Iceland Cruise

This was a once in a lifetime experience. Absolutely a 10! We really experienced Antarctica fully, from wildlife to kayaking to icebergs and glaciers calving to walking on ice. The staff were outstanding - so informed, educated and eager to share their experiences and knowledge. I have been on lots of trips, and these naturalists were the best educated and most well spoken I've ever come across - anywhere. And the most eager to share their knowledge. And they were personable and friendly to boot!

We would absolutely recommend this adventure to anyone. The most memorable parts were wildlife, polar bears, glaciers, icebergs, hikes, kayaking and so many other adventures. The landscape is stunning. The service was exceptional. We thoroughly enjoyed the presentations and clinics.

Prompt responses from Marybeth and thorough details provided by the whole ExpeditionTrips team. Excellent service from top to bottom. Seeing the geography and the stark contrast from the world we know, and learning more about how and why what happens here affects the rest of the globe was fascinating.

Spectacular scenery. Enthralling wildlife. Terrific naturalists, photographers, officers, and crew. Wonderful accommodations and food. The trip of a lifetime -- it fulfilled all bucket-list expectations! The ExpeditionTrips staff was very knowledgeable, extremely helpful when last-minute changes were necessary, and always available to answer questions or provide advice.

The most memorable parts of my trip were seeing glaciers, icebergs, penguins, and kayaking. Service from the staff and guides was very good. My experience with my Expedition Specialist and Travel Coordinator was excellent.

Being able to set foot on this remote continent was incredible, and I very much enjoyed the attentive and knowledgeable cast and crew. The naturalists' presentations were informative, entertaining, and a great addition to an already wonderful adventure. I genuinely cannot imagine better service than I received from the staff and naturalists. They were friendly, accommodating, knowledgeable, and fun.

The wildlife was extraordinary! The expeditionary nature of the trip was something that we appreciated. The captain and expedition leader were flexible and able to make changes based on what was happening around us in real time. We spent two hours watching a pod of Orcas hunt a crab eater seal. The captain kept the ship in position so we could watch the drama as it unfolded. By the way, the seal got away!

We know that every Antarctic trip is different, but for ours, a few of the most memorable parts would be...

1. Expeditions. We did three continental landings. The hikes were exhilarating. Saw 30-50 whales do bubble feeding. Seeing lots and lots of penguins. Zodiac cruises to see wildlife and ice.

2. Education. Naturalists were informative in person as well as during their presentations throughout the day.

3. Ship and ship staff. Open bridge was amazing. Crew were great. Dining services and servers and cleaning crew super friendly and caring.

I could watch penguins forever. We also got to see a glacier calve into Neko Harbour. The whole trip was pretty amazing. The level of service beats any five-star place we've been to. We've never seen such an amazing crew and staff before.

Amazing overall - wildlife, landscape and excellent expedition team. South Georgia is indeed the "Serengeti" of the Southern Ocean - penguins, birds, seals - in the thousands; plus the history of Shackleton. Naturalists, as usual, were very knowledgeable and approachable. NG Explorer staff/crew were very friendly and competent. Highlights: kayaking, polar plunge and x-country skiing—all in a single day!!!

Most Memorable – Our many Zodiac excursions to walk on the beach among the wildlife and opportunity to hike up the hillsides several times. Service was spectacular from all quarters: cabin attendance, food service/waiters, and naturalists.

The trip was stupendous in every respect. We had some rough seas between Falklands and Georgia, but tolerable. We had excellent weather at South Georgia and never had to forego a Zodiac landing. The wildlife was, of course, sensational, and that is what I would share with any potential travelers. The staff and naturalist guides were consistently excellent and accommodating to our needs and requests.

Solo kayaking to an isolated ice shelf to watch seals and guilemots in complete silence and serenity—most memorable.

Because of photos I shared of this trip with my running club, we are now raising money for environmental conservation for the amazing continent. Thank you for the inspiration. Everyone says you go for the penguins but you fall in love with the ice, and they are absolutely right. The penguins were funny and photogenic and EVERYWHERE. But the part that I dream about every night when I fall asleep, the part that haunts me, is the ice - the scale of it, the sounds, the million shades of blue. The guides were as enthusiastic about the trip as we were, and very knowledgable. Jessica was amazing in helping us select the right cruise. Your response time is amazing. I would definitely book with Expedition Trips (and Jessica if she's available!) for my next trip.

