Great Trip, Strong Staff, No Flaws
5 - Excellent
“The ship and staff for the journey provided enthusiastic, effective and patient support, with a well-executed itinerary that I'd trust for future trips. Food and accommodation were excellent. Waters were very calm once reaching Antarctica, to relieve anyone's seasickness. Mountain and Glacier landscapes were great. The wildlife in the area is plentiful, where we saw at least some whales, seals and penguins every day we were in Antarctica and probably 20ish whales overall. The animals aren't afraid of humans and so at worst ignore you as you get fairly close. Extra downtime filled with interesting presentations about history, animals, current antarctic science and recent environmental issue affecting it. If you absolutely must have Emporer penguins, elephant seals or Orca, check the season you're going as we saw just a few but they were unusual and not to be expected at the time/places we went. I'd recommend this trip to anyone I knew going to Antarctica who hasn't been there before and doesn't have extremely specific desires for wildlife that I didn't mention. It's fun, comprehensive, and the minimum commitment required for the adventure it offers. This trip took place on the Ocean Endeavor, in early-mid February, on the West side of the Antarctic Peninsula.”
Overall phenomenal
5 - Excellent
“The skiing and mountaineering experiences were amazing and their availability on the Ocean Endeavour is why we chose this boat over others. Getting to go out 3 times for each of these experiences was amazing and far exceeded my expectations. The hotel management was amazing . Rosemarie who cleaned our room was lovely and went above and beyond to make our experience with this tour operator even more memorable. The chef always had the biggest smile I have ever seen on his face . The food and dining room staff were exceptional . The guest experience on board this vessel has been phenomenal”
Most sensational holiday ever
5 - Excellent
“Just the most sensational holiday ever. I am still pinching myself and wondering if I really took the photos I have and that I really experienced all these amazing things. The entire crew were sensational from Norman, who looked after our cabin, to Richard who served us in the restaurant along with Keith and Marlon and the wonderful expedition team. Safety was always paramount and the zodiacs were comfortable and taking photos worked well as people cooperated with either kneeling or standing. I would highly recommend this trip as a trip of a lifetime and worth every penny. Many thanks to the tour company, Solan and all the team and crew.”