Antarctica Showing How Adventurous it Can Be

Upon waking up it became instantly evident that we were no longer anywhere near civilization or most vegetation, as every glance outside was of towering white mountains, icebergs, and great swaths of white and blue. The ship was positively buzzing with anticipation as we all looked good to get off the ship shortly after breakfast and take our first steps on the official continent of Antarctica at Portal Point! 

The day started off perfectly enough with the obligatory photos of this proud achievement, as well as hiking (and sliding!) down the icy hills surrounding the zodiac landing spot. Immediately after this we did our first zodiac cruise, spending over an hour nearby a pod of humpbacks, and although the day was overcast, the vistas were incredibly beautiful and everyone was feeling so thankful to have ticked off so many bucket list items after only being in Antarctica for just over 12 hours. 

In the afternoon we had a zodiac cruise planned, and although the weather had turned wetter it did little to deter all the travelers about to get off the ship again and hopefully have more amazing encounters with wildlife. We certainly saw some more whales, some petrels, and even a lone penguin, but it became hard to ignore the fact that we were all getting extremely wet with the icy rain that kept coming down. Our spirits were all heightened a bit after meeting another zodiac with an expedition team member serving hot chocolate (with optional Bailey’s!), but we were all completely soaked, even when wearing the required waterproof layers. 

Our zodiac group was first out, which meant that we were also the first to return, but by this time the weather had started to deteriorate with wind gusts and waves now accompanying the constant drizzle. After immediately hopping into a hot shower I looked out of our cabin window and saw a proper storm now taking place. The wind gusts had picked up significantly and the waves were even larger. The few zodiacs that were still off the ship now had deemed it unsafe to try and disembark, so all sped off to find relative shelter to wait out the storm. 
It was also at this moment that all expedition staff got off the ship again, manning zodiacs to go check on those that were still off-ship and bringing gear to all waiting in protected coves. It was likely a tense few hours, but the team showed no signs of panic as they worked tirelessly to ensure that all travelers were back safely onboard. Right around dinner the announcement was made that the last of the passengers and staff had made it back on the ship, resulting in a collective cheer. The rest of the evening was spent with most travelers imbibing and swapping their unexpected adventure stories. This kind of day just goes to show you how quickly things can change in Antarctica, and why everything is considered to be weather-dependent. As with any Antarctica voyage, flexibility and safety are key!