Being able to spend so much time on the open bridge was most memorable. The Crew, especially the Captain, were so informative. The level of service was good. The cabin was terrific. The naturalists and photographers on the boat really made a huge contribution to the whole experience. 

ExpeditionTrips' travel planners, Jennifer and Amanda, kept me informed of all steps involved, allowing me to learn about, organize, and carry out all necessary preparatons before leaving home. When a question came up, I did not hesitate to ask, and they were always quick to respond. I knew I was off to a good start. The sheer beauty of the Antarctic captured my heart. It is a mysterious place of snow and ice. The icebergs are indescribable, and the opportunity this relatively "small" ship, the National Geographic Explorer, affords is amazing. We could enter channels of ice and cut through slowly, zodiac around icebergs, and get to shores other ships were unable to get to. Searching and finding pods of whales in action was priceless. Penguins marching and nesting was great fun. Level of Service: Superior. Top flight service people on board working hard in a timely, efficient manner. Polite, always smiling and gracious. The unseen making ship life very comfortable. The naturalists were Excellent. Knowledgeable, many with impressive experience in the field and in academic/research positions. They willingly and with good humor imparted information that was fascinating and important to our understanding of the environment. Their lectures and visual presentations were superior - well planned, articulate, and very interesting. The Expedition Leaders were appreciated by all. Their organization and leadership was respected, and well planned, and always imparted with good humor. Thank you!

Amazing! Waking up to a different vista of ice every day; access to the bridge and chatting with the captain; seeing my first penguins were the most memorable parts of the trip. The guides were very friendly, very knowledgeable, and generous in sharing knowledge and anecdotes. ExpeditionTrips was very efficient, on top of it. There was a lot of prep work that needed to be done for the trip and you were always there - prompt supportive and friendly.

Service was very good, naturalists were very knowledgeable with good daily re-caps and lectures. ExpeditionTrips as always was very good and efficient.

This was in the top three of all trips and places I've been of my travels throughout the world. The other two, an independent trip to Ethiopia and a Galapagos Islands excursion. At this time, I can not put one above the other. With your help, this excursion was incrdible. Antarctica is otherworldly, a place beyond belief making this extremely meaningful in all areas, animals, ice, climate, with great naturalists and guest lecturers. Having Peter Hillary on board was incredible and Kip Evans, the National Geographic photographer was so helpful to all of us needing photographic help. Stay as you are [ExpeditionTrips]. It was perfect. Complete with information and a total caring attitude toward me as a customer. Many, many thanks to Jessica and Sarah for all the help in getting me on this most memorable trip. I will definetly use you again to arrange my next trip.

The ice (in all forms) was amazing! Photos don't do justice. Take time out from shooting with the camera and just take it in with your eyes and mind. Excellent! Service staff were all very polite and friendly all the time. Naturalist guides were all very knowledgeable and approachable. Jennifer and Sarah of ExpeditionTrips provided us very useful information about the trip and wer always prompt to answer any queries we had. They even shared their personal experience and tips about this trip which helped us a lot! Thank you.

As ever, ExpeditionTrips help and advice on details was much appreciated for a guest arriving from Europe to join the trip. Don't change - your service was excellent! The trip was memorable for the wide range of items of interest. These included the curious Island of St Pierre - part of France and the excellent reconstructions of the Louisbberg Fortress and the Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows with their well trained actors and careful attention to detail. As ever, ship staff were excellent guides and helpful in many ways.

The trip was great, we saw many cool animals. The captain was extraordinary - very skilled at finding great sights and very enthusiastic and welcoming. Always a pleasure [to work with ExpeditionTrips]- you know me well.

Captain and expedition leader were enthusiastic, well informed and interested in maximizing our viewing experience. Ship staff - dining and cabin - were particularly notable.

