.

The bridge staff was great about explaining where we were heading, the charts, etc., when they had the time. The lectures on the area’s history and climate change/global warming were excellent and very, very informative. The information sessions we had every afternoon at "cocktail time" were full of information. Hiking through the snow and seeing penguins and seals up close capped off any expectations we would have had. Seeing all of the penguins on their nests was such a treat.

When I made reservations a week before the trip she helped me get all my documents and everything else I needed, spending a lot of time on phone calls and emails.

The ship’s staff was wonderful. They were very knowledgeable and friendly. They sat with guests at dinner and spent time with us in the lounge. They shared their knowledge, enthusiasm, and experiences with us. They also watched out for older passengers like myself and were always willing to lend an extra hand if you needed to get in or out of the zodiac or seemed to be struggling on a slope or step. They seemed to anticipate your needs and I couldn't have asked for anything more. I think the most memorable part of the trip was the penguins everywhere and that they were so unafraid and friendly. I was also impressed by the unspoiled beauty.

The activities we participated in and the sites we saw cannot be depicted in literature or photos. It was simply amazing. I know of no way that this trip could be improved. The personality of the ship’s staff was simply remarkable. They were having a great time, and it was obvious in the demeanor and interaction with the guests. They were accommodating to any and all requests as well as friendly and fun to be with. They were all experts on the region so there was a lot learned from interaction with them.

On one of the days when we completed the kayaking and shore excursion, one of the passengers mentioned that they would like to take a polar plunge. While the opportunity to participate in this event occurred a couple days prior to this day, this particular passenger had reconsidered and now wanted to take a dip in the southern ocean. Based on this one request, the expedition staff assembled the personnel and equipment necessary and several people joined this passenger in taking a polar plunge. It was neat to see the staff "make it happen", all initiated by a last-minute request. There are countless other examples of the staff being continuously accommodating, but this was the first one that comes to mind.
 
I was inspired to go on this trip when my friend told me about the trip. The destination is inspiration enough... it is a trip of a lifetime to see Antarctica. The most memorable part of the trip was simply seeing a part of the planet that is completely pristine and cut off from human intervention.

The trip was even better than expected. The staff, guides and crew were absolutely fantastic. The staff was always so friendly and polite. The food was fantastic, the cabin kept so clean, the guides so knowledgeable and the captain so clever and out to get us the best and safest experiences.

I am still trying to process all I saw and did and I have been home for a week.

The staff and crew on the Explorer are outstanding. The ship's crew is friendly, helpful and hard working. Having the bridge accessible is a real treat and I loved being up there watching the waves break over the bow the day we had heavy seas. The naturalists are incredibly knowledgeable and eager to share their knowledge. The talks they gave were helpful and interesting. Any questions I had were always answered quickly. They showed us where to look and what to look for while on a landing and kept us safe from territorial fur and elephant seals.

Having been to Antarctica before, I anticipated this trip being similar, just longer. Other than that, I had no preconceived ideas about the additional places: the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. The Falklands visit was pleasant and interesting, especially the Black-Browed Albatross/Rockhopper penguin colony. But South Georgia took my breath away. I had no idea of what to expect and was blown away by the sheer volume of life on those beaches and the beauty of the landscape. While I knew of the elephant and fur seals, I never anticipated what the staff called "moments" with the weaner elephant seals. It is hard to imagine anything that weighs several hundred pounds as being cute, but they are. They are adorable with big hopeful eyes and they crawled all over me searching for a meal. I followed the rules with difficulty and did not touch them, just took photos. That was my very unexpected memorable moment of the trip.

The trip exceeded our expectations in that it had more inspiring and "take your breath away" moments than expected, many of them indescribable. I don't know if it can be improved because I think we were on the Cadillac of trips to Antarctica. We cannot say anything remotely negative or even neutral about the service and staff. Everyone was spectacular in knowledge, service, and attention to detail. The Expedition Leader was always accessible and, along with the Captain, planned our journey to maximize calm seas and good weather. The ship's open bridge policy was an added bonus.  Because of the open-bridge policy, the captain was available and willing to answer questions. The first officer showed my husband how to read charts and navigate our ship to the point that my husband thought he could have navigated in an emergency.

There were so many memorable moments that it is hard to choose one that stands out the most. The ability of the ship to land in fast ice was one of the attractions of the Explorer over other ships and fortunately we had the chance to do that.  It was truly one of the most memorable days of our traveling lives.  We would gladly go back to the White Continent except for the cost. Seeing Orca Type B Killer Whales swimming right next to our Zodiac and trying to dislodge a leopard seal from an ice floe was pretty exhilarating. The naturalists said it was rare to see this kind of feeding strategy up close and personal. An overall memorable part of the trip was the education received from the naturalists on the history, geology, and wildlife of all places visited. 

expedition companies and to thoroughly understand the booking terms and conditions.

The trip exceeded expectations. I was very interested in the Antarctic explorers and we were able to follow in Shackelton’s footsteps in South Georgia (a highlight!) and have a Zodiac cruise at Elephant Island.

The staff—from the restaurant staff to people who maintained the rooms to expedition staff—were superior. I felt our safety was in good hands even in such a remote area. The food was first-class and served quickly.

It would be hard to improve on the itinerary and the high level guides and staff. The cruise leader, along with the ship captain and other staff members, made the trip exceed all of our expectations. The ship captain skillfully managed the ship in hurricane-force winds, remaining on the bridge for over 30 hours. The guides were excellent. Their experience, knowledge, humor and general love of life made the trip a wonderful life memory. Two of the guides have been involved in Nobel Peace Prize winning work to eliminate land mines around the world. Another guide has made first descents of white water rivers in Tibet and other remote places. Other guides were experts in marine biology, ornithology and Antarctic history. The guides presented interesting programs while we were sailing as well as interesting commentary during the Zodiac cruises. The most memorable parts of the trip were seeing the startling blue color of the icebergs and taking the polar plunge in the minus 0 C water!

The entire trip was memorable since I was taken care from the time I arrived In Buenos Aires to the time we flew back in to leave. The Expedition Leader and was just amazing. She is so attractive and at times, in the lounge, doing a recap she would be dressed to the nines and in 4-5" heels. Yet when our zodiacs arrived at the landing sites, so many times she was there, in her waders and her hair in braids. It was an astonishing transformation.  The photographer was just great and so willing to share his knowledge. Every one of the Expedition Team was unbelievably caring. 

The huge ice fields were incredible.

ExpeditionTrips excelled at the speed and level of detail of responses and pleasantness and friendless (all by email!). I felt that even if I had a small, silly question it was totally okay to ask it, and that I'd get a good response. When my flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia was delayed, the response from ExpeditionTrips was both calming, prompt and exactly what I needed. I couldn't be more positive about my experience of dealing with ExpeditionTrips, which will be my first stop for any future trips I take - and this is from someone half-way across the world from ExpeditionTrips!

The trip exceeded my expectations.  I'm not sure how it could be improved. The Expedition staff was excellent - knowledgeable, experienced, interested and interesting.  Our naturalist seemed to know everything about every bird we saw. Everyone was happy to answer questions, at any stage. Both ExpeditionTrips and the staff on the ship at all times seemed to have a genuine interest in ensuring that I had a great experience.

The most memorable parts of the trip were standing on the Antarctic Peninsula itself after wanting to do so for so long, and visiting South Georgia, which was a very impressive, inspiring, beautiful and wildlife-packed place to visit.

I would have found the experience more stressful had we not used ExpeditionTrips. I will definitely recommend you to anyone who is traveling to Antarctica.

The trip exceeded my expectations. Bill wanted to see his last continent. I wanted to see the glaciers and the penguins. I was born in the Arctic. I wanted to see Antarctica. The most memorable part of the trip was the kayaking. It was fantastic being on the water in the sunshine paddling around glaciers.

The wildlife, mountains and scenery were spectacular and it wasn't that cold. The ship was nicer than I expected. The ship’s crew was great and the staff was excellent. Our kayak guide was a lot of fun. The ship’s doctor was great. He provided me with extra medication for the drake passing (I was heavily medicated). The food was better than I thought it was going to be and the dining crew and kitchen staff could not have been more accommodating. My husband has a wheat allergy and was given special meals for dinner. For lunch, the staff always made a point of showing Bill which foods he could and could not eat.

The trip exceeded my expectations. The services offered were amazing. I had no idea that we would eat so well. There were many services I didn't really expect that were nice like a bar. I enjoyed the freedom to roam around during the landings. I learned so much during this voyage and was confident that any needs that I might have had would have been met. I honestly can’t think of anything that I would change.

The trip exceeded my expectations. The hotel manager, his staff and the crew on board were exemplary and completely accommodating. I also cannot speak highly enough about the expedition teams/staff. They made every landing fascinating, provided endless hours of entertainment both onboard and on the continent and were among the nicest, most outgoing people you are likely to meet as well!

Our expedition leader is one of the outstanding polar adventurers in the world with many accomplishments and honors. He chose our landings well. The rest of the guides were just the best we could hope for in their level of expertise as well as their personalities which made the trip great fun. The chef planned food that was well-prepared and creative. The hotel manager made sure the ship was well supplied and knew how to care for the food. We were astounded that salads were as fresh and crisp on the 18th day as they were on the first. The waiters and waitresses, crew and housekeepers seemed always to smile and enjoy their work. The staff that cleaned the rooms did a great job. And we were secure in our belief that all were completely trustworthy and we never had to think about the security of our cameras, laptops, etc.

The bridge was open and the guys up there were gracious and polite, even when we got loud.

I loved South Georgia with the king penguins, the most fabulous animal in the world. They are elegant and drop dead gorgeous as an adult, comical as a baby and foolishly inquisitive as a juvenile. I also liked leaning against the stern wall of the bridge deck, holding on for dear life as the ship bucked and tilted and the wave water shot from left to right across the deck in front of me as I watched the albatrosses and petrels dip and soar in the raging gale - all serene as they would just touch the wave with the tip of their enormous wings. And then the expedition leader would get on the intercom and tell us all to come in and they were locking the outer doors because of the gale. Darn!

And then the one time I was alone astern at my favorite place and out of the wake came a pod of orcas! They first showed just their fins and I could hardly believe my eyes as they burst from the wave, huge, powerful and black and white and they did it again and again and I was the one to call the alert and the intercom came on "Orcas astern, orcas astern" and everyone piled out with their cameras and from then on they were "Spence's orcas" because I had seen them and reported them. Exciting! And a great way to win friends and influence people... 

And one of the best parts was all the Aussies on the boat. We all were kindred spirits, loving to travel, physically fit, no complaining… Just great new friends and travel companions.

I was inspired to take this trip because when I was 14, I saw a little ad in the back of the NYTimes magazine with an iceberg and tiny ship. I asked my folks to let me drop out of high school and go. They said no. So I had to wait 58 years, saving my pennies and reducing my carbon footprint.

I wanted to pay for the best wildlife experience and not for fine dining or other such refinements, and that is exactly what I experienced. But the accommodations were very comfortable, clean and well set up for gear. The food was fab - fresh, yummy, lots and well cooked - and the chefs were definite characters. The boat, trip and landings were fabulously worked out and passengers had free run of most of the boat. Everyone - the staff, crew, captain, stewardesses and kayak leader - was helpful, friendly, kind and accepting of all the (often odd) passengers. The crew has left a strong impression on me for their delight in the history, scenery, flora and fauna - it isn't just a boring old job to many of them. And the older passengers kayaking were given a helping arm where necessary (e.g. climbing back up on to the boat—not easy at times).

I think the most memorable moment of the trip is slowly cruising around after a pod of whales in the Polar Pioneer and watching some passengers go completely nuts because they didn't know which way to look - we were surrounded! AND watching another boat just cruise straight past, totally missing this wonderful moment.

We had several questions and concerns and were always able to contact you and get an answer quickly. Thank you, April and Emily, for a job well done!

The service on the ship was better than expected. It was truly phenomenal. We were not sure how we would like being on a ship with 100 other people, but that uncertainty went away quickly. It was a very pleasant experience with a great captain (I visited the bridge almost every day of the 18) and crew. The expedition leader was exceptional, making sure we landed as often as possible, and when we couldn't he set up Zodiac tours. All lecturers/guides were terrific. I know this is their living, but even in social situations - in the hall, in the lounge, or at meals - they would answer any and all questions. They were almost on call 24/7. The most memorable moments of the trip for me were the stark but beautiful landscape of the continent - the glaciers, the seawater itself, the icebergs, and the land, the delight in seeing and strolling among different wildlife species in their natural habitats, and walking in the footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton on South Georgia Island.

The ship was amazing and accommodations were very comfortable. The dining room staff was exceptional and the food was gourmet. On top of all that, the pristine beauty of Antarctica was breathtaking. The naturalists, photographers, and staff were just icing on the cake.

My goal is to visit all 7 continents.  Antarctica was my 6th. The entire experience was surreal, like being on the moon. It was Alaska X 100.  I loved it all.       

The expedition was absolutely amazing in total so I would almost say every part was memorable – the camping was a once in a lifetime experience though. The efficiency of the landings was absolutely amazing. The expedition staff and the ship crew can be commended!

We had an incredibly marvelous experience in Antarctica. The trip exceeded all expectations. Only nature could improve the voyage with calm conditions in the Drake Passage. The level of service was very enjoyable. The expedition crew was wonderful in sharing their knowledge and experience. Our personal butler checked on us doing the rough seas to make sure we were well and if we needed anything. The guest lecturer on astronomy added to the experience.

Both of these folks have been available when needed, responsive, and seemingly un-fazed by my endless questions. My wife and I have been so satisfied with Shelley and Emily that we will be using them to help us plan a similar trip for our son, Ryan, who will be graduating from college next December. Shelley and Emily have done everything for us that we could have asked for. From my perspective as a client, I believe that they are great assets to your organization [ExpeditionTrips].

We decided on Antarctica, including the Falklands and South Georgia, in mid-2009. We were looking for something truly special, and we found it. For Kathy, kayaking was the most memorable, and specifically paddling among the ice near the continent. I think for me, it was the people. And, by that I mean the staff, the crew, and the customers. It just all came together, and it was a great group--and an unselfish group. The trip exceeded both of our expectations. We had perfect weather, and near perfect sea conditions. I really don't know how it could have been better.

We also did a stop in the South Orkney's and one of the Expedition guides had actually been the British Antarctica Station commander there in the 80s, so he knew all about the place and his excitement about returning was palpable.

A Peninsula trip vs. a South Georgia plus Peninsula trip? Hands down always do the longer trip. For sheer beauty and spectacle, South Georgia is unsurpassed. Sublime. One of the guides quipped that God created South Georgia, so he would have someplace to go on vacation. Perfect description. One rarely uses the words awesome or awestruck in the proper context. Awe means an overwhelming feeling of amazement. South Georgia provides the awe. There were so many times that all 105 of us (Guides and Passengers) stood in perfect, utter silence almost with our mouths agape as we observed the environment. I don't recall tears running down my face, but I'm thinking they probably were. They are now as I write this. Awe inspiring, awesome and awestruck. Finally an appropriate use of the words.

The captain even hiked up to the top of the volcano on Deception Island to marry us. In addition, he wrote very personal vows for us after meeting with us only a couple of times. The chef made us a 3 tiered wedding cake at no charge which made a great surprise. They provided a video and a private geologist on our hike...amazing. And they made sure we didn't miss the polar plunge later that day! They honored and surpassed our dreams for our wedding.

They both did an outstanding job and were very patient with all my questions.

The 'Le Boreal' ship is beautiful, comfortable, clean and everything you can possibly wish for. The cabin was much more spacious than I expected and the ship's staff was extremely friendly. The cruise director was A+. I loved his sense of humor and the fact that he was always available for the guests. The hotel manager was especially wonderful. She often stopped by each table during meals to see how all the guests were doing and she was always available for a chat and always had a big smile for you. She made you feel welcome and comfortable. The naturalists also exceeded my expectations by far and I learned so much from them. I was also very pleasantly surprised that we had a photo expert on board, who gave us very valuable hints on taking photos. Another thing that exceeded my expectations was the food. It was incredible the variety of dishes that were presented at each meal and how the kitchen was able to give us fresh fruit until the very last day. The boot rental was also very convenient and I loved that service.

Shelley and Emily are tops and responsive to all my calls with questions and comments. They always return a call or email, which is rare now a days. Shelley suggested all the right clothing that I needed; I was warm and cozy.

