As the guests aboard the National Geographic Explorer awoke on the first morning of the expedition, a sense of excitement hung in the air. The vessel was headed to Antarctica, where many passengers would set their eyes on the phenomenal beauty of the southernmost continent for the first time. This place is set apart for many reasons; biologically, geologically and sentimentally.
Biologically, Antarctica is an outlier. Life on land is dominated by penguins and seals, while sea birds roam the ocean. Only two species of flowering plants struggle for a hospitable home above the water, though ocean life is rife with algae, invertebrates, and happy marine hunters. Geologically Antarctica is also special. The rugged, largely unfamiliar terrain offers true exploration unlike other parts of the world. Those few who have set out to explore and map such a hostile region are so well respected that we speak of them as individuals still today. Sentimentally Antarctica is a place everyone aboard our trusty vessel will stash in their hearts, a memory that will not be discarded. From its striking icebergs to the dutiful penguins who patrol the shore, its full inimitability cannot go unnoticed.
As we sail full steam through a remarkably calm Drake Passage, and towards the final destination, the guests aboard take in the journey rather than the goal at the end. Some look for seabirds and some search for whales, and everyone spends time socializing with their peers and expedition team. Soon we will reach a magical land of ice and seals, penguins and whales, and until then those aboard will wait with excitement and anticipation.