For those considering the trip, stop thinking now and buy your ticket! Outstanding, several of the staff were on board our Antarctic trip so it was like "old home week" when we boarded in Svalbard; what a great feeling. The naturalists were knowledgeable, accessible and friendly. As always my expectations were high and they outdid themselves. The most memorable parts were wildlife sightings: a pod of blue whales off the Svalbard coast, and a polar bear mom and 2 cubs.

Excellent, above my expectations!! Beth at ExpeditionTrips was very nice, always cheerful and with a lot of energy. Every contact was very clear and in the right moment. Walking through a penguin colony is amazing! The staff was very helpful and the guides were always teaching you something.

ExpeditionTrips makes you feel like you are their priority. One can't complain about perfection! Their communication was outstanding. I was given good advice and felt that every effort was made to ensure that our trip was exceptional.

The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Not just once, but every single day. National Geographic made each and every day memorable. Over and over I heard travelers stating that just when they thought that they had had the best day ever, the next day was just as exceptional.

The trip was very interesting much of it unlike anywhere I have been - I did not have too many expectations, though I thought the country would be wild, and it lived up to that in spades! [The most memorable parts were] the temperate rain forest on Chiloe Island National Park, Pulamin Nature Sanctuary, spectacular views of the fjords and glaciers, incredible winds over wild moorland inhabited by vaious types of llama, visiting Staten Island and seeing large flocks of birds, Magellan penguins as well as sealions close up. As ever ExpedtionTrips' service was excellent and delivered in a warm, friendly way.

Our trip was excellent. The most memorable parts of this journey was the Polar Bear coming right up to the bow of the boat and the wonderful hour we spent with the whales. The naturalist lectures were something to look forward to on a daily basis.

Superb, everything went smoothly. The level of service that the staff and naturalist guides delivered was outstanding. The most memorable parts were seeing polar bears, whales, walrus, glaciers, and the midnight sun.

Antarctica was amazing. There was no one thing that stood out, as every experience was over the top. If I could give a higher rating of 10 on a 1 to 10 scale, I would do so.

Experience of a lifetime...Expedition trips attended to every detail. Our trip far exceeded our expectations and I didn't think that was possible. Most memorable were the sheer beauty, silence, and adventure. The level of service by everyone from the fully attentive cabin attendants to the highly engaged and informative naturalists was truly amazing. Trip leadership was excellent and there was sheer joy and enthusiasm for the experience which all the staff shared.

The trip was great! The staff was very good and the scenery was unbelievable. I got great pictures of the polar bears and the trip was very memorable.

The Arctic is very interesting – very fragile, animals and plants struggle to survive. I really loved seeing polar bears in the wild, but most enjoyed our close encounter with a very active walrus on the beach. The number and kinds of birds was awesome; seeing reindeer and arctic foxes was also a thrill! The level of service was excellent all around, as it is on National Geographic tours.

The trip was fabulous! The most memorable part was our first landing in South Georgia—there were thousands of king penguins. Have been to Antarctica before, this was not the first time we landed on a beach with penguins, but we had never seen numbers like these. It was so amazing!

We wanted to seek further adventure beyond our usual trips, which had been traditionally within the northern hemisphere. The most memorable parts were walking on Ocean Pack Ice after our ship pushed through the ice and stopped to let the passengers experience the moment; seeing penguins in the wild for the first time; and The Estancia Los Protreos was amazing and a truly wonderful stay on a working ranch. Joy and Jennifer were very responsive and made it easy to plan the trip and deal with any unforeseen issues.

This was the best travel experience of my life – I would go back in a heartbeat if I could!

The expedition leaders and all of the staff on our trip made the whole experience a learning, fascinating, fun, friendly adventure! The level of service was exceptional. I felt very comfortable approaching any of the staff and guides. The very personal, one-on-one relationships aboard the ship exceeded my expectations.

The trip to the West Coat of Africa was incredible! The operator spared nothing, providing expedition members with the opportunity to learn about the places visited from a wide variety of cultural points of view including history, economics, music, linguistics, and art from an exceptional group of staff and lecturers.

ExpeditionTrips is amazing. Lori Gifford and Emily Chase are exemplary. From my first conversation with Lori Gifford, I was captivated by her enthusiasm and her knowledge. Emily is what every travel agent should aspire to; her personality and charm are both a major reason for my having booked our trip to Antarctica aboard the National Geographic Explorer.