The ship’s staff, guides and crew were above and beyond expectations and always very caring, concerned, polite and friendly. The naturalists had a wealth of knowledge and willingly shared with us. It is a pleasure to see so many young people that are goal oriented. The older and more experienced staff, guides, naturalists and crew were spectacular. I enjoyed the way the staff would periodically sit with the guests. Also, the "invitation" for a special dinner with staff members was a real highlight.  I dined with the NG photographers. This was a very nice touch and everyone eventually got invited so each had a turn to chat in a small, intimate group.  The lecturers were all wonderful - although a couple got extremely technical.  I enjoyed the lectures and several times dining with Peter Hillary was a real treat.

Care for the environment and our safety was phenomenal.  A pre-landing group always made a path that we were to follow. This packed down the snow and made it safer for us and also kept us a respectful distance from the wildlife, although the wildlife did come to US. I must say the food was excellent and the hotel staff very pleasant. The housekeeping staff was great and almost invisible, coming while we were out to make beds and tidy up the room.  

I loved the scenery, penguins, whales and seals, plus the kayaking and hikes. Taking a dip (up to my armpits) in the 31 degree cold water of Deception Island was a momentous experience.  Being 70 doesn't mean you can't do wild and crazy things - and have pictures to prove it.

The trip exceeded ALL my expectations and I would do it again in a wink!

The expedition leader and excursion staff were the most outstanding I have ever experienced in my life!!! They were like a well-oiled machine and never failed to impress. They were outstanding, customer-focused, well organized, friendly and efficient. I was impressed with all the naturalists and explorer’s presentations and I recommend you continue having the variety of presenters. The captain and his crew went above and beyond the call of duty to make our trip memorable. The fact that we could go to the bridge and have conversation with them was fantastic. Everyone, including the lady that cleaned my cabin, was excellent!  I have traveled the world and this trip beats the best I’ve ever had. I will never forget this experience.

It had been a lifelong dream to go to Antarctica and a friend who had gone 5 times recommended it, so I needed no more convincing to go!  Most memorable part was the breathtaking beauty of the Peninsula and the well-organized excursions to the islands, penguins and icebergs. The excursion staff were the most outstanding I have ever experienced in my life!!!

The trip both met and exceeded my expectations. We enjoyed the staff, guides and crew! The dining room crew made a point of taking excellent care of the younger passengers with two special dinners in the Observation Lounge and a special large table in the hallway for them to eat together. The dining room staff in general was wonderful and took great care to learn our preferences and provide them to us before we even had to ask. The captain was a funny and charming person and made every question feel valuable and worthy of an answer. We enjoyed the naturalist staff -- they all enhanced our experience. We spent a lot of time with the National Geographic photographer and thought he was an interesting person. 

I have always aspired to travel to Antarctica and decided to take this trip for my 50th birthday.  The most memorable part of the trip was experiencing the multitude of penguins and birds on Paulet Island and the Lemaire Channel passage.

The logistics of the entire trip were slick and the staff was always two steps ahead to maximize the experience. This was evident on so many occasions. One simple example was the planning that enabled us to reach an overnight at the scenic Lindblad Cove on Christmas Eve. With such expectation of the trip I have wanted to do for so many years, there was every opportunity to disappoint given the tremendous anticipation. The trip met and exceeded my expectations – quite the most memorable trip I have ever done and I have been fortunate to have traveled to most parts of the world.

The Akademik Ioffe is a great ship in terms of stability and also skill of captain/crew in maneuvering to look at whales. The expedition staff was outstanding. The product speaks for itself and the staff did an amazing job of managing weather versus activities to make sure we leveraged our time to the max.

I don’t think I could have imagined how amazing the trip would be. The trip was significantly above my expectations (which were incredibly high!!). I’m not really sure it could be improved – I could have had a completely fulfilling and unimaginable trip with just being in Antarctica stranded alone on one of the islands – but the comfort of the ship, the loveliness of my two cabin mates (who were randomly assigned to me and each other), the outgoing and interesting nature of the other passengers, the professionalism and warmth of the entire staff, and the ridiculously good (and never-ending) food were all completely unexpected but made the experience that much richer.

All of the staff, expedition leaders, and Russian crew were fantastic. The whole trip felt very organized and coordinated, with no detail spared. The staff was incredibly helpful with any questions/concerns that we had. The chefs and hotel manager/bartender kept us incredibly well fed and hydrated. The naturalist on board was really wonderful – he gave informative lectures during the days, especially to pass the time in the Drake Passage, and was always on hand and willing to answer questions about the wildlife. The staff was professional, but fun and gave us a sense of adventure instead of feeling just carted from one place to another. They managed our expectations quite well and I think everyone onboard seemed very happy. They also kept us very occupied; there is a lot of time on the ship and times when it wasn’t great to be outside, but there were many scheduled activities.

The most memorable part of the trip is so hard to say, but probably kayaking around icebergs and having the snow starting to fall, or sitting atop a small hill with a 360 degree view of the amazing white splendor on our first clear day. 

The most memorable part was the 5:30am zodiac trip on the first morning and seeing penguins for the first time.

You excelled in being there for me all the time providing me with the very best personal service anyone can wish for. You certainly cannot improve on that!

This trip went far beyond my expectations. It was the discovery of beauty in its most noble sense. It made me aware of the sheer scale of Antarctica; difficult to grasp and so wonderful to imagine now. The level of service on the ship was exemplary. I hadn’t expected that much. The friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, crew and the guides, the interesting lectures we were given, the excellent food, the many landings we made: it was obvious that everyone did their utmost best. An example would be the landings: if one beach was not accessible, the captain did his best to find another one for us to be able to set foot on land. This trip cannot be improved. The only regret I had was leaving the region.

The stunning Drygalski Fjord with its turquoise waters reflecting the white of the glacier under a deep blue sky would be amongst the fondest memories of my trip. The other most cherished experience was sailing through the Antarctic Sound where huge icebergs passed by on both sides of the ship for miles on end while the evening sun and the clouds played a game of light and shadow on these icy monuments. Setting foot on the Peninsula at Brown Bluff was another very emotional moment for me as was cruising in a Zodiac amongst the icebergs on which Adelies congregated. The landings on Snowhill Island (not often possible, it seems) and Paulet Island - and the many different species of penguins we would watch there (the Adelies and Gentoos) as well as the Chinstraps on Halfmoon Island (South Sandwich Islands on the other side of the Peninsula) - all of it contributed to an extraordinary journey, where the superlatives never seemed to end. Indeed, this was a trip of a lifetime.

They offered us a fabulous experience! The whole staff was fantastic!

The captain laid the bow basically on the beach to give us a sheltered landing. Another time, he replaced a Zodiac ride on Willis Island by setting the bow of the ship in the narrow cove to give us a great photo platform.

I can't say enough about the first-class way the return flight to Miami was handled - keeping the ship in Ushuaia to house and feed us, the excursions arranged to entertain us, the open bar, and most of all the people behind the scenes arranging the charter flight and working the Argentine problem. You learn so much more about a company, when they have to deal with problems. I really appreciated your stepping up and working the return flight issue from Miami to Seattle. We were one of the few couples who actually knew our flight home before we left Ushuaia, which relieved us of the added worry on the flight to Miami.

If the guides didn't know the answer to a question, they would do research and inform us later. The guides were experienced and very knowledgeable. One of the guides is an established photographer and shared his skills throughout the journey. What an unexpected bonus! The most memorable part of the expedition was the close proximity to a large variety of penguins plus the incredible landscape.

The level of service was very good, from the expedition team to our butler - just as good as on the other Silversea ship that I was on. If anything, this being a smaller ship, it's even better. In fact, I particularly enjoyed the history lectures given on board.

I wanted to visit Antarctica for the penguins and my fascination with them. But, the most part of the expedition was probably seeing humpback whales doing tail flips from a kayak. The trip exceeded all our expectations. There is very little that can be improved upon, however having to wash our kayaking kit on the last day was a bit of a surprise.

The staff onboard the ship was the most professional and knowledgeable group of people we have had lead an excursion. The guides were extremely knowledgeable and brought with them special insights because they had lived adventures throughout their personal lives that they could share with us. The hotel staff on the ship was also exceptional—remarkable at times since the seas were a little rough.  Everyone presented themselves as professional and expert at all times. The trip was everything we'd hope to experience: beautiful, surreal scenery, lots of wildlife and great people. 

This trip far exceeded my expectations and I don't believe it could have been any better. The staff, guides and crew were excellent. The Captain was willing to take our ship close to Cape Horn and into tight places for us to get a closer look. The most memorable part of the trip was the Zodiac trips around the floating icebergs and the compatibility of everyone.

Keep up the good email response time and continual support. The trip was better than I what I had expected. The guides were very knowledgeable and gave great seminars/lectures. The wait staff in the restaurant was excellent and the food selection was good. I liked having the choice for lunch in the lounge or the restaurant. The staff was good, the organization was good, and our roommate problem was dealt with effectively.

All guides [on the ship] were specialists in one field or another that was relevant to the trip, and down time during moves was filled with very informative mini seminars. The kayak guides were very patient and professional with the novices. Also, when they announced that we were leaving at time X, we most likely did, so we were able to make the most of our precious time there. A motivated group of passengers helps here and the enthusiasm of the staff kept us all on an "Antarctic high".

There were many memorable experiences, but probably the most memorable was camping on shore among penguins and sea lions and listening to the glaciers across the bay calve all night and then laying there waiting for the wake to hit our shore.

You were so patient in answering my questions, responding in a timely manner to my emails, checking in on my travel plans (which I was slow in making) and sending very detailed packing guidance and other trip prep materials. I especially appreciated the info of needing cash for entrance and exit taxes, etc.  I loved getting the package with the postcards and the hat and animal card… nice touch.

I highly recommend using a travel agency (such as yours) who focuses on the planning and preparation of the trip. I met one traveler who had booked direct with the operator and did not get the same level of trip planning and guidance as you offered.

I wanted to visit all 7 continents. Plus, I heard that the pristine beauty couldn’t be missed. Most memorable…there were so many things. Seeing three humpback whales playing within 50 yards of the Zodiac—one swam underneath it!  Camping overnight on the continent, my FAST polar plunge, making new friends—the vast variety of nationalities represented on board was energizing—and sliding down the hills!

The nature guide was so informative when I went on his boat. I liked the photographer, but felt like I wanted a bit more guidance and direction with my photography from him. Would have liked a session with photographer going back where we discussed the photos we took and ways we could crop/improve/display them.

Going to Antarctica was a lifetime experience which I would recommend to anyone. If I was to give anyone any advice on this, I would encourage them to go on an expedition ship and to seek an “off the beaten path” destination like the Weddell Sea. I could not think of a better choice of such a ship than the Polar Pioneer, as its size makes it ideal for reaching difficult to get to spots, yet is comfortable enough inside. Further, its very experienced and very passionate expedition staff are always looking for ways to get more out of the expedition. The expedition staff was probably the one factor that made our trip such a good one. They are truly passionate about what they are doing; they enjoy Antarctica as much, if not more, than the passengers who are seeing it for the first time. Thus, they are always in an attitude of discovery, of wanting to see more, of trying to get the best out of every single moment of the day, whether this might be through an additional landing, a hike up a hill, a cruise on a zodiac or even a “polar plunge”, a dip into zero degree waters!

The trip went beyond my expectations.  Having spent more money on this trip than any other by far, it was well worth it. The crew and everyone who worked on the ship were fantastic. If I go again, I would want the same crew. They were very experienced and seemed excited to go to different places even though they have been there before. It showed that they were passionate in their work.

The staff and crew were all extremely friendly and really attempted to learn all the passengers’ names. This was especially nice since we felt they were doing it on their own and not with the expectation of a larger tip (since gratuities are all included).  We enjoyed having a butler we could call on any time, day or night. The food was exceptional, and quite varied. We appreciated that they had healthy options, too. We also thought the sommelier did an excellent job of choosing some special, interesting wines from all over the world for the ship. We never felt the need to purchase something else off their wine list. This may seem like a small thing, but again it made us feel that we received really good value for our money.

Pictures don't do Antarctica justice! The "other-worldly" scenery is simply spectacular! We especially enjoyed the other travelers aboard this ship -- interesting people from all over the world. And the casual atmosphere promoted onboard made for a relaxed, more-enjoyable experience for us as we've never enjoyed the "formal" nights on other cruise ships.

The onboard staff was professional and knowledgeable and made us feel part of the expedition team rather than just people on a cruise. Brandon the team leader was SO enthusiastic and had a really great manner with guests and staff... and a great Good Morning voice over the tannoy too! Dan was an amazing kayak and camping leader, he seemed to work non-stop to make sure we took full advantage of every possibility.

I had seen an Antarctica exhibition in New Zealand and decided I HAD to go. My 35th birthday provided the perfect excuse. Most memorable part is SO difficult as it was all so amazing but I think silently kayaking through the glassy waters amongst the towering icebergs has to be close to the best...

In fact, I share my 'ABCs of Antarctica' with everyone who asks; amazing, beautiful, cool, dazzling, enchanting, fantastic, groovy, heavenly, intriguing, jaw-dropping, keen, lovely, memorable, neat, out-of-this-world, powerful, quiet, reflective, spectacular, terrific, unforgettable, vibrant, wow, xciting and yipee-zipeee!

The guides onboard the Clipper Adventurer were personable and knowledgeable. The interaction of groups of penguins, seals, and other birds was mesmerizing. There was so much going on I didn't know what to photograph first!

We were inspired to go to Antarctica by seeing a show on South Georgia by Art Wolfe the photographer, but nothing can prepare you for the awesome scope, sounds and smells of the wildlife on the beaches. The trip exceeded our expectations for wildlife and scenery. We had very good weather and I would have liked to kayak in some of the protected bays, but it wasn't offered on this departure. We enjoyed getting to know the ship's guides and crew and swapped stories of our previous adventures. Martin, the expedition leader, went out of his way to maximize the number of landings and our time on-shore. He did a superb job. The dining room staff was as good as you would find in any nice restaurant.

We really enjoyed working with ExpeditionTrips and would book with you again in the future. In fact, I wish I were back in South Georgia right now! I also appreciated having you schedule the additional hotel time in Ushuaia and booking our flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia for us. Thank you again!

The staff was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and truly made the experience great. The crew is also exceptional. They went out of their way to help people who were not feeling well and wanted to make sure we were as comfortable as possible. The only improvement I can think of would be more excursion options (i.e. kayaking, etc).

Our Polish marine biologist helped me down a steep tussock grass hill when I decided it was too severe for me. The waiters all knew my dietary restrictions and the kitchen provided substitutes willingly and quickly. Everyone catered to all age levels, interests, languages and abilities. I was tremendously impressed.

A real unexpected plus was the opportunity to land on Elephant Island. Making this possible was the superb weather we had every day of the trip.

I have always been attracted to the idea of going to Antarctica. Two things encouraged me to take this trip now: several of my storytelling friends have excited me with the Shackleton story and this trip went to South Georgia; I'm getting older and frailer, so the now or never factor was part of my response. I would still like to get below the Antarctic Circle. My interest in birds also contributed, as well as the encouragement of one of my birding friends.

The crew was wonderful and attentive and gave as much personal service as one could possibly expect. Everyone seemed to know your name before you boarded....amazing. Only one small complaint: very small forward deck area which could be very crowded and no access to the bow.

The trip surpassed our expectations.The ship’s staff, guides and crew were all very professional and took very good care of us. We take this opportunity to thank them and congratulate the entire team.

Every contact with the staff, guides and crew was fantastic, especially the sailors who met the Zodiac with big smiles & helping hands, one of the wait staff who brought me hot water & lemon at breakfast without my asking, and the guides who kept us so busy we didn't have to do anything. The guides were dynamite. They shared their passion for Antarctica and inspired us to make the most of every minute.

I think the guides, for the majority, provided all services as expected, and in some cases exceeded expectations.  I can say for certain that one particular guide was consistently making an effort to ensure that our exposure to the landscape and wildlife was maximized. Additionally, I was extremely impressed by the service of the Ocean Nova staff — I’m currently hard at work trying to burn off the pounds from the fantastic meals served on board.

There were SO many memorable moments, but I think the most memorable was being greeted by a humpback and her baby on Christmas Day that truly sums up this experience — totally unexpected, and impossible to explain in words!

I chose the Polar Pioneer because of the adventure options and the most memorable part of the trip for me was when we, the kayakers, landed on an iceberg and had a little party. The staff and crew onboard the Polar Pioneer was quite friendly.

I enjoyed chatting with the captain and officers onboard. I am really grateful to Al Bakker, the kayaking instructor, for taking care of us and to the captain who was eager to turn the ship to follow orcas and other whales. Also, the Russian crew was very kind to share their Russian cuisine with me!

