What do you do in Antarctica?

Each day involved stopping twice to take zodiac boats to either explore the coastline, land on ice covered beaches amongst penguin colonies, or explore 1950s research bases. The kit provided by Aurora was excellent so we were well prepared for exploration. Post-exploration recovery came in the form of the onboard spa and gym - morning yoga and evening massages, while gazing out