April and Emily were wonderful to work with. We worked more with April and she was extremely helpful. ALL of the ship’s staff was full on knowledge about the wildlife and we certainly learned a lot. The expedition leader was excellent and kept everyone fully apprised of where we were going and what was going on.

I had an absolutely positive experience working with ExpeditionTrips.  Every phone call and email was answered immediately.  Any questions were answered as soon as could be reasonably expected, usually that day. My airplane tickets were booked through ExpeditionTrips and worked out perfectly. I can't imagine improving this trip.

Working with ExpeditionTrips was a positive experience. Shelley Fry helped us decide which trip to take by relating her personal experiences and asking questions about what we wanted to get from the trip.

I have become aware just this past year in how terrific it is to work with the agents at ExpeditionTrips. The suggestions they have made to me in where they thought I might like to go have been intuitive and I have been really delighted with the outcome of both of my trips. I can't think of anything to improve. For me, it worked perfectly!

Working with ExpeditionTrips and Amanda and Deanna was a pleasure. The organization was excellent and there was always a quick response to questions. The trip exceeded my expectations. The ship’s staff gave absolutely the best service.

It exceeded anything that I expected.  I don't think it could be improved on in any way.  Everyone of the Expedition Team was unbelievably caring.

ExpeditionTrips is terrific to work with. The suggestions they have made to me in where they thought I might like to go have been intuitive and I have been really delighted with the outcome of both trips. 

The trip was wonderful and met our expectations. The staff, guides and crew provided wonderful service. The staff and guest lecturer were very knowledgeable and were always willing to help.  The extra photography sessions were a bonus. The open bridge policy is great.  The captain was so willing to share information. The experience with ExpeditionsTrips was positive and we would book with you again. 

The staff and services of ExpeditionTrips was and has always been wonderful.  When problems or questions develop they are right there to assist. The personalized service from ExpeditionTrips combined with the quality of a voyage on a National Geographic ship is a combination not to be beaten.

My experience working with ExpeditionTrips was very positive and I would certainly book future trips with you. Your efficiency and customer-focused approach were evident from the first reservation to receiving my final documents. All my questions were answered speedily and your guidance and advice were great.

We had a very positive experience working with Shelley and Emily.  We would book future trips with your company. You excelled in helping us to compare the experiences available and guiding us to the selection of a ship and travel experience that we truly enjoyed.

I had a very positive experience with ExpeditionTrips. Responses to all queries and communications were quick and thorough. I always felt as if I was provided with unbiased options, supported with sufficiently detailed information.

The customer service I’ve received from ExpeditionTrips is definitely outstanding. Someone is always there to answer questions and help. This is the 4th time we have booked through you and we will keep coming back for more small ship cruises.

ExpeditionTrips' efficient, friendly and helpful service was up to the usual standard and I will certain use you again for future trips of this sort! The trip lived broadly up to expectations and the good weather helped a lot.

I would rate you a resounding 10 out of 10 and will recommend you to others! ExpeditionTrips made sure that all of our materials were delivered in a timely manner and every contact I had with your company was terrific! The trip absolutely exceeded all of my expectations! The staff was exceptional!!!

The trip exceeded our expectations because of the professionalism of the staff and the fantastic, well thought-out ship. The staff had so much experience in these waters. The ability to shift targets and scramble as wind, ice, and weather approached and still give us great landing and zodiac rides was great.

First of all, it was a wonderful expedition for us and we really enjoyed it. We have returned with many photographs which are a visual reminder of a truly fantastic experience. We were so fortunate to see many polar bears, with cubs, walrus, seals, hundreds of thousands of birds and to cap it all a blue whale.

I wanted to take this trip to give my kids a chance to see a wild place. Breaking through the ice pack, seeing polar bears and the whales were our favorite experiences. The staff, guides and crew were excellent, very knowledgeable and were great with the kids. The photography instruction was outstanding.

ExpeditionTrips - You guys are the best!!!! I wish I could book all my trips though you! This adventure exceeded expectations for beauty of scenery, and number of bears. I wanted to travel to the Arctic to view the polar bears. The best moment was when an adolescent bear came right up to the ship!