To visit Antarctica was one of my dreams because it is a fairly remote continent difficult to reach and very few people have done it. I take with me many amazing memories like observing the wildlife - especially the elephant seals, plunging into freezing Antarctic water and spending a whole night on the continent camping and enjoying the nature and wildlife. I will never forget waking up and finding a group of penguins and a seal about 10-15 feet from me!

We have been on every continent and this was our last big hurrah! The most memorable part of the expedition for me ... well was basically everything! If I had to pick something it would be hiking up a mountain to a 360 degree view of Antarctica and a penguin colony at the top of the mountain. It was just so unreal.

The entire staff on Clipper Adventurer had superior service. I'm not sure how they were trained so well. Everyone was laid back and friendly and never talked down to anyone. The trip leader (Lauri) had so much experience and picked great landings. Even our waiter (Francis) was so over the top and the first time he found out we liked anything specific (ie tabasco sauce for my husband) he would bring it for every meal. The hotel manager (Carlene) was very experienced and always on top of making sure everyone was happy as well. I was very impressed. It's hard to 'expect' anything from a trip to Antarctica but it far exceeded my expectations. Every time I thought we'd seen all we could have, the next landing would be even more amazing. I can't think of anything that would improve it except for making the Drake Passage smoother ;).

The trip was well organized in every detail (yet flexible as Antarctic travel must be) whilst being so friendly and informal - the perfect combination. We were incredibly lucky with the weather that we had on our trip too. Perhaps one of the most memorable parts of the expedition was to cruise the serene, ice-covered waters of the Herrera Channel in the company of whales, seals, penguins and newly made ship-board friends on the most perfectly sunny day imaginable. This is a part of the world that is unique and so stunningly beautiful but is only for those that are prepared to make the effort to get there.

I can't speak highly enough of all the expedition staff and ship's crew. The Captain allowed us on the bridge at any time and the guides, including Scotty, were so enthusiastic when they gave educational sessions they made it come alive; almost felt you were there, re-living Shackleton's experience!

I had no hesitation calling her back when I was ready to book the trip. I was not disappointed in any way. I would definitely book future trips with ExpeditionTrips.

The trip met or exceeded expectations in every way. I cannot think of one thing that could have been better. Connections, tour guides, expedition leaders, hotel, ship, itinerary were all terrific. Even the weather and the Drake Passage were more than cooperative. The staff, guides and crew were above and beyond. Everyone was as nice and helpful as they could be. It is impossible to pick a most memorable part since it was all wonderful - scenery, wildlife, remoteness, ship, crew, passengers, etc.

Neil, in particular, had an interest in the history of Shackleton and had always wanted to go to the Antarctic.

The expedition exceeded all our expectations. The lectures were all very well presented, though some of them lasted 1 1/2 hours, which seemed a bit too long, in my opinion. Jill Baxter really made the trip for us, she was so accommodating and enthusiastic and made the most of every moment she could for us. She obviously had the respect of everyone from the guides to the staff and crew and had an excellent rapport with the Captain, hence a very happy atmosphere. We just could not fault anyone!

We were surprised that the accommodations onboard the Polar Pioneer were as comfortable and spacious as they were, and the superb quality of the food was really surprising. We especially appreciated having bowlfuls of fresh fruit always out in the galley. The lecturers were always good and sometimes splendid, though we did wish that they had a more accommodating venue as the lecture hall was a bit cramped. A primary example of the excellent care we received onboard by the ship's staff is when I (Carol) broke my wrist. The doctor was immediately summoned and spent much of the morning with me, examining, icing my wrist and applying a cast, all the while, monitoring constantly my pain level.

I thought the information you put together was very comprehensive and useful - I did a lot of research before I went. We were particularly lucky with the weather on this trip; I did not wear all the warm things I bought especially!! Onboard, the whole organization was first class. The guides were extremely knowledgeable so I learned a lot. Laurie was an exceptional leader and every lecture made the whole trip so much more interesting and a great learning experience.

Although what he (Laurie) considered a walk was pretty much more a major hike! I thought the food was excellent - in variety and taste. The homemade rolls were to die for!!

I had been to the Patagonian ice fields previously, and wanted to go further south - also I have been interested in the Polar explorers for a long time and I love looking at the wildlife. The most memorable part of this trip was watching the albatross and petrels glide behind the ship and the penguins of course, especially the gentoo babies who were SO friendly.

Also, the transfers were always early and never failed to show up. Overall, the trip exceeded my expectations, I cannot think of any way to improve it. All of the guides were excellent and the expedition leader was very good about always keeping us advised as to what was happening well in advance. They did a great job of getting us where we needed to be in the most efficient way possible. We had always wanted to visit Antarctica and the timing just seemed to work. I think the most memorable part of this trip was the natural beauty of the continent!

We have wanted to take this trip for a long time and finally decided to go ahead. No one we know has ever been to Antarctica and we had never been on any type of cruise before so we did not know what to expect. However, it certainly lived up to and exceeded what we thought it would be like. There are so many things that were memorable the vastness of Antarctica, how unspoiled it is, the lovable penguins and their chicks and the noisy elephant seals. We really liked watching the penguins in the ocean, they are so sleek, fast and graceful - so unlike their cute little selves on land. Our number one memory is when two humpback whales came right up to our zodiac to 'check us out' - what a thrill!

Even though we never met face to face, I feel I was treated with 'professionalism with a personal touch' and believe me, such treatment is certainly a rarity these days.

Everyone onboard the Clipper Adventurer was great. I was particularly proud of the fact the majority of the expedition team was Canadian (given that I'm a Canuck) and as it turns out, I had every right to be proud. I cannot sing enough praises about Laurie Dexter and all the others.

I have always been interested in the polar regions, Antarctica in particular and the trip exceeded my expectations. I loved each and every minute of it (well, maybe not the getting seasick part - but hey, it was all part of the experience). One of the many highlights was to encounter penguins up close and personal; I never got tired of spending time with them. The only bad part was having to leave them behind!

I'd also like to mention that I received excellent service from the outdoor expedition supplier you recommended as well. The people there were very helpful. I did not expect the amazing service I experienced from Silversea, and it truly isn't possible that it could have been improved upon. I don't have words to describe my appreciation for their work.

I wanted to go to Antarctica because it was the only continent I hadn't visited. The most memorable part of the cruise was the zodiac visit to Paradise Harbor. I've traveled far and wide and I've never witnessed such peaceful beauty.

The staff, guides and crew went above and beyond all of my expectations. I had a small accident while ashore, and the expedition crew rushed me back to the ship and helped (with much difficulty) me aboard as I was unable to stand on my twisted ankle. The sea was also getting rough at the time. Several able seamen were required to lift me from the zodiac. After a thorough check up and treatment by the ship's doctor, I was further amazed at the level of service from the housekeeping staff. Our cabin housekeeper brought fresh ice packs every hour without being asked. This went on well into the night and certainly beyond what could possibly have been her regular work hours. The hotel manager even sent chocolates to the room! Of course I felt like a complete idiot that the accident happened at all; The crew gives more than one lesson on how to properly and safely exit the zodiac, relying on the four people standing on either side of you when you stand. I was so excited by what I saw that I ignored them completely and simply hopped off the side of the zodiac, stumbling over my own two feet when I fell. The entire incident could have been avoided if I'd just followed the simple instructions. And yet, none of the staff made any mention of my failure to pay attention and fussed over me for days! In the dining room, they assigned a member of the wait staff to follow me through the buffet line at breakfast and lunch to take my plate to the table while I walked on crutches. There were many other instances where the staff went above and beyond what could be considered even premium service. I doubt if I would have been as well cared for in my own home! I can't say enough good things about the people who crew the Silver Explorer.

The sights were more incredible than I could have imagined - the blue color of the icebergs, the clear skies, the wildlife. I only wish I could have spent more time there!

This was a life-time dream to travel to the 'South Pole'--I love the sense of adventure and doing what others would feel impossible. The most memorable was seeing the mass of 500,000 king penguins and fluffy big babies. Plus, the fact that we felt we had the southern ocean to ourselves and that we were the first people to make the landings. I had feared lots of cruise ships docking off shore awaiting their turn. But it was wonderful to have the Robinson Crusoe feeling.

The crew was also excellent; I speak Russian and so they were very kind in letting me practice with them. They had long days and often stormy conditions to work in, and yet they always had time to talk and smile; putting up with us wandering around the bridge and no request or question was ever too much for them. I have a very happy feeling about the whole trip--when I forget the terrible seas that we had; I discovered that I will never make a sailor. The whole set up from travel arrangements, information packets, accommodations, to those cozy, huge warm jackets was great and much appreciated!

The staff on the ship was AMAZING. I’ve never had a hotel manager be so concerned about my well-being and making sure i was satisfied with my vegetarian options. The dining staff was also great. I had a blast with them. They even reserved tables for us so we'd always have a table to ourselves. Really cool!

I took this trip to set foot on my seventh continent. So that goal in life is now fulfilled. One of the most memorable parts was the FIRST time we went off the ship in the zodiac and went searching for leopard seals. Absolutely amazing.

The difference was the amount of relevant and useful information that was given, so we never had to search more than a few minutes to get any information about the trip.

The trip was definitely beyond expectations. Service was excellent from all the staff, guides and crew. The hotel manager deserves particular mention for ensuring the availability of a variety of vegetarian food throughout the journey. We felt very special. There are so many memorable moments that rate equally. Particular mention goes to the Polar Plunge - diving into freezing water is a unique, daring and foolish act of bravery.

The trip was more than my expectations and the weather was certainly one thing that I didn't expect: brilliant sunshine for three solid days. The staff on the Ocean Nova were really excellent. I had no great expectations but they certainly excelled. The quality of leadership and combined experience of the staff was very good. If anything, they filled our time so well we had little 'down' time. Taking the Polar Plunge at Whalers Bay, Deception Island and camping was a great experience not to be missed. We have friends in the UK sailing on Discovery from Cape to Cape and they couldn't believe that we did such crazy things!!!

She booked our flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and back and she booked hotel rooms for us. She really fitted us to the ship that was perfect for us. She was absolutely awesome. Also, none of the other travel groups had hats or those laminated sheets with the animals on them that we received from you.

The trip was much better than what I expected. I was a little worried about the size of the cabin and the food, but the food was great and the cabin was larger than I expected. I’m not sure if Lori had anything to do with choosing which cabin we got, but it was a good bit larger than some of the other double rooms I saw. I wasn’t expecting this but we had several choices of food to choose from during lunch and dinner. The hotel staff was terrific. Several times I didn’t want exactly what was on the menu during lunch and dinner, and the staff would do whatever they could to accommodate everyone. They would alter the food selection to give me what I asked for. Also, the staff cleaned our cabin each morning and then had turn down service in the evening. They even left chocolates on the pillows. The expedition staff was also great. They were very knowledgeable. We were really lucky to have the expedition staff that worked our ship.

I think the most memorable part of the trip was cross country skiing.  It was awesome.  My husband had cross country skied before, but I hadn’t.  It was very easy, and the terrain was absolutely beautiful.  We were able to ski on three occasions.

The staff cleaned our cabin each morning and then had turn down service in the evening. They even left chocolates on the pillows. The expedition staff was also great. They were very knowledgeable. We were really lucky to have the expedition staff that worked our ship.

The trip exceeded my expectations; all of the expedition staff and ship's crew aboard the Shokalskiy were outstanding! I loved that the ship, due to its size, was able to go to more places. Also, before this trip, I did not know very much about South Georgia and sitting with the baby King Penguins was an incredible experience! The only recommendation I would make would be to clarify how the side excursions work as I didn't realize that, once there, we would have to choose between a shore excursion or kayaking.

I wanted to set foot on all 7 continents...Antarctica was the last one. The most memorable part of this trip, for me, would have to be camping on Antarctica. To go to sleep while hearing the silence, with minimal sounds of water, wind and snow hitting the tent, was truly something I will never forget!

Antarctica was always on our dream list, so when Richard's 70th and the Silver Explorer coincided we decided this was it! The staff, guides and crew were all excellent. The expedition staff (like all other staff) were professional, friendly, enthusiastic and very good at what they did (several came from South Africa - and from our own hometown of Knysna!). We always felt informed, safe and special. The food was also excellent.

The ship staff was great and we had a wonderful level of service from them. One of the guides is just wonderful. His level of enthusiasm and teaching is the best! We would go anywhere on a trip with him.

The energy and excitement that the expedition team generated was infectious. The hospitality staff was stellar. I can say they were better than some of the finest hotels I have stay in. I was amazed at how many staff and team members learned our names and things about the passengers so quickly. It was refreshing to be greeted by name on the evening of the first day.

We had a wonderful opportunity to have whales approaching our ship during dinner. The announcement was made and everyone scrambled to the deck to watch. When the whales were bored and moved on, we all went back to our dinners and much to our surprise the staff had removed all previously delivered food which was cold by now and came out of the kitchen with all new and hot food!!! The guides were always with us even during their down time and continuously shared stories and information about the Antarctic, which just enhanced the trip even more.

What I brought home with me is that there are people in this world with the same adventurous spirit that I have. To travel in such an extreme place takes a unique kind of person and I met so many folks with that spirit from around the globe! The scenery, the animals and the vastness of the Antarctic are amazing, but the people I met and memories I have can never be duplicated again.

They were all very well qualified and suitable. I was disappointed to have missed the ornithologist’s presentation on the first morning due to seasickness, but appreciated him helping us identify birds whenever he was nearby.

It has been my husband's dream for a long time to go to Antarctica, an unspoiled area. The most memorable part of our expedition was seeing the wildlife near us and unafraid of us, as well as the pristine scenery.

After a very short period (second communication), I realized that I was dealing with an individual and a company that cared about what they do, and therefore, about finding me the perfect trip for my interests. Email communication (generally easier for me since I live in Bogota, Colombia) was never anonymous, it was personable and friendly. Again, this level of personal involvement and concern is not common in our world today, and was much appreciated. Although I never met the people that I was dealing with, or even talked to them personally on the telephone, I would describe the relationship as warm. That is a very nice thing to be able to say about an arm's-length business transaction.

One of the very nice things about this trip was that it did not just meet my expectations (which is desirable in a trip this expensive) but greatly exceeded them. The dedication of the staff to show us as much as was possible and a crew that allowed that to happen is to be commended. It is easy to say “unfortunately we cannot go here because.....” What we heard was “we don't know if we can but we're sure going to try” and try and succeed they did. Honestly, at this time, there is nothing that stands out as an area of improvement.

I had wanted to travel to the Antarctic for some time, due to the remoteness of the location and especially after reading accounts such as Shackleton's. Our interaction with Emperor penguins on a spectacular day with sun and glistening fast ice in a location that we did not imagine we would get to see (we did not expect the Emperors either) had to be my most memorable part of this trip.

The staff of the ship provided a level of service that is not all that common in the world today. They were cheerful and attentive, with attention to details that made the ship a wonderful place to relax after a couple of outings a day. The fresh coffee and well maintained refreshment center in the well-stocked library was a real treat. I have stayed in 5-star hotels that did not have such a consistency of service. Kudos to the galley staff for the inventive and tasty food that kept us well energized for the next adventure. Meals, both in preparation and serving were a treat and added to the pleasure of the vacation.

The ship's crew were dedicated to keeping a vessel that was in pristine condition in conditions that were not necessarily easy, and the ability of the ship to get us into areas (at the hands of an obviously very experienced captain and crew) was very much appreciated.

The personnel involved in the actual guiding, lecturing and advising were a delight, each with their own area(s) of expertise and experience, adding to the whole of a very knowledgeable staff. The daily lectures (well prepared and well delivered, without exception) were interesting and informative, and responses and questions were welcomed. The daily recap gave us all a bonding experience as well as the chance to relive the day's adventures. Combined with the daily schedules for (possible) upcoming events and landings, updates on weather and ice conditions (and the dulcet voice of our expedition leader), the general feel was much more of a 'real expedition'. The National Geographic connection only added (immensely for me) to my overall experience.

I just told a fella this morning waiting in line for coffee! As far as improvement, that would be hard to imagine. We received outstanding service from the staff, guides and crew on the ship.  Every day, it was "How may we help you Madame, Tessa?"  "Good morning Madame Tessa!" from the hotel staff.  Expedition staff was more "Okay, let's get out there and have some real fun!"  They were always making sure people got off the ship and saw what there is to see (minus that one day we missed the bird eating seal episode).

