Day 12 – January 6, 2026
Antarctic Peninsula
(Day 10 on the ship)
We woke up this morning to icebergs—and wow, what a breathtaking sight! Truly magnificent. We spent a good part of the morning on the top deck, cameras in hand, watching as we sailed through this icy wonderland. Photos were taken nonstop, and honestly, no picture really does it justice.
We were lucky enough to spot a whale early on, watching it flip its tail, and later saw a colony of Gentoo penguins. Whale sightings continued throughout the day, along with an incredible variety of birds. There was always something to see no matter where you looked.
To put things into perspective, many of the icebergs we passed were around 200 feet tall, compared to our ship, which is about 160 feet tall. Seeing them up close really drives home just how massive—and humbling—they are.
Throughout the day, we sailed through some truly iconic Antarctic locations, including the Schollaert Channel, Errera Channel, Cuverville Island, Neumayer Channel, and Paradise Bay—each more stunning than the last.
Wildlife sightings were nonstop. The whales we saw included humpbacks, minkes, and orcas. We also spotted Weddell seals lounging on ice floes, along with leopard seals and crabeater seals. Birdlife was just as impressive, with sightings of southern giant petrels, southern fulmars, Antarctic shags, Wilson’s storm-petrels, kelp gulls, Antarctic terns, south polar skuas, and snowy sheathbills.
We also saw a National Geographic expedition ship in the area, complete with zodiacs out exploring—pretty cool to watch them in action.
We met up with Catherine and Scott for lunch, then headed back up to the top deck for more viewing before retreating to the room to warm up. It’s definitely cold out there, with a steady breeze most of the time, but we were also able to do plenty of “watching” right from our balcony, which was especially nice.
At 5:30 pm, we gathered for canapés and drinks, followed by an expedition update in the theater at 6 pm, where the team recapped all the incredible sights we’d seen throughout the day.
Dinner tonight was at Chartreuse. I had the beetroot salad, mushroom soup, and scallops, while John chose the beetroot salad, lobster bisque, and halibut. I made sure to save room for dessert—crème brûlée—paired with a glass of the fortified wine. As if the food weren’t enough, we were treated to an amazing whale show right outside the windows during dinner, with whales swimming alongside the ship. Absolutely unforgettable.
We were completely wiped after such a full day and called it an early night. Overnight, we’ll be sailing through the Gerlache Strait on our way to Deception Island, followed by cruising the South Shetland Islands.
Another truly extraordinary day in Antarctica. ❄️🐋✨
A Little About the Antarctic Peninsula
The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost and most accessible part of mainland Antarctica—a dramatic finger of land stretching toward South America. Known for its towering mountains, glaciers, abundant wildlife, and research stations, it’s also one of the most biologically rich regions on the continent, home to penguins, seals, whales, and even Antarctica’s only flowering plants.
It’s also one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth, making it a critical area for climate research and scientific study. Visiting it feels both awe-inspiring and humbling—a powerful reminder of nature’s beauty and fragility.
