Our Austral Summer in Antarctica
A Recap of the 2024-25 Antarctic Expedition Cruise Season
We’re finally back to lower latitudes, after four incredible months and 11 cruises with prime wildlife watching, exciting polar outdoor activities, over 400 exhilarating polar plunges, 16 Drake Passage crossings, unique festivities and holiday celebrations. You’d think after more than 25 years of polar cruising we would have seen it all, but trust us when we say that each time it’s a new adventure in and of itself. Each year, when we kick off our Antarctic season in late October, we know our itineraries, the program and that we’ll be sure to see lots of penguins. But apart from that, each cruise and season is different. Our expeditions do not only depend on weather conditions, our crew and planned routes, but also on the travelers on board. Each group is different, and each traveler brings his own heart and soul to the adventure, making every trip unique.
International Folks & Cosmopolitan Flair
During our 2024-25 Antarctic season, we’ve welcomed over a thousand travelers. We’re proud to be a polar travel club that brings so many people from around the world and all walks of life together on one ship. Friendships made aboard often last a lifetime, and many of our frequent travelers cross paths on other polar journeys with us.
Three Days Below the Antarctic Circle
This year’s Antarctic Circle cruise was a blast as we ventured deeper south than ever! Exploring extremely remote territories, and spending three days inside the circle, we visited places far down south, such as Red Rock Ridge and Marguerite Bay.
As a real polar travel enthusiast and (now) Antarctic Circle crossing alumnus, traveler Terry Scott commemorated the southernmost point reached on this cruise with a tattoo of the exact coordinates! We say that’s a great way to turn the experience into a real lasting memory of a lifetime!
Off-board Activities – Antarctica-Style
This season we stepped off-board more than usual. From numerous kayaking trips to Zodiac cruises, we got our fair share of excursions thanks to favorable weather conditions. We even launched a special photo Zodiac cruise on Deception Island, resulting in the most amazing shots. We also spent four nights under the Antarctic sky, deploying our camping equipment and stranding our bravest passengers for one night on the shores of Antarctica. Wrapped in warm and comfortable sleeping bags, our travelers spent a night in the open, surrounded only by the soft waves of the Southern Ocean and the cackling of the nearby penguin colonies. It’s just a small glimpse of what historical Antarctic explorers experienced, and while they certainly weren’t as comfortable, they were looking at the same stars on the southern horizon.
Celebrations at the End of the World
It isn’t a secret that our polar travelers love unconventional parties! This season, we celebrated Christmas on the open ocean, between South America and Antarctica. The sumptuous feast, Santa’s visit, festive decorations, music and dance were the perfect wrap for an incredible Antarctic adventure. Our New Year’s cruise met 2025 at Neko Harbor, an incredibly beautiful inlet surrounded by snow-capped mountains on the Antarctic Peninsula.
And that wasn’t it for polar festivities! A lovely couple tied the knot aboard the Sea Spirit. With such a special venue for getting married, we bet these lovebirds will never forget their wedding anniversary.
What’s next?
After more than four months, our expedition team is taking a short break, but is already preparing for the Arctic summer season. Let’s be honest, if you’re a polar travel fanatic like us, you just can’t stay too long at low latitudes, and we can’t wait to be back aboard the Sea Spirit. If you’re also itching to return to another great expedition adventure, why not start the Arctic season with us on May 6, 2025, when we explore the Best of the British Isles? Or join the first Arctic Circle crossing of the season on May 27, 2025 in Edinburgh, which disembarks 13 days later in Svalbard. Contact us, and let’s plan the next adventure together!