The Expedition Leader was the best leader I have ever met. He is full of life, always ready with a smile and his knowledge of the Polar Regions is incredible. The best part was crossing the Antarctic Circle. And the close encounter with the humpback whales!!

I especially liked the fact that the ExpeditionTrips’ staff had all been on an Antarctic expedition and could speak from personal experience about what to expect.

The trip was awesome! The staff, guides and crew went out of their way to please the passengers. The hotel manager went out of his way to make sure that passengers’ questions and needs were addressed even when the request was outside of his area of expertise, making sure that the passenger was connected to the proper staff. The expedition leader and captain used their vast experience to provide exciting landing sites in spite of wind and pack ice. We did not expect the option to take 3-6 km hikes in the Falklands and South Georgia, but they were an unexpected extra that we enjoyed. The refurbishing of the Ocean Nova was excellent. Our cabin had more room and storage than I ever expected. The panorama lounge and aft saloon were spacious and generous with the viewing windows. The food was great and the staff was experienced and aimed to please.

There were numerous highlights of the trip, but the most memorable part of the expedition was the hour and a half that I sat on the rocks at Godthul South Georgia and was surrounded by multiple curious Gentoo penguins that checked me out by pecking at my day-pack, boots, arm, and fingers. It was an awesome encounter!!! The rockhopper penguins, the King penguins, walking on water (i.e. the pack ice) and visiting Shackleton's gravesite were also highlights.

The service onboard was beyond exceptional. The expedition guides had such a depth of knowledge. Just one example of many great experiences is that the geologist, who did some seminal work on Antarctic geology in the past, seemed excited to share his knowledge with us, loved to answer questions and showed how they figured out that there had been a volcanic explosion under an icecap with rocks found in Antarctica. In fact, that is the characteristic that impressed me the most: how enthusiastic all expedition members were about sharing their love of the Polar Regions. As our expedition leader said, "you're only old when you've lost your marvels."

You excelled at tracking down answers to every question and making us feel that nothing within reasonable control would go wrong. We had long entertained the idea of going to Antarctica, but when Mike started adding continents to his passport, he realized he had just two to go: South America and Antarctica. This trip completed his quest. Based on our internet research, we were confident in our selection of a Quark expedition and we weren't disappointed. The trip was great all around -- the scenery, the accommodations, the staff, the arrangements and our fellow travelers. I can't say that we would change a thing about the trip as provided.

Every single person on the crew, catering, and expedition staff was wonderful. That having been said, some were even more wonderful than that. Victoria, our assistant expedition leader, kept us all in line (in a good way); inspired our confidence that not only would we have a great time but do so safely; and performed her job tirelessly and with a smile for everyone all of the time. Tim, Andrew, Fiona, and Phil all were friendly and made the trip extra fun. Alex the bartender was a good sport and excellent host. The crew was also much friendlier than I had anticipated. Although there were some natural communication barriers, we were always greeted with a smile and hello or something similar when we passed in the hallways, boarded the zodiacs or peeked onto the bridge.

Nigel was patient and encouraging in his quest to educate us. He made a comment to us all just as we started our journey back across the Drake Passage that really made sense to me and which changed my return journey plan for the better. He said something like this: 'As we begin our two-day crossing back to Ushuaia, most of you are thinking that your Antarctica trip is over. But if you really think about it, you still have about one-quarter of your journey left. Are you going to make the most of it by getting out on deck and observing the amazing sea life flying overhead and diving beside the ship, or are you going to leave a fair share of your vacation expense sitting on the table -- so to speak -- by sitting in your cabin?' His words really meant a lot at a time when all of our minds were focused on whether the crossing back would be as rough as the crossing over.

There were so many memorable parts that it is difficult to select one. The Drake Passage crossing certainly is something I would like to forget! Another was having a ball sliding down a couple of hills on our butts. A few more were the swim at Deception Island, the thrill of the first landing and the perfect weather on our last day that allowed us to take some of the best photos of our lives.

From my perspective, the interaction between staff, guides and crew were seamless with a result that we participants were the full beneficiaries. Woody and his team contributed so much to the totality it's impossible to discriminate one aspect from another.

I wish I could offer a suggestion for improvement but not this time. While I am a professional critic with over 50 years of international living/working, I'm at a loss this time and that's very good. The voyage was the objective of a lifetime from the earliest exposure to polar expeditions and this was an opportunity to share quality time with one of my daughters. It's impossible to single out the most memorable part - all of it was fantastic! To isolate one dimension would be a disservice to all others.

The fact that you took care of the details and provided all of the information in the trip documents is where you really excel. Everyone, and I mean everyone, went above and beyond their expected duties. I was so impressed! Our expedition staff offered us the opportunity to expand our knowledge about Antarctica through their expertise. I feel very fortunate to have been part of this group.

Visiting Antarctica had always been a goal of mine. The entire expedition was truly memorable...the sheer beauty, the majestic wildlife, the pristine wildness of the continent. Words cannot describe setting foot on the continent and seeing 1,000's of penguins, several species of birds, elephant and weddell seals and icebergs off in the distance. I have no expectations when I travel, therefore, I will never be disappointed! This has always been my philosophy.

The most memorable part of the trip was when the National Geographic Endeavour "parked" itself on the fast ice well south of the Antarctic Circle and we were able to walk off of the boat and on to the ice on a most incredible day!  Everybody I encountered that day was in awe of the spectacular scenery and had smiles of delight that whole day, and most every day. This trip went well beyond my wildest expectations.  It was beyond description!  The earth's last true, vast, pristine wilderness is incredible.

The trip exceeded my expectations in every way: the itinerary, the commitment of the crew to do everything possible to ensure every possible listed activity/site would be achieved, outstanding communication regarding happenings/activities, accommodations and food. My fellow passengers were congenial, flexible and interesting. Spending 20 days with congenial and interesting people from around the world was a great experience in itself.

The expedition staff, galley crew and all others gave 120% every day. There were so many times I saw them go far beyond what should have been expected to meet a passenger request, give extra assistance in loading the zodiacs, research a source to provide an answer to a passenger question, etc. During the entire expedition, I did not see one crew member do anything except act in a very positive manner, and always with a smile. The shipping company definitely gets an A+ for the crew they put together for this expedition. One example of this is on Christmas Eve (and for most of Christmas Day) we were told to stay in our cabins and not to be up and moving about due to strong winds and very rough waters. No doubt, like many of the passengers, crew members must have also been suffering from seasickness. I don't know how they did it, but they still managed to make sandwiches for breakfast and again at lunch, and deliver them along with a drink to all passengers. Despite the rough waters continuing until around 4 PM, a great holiday dinner (along with birthday cakes for 2 of us celebrating birthdays) and an evening of holiday celebration was put together for the passengers. This level of commitment was reflective of what I observed throughout the entire trip.

One of the most memorable parts of the trip was sharing the experience of visiting Point Wild on Elephant Island with a son of one of Shackleton's 22 men left on this island, who were eventually rescued. It was so emotional and moving when this fellow passenger shared his relationship with Shackleton, and made a presentation with photos.  As we made our landing on Elephant Island, I tried to imagine what emotions this gentleman must be feeling: a moment I will never forget. Later, as he spoke to the group and tried to put into words what the landing meant to him, along with other moving comments, he stated "I have been waiting for this all my life". There were not many dry eyes in the group.  

They were informed, professional, and went out of their way to find out the answer, were courteous, intelligent and human all at the same time. They never expressed an opinion, just gave facts.  It was an absolutely wonderful experience.

The level of service provided by the staff was super. Every day we had lectures, which at first we thought might be boring; however, we found ourselves getting to the main lounge early for a good seat. A couple of times we watched the lectures from our cabin when we were trying to regroup from so many landings. The expedition staff was first rate and shared historical facts with humor and scientific details. Patricia, the ornithologist, had an infectious love of penguins and had us all laughing at her penguin walks. We had experts on history, birds, whales, fisheries, Antarctic research projects, the earth's plates, sea currents, global warming, photography and more! They all were very passionate about what they did.

The weather was terrific and we went out in the zodiacs seven times in South Georgia landing at Salisbury Plain, Stromness, Grytviken, St. Andrew's Bay, Gold Harbor (a 3:30 AM wake-up call) and zodiac cruising through Esenhul and Cumberland Bay. The sun shone daily in South Georgia.

I was inspired to take this trip by my partner's exuberance with Shackleton's voyage in an open boat from Elephant Island to South Georgia. From the time we started dating, nearly four years ago, he said going to Antarctica and South Georgia was a dream for him. I started looking into what this would be about and discovered a whole continent and area I had paid little attention to in the past. This led us to research trips with the help of Joy who was very helpful and patient.

The NH Florida Hotel in Buenos Aires was ok, except for people going through garbage in the street outside of the hotel every night. Later, at the Claridge, they had a Tango Show (free) in their bar.

The most memorable part was the wildlife on South Georgia, although so many things were absolutely marvelous. It really isn't fair to put it down to one moment. For Neil it was Stromness and Grytviken culminating with Shackleton's grave.

The fellow passengers came from all over the world and most were very well traveled. The crew seemed to know how to get us to do what they wanted to remain safe without bossing us around. We came to know some very fine people.

When the helicopters were grounded due to weather at Snow Hill, they arranged for some ice walks. The guides were always thinking of what to do and how to please us.

They were especially good to me when I took a really bad fall on the ship on our last day at sea. They were right there, and the doctor was great. After they got me back to my cabin, he checked on me every half hour and even brought me soup and bread for lunch.

I'd been to Antarctica before, but I really wanted to see the Emperor penguins and we saw lots of them! This was my most memorable part of this expedition. Seeing the chicks playing, nestling and feeding with their parents. They were so friendly and came right up to us. They even posed for photos! Snow Hill was the most beautiful place - like being on another planet.

The trip exceeded my expectations and I'm not sure it can be improved upon.

Nigel was the best because I am not a bird enthusiast but he was just so excited to talk about birds! The vast untouched wilderness inspired me to take this trip and the most memorable place was Neko Harbour.

One of our guides is like this Antarctica superhero that was always happy to share his knowledge and experience and I learned so much from him. All of the presentations were so well prepared and we thoroughly enjoyed them. Oh, the doctor was pretty fantastic to. What a hard job - you're always on call!  I absolutely loved hearing the captain’s voice on the intercom every morning, what a riot!  The captain was so kind; I'll miss his morning wake up calls. And our expedition leader is yet another superhero and we were so lucky to have him on the trip. As you can tell, I could go on and on. Everyone on the ship was just fantastic.

Shaun was the tour leader and he was outstanding and very helpful. Akos and Jamie were also outstanding, wonderful photographers.

I was inspired to take this trip from pictures in a travel magazine. The most memorable part of the expedition was the roughness of the Drake Passage, followed by the incredibly beautiful sunset we saw while cruising around in the zodiacs one evening.

I have always been fascinated by Antarctica and the most memorable part for me was the scenery and the wildlife. The trip exceeded all of my expectations.

The expedition staff onboard the Orlova deserve congratulations in every respect and without exception, from the leader of the expedition team to the room staff. They worked hard all of the time and they were there for your service any time.

Everything was so well organized, ran smoothly and seemed easy - like a ballet performance when you never see how much endeavor is really needed. Everything deserves to be mentioned. We were really lucky to have had several beautiful sunsets: at Cierva Cove at Pleneau Bay, at Lameire Channel and at Melchior Island. At sunset, Antarctica transforms from "The Great White Continent" into "The Great Red-Rose-Orange-Gold Continent".

You do not need to improve anything. Keep the level you have reached - this is often more difficult than making improvements. Of course, I wish the voyage along the Peninsula was a few days longer.

Many people on the trip were jealous of our cute, ExpeditionTrip hats!!

The staff, guides and crew went WAY above and beyond our expectations. They were fabulous and nice people to begin with but, as I mentioned, we got married and they did so many special things that were amazing. I can't speak highly enough of them! They made the trip!

My partner, Jason, and I were taking a journey around the world. Antarctica was our last of the seven continents to visit. We also thought it would be a wacky adventure to get married on our final continent ('End of one journey...Beginning of another'). We got married on the continent!

If something blocked a planned landing, they found another. They took a zodiac transfer from land to the ship and made it into an adventure in photographing a leopard seal that was playing around the pontoons. And, they were able to get ALL of the zodiacs in the water on two occasions so that the entire group could do the channels at water level.

The team was, to me, a group of people who kept time, weather and safety in mind and THEN did everything they could to make this the best experience it could be. I have always wanted to go to Antarctica and the most memorable part was the Zodiac cruise down the LeMaire Channel. Antarctica completely met my expectations - the only improvement I could see was using time to go a little further south or getting to see the Emperors.

The Orlova was nice and the Russian crew very efficient; really enjoyed the young dining room servers and the food was very good. So, just want you to know we're two very satisfied customers! Thank you for a trip we'll never forget!

The expedition staff and crew were excellent - very professional, but also very friendly. Their knowledge of the area and its history and wildlife was amazing, and they made every effort to maximize our time there.

I like traveling to different places and doing different things, and had wanted to go to Antarctica for a long time. It's hard to say what was most memorable because every day was different and excellent - penguins, seals, whales, icebergs, exploring on land and by zodiac..... it was all fantastic. Even experiencing seven meter swells and a force eight gale crossing the Drake Passage was an experience I will treasure!!

Antarctica was, for us, the 'last continent.' We've traveled extensively and the Antarctic was literally the 'ends of the earth' for us. We enjoyed every moment of the five days we were actually there, and it was everything we thought it would be; 'awesome' in every sense of the word.

The staff was wonderful, and when I was seasick Thelma, our room attendant, continued to check on me during the day to bring me ginger-ale and crackers. I thought that was above the call of duty.

The trip to Antarctica was something I have always wanted to do. I love adventures and had a friend who wanted to do the trip also. The trip was better than fabulous, other than my seasickness which I had no control over, and Dr. Linda was great. I really can't think of anything to improve, other than having a list of everyone's emails so we could correspond.

My most memorable experiences were the Falklands 'Trek' which was a fabulous hike through red back hawks and megallanic penguins, South Georgia - EVERYWHERE - this is THE PLACE IN THE WORLD!, and Paradise Bay with the ice smoothed reflections. The trip was beyond expectations once we reached Ushuaia.

The crew took very good care of some of the passengers when they were ill, and also did everything in their power to make landings possible every day. I was impressed with the ship, the food, the staff, and the fun people that I met. A wonderful adventure!

I had always wanted to go to Antarctica and visit all seven continents. The most memorable part was the exquisite beauty of the continent, and the trip met and exceeded my expectations. Calmer waters on the Drake Passage (ho, ho!) would be the only thing that could have been better. The trip was one of the best of my life. Many times I had 'thank God' moments with the majesty of the colors and sights. I feel that if Antarctica had an indigenous people, they would have over 40 words for the hues of blue that we saw, like the Inuit people have so many different words for snow.

I think the most exciting thing was watching my 13 year old son do the polar plunge. The trip met all my expectations and beyond! We had a wonderful expedition team and ship. My son is very allergic to all soy and the ship's hotel coordinator was wonderful. She checked with the kitchen and showed me the can of oil they use. I would have liked more information on cameras. Although we took lots of batteries, I had to keep warming them up and did not know the cold would zap them so much.

Everything went like clockwork: The agency you use in Buenos Aires was a pleasure to work with and absolutely reliable and on time. The city tour and all the connections were great. The cruise was also a once in a lifetime experience--exceptional service and we'd happily sail with them again. South Georgia was without doubt the most memorable part of out expedition. The wildlife, scenery, remoteness all combined to make it an unforgettable experience. In fact, the Antarctic itself was somewhat anti-climactic after that. If it were available I would heartily recommend people consider visiting South Georgia in preference to the Antarctic.

The Expedition Staff was phenomenal. The caliber of all of the lecturers/guides was extraordinarily high - both 'on paper' and in their personalities and willing to share with the passengers. It would be hard to pick specific examples.

The Russian crew and catering staff were also wonderful. Despite any language barriers they were invariably friendly and helpful. The seamen, in particular, were very patient - some of the passengers were only marginally able to meet the physical demands of the Zodiacs and the crew virtually lifted them in and out of the boats. And never an exasperated word or look.

Gador Viajes in Buenos Aires provided exemplary service - every transfer was on time, courteous, clean cars. The private tour was wonderful - both the driver and guide went out of their way to provide us with the tour we wanted. Please pass on to them how pleased we were with all their arrangements. Both the NH Hotel Florida and Hotel Reconquista Gardens were great - again the staff were very helpful.

We have wanted to go to the Antarctic ever since we took a trip through the Canadian Arctic and on to Greenland many years ago on a similar Expedition Style ship (Marine Expeditions which is now defunct!)

The fact that the trip was affiliated with National Geographic appealed to me as I knew they knew what they were doing and talking about.  Since I was young, I have always wanted to go to Antarctica, and after surviving breast cancer in 1999, I have started doing things and going places I always wanted to go. The most memorable part was setting foot on the continent for the first time at Brown's Bluff.

Next travel... I will definitely contact you before next. I love expedition travel!

I had heard good things about the shipping company and the Orlova, but this was better than I imagined possible.

The ship was great, the staff was amazing, the food was delicious, the fellow passengers were wonderful, and the excursions were memorable. When I got off of the boat I couldn't think of a single complaint! As a young person it was not easy to afford this trip. But I never once thought about the price during the cruise... I got even more than my money's worth out of this trip! It was worth every penny.

The guides were truly experts in their field. They brought so much enthusiasm to every lecture and every landing. Our expedition leader was energetic and well organized. She was flexible and always kept our interests in mind. The staff was very personable and they would hang out with us in the bar late into the evenings. They were so much fun to be around and I have a tremendous amount of respect for them.

I was inspired to take this trip due to a burning desire to see the continent. I'd already seen every other corner of the globe and Antarctica has always been an intriguing place for me. The most memorable part of the expedition was admiring the continent at sunrise alone on the top deck one morning. It was so peaceful. I couldn't imagine how anything in the world could be more beautiful.

The service was outstanding: From the cabin cleaning people, to the dinner service, to the staff who taught us all kinds of things about Antarctica and helped us get to land as many times as possible--it was awesome!!

I had heard great things about Antarctica and I have a goal of getting to all seven continents! The most memorable part of the trip was the BBQ we had on the deck of the ship Christmas Eve. It was sunny and we were surrounded by the most amazing scenery (mountains, icebergs, water) I have ever seen!! It was beautiful!

An example is that when the geologist was too sea sick to present, our expedition leader stepped in and presented on his expedition to the North Pole, which was one of the best presentations of the trip for me. This trip far exceeded my highest possible expectations. The expedition staff were incredible, the boat was superb and very comfortable, the food was delicious, the weather was perfect, the number and quality of the landings was beyond what I could have imagined and the whole thing was very efficiently organized!

I had three free weeks in December in South America and where else could be more amazing than Antarctica? The whole thing was incredible, but I think my landing at Brown Bluff where I not only got to set foot on the continent of Antarctica, but also got to walk on my very first glacier was the most memorable.

The only thing I would change was the very first day when we went on a tour of the national park. I would have rather spent the day on my own.

The ship's course was altered from time to time to provide the best viewing of ice, landfalls, whales, seals and more. The service crew was courteous, pleasant, efficient and unobtrusive. A nice extra was that one of the naturalists was also a professional photographer who shared some helpful tips on photographing natural scenes. We were inspired by readings on Shackelton's and Scott's explorations, and the trip surpassed our expectations.

Traveling to Antarctica helped us towards completion of our goal of visiting all the continents and appealed to our sense of adventure. We consider it the best value for the money of any trip we have taken. And, our experience with ExpeditionTrips was positive!

The staff, crew, and guides provided a very high level of service, from the cheerful wake-up call every morning, to the informative lectures, and above all, the general level of enthusiasm and expertise of the guides.

We were unusually lucky with the weather we had; weather in Antarctica is highly variable and our experience was probably not typical. So, take warning about weather variability. The crew and guides will do everything in their power to provide the best quality experience of Antarctica possible, but they can't control the weather.

I appreciated their care when I was seasick and the cleanliness of the facilities.

Being a chilly, crusty Englishman, I am not given to effusive hyperbole, but I have not got the words to express how fantastic it was. Irritating though this may be, I have nothing to offer in the way of constructive criticism. Absolutely seamless.

The crew was exceptional. They perfectly trod the line between informality and effortless professionalism. Laurie needs no praise - he is a walking legend. I thought Rob Knight deserves singling out for particular praise - unassumingly diligent, friendly, and exceptionally good at his job, and top bloke to boot. I could not think of a better bunch of people with whom to work and I fully intend to worm my way in over the next couple of years!

It had been a childhood dream to go to Antarctica. In England you are brought to believe in the Scott Mythology and this fueled my desire from an early age. I took the plunge, got a loan from the bank and went for it.

The staff onboard was great! They did everything possible to get the best out of everything. Our days were action packed; the lecturers were very informative and they were always in the mood for chat. Their experience and enthusiasm was truly amazing.

I have always wanted to see and experience Antarctica as well as the other remote places of the earth. I found you on the internet and your very informative website and the fact that I could go on an expedition not a cruise was exactly want I wanted. That was the best part of it being on an expedition.

The captain and crew are astonishingly brilliant, naturalists are extremely knowledgeable and Antarctica brings it all together for an unforgettable experience. If I decide to go into the freezer again, I will strongly consider a repeat visit on the National Geographic Endeavor. I'd love a trip to the pole, maybe even an extension to the Ross Sea, but I have not one complaint and only praises for the entire trip.

I wanted to visit Antarctica before it becomes too touristy with a line of cruise-ships. I chose this trip for the National Geographic name...the fact that they would be extremely knowledgeable, that it was an expedition cruise and no set itinerary, that there was an underwater camera, free kayaks, and a National Geographic photographer on board... I also chose this as opposed to others because of the amount of time actually exploring Antarctica... I was not disappointed.

Ian Bullock is amazing. He has such a broad scope of knowledge that is quite detailed. He can take you on a historical journey, point out every species of bird, explain biology...geology, sing. Excellent trip...I wish though that the lectures that we had could be provided in PowerPoint slides to us after the expedition.

The only thing kind of lame about the entire trip was the Santiago tour. It was more a tour of sitting in traffic. It leaves at a poor hour for the city and really is not that interesting or provides much information or insight for the city.

Usually there was plenty of time to explore and the weather kept passengers like me from wanting too much more time out in the cold. Since there always was a great view from the ship, being on it was not a negative thing. The ship was more luxurious and comfortable than the Endeavor, making the social life good even if I felt very poor among the passengers.

Everyday we were treated to lectures, movies, photos, dinner with the staff, access to all the Naturalists, the food was delicious (especially the bread, and they made so much vanilla ice cream for us everyday--how they kept the food and fruits so fresh is amazing. It was as if we were on a private yacht!

We were inspired to visit Antarctica by our friends who had gone to Antarctica. I wanted to travel with the best, so we chose Expeditiontrips and the National Geographic Endeavor. It was the trip of our lifetime. As Wayne said, "on a scale of 10, this trip was a 15!!!"

Paul Nikken was on board, an added surprise. He had just had his article and photos published in the November National Geographic. What a treat! We saw a leopard seal kill a penguin and some of us got really great shots of such a rare occasion. Sorry for the penguin, he gave his life to the pictures, but Paul was jealous and proud of our photos. The icebergs, the incredible blues of the water and ice, the contrast of the black and white of the penguins, and mountains were all amazing! Then there were our red jackets to brighten up. Our captain, Leif, parked the boat up on the ice so we could get off and walk to an iceberg. What a treat that was! And, then they served hot chocolate with brandy to warm us up before we got back on the boat. The library on the Endeavor was a haven for many of us, lots of reading and snoozing as well as coffee, tea, and hot chocolate were available. And everyone loved the tins of Swedish cookies (don't know how many tins they went through; the favorite cookie seemed to be the little ones shaped like a pretzel)!

Everyone onboard was outstanding--staff, guides, and crew. It was hard to believe we were cruising on a Russian icebreaker with such great service and food. They always seemed to add a little something extra to try to make the experience even better.

I had been to the Antarctic Peninsula 20 years ago and enjoyed that experience so much I wanted to go back and see more of the continent. The highlights for me were the penguins. One day while 'docked' in the ice while visiting the Dry Valleys, dozens of Emperor and Adelie penguins entertained us for hours just by diving into the clear, icy water and then popping back up onto the ice floe--like little kids on a playground of ice. And, at Camp Adare, I was taking pictures at the rookery and noticed that a little Adelie had snuck up on me and was staring up at me from between my feet as if to ask, 'Where is YOUR tuxedo?'

It was a little more difficult than I expected, but that's because of the Antarctic conditions you have to deal with. I don't think much could be done to improve such a journey. You go and do what Antarctica lets you do.

Staff/Guides/Crew: All the safety checks appeared to be thoroughly realized. For example, checking that we had signed in/out for the zodiac landings and making sure that we had not forgotten our life jackets and that they were properly secured (i.e. not back to front, twisted or loose).

We wanted to visit Antarctica to do something different, something new to discover and experience. The wilderness aspect was particularly enticing. The zodiac landings were good fun, allowing you to get up close and personal to the icebergs and the wildlife. In our case, some of our group enjoyed the philandering of a particularly territorial leopard seal!

Prior to our departure, we did stay at the Los Nires Hotel in Ushuaia, which I thought was rather remote from the atmosphere of the area and did not provide particularly nice views to make it worthwhile. And, I thought it rather petty that they charge for Internet access, in this day and age.

I had wanted to do this for several years--this also makes me a seven continent member!

I recently received your Antarctic brochure for the 2006-2007 voyages. I had taken this trip this past February and had planned to write to you upon my return, however, time seemed to have gotten away, but it so surpassed my expectations that I am belatedly sending my comments about this wonderful experience.

This was a very special trip for me for several reasons. First, I had wanted to travel to Antarctica for almost twenty years (I have an article in my travel file dating back to 1988!), but as a teacher, my vacation in the summer was not the time to go to Antarctica, so I put it on hold until I retired. During that time, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, for which I now use a walker. I thought Antarctica would remain a dream and a series of articles in my file. Fortunately, I saw an advertisement for Antarctica in AARP, which caused me to take another look at the possibility of such a trip. That ad was for a huge ship, which, I felt would not be able to get too close to shore, and since I did not think I would be able to go ashore with my limited mobility, I probably would not be able to see very much. Then I discovered Corinthian II. I fully expected to experience Antarctica from the deck, but I felt that was better than not at all, and on this small ship, we would be much closer. So, along with my 82 year old mother who insisted we take this trip for my 60th birthday present, I set out on this journey. What I didn't expect was an expedition leader like John Frick. John went above and beyond, so that I not only was able to cruise around the icebergs in the Zodiac, but was also able to set foot on shore on two occasions! It really was a dream come true.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Explorer II, as you anticipated, and we never ever felt that the ship size restricted the trip in any way. The shore-based zodiac experiences gave plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and wildlife.

The ships' crew were great, the food great [and very fattening], the lecturers extremely good and the Captain, Oliver Kruess, deserves the highest praise--a real professional, very approachable, a sense of humor, a wildlife enthusiast who gave time to everyone and his crew. He took the ship up to pods of killer whales to fin whales and many others. In all, we saw some 9 different types of whales, including several blue and a Southern bottle nosed whale; the best trip the crew could remember! He also took us to the face of a glacier up Drygalski Fjord.

We also want to say another great big thank you to you, Joy, for the surprise present brought to our cabin on the second night, the bottle of Chablis. It was completely out of the blue and greatly appreciated; especially the thought behind it, even more than the contents which were highly enjoyable. We saved it until we hit the Antarctic Peninsula itself and savored it as the sun set after a glorious day. On the last day, we finished our trip with a barbecue at Neko Harbor.

Several factors inspired me to take this trip: A fascination for the polar regions, the animals living in these harsh conditions, seeing 'the last frontier,' visiting my seventh Continent. Most memorable for me were the icebergs, penguins, the colors and light.

The most memorable part of the trip was the Zodiac excursions which took us up close to amazing wildlife and beautiful landscape; particularly the cruise in Paradise Bay. The Zodiac rides really brought the expedition experience down to the human level and helped me connect with the magic of Antarctica!

The expedition staff was extremely knowledgeable in their areas and generally friendly and helpful. While the lectures were informative it would have been more convenient if some of them were repeated. Again, this made the schedule too rigorous and if you weren't willing to go the entire day without private time, you lost out. Also, the lectures were held in the forward lounge which was too small for the size of the group and very uncomfortable. More frequent, smaller lectures would have ameliorated this problem. The staff was not receptive to any suggestions such as these and were very rigid in their plans.

I would suggest a less rigorous dining room schedule. Some people do not want to eat during the narrow windows of time provided. But as there is no other opportunity to eat otherwise, we were forced to line up and eat when food was available. This ended up being very disruptive to my digestive system and dogged me the entire trip.

People onboard the Endeavour were impressed that we had bought our trip over the Internet from an agent in Seattle. But gosh, it was like Joy was our neighbor. We got to be friends!!!

Onboard the ship, the staff, guides and crew were all so professional at what they did. Everything worked so smoothly. Terrific logistics! Terrific knowledge! We saw everything we expected and they went out of their way to show us. Our expectations were HUGE and so was the experience!!!

We are very much impressed by the quality and of course the whole experience is difficult to put into words. The ship was "a real ship," steady and comfortable. The captain, Karl Lampe, is very experienced and a very nice person, who spread his leadership to everyone onboard. He led the ship to all the exciting things for us.

They would alter the itinerary or stop in the middle of a Zodiac excursion for picture taking, etc. and in general allow everyone to have an opportunity to do what they wanted whether it be simple observing, photography, etc. I always like to travel to places that are still pristine and not so affected yet by human contact. The Antarctic is one of these. The timing of this trip coupled with the opportunity to go SCUBA diving were big pluses for choosing this time and this expedition.

The crew was very knowledgeable and helpful and most things were well explained so I had some idea what I might expect. For example, we were informed that the seas might be rough in crossing the Drake Passage so we could be prepared for it if necessary. Fortunately for us we had beautiful weather and only a moderately rough sea on the way back. Knowing in advance that the sea might be rough is important so as not to discover this while you are being tossed about.

I was provided very accurate information by ExpeditionTrips.com, but other passengers stated that I had more information than they did prior to the trip. This is not my complaint but that of others, i.e. the non-uniformity of the information provided to people from the different sources who promote and market the expedition. In my case, I was fully informed and have no personal complaint but I can understand the mild dissatisfaction of others who felt they were not accorded the same information as I was.

Thank you for your very thoughtful and generous gifts ... the bottles of wine, the hats, and especially the DVD of the trip. Wait until you see it. Kevin Freeney did a spectacular job and we were so grateful to have it in our hands when we left the ship. How he completed it so quickly, we'll never understand. Our kids & grandkids have already watched it twice and we're not even home 24 hours! Cannot sing Kevin's praises too highly... a VERY talented young man.

We went with very high expectations for the National Geographic Endeavour and in every case our expectations were exceeded. The Expedition Staff was amazing... so much experience, so much knowledge, and such friendly 'good people' ... they really blew us away with their presentations and their quality time whenever they were with us. We expected 3, maybe 4 good folks and had 14 (lost count?) professionals, each one superb in his or her specialty.

The sites visited were stunning... we thought we'd seen natural beauty when cruising on our own sailboat, but Antarctica and South Georgia just left us speechless. And of course the experience of meeting and greeting the vast quantities of penguins, seals, whales, birds, etc. was something we shall never forget. We truly feel we've communicated with a whole new set of friends just as curious about us as we were about them.

The ship was perfect for our low key style. Again the hotel staff was so friendly, so accommodating -- words fail to describe how welcome we felt. The dining experience was way beyond what we expected from a small ship... it will be very hard not to enjoy 4-star meals any time we want. But our waistlines will be grateful for the change back to normal eating. And the Filipino staff are a very special group of people -- we will always remember their loving serenade for our anniversary celebration together with our six best friends who shared this trip with us.

We could carry on for hours with praises for everyone and everything we did, but I think you get the point. We just had to pass along our gratitude for steering us in the right direction.

Our expedition team was great. Many of them were experiencing South Georgia for the first time as well. Kara Weller, our expedition leader, worked hard every day to give us the best possible experience. To her credit we were able to add many unscheduled landings including Coronation Island in the South Orkney's and Neko Harbour on the Antarctic Peninsula. The knowledge and commitment of the expedition team was inspiring.

Visiting the grave of Ernest Shackleton and having a toast to the 'Boss' put me in touch with the spirit that has caused people from everywhere to journey here. The rest just made the experience all the richer.

Probably the highlight of the trip was the kayaking -- that was simply beyond words. It cannot be described; it really has to be experienced.

In every way, the trip exceeded expectations. I feel I got my money's worth and more. Perhaps it could have been improved by spending 6 days in Antarctica rather than just 4.

The shipping company did a great job, the people were all wonderful, the food was great, the ship was exactly what I was looking for, and even the Drake Passage wasn't as bad as I was expecting. The ship was exactly what I was looking for. I didn't want a typical luxury cruise ship, I wanted a smaller ship more geared toward adventure. The staff exceeded my expectations - they were all wonderful, knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

I think the kayaking was the highlight. It really gave a different perspective. Sitting in the water amongst the icebergs and bergy bits in silence was almost a spiritual experience. Paddling through the brash ice was simply amazing. Another amazing highlight was when we were out in the 10-man Zodiac boats and a Minke whale swam directly at us, so close we could touch her, and then she effortlessly glided under the boat. It was breathtaking. She even playfully nudged one of the other zodiacs a bit.

She stands out with the word 'Quality' in spades. NEVER lose her. She stands out of the crowd.

Most magnificent, impressive, enchanting trip of my life...and far beyond my expectations, and I've lived in 6 countries and traveled most of Europe and know South and Central America well. This was a trip to a different planet. God was with us providing blue skies, gentle oceans and the Drake Passage was a 'piece of cake'. It was beyond my wildest dreams start to finish.

And I cannot think of any way to improve the trip. I continue to be in awe of the quality of Owners, staff, guides, crew (cleaning staff, dining room staff - CHEF, Dining room Hostess) and God knows!!! - the lecturers. Not sure how the company managed to accumulate all this talent, but frankly, I believe they're the world's best!

Your on-board representative was constantly offering her help for her Expedition group. She hosted a most gracious pre-dinner gathering and was there at the call for any assistance she could offer. You should be very proud of her.

My shipmate, old school friend, asked me to think about taking the trip with her. As I'd read so many books about the history, discovery of the pole, etc, I realized I should go.

The staff onboard the ship catered to your every whim, fed us like kings, and tried to do as many things as possible on our journey. Kind, caring, fun, smart, excited, excellent staff all the way around.

Examples:
- I'm a strict vegetarian and was never left out at meal times. Especially prepared foods!!!
- Chocolate on pillows at night
- Sharing clothes and gear when our luggage was lost
- Being told about everything so we wouldn't miss anything
- Taking one last zodiac tour to see whales even though we were all packed up and headed north again (saw a humpback at arms length!!)

The only improvement would be to eliminate all airline travel in Argentina. But, since we can't do that, my suggestion is that you REALLY REALLY prepare travelers for the chaos that is Argentinean airlines. I can't tell you how insane that whole system is. Ugh. Your customers need to know this so they can be ready to leave 4 hours late; stop to refuel on a 3 hour flight; land in a different airport than you are supposed to etc.

This has been a dream of mine since I was 13 years old...and 25 years later it finally came true. Plus I had the added bonus of taking my mom and making some great memories. Would be hard to pick the most memorable moment...there are soooooo many, among them: Setting foot on the continent for the first time; penguins, whales, seals, birds all within arms reach; 'butt sliding' down a hill in ANTARCTICA; Christmas dinner on the bow of the ship enjoying a BBQ; the scenery...sigh. So much to tell.

We travel widely, but have never been south of Ushuaia. Antarctica sounded fascinating and the combination of the Falklands and South Georgia was a bonus. The most memorable was Antarctica--the most inhospitable and most beautiful continent.

The extras ExpeditionTrips.com provided made other passengers (that did not use your service) feel that they were left out on some nice extras. Keep up the good work as I will need to use your service again!

This trip far exceeded my expectations and I would not know how to improve such a great trip. The entire staff, crew, and guides constantly worked to improve the expedition as we went along. If there was time and the weather permitted the staff made every effort to do the most we could. On one day we made five Zodiac landings (including a swim) with one landing at 0500 hrs!

There were so many memorable moments setting foot on the continent on our first landing, having New Years Eve in Paradise Bay Antarctica, and the constant visual wonder that was before me.

That by itself tells a lot about a great company! As the company cares about its employees, so it does about its customers. Your staff did more than anyone could ask for. My many thanks especially to Joy!

The entire journey was a true adventure. The most memorable part was the 'Antarctic Polar Plunge'. I did it twice since the first time a friend was unable to take a picture. I did not want to leave ANYTHING out of this trip. I did participate in everything, at least outdoors, and spent very little time in the nicely kept cabin. And I love the animals. Yes, there are many penguins; however, one can never get to see enough of them. Like little children, we were sliding down one steep high hill on the snow (I did it twice).

The trip EXCEEDED in every aspect my expectations. I had to overcome many true fears: to be for the first time at high sea crossing the notorious Drake Sea waters, and being about 650 miles away from civilization. I quickly overcame every fear, and enjoyed every moment.

How could you improve: Simple, people need to get the message that this is a trip of a life time! Nothing to be afraid of.

One comment I heard from some passengers: They did not like the suggestion for leaving a tip. I did not have a problem with that at all, other than finding it necessary that one must leave an equal amount of tip to both 'classes' of employees. All were part of the entire crew, and in my view it did not make a difference if they were sailors, cooks, maids, or expedition personnel. All contributed to making this trip an unforgettable adventure.

Suggestion: Please INCLUDE the expected tip in the fare. I left $200, and in comparison to the cost of the journey, it was a small amount. The passengers that were skeptical about the tip request made the very same suggestion.

In short: The expedition EXCEEDED my expectations in every aspect. The ENTIRE staff also exceeded my expectations. They service was considerably better than what I had expected, considering that this was an 'ExpeditionTrip'.

The staff was experienced. They showed and exercised concern about safety. They showed care and consideration for every passenger. Nobody was 'rushed' into the Zodiacs. Before any landing, the crew took a Zodiac and checked out if it was safe to land. There was never even a close call to an accident!

Of course, everyone wants to know about the food. Every meal served was excellent, and 'home-cooked'. Food was never the same, and always delicious.

There was never a boring moment. Any free time was filled with excellent lectures about the Antarctica (wildlife, geography, climate changes, etc.).

Note: The ship had a nice bar. There was never any excessive drinking, or passengers getting 'out of control' due to alcohol consumption. It is important to point out to FUTURE passengers that on a journey like this we meet people of interests similar to our own. We have a lot in common among most passengers! That makes it easy to make friends, even for a shy person.

Onboard the ship, the naturalists were very solid, very professional, and well regarded. Overall, everything was in line or exceeded our expectations. The only thing left to chance was the weather, and somehow Mother Nature conjured up a terrific 10 days of calm seas, blue skies, and low wind. We finally saw snow/sleet/rain on the last day to reinforce how lucky we had been during the entire trip!

All of the crew was excellent and highly recommended for their service, especially given the constraints of living aboard a small/midsize ship for that period of time. The endurance and energy level of everyone from John Frick to the people deep in the galley that we (almost) never saw was phenomenal.

Although not an official part of the expedition, we were not as impressed with the lecturers from Yale and Harvard. While we knew going into this that they had a large alumni contingent traveling, there was no way for ExpeditionTrips to foresee that the quality of their lectures would be substandard, especially given their academic credentials.

This trip exceeded our expectations and nothing could have been improved. The ships staff and crew were wonderful and so knowledgeable. We loved all the lectures and we learned so much from everyone. Dr Ingrid Vissir was our favorite. Her enthusiasm about orca whales was contagious. We also loved Dennis Cornejo's commentary while we were watching the splash-cam.

There were lots of special touches that made the trip more memorable. I wanted to set foot on all 7 continents and Antarctica was the last one on my list. I expected it to be awesome, and it was!

The expedition exceeded my expectations. I only wish I had booked a longer voyage. The meals were very well prepared with sufficient variety and the service was good. The expedition staff was brilliant. They never showed signs of boredom and shared lots of information. The high level of professionalism of the hotel staff was pleasing.

The ship was much nicer than we expected and the staff was really helpful, pleasant and VERY knowledgeable.

The staff on the ship was more than helpful. If you had a question which they could not answer off the cuff they looked it up on the Internet and got back to you with the answer ASAP. Really 100% effort all around and an impressive group of experts. They worked so well together as a team and everything ran like clock work. You never felt bored or like you were waiting or that you missed something. It was a very exciting trip and we will never forget it!

Our only suggestion, and it is really a small one, would be to install more hooks in the cabins. The more the better, with all the heavy garb, coats, wet pants etc. Hooks are so handy and surprisingly they had only two in our cabin (Amundsen Suite).

Broadway Suites was just right. Good location, comfortable and affordable. Staff very helpful. The transfer was a really good idea; I'm glad you encouraged me. Alexander was delightful in welcoming us to Buenos Aires and giving us some tips on making the most of our 24 hours there.

We loved the ship/crew/expedition leader (Anna)/passengers and our total Antarctica experience. (My head is still questioning if it was 'real'!) Our 1st crossing of the Drake was pretty calm. The staff and crew were GREAT! Yes-our expectations were met-and exceeded; who could imagine what it would really be like? Thank you for all your help. A 'by the way'--we enjoyed our visit to Iguazu also and it was a good 'decompression' chamber before returning to our regular environment! We saw toucans and monkeys in the wild! Thanks again.

It was educationally strong, offered adventures (sea kayaking, hikes), and took advantage of all the possibilities -- spontaneous extra zodiac cruise to get closer to whales, and there was a Christmas service at the whalers chapel at Gritviken). I am an inveterate traveler and this has always been my dream.

The ship was clean, comfortable, secure and well maintained. The staff and crew were wonderful. They did a great job tending to all of our needs and thereby providing a comfortable stay. And, the naturalists were very knowledgeable and helpful.

It is extremely difficult to pick one favorite part of this trip. I remember thinking that as each experience passed, how would the next adventure surpass it. However, each and every day there was a new adventure than rivaled that of the day before. I did, however, find the sea kayaking exhilarating. The kayaks provided a unique perspective among the icebergs. It was amazing to paddle with the activity of the seals and squealing penguins in the quiet sea, and to listen to the crackle of the ice!

Without reservation, I would recommend this trip to others. They'd have to experience it themselves in order to understand and believe the tales I've told. It really was extraordinary!

They draw on personal experience to give me advice and answer questions. That was much more helpful than any website, brochure, or travel book could ever be. Throughout the course of planning, I had many follow-up questions. Ashton was always very responsive both in terms of the personal, detailed answers they provided as well as the speed with which they responded.

I didn't expect or want a luxury liner. I wanted to feel as though I was on an expedition but without being uncomfortable. In that sense, the ship was perfect. The meals were very good. The staff was always hospitable and helpful. The crew was always friendly but largely stayed out of the way.

The trip exceeded my expectations in the steps taken to protect the environment. This, to me, was the most important. Although I wanted to see Antarctica, I certainly didn't want to leave any lasting effects of my visit. The staff was very clear about what we could and could not do and very vigilant about enforcing these restrictions without ever being overbearing.

I 'bonded' more with the other passengers than I expected. Since there were four days spent sailing, it was great to have an almost immediate group of friends with whom I could spend time. Finally, the sights exceeded my expectations. The scenery was more beautiful, the wildlife more fun to watch, the weather more comfortable than anything I imagined. It was all so unbelievable, so impressive.

Your knowledge and experience in Antarctica makes the sale! David and I both thank you for getting us on this program. We were so impressed with their superb service that we will definitely seek out trips with them in the future.

The ship/crew/service/food met and exceeded expectations. The room was adequate (I wouldn't have wanted anything more), but what was so surprising was the first class service all across the board: from dining room wait staff, to the women how meticulously cleaned our room and bath, to the instantly on call repair fellow (minor plumbing issue) to the guides and nature experts.

I was expecting to see more of the underwater video stuff. David made 8 dives (as I remember) and we saw a teaser of 5-8 minutes one day and a lovely video of 30 min or so on one of our last days. I also would have liked more kayaking: I know it depends on safe local and seas... I had heard that some tours offer the option of being awakened during the 'night' if the crew sighted anything extraordinary. That would've been a nice option.

The nature staff was just great: informative, charming and fun. I was reminded again of how education is wasted on the young! Until this trip I never thought geology was an interesting subject!

Advice: tell your clients that they SHOULD take medication for seasickness as soon as they get on the boat!!! Scopolamine needs to be in everyone's must have travel list.

The ship was more than I expected. It was small and cozy and created a warm atmosphere for all of us on the boat. But, at the same time I could find nooks and crannies to hide away when I needed to be alone. Also, I really felt a part of the voyage since the boat was small and I could feel the engine and sea.

Of course, I got to know the crew and expedition staff very well and always felt at home. The crew saw to our every need and were very efficient and prompt when things went awry, like replacing light bulbs and desks that upended during bad weather. I especially liked the hominess of the dining room where coffee, tea, and snacks were always available. The food was excellent - the cooks did an outstanding job!

I did not realize that the other passengers were so traveled and adventurous -- I learned a lot from them and the expedition staff. I especially enjoyed the lectures from people who had actually been to these wild places.

When the guys came back from the traverse on South Georgia Island (Fortuna Bay) and we could see their lights on the side of the glacier, the captain shone a bright light on the side of the glacier to show them the way down. And the next day we all hiked the last 5 miles to Stromness Bay.

The book, Endurance, by Alfred Lansing was what inspired me to take this trip. To be where Shackleton had been had been a dream of mine and it finally came true. As an aside, I believe I was meant to take this trip.

I thought it would have been the whales or the seals that were most memorable, but it really was just as much all the great people from all over the world.

The ship was big enough to handle some waves but small enough still so we could feel them, make plenty of landings and have a great sense of community. The staff was all very friendly and knowledgeable. It couldn't have been better. It exceeded my expectations in every way and I can't put it into words how so because there aren't any.

I was especially surprised and pleased that you provided me the excellent DVD made of my trip. I certainly will use ExpeditionTrips when I am considering some kind of a small ship trip. You are clearly specialists in this area of travel. I usually select tour companies that are most experienced in the kind of travel I want and/or the places I want to visit.

The Antarctic has always been an intriguing place to me and the recent IMAX movie and the Shackleton stories enhanced that. The trip also has permitted me to say that I have visited all 7 continents! A memorable part of my trip was the very long day, starting with crossing the Antarctic circle early in the morning and sailing in calm seas, glorious sunshine and a near cloudless sky through the magnificent scenery, then docking the ship in Lallemand Fjord next to an ice sheet and walking out on the ice, and, finally, seeing two Emperor penguins at nearly midnight the same day. Really a day to remember!

This trip met and, considering it was the Antarctic with all of its uncertainties, probably exceeded those expectations. The trip leader and all naturalists were experienced experts and had wonderful communication skills. The Antarctic is truly an incredible, once in a lifetime experience and I think this trip presented the best of it. The local sightseeing in Santiago and Ushuaia were pretty minimal because of time limitations, but those were not a very important part of the trip to me, probably because I had been in Santiago and Ushuaia for a longer period just a year ago. The welcome reception and dinner in Santiago were outstanding.

This was my first trip on the Endeavour and it was an absolutely first class operation. The ship's leadership and crew were efficient, friendly, and went out of their way to help passengers in any way they could. The Endeavour is well maintained mechanically, as far as I could tell (there were no mishaps), and in appearance. The ship met all my expectations.

Being able to cross the Antarctic Circle was awesome. I loved how the bridge crew counted down tenths of nautical miles to go, much like the ball dropping on New Year's Eve- then the sound of the ship's horn, and a toast with smiles all around. Amazing being part of such a small segment of humanity to have done that. And, empire penguins, chinstraps and the rest - humpbacks, leopard seals, and albatross. What amazing birds!

The expedition leader was a master storyteller-- I wish I could convey the magic of his evocative description of Shackleton and his men as we stood off of Wilde Point at Elephant Island one misty evening.

But the most outstanding aspect of the trip was the quality of the expedition staff. The principals, the expedition leader, the guest lecturers, the Zodiac drivers, and everyone else were superlative. Where else can you hike with a man who has skied across Antarctica? Or listen to a lecture from a woman who has personally gone down in a submersible to study deep-sea vents? Or share a dedicated naturalist's enthusiasm for an albatross, a king penguin, or a Patagonian skunk?

The most memorable moment: rebounding the ship in 30-knot winds and 10-foot seas at Elsehul Bay. Some of my favorite moments were seeing the thousands of penguins on South Georgia Island, and a Zodiac cruise among the icebergs at Booth Island.

The Adventurer exceeded our expectations. The food was outstanding. The executive chef approached me the first night and volunteered to make me a sugar-free desert each evening--and followed through. The Captain was a real prince- he didn't object to 20 people on the bridge.

Both the ship and the staff were excellent. The naturalist staff was extremely knowledgeable and more than willing to share their knowledge and love of Antarctica. This made the trip a great learning experience as well as enjoyable.

The wait staff could not have been more pleasant. They quickly learned our names and our likes and dislikes. The service was excellent.

The sight from the kayaks of immense icebergs dwarfing our ship was the most memorable part of the trip for me. For my 20 year-old son, it was probably the snowball fight at midnight, or perhaps the song fest with our naturalist playing the piano (also at midnight), or maybe the Penguin races where he played the role of the 'odds man'.

My experience -- planning, getting my questions answered, making arrangements -- was excellent! Planning the trip makes it a success or a bust. Given that, while I have a good amount of time that I can travel, I do not have as much time as I would like to plan things. Having a pro help solved that problem.

The trip was marvelous! I have traveled to all of central Europe, China, India, Russia (a few times), United Kingdom, South Africa, and a few other places, but this trip was, by far, the most exciting, unique, and delightful experience. Barring the expense, I would go again and again. (I probably will go at least once more before old age sets in!). Rating my travels on a scale of one to ten, this was a ten! Which is a first for me!

The staff and crew were absolutely marvelous! They never failed to be organized above and beyond my expectations. They were patient with questions, and other less-than-fun habits that passengers might do. They were friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. They had a great way of watching out for our safety without it being too imposing. They never missed an opportunity to point out something of interest. They had a great sense of humor. The information on land was good (before we sailed, and upon return for transfers and such), but not with the same style of organization and helpfulness that I experienced on the ship.

The trip truly exceeded my expectations! And I have some pretty high expectations! We did twelve landings! We exceeded the time I expected to be on land. The food was marvelous! The ship was clean. Everyone on staff was most conscientious about cleanliness and service.

I reviewed many trip logs and webs sites that travelers put up on the web, and the ones that seemed to be most exciting, the recommended vendor, was overwhelmingly ExpeditionTrips.com and Quark. I love to travel. I am not foolish, I value my health and well-being, and I do not do things that some would call 'adventure travel' but this trip appeared to be geared toward safety, and giving the passengers the full experience without too much risk. It appeared organized because of the breadth and depth of coverage of the materials that I reviewed.

Setting foot on the continent was most exciting! Seeing my first penguin or my first five thousand penguins-the last five thousand was just as exciting. The opportunity to go off from the group and sit quietly (although within site of the others) was marvelous. One penguin sneaked up on me and pecked the back of my jacket. Another time, one stood pecking at my boot! I think that one would have actually got up in my lap if two other passengers hadnt come over to that spot!

Booth Island icebergs and Deception Island climb were unforgettable. You were right about the program, the lecturers and the expedition staff- the expedition leader was a particular highlight. The whole staff and crew were exceptionally thoughtful and helpful. We are very happy we made the trip.

My every expectation was exceeded, beginning with your absolute desire to make this trip a truly memorable and personalized experience for me. What struck me as extraordinary was that, without exception, every single one of 'Ashton's Antarctic Adventurers' (as we began calling ourselves) on board the ship, had nothing but praise and considerable appreciation for your superb all-round professionalism and fantastic service in planning, executing, delivering and following up on the trip. Antarctica is a land which inspires superlatives, but no words can really do justice to what, in essence, has been an amazing realization of a lifetime's dream and for this I owe you many, many thanks.

The captain deserved the standing ovation he received from us all at the end of the trip and the expedition staff was exceptionally led by Tom Ritchie - his staff was knowledgeable, gifted, enthusiastic, committed, approachable and great fun! We marveled and gasped with them at the awesome natural and wildlife wonders we encountered along the way. On many occasions we laughed and sang with the staff too.

The trip was truly spectacular! I could use every superlative in the book and it still wouldn't suffice! All in all, it was an expedition never to be forgotten. The expedition staff and crew also felt it was a special trip. We were incredibly lucky with the weather (it rained just one day in the Falklands), otherwise we had bright, sunny, crisp days...every day!! We did experience a katabatic wind for a short time, but it added to the experience! We couldn't get onto the east side of the Antarctic Peninsula because it was still iced in, so we used the time to venture south and crossed the Antarctic Circle instead. And right there, on an ice floe, we spotted a lone Emperor Penguin beckoning us into his icy world.

We gasped collectively at the awesome majesty of the icebergs; the sheer immenseness of the nesting albatross colonies and penguin rookeries was overwhelming; the dolphins came out to play and several species of whales appeared and lingered as if to remind us of the true inhabitants of the oceans. Nature abounded everywhere around us and the enthusiasm and expertise of our very gifted expedition leader and his talented naturalist staff inspired us to spend every waking moment immersing ourselves in the Antarctic experience. And when we slept, the experience continued in our dreams...

It was all so fantastic! I loved kayaking Yankee Harbor and Paradise Bay. The Tabular Icebergs took my breath away and the penguins were so much fun to observe. The underwater filming brought another amazing perspective to the experience. I think I will recall and re-live a different piece of the adventure every day for many, many weeks to come!

Each day brought with it wonderful surprises and novel experiences, all contributing to Pandora's box of unique memories. Ice fever or the polar bug - whatever they call it, I've got it! I can't wait to go back to Antarctica again. However, given that this was as perfect a trip in every respect as could possibly be imagined, it will be very difficult to match, let alone top this experience.

and the many opportunities we had to explore the wildlife, yet preserve the land. I just wish that the staff didn't let us wander as freely as they did because some passengers overstepped their boundaries and in turn could have affected the natural habitats. There were so many memorable moments... the people were just amazing. The Zodiac cruises were just great. We were lucky enough to see a leopard seal very close up in the water as well as a minke whale.

For those who make the Antarctic their first big adventure, they are in for the trip of a lifetime. I don't believe anything else can really match this.

Travel on the ship was super. Unlike the large luxury cruise liners, who have fortifications barring entrance to just about everywhere of interest, on the Orlova you could access the bridge, the very bow of the boat (a bit like the Titanic, but with the knowledge of a happy ending in this case), and as such, you were able to get at least a little feel of what it is like to sail in these waters. With regard to the service, nothing asked for was neglected, the dining room staff were exemplary, and the were rooms maintained well (even with the nicety of the night time chocolate). Full marks to all the Russian and Quark employed staff.

When traveling to parts of the world where the outcomes can be a bit 'iffy', such as when the weather can be cantankerous and unpredictable, one does not set the expectation level too high. However, on this trip, mother nature provided us with her best (in terms of rough seas and magnificent sunshine). To have both ends of the spectrum actually made the trip more exciting, with something to boast about. The weather in the Lemaire Channel was perfect. The reflections of the mountains, snow and icebergs in the water made this a scene to rival any other wonder of the world. It surpasses Niagara or the Grand Canyon. Actually swimming in Anatarctic waters also has to rate as one of the highlights.

However, with regards to what you hope the trip to be, nothing can match the actual events that took place. You hear of penguins, icebergs, glaciers and stunning scenery, but in reality, what you get is a 12 out of 10 experience when even an 8 or 9 would be just fantastic.

Others on our trip were amazed to learn of the great service we had gotten from 'our' travel agency.

We wanted to visit Antarctica because of the feeling it is so fragile and changing, and we wanted to see as much of it as possible as soon as we could...before it's irreparably changed. As wonderful as I imagined it might be, it was still better. A spectacular trip! The scenery and animals were amazing! And the staff added so much to the experience-- they knew where to look, what to show us and what to anticipate.

The Endeavour was excellent. Incredibly well-kept and immaculate, even the handrails disinfected three times a day for cold/flu prevention. The rooms have a great deal of storage space, beds are comfortable, bathrooms are well-designed and the ship is remarkably stable. The ship staff and crew were superb: eager to help, knowledgeable, available.

I can't imagine how it could have been improved, except to make it even longer...I wanted so much to stay!

We loved being in Antarctica for New Year's Eve with the incredible sunlight at almost midnight reflecting off the surface of the glaciers and the icebergs. What a way to start a year...on the seventh continent, the last pristine place on earth.

The trip exceeded my expectations from the quality of naturalists to the service and courtesy of the crew to the atmosphere of the boat to the fine dining experience. My only concern was with the 'local' part of the program- the local tour representatives seem confused at times and the quality of the local tours was not the best. But everything associated with the expedition was top-notch.

The staff were all experts in their fields and very well informed about all aspects of the trip. I didn't miss one presentation and they were all excellent. The cruise director deserved special kudos. The food was excellent--better than on most large cruise ships on which I've traveled--and the staff and crew were excellent. I was fortunate that I had only one roommate in a triple cabin. Three in a small cabin would have been very crowded.

Most memorable was the pristine scenery and close experiences with the wildlife. The passengers consisted of people from 13 different countries, which was an experience in itself. I was also pleased and amazed with the number of young people traveling. I am accustomed to traveling with many seniors--this was a very enjoyable change!

The trip was fantastic!! Seeing minke whales swim directly under our Zodiac several times was a definite highlight. The staff is what made the trip truly exceptional. They provided a great personal touch by having a story of some kind to go along with everything that we saw. [The staff's] expertise was incredible. They also had great personalities and made the lectures and excursions lots of fun. You can really tell that they LOVE what they do. The additional facts and tidbits of information they provided really made the trip more interesting.

At first, I thought the ship was a little small, but then I realized that it enabled me to get to know my fellow passengers and expedition crew easier. In addition, it made the trip more like an 'expedition', than a 'cruise'.

Very fun trip: the staff was very friendly and helpful, and the crew was great and provided excellent service.

Also nice: the fact that we did not have bad weather or too rough of seas and the other passengers were very friendly. A talent night was organized, which brought the passengers together and closer. The food was unbelievably fabulous. The ship was great; the food exceeded my expectations, and the cabins had plenty of storage.

The most memorable parts of the trip were: the people, seeing an iceberg for the first time, seeing whales, drinking vodka shots at Verndasky (the Ukrainian research station).

Also, the destinations of this particular trip were most enticing. There is no one special moment in a trip of this kind. There is only the cumulative wonder. As a photographer working in black and white the moment comes with a sense of beginning to see.

The ship was as presented, and provided no raised eyebrows. The ship, however, reflects its staff, and the word here is exemplary. The staff was responsive without being intrusive. The small things were the most important. (i.e. the coffee urn was always full!), and the operational crew was unstinting in their hospitality and willingness to welcome us into their domain.

The cruise lived up to its brochure description giving the passenger a greater opportunity to pursue their adventure.

I had never been on a cruise before but I could not imagine a friendlier, more eager to please, better trained, more immaculately attired or more knowledgeable crew. The ship was well appointed, clean and well maintained. The Endeavour had ample zodiacs, lifeboats, kayaks, evacuation drills, well marked exits and a highly experienced crew. I felt safe at all times!

The trip met our expectations 1000% and then some. We were certainly blessed with good weather which made for a lot more comfort, cheer and certainly more interesting photos. The naturalists were not only knowledgeable but available and eager to impart that knowledge whenever asked. The on-ship presentations on the flora and fauna of the regions were very edifying. We were fortunate to have two world-class photographers on board which made the photography that much more intriguing. The diving videos and demonstration of the equipment and remove vehicle were excellent and the informational announcements over the intercom were well done and timely. Having the library and gym gave the early birds a place to read and exercise.

The landings were wonderful-- quite like walking the savanna in Africa-- as was the kayaking. It would have been nice if killer whales and emperor penguins would have made themselves available for photo shoots-- I'm kidding! Actually I feel like I am part penguin, elephant seal or a combination of both. I can't think of anything that would have made the trip better. It was OUTSTANDING!

We had 7 expedition staff, all well educated and experienced in their fields and with many previous expeditions. One was a wildlife photographer and videographer and had filmed programs for Nature, another had done cross-country skiing across trips of hundreds of miles in the arctic while others were noted naturalists and geologists. All were what I would consider world-class adventurers. Our group included Americans, Australians, British, Canadians, South Africans, and a charming man from Ireland.

We flew from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southern-most city in the world, which is nestled in a valley of the Andes Mountains. Just flying in there is an experience of its own. Upon arriving, we immediately hit a snowstorm that left the mountains with a fresh coat of snow. It was like a fairyland.

We arrived in the Falkland Islands, where we made several zodiac landings into beaches covered with tussock grass mounds, seals, and colonies of little rock-hopper penguins. There are some strict guidelines you must follow on these trips, to be sure you do not disturb the wildlife or pollute the pristine environment. We made 2-4 zodiac landings per day, and each time we returned to the ship, we went through a line where our boots were washed and disinfected by a crew member. And naturally, we had to follow orders on where we could walk and how close we could come to the animals -- we were told to stay 15 feet away, but if the animals approached us closer, that was ok. There were no souvenirs taken, and every effort was made to protect the environment, with only 100 passengers permitted on a given landing.

A highlight was South Georgia Island, reported to have more wildlife than any place on earth. I had thought Kenya had a lot, but it did not compare with South Georgia. The landing sites were stacked so thick with seals that it was difficult to make your way through them to get to the gentoo penguin rookeries. The large elephant seal beach masters are up to 20 feet long, and weigh 4 tons. Fortunately, they are not aggressive and totally unafraid of humans-- we could walk right up to them, and I took some fabulous photos. However, there were also fur seals mixed in, and they would come after you if you came too close -- several chased me, but I fought them off. The nesting penguins were in the many thousands, and were along the beaches and surrounding mountains as far as the eye could see. They were quite friendly and would come right up to us if we sat still. We also visited an area of nesting wandering albatrosses, the largest winged bird, with a wingspan up to 12 feet. Another favorite were the beautiful and friendly king penguins by the thousands, about 3 feet tall with a flaming yellow patch on their head and chest. My photos from this island are magnificent.

We traveled for a day and a half through some very heavy ice fields, until we arrived at Deception Island in the Shetland Islands, just off the coast of the Antarctic peninsula. We sailed through a narrow passage into the deep crater of a volcano. There we dug a large piin the sand which then filled with warm water, and I don't know the percentage of seal and penguin guano dissolved in the sand, but several of the crazy ones (including yours truly) shed our heavy clothes and jumped in. After a few pictures we jumped into the icy water of the bay. The whole experience took your breath away, but it was worth it!

Included in our many landings were visits to old abandoned whaling and sealing stations. These operations almost wiped out the entire population of wildlife for the oil, including whales, seals and penguins. Fortunately, treaties have been signed since, and all of this is only a sad memory of man's lack of respect for nature. Most of the old tanks and cookers remain, rusting away.

We finally were able to make a difficult landing on the Antarctic continent, thanks to the efforts of the captain and the zodiac drivers. The surf was extremely heavy and our only possible landing site-packed with icebergs. We only stayed on shore for a couple minutes, but a number of the passengers took the trip so they could say they had stood on the Antarctic continent. We spent the next two days crossing the infamous Drake Passage, around Cape Horn, back to Ushuaia. This passage is known to be the roughest 600 mile crossing in all the world, and it lived up to its reputation. Our small ship seemed even smaller in this sea. We were able to visit with the crew at any time on the bridge, which was really interesting, and something you cannot do on larger ships.

I feel I have been truly privileged and blessed to go to the Antarctic.

The meals were freshly prepared and nicely presented. And, the Russian crewmembers and wait staff all aimed to please. We were very satisfied with the service onboard. I took over 800 pictures and some film clips on my digital camera. Again, thanks a lot for all your help!

Thanks to your arrangements, we had no problems at all in Chile. TravelArt did an excellent job in getting all the necessary vouchers to us and we enjoyed meeting all our English-speaking guides. We had some rainy days in Purto Varas, but enough sunny days to enjoy hiking, bike riding and rafting.

The ship probably exceeded our expectations. The food was very good. The staff was very knowledgeable and helpful. It was wonderful to be able to go to the bridge at any time.

We wanted to let you know that every single day of the trip got better! How did that happen? Even the gale on the open seas was worth the experience (and the seasickness pills). Actually, we had exceptionally good weather for most of the trip; we even crossed Cape Horn in sunshine! Whales, penguins, seals, icebergs, seabirds, glaciers... The sheer numbers of animals, the generosity of nature when allowed; the spectacular desolation, the ice, the sky, the clouds, the colors.... We loved it all!

Regarding the ship in particular: We were happy with the size, service, and were pleased with the warmth of the crew and staff. The room was kept clean, the food was great, the service was personable -- we were expecting the distance you get in hotels. We felt included. We felt more like guests rather than customers.

Some of our favorite moments: A cow and calf humpback whale playing and breaching off the port bow; An Adelie chick so intent on running after it's parent that it bounced off my knee and just kept going; The iceberg graveyard disappearing into the distance looking like a Martian City; The sun bouncing off of a pristine glacier; The sound of thunder at a calving; The noise a quarter million penguins can make; Beating the ship's doctor in a game of killer scrabble; Not being seasick!

Also, wanted to let you know that the side trip to Bariloche worked out very well! It's well catered to tourists, even English-speaking-only ones. The hotel was excellent (great 'continental' breakfast) and great location. The parks were easily accessed by the public bus system, so we had lots of freedom at a low cost. The scenery was great, and the weather was great! The CONDORS were little black dots on photos, but were great in person. The wildflowers were in bloom as we rode through them on horseback! The chocolate was too readily accessible and the food was fantastic! We will send you some photos, but we can recommend it highly to anyone who wants to try it. It sure beats having spent the extra time in Buenos Aires (which was OK but was a big city - with all its usual big city contradictions). We did go to a fun tango show as a complementary offering from the tour company when they forgot to pick us up at the airport on our first arrival at Buenos Aires (worked out fine, and they were otherwise excellent).

This trip was way beyond anything we had imagined. We were especially impressed with the smoothness of the logistics as well as the enthusiasm of the staff to make changes as opportunities arose to please us.

You can feel free to put us on the list of satisfied (grinning) customers for references to future travelers. If you ever come through Miami (a layover at the airport perhaps), please contact us! We'd love to meet you and put a face with the voice! Ta, ta for now!

As you know, words and pictures cannot truly describe the sights and wonders we were fortunate enough to experience.

We made 16 landings - 3 on the continent itself and on 'Graham Land' no less! There was even another 'Graham' couple onboard - so we had a lot of laughs on that one! We even ventured and made a landing below the Antarctic Circle -- something that is rarely accomplished! We literally saw over a million penguins, having visited 2 major penguin rookeries with 1/2 million penguins at each (Deception and Paulet Islands). Yes, we swam at Deception Island, too. Whales, mountains, icebergs - lots of 'Nice Ice'!

The Endeavours crew and naturalist staff were top-notch and not enough good things can be said about our expedition leader, Tom Ritchie! There were 4 other kids on the ship and our youngest, Tanya, made a new best friend. The kids had a blast and learned so much. Heidi (my 13 year old) wrote the Lindblad web page one day with naturalist Art Cooley (it is the #2 Web page hit this season). We had great weather that made the Drakes crossing fast and easy which allowed us the additional landings and other sightseeing. Our cabins were perfect, too. And, picking up our parkas on board was also a smart idea. We got perfect fits and were saved lugging them around -- they are great coats.

Thanks also for the welcome aboard note and Christmas card (which I just got today -- mail is slow here). Take Care, good luck, & thanks again for everything!

Again, many thanks for your help in planning and arranging such a terrific trip. And as I'm sure Gerry mentioned, we loved Antarctica, as well as South Georgia Island and the Falklands. The boat was comfortable (great food!), the expedition guides were very knowledgeable, and of course the wildlife was amazing and the scenery magnificent!

I'm glad we also decided to go to Iguazu: the falls were truly spectacular. We also enjoyed Buenos Aires and were glad to have the extra few days in a warm climate. The people who did the transfers in there were great -- not only were they prompt and efficient, but they were interesting, friendly and generally helpful in all kinds of ways. It was truly the trip of a lifetime!

The Antarctic trip more than lived up to my expectations. Aside from the fact that the places we visited (the Falklands, South Georgia, Antarctic peninsula) are all fascinating and breathtakingly beautiful, the lectures by the expedition staff added immeasurably to our knowledge of the wildlife, the geology and the history of each place. It was also fun to be on a trip with people from so many different countries -- we enjoyed the opportunity to make the acquaintance of folks from England, France, Brazil, Israel and Australia as well as people from all over the United States. I can't think of anything that would have made the trip any better than it was.

The ship definitely met our expectations. Although it was not luxurious, it was very comfortable and the food was extremely good. The 'hotel' staff (the waitresses, the people who cleaned and made up the rooms, etc.) was efficient and unfailingly courteous. The ship's crew was also really nice; I only wished I could speak Russian so that I could have communicated more with them. The Captain and the officers on the bridge were great and never complained when we crowded up there to become 'backseat sailors' when seas were rough or when we were navigating narrow channels, etc. The expedition staff was wonderful: knowledgeable, informative, interesting, helpful, fun and amazingly patient with us. The only complaint I have is that the area that was used for the lectures was designed as a lounge/bar/dance hall and the seating.

The most memorable part was probably the time that we had made a Zodiac landing in good weather, but had to return quickly to the ship when the weather changed very suddenly. The trip back in the Zodiac was very hair-raising, as the seas had become extremely rough. What should have been a 12-minute ride took 35 minutes. Thanks to the skill of the Zodiac drivers, we made it, but it was a bit more adventurous than I had wished for! My favorite part of the trip (hard to choose, there are so many highlights) was our hour-long Zodiac cruise in a channel filled with icebergs, all sculpted by the wind and the water into weird and exquisite shapes. It was really like being on another planet.

My husband and I have long shared an interest in Antarctica because of what we'd read, videos we'd seen, etc. about the wildlife and the scenery. In addition, I had been intrigued by the Shackleton story, since I read his book about twenty years ago. I don't think it occurred to us until relatively recently that it was possible to visit Antarctica as tourists, but once we realized that tours are available, we decided that it was a trip we'd want to make.

I would most definitely recommend this trip to others, although I think one has to be both somewhat adventuresome and in at least decent physical shape to get the most enjoyment from it.

At any time that we should find ourselves able to plan a similar kind of trip, I would certainly contact ExpeditionTrips.com as my first choice!

I would certainly recommend this trip to others and have already, if fact, even if they are not interested in going. There were people on my trip who went because their spouses went and they ended up really enjoying themselves! The ship was excellent and just the right size.

This trip exceeded whatever expectations I had and I cannot think of a way to have improved it. The following are my favorites from the trip: Penguins, Zodiac rides, sitting on the warm and comfortable bridge, lectures, the people, Happy Hour and peanuts, and everything else about this trip. The most memorable part was the peace and quiet and harmony that exists in this glorious, unique part of our planet.

As there were only 44 passengers and I was in the 'shared' facilities area, this was great as we had 6 bathrooms and 4 showers and never had to wait. On cold days, of which there were few, the sight of the warm Prof. M. waiting was wonderful. It was very clean and well run. The crew was fine; being allowed on the bridge at any time was a perk, and the Captain was very friendly.

I met a man on a flight years ago who was going to Antarctica for the eighth time. He had traveled a lot, but he took one trip to the 7th continent and was hooked. After that, he never went anywhere else! I figured there must be something to his obsession and now I understand!

The trip itself was perfect, but to have excellent weather and such good traveling companions was the frosting on the iceberg! Thanks, again, for all your help!

We were blessed with zero winds (yes zero) sunny skies and mild temps the entire time that we were on the Peninsula. Indeed, it got up to 50F at Port Lockney. The crossing of The Drake likewise was fairly benign. We did have about a day and half of rough seas on the way from the Falklands to South Georgia, catabolic winds which caused the cancellation of our first stop in South Georgia, and lots of wind in Patagonia, but that was all. The guides were all great!

Having returned from a similar trip on the Hanseatic that was outstanding just two years earlier, I never thought that the Endeavour trip would come close; however, this expedition far surpassed my first encounter with penguins, whales, land and sea birds and icebergs - the Endeavour blew the other one away!

The staff was exceptionally knowledgeable and their passion for the region and the wildlife was contagious. The spirit of adventure lives! I will be in touch with you as future trips are planned. Can't wait to get going again (once my laundry is done!). Thanks again for all you did to make this wonderful experience a reality. I am glad I did not wait!

I would definitely book future trips with ExpeditionTrips. Everything was arranged for me and went in order according to plan. The only thing I had to worry about was making sure the funds and myself were in the right spot-- all the other worrying was left up to my Program Manager who did a magnificent job orchestrating everything, from the trip, to the flight, to the transfer, to getting me all the information I needed. It was a very pleasurable experience, and was so nice to be able to call and actually get a hold of her so easily without the hassle you can get with some agents.

The trip in general went beyond my expectations. We got to see and do so much, from taking a polar plunge to visiting 160,000 pairs of nesting Chinstrap Penguins, to having the penguins walk up to less than a foot away from you. This was a life-alternating experience; one full of adventure, excitement, education, friendship, and above all appreciation. Antarctica was made so much more memorable by the quality of the staff, the information gained in lectures, on deck and sitting at the dinner table with the staff, to just being out and experiencing Antarctica and realizing just how small we really are. This trip truly made my perspective change on life!

The ship met and surpassed my expectations -- I was expecting a small ship with limited commodities. Though, in outward appearance it seemed small, it was in fact quite large once you got up close and had a look around. There are lots of decks for observing wildlife or just getting a breath of fresh air. Plus, it had many commodities I wasn't expecting -- a TV/VCR for viewing provided movies/documentaries by the company, as well as for viewing our own recordings, adjustable air vents in our rooms, nice clean showers, a library full of fun reading and Antarctica guides.

The staff and crew went beyond what I expected. The Expedition Leader, Jonas, was truly amazing in regard to his knowledge, approachability and desire for us to get a true perspective on Antarctica. He safely took us through 17 landings and quite a few zodiac rides (some unscheduled as we headed back to the ship just so that we could have a greater appreciation for how big and impressive the icebergs were). Safety was another factor that Jonas had a huge role in. He made sure that we had plenty of landings, but made certain that they were safe as well. Also, even from afar, he watched where people wandered making sure that they did not put themselves, or the wildlife in any risk.

Trevor, a naturalist, who led us on many vigorous hikes up glaciers and mountains, was also full of energy and information. He had retraced Shackleton's journey in the James Caird and knew so much about Shackleton's history, it was incredible -- almost like a walking book, though much more entertaining! I was truly impressed with the stories he was able to tell of his many journeys to Antarctica and his way of telling them. He was also very cautious on the hikes he took us on, making sure that the ground was always solid and taking care not to disturb any nesting birds.

The Russian crew was very incredible -- they were very friendly and polite towards us, helped to figure out our route, and took us on amazing zodiac rides. They got us up close to many seals and icebergs, which gave us yet another perspective on the grandness of this continent. The wait staff was incredible, and the hotel manager made sure that the catering staff put nothing but the appropriate dietary dishes in front of those with limitations. Not to mention that they knew our likes and dislikes right away, so if you had a preference for a specific drink, it was brought to you pretty much on eye contact alone. It truly was wonderful to have such an attentive staff watching over us, making sure that our trip was the very best that it could be.

A couple stories
One adventure included venturing out by Zodiac to the nesting site of more that 160,000 pairs of nesting chinstraps. I want to call it a Penguin Metropolis -- it pretty much functioned as a little city where the Chinstraps formed two lines: one coming in from the water and one going out to the ocean. So much more organized than other rookeries! This was where many of us got our first contact with penguins they came within a foot to us, and some of the lucky few got a few pecks on the shoe, jacket, camera or gloved hand. That in itself was truly incredible! But, if that wasn't enough to knock your socks off, you could keep passing the curves in the mountains and would find many more penguins, even when we got to the very last place we could safely walk without disturbing the nesting penguins, there were still many penguins as far as the eye could see -- it was just phenomenal!

Another adventure, on a somewhat different note, was sliding down a gigantic glacier without a board or sled. It was so rejuvenating and energizing after the hike up the mountain. I don't think I've heard so many laughs, giggles and hilarious comments, not to mention people mentioning it felt like they were ten again. It was just amazing coming down the hill overlooking the reflection of the glacier in the water, with the snow flying up above you as you whizzed down the hill.

I would definitely recommend this trip whether you're 10 or 80, it doesn't matter because you set your own pace and are free to do as you like. Also, whether youre interested in just photography or having a one on one interaction with a penguin, it is truly amazing the different shots you can get and how close the wildlife ventures toward you. Also, it doesn't matter if you like landscapes or animals, there is enough of both to truly make a great impression on you. It is a spectacular place, and I believe that no matter what your interests, there is a plethora of things out there waiting for you to discover.

It was, of course, a stupendous trip! We were lucky and had five sunny days, at the right time, and a smooth Drake Passage. No words or photos can adequately describe that stunning and serene place. And we had such FUN, which was an unexpected bonus. I feel so privileged to have been able to go there. I will go back some day...

The staff delivered interesting programs, great landing sites, (excellent weather, although we understand that is not usual), and a fun time for all ages. Our family of four shared a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime experience, seeing icebergs, seals, seabirds, whales, and penguins in huge numbers in an unspoiled environment.

From visiting penguin rookeries with hundreds of thousands of penguins, to cruising in Zodiacs around hundreds of icebergs, to enjoying an outdoor barbecue floating in Paradise Harbor, to visiting scientific bases of several countries...it combined into an unforgettable experience.

The Orlova seemed unusually comfortable compared to some of the other small Antarctic vessels (icebreakers) available; it reportedly rolled much less in the heavy seas. While not luxurious at all, it certainly met our needs. The Russian crew (sailors, waitresses, and chambermaids) and the European hotel staff (chefs, managers) provided a level of service far beyond what we'd expect on an expedition. The food was excellent, for example. All the staff was super-friendly and accommodating, especially to our sons (ages 14 and 17).

The expedition ship staff was excellent. They focused on the most important things first: safety of the passengers and preservation of the Antarctic environment. They brought enthusiasm, expertise, and energy to the experience, and enriched us all.

Not all kids would enjoy the trip. It's mostly adults, and there aren't many 'kid'-specific activities (except for 'bum-sliding' down snow-slopes, which all ages enjoyed). Our 14- and 17-year-old sons both enjoyed it, although the other 14-year-old on the trip did not seem to. Seasickness in the Drake Passage was a definite impediment to many people's experience, but that was confined to the first two and last two days. If kids are at all interested in nature, outdoor recreation, or polar history/science, they'll like this trip. There is no 'children's menu.'

We flew the unofficial flag of Antarctica (designed by a Briton in 1996) over the White Continent for the first time, and presented it to commanders at Ukranian, Brazilian and British bases, as well as to the ship itself. That will be the subject of our lecture at the next international congress of flag studies in Stockholm in July 2003.

Our 14-year-old summarized the attraction to some of our fellow passengers: 'bragging rights'--many were 'bagging their 7th continent'. One need not be tremendously agile or active to participate in everything offered. The staff does a wonderful job of educating, orienting, and guiding the passengers. And the small size of the vessel--we had 92 passengers--means that we got to know each other quite well (there is an extensive e-mail correspondence going on now among us). The wildlife and vistas were incredible; I highly recommend a digital camera and a lot of storage capacity.

Ten short days of enjoyment, certainly unforgettable memories even for those who had some eating difficulties on the Drake crossing! 

Thanks, again, for getting everything organized in such a short time and all our best wishes for a very happy 2002. We safely arrived home 2 days ago after finishing our Antarctica Trip with visiting Buenos Aires and Paraguay...needless to say it was nothing exceptional like our cruise on the Professor Mulchanov... we actually missed the ship, all the beautiful scenery... icebergs, pristine waters, wildlife etc.... I loved the packed ice and I fell in love with the penguins... they were the best!!

We miss very much the people on board. We had a very international and fun group and many young people, which we didn't expect; so, that was refreshing. We made wonderful friends and we felt like a family. The boat was very relaxed and comfortable and made us feel very much at home. The Russian staff and others were very pleasant and efficient, and the food on board was very good. The 2 Swedish Chefs really worked hard to make the meals pleasing to the eyes. The lecturers, Kirsten Lemar and Barrie McKelvey, were in a league of their own -- excellent. And, last but not least, our expedition leader, Stewart Campbell. We felt very blessed having him as our leader. He was absolutely adorable, enthusiastic, experienced, very relaxed, unassuming, and everything went very smoothly from beginning to end. He made the adventure exceptionally enjoyable!!!

We will certainly recommend you and the expedition! Thanks also for the lovely hand-made welcome home card - a nice surprise and it will be added to our Antarctica Adventure Booklet... as a grand finale!! Best of everything for 2002. We are dreaming of our next adventure to Antarctica... but when?? Eric was thrilled to have celebrated his 50th birthday over there and was even more delighted to have seen Philos, the sailboat that he had originally wanted to sail on. But, for me, thank God it was Molchanov!!! The only down side of the trip was, of course, the famous Drake Passage!! Just to haunt us they showed ENDURANCE on the plane trip Buenos Aires to Gatwick. I watched it 3 times - incredible, this Schackleton... a must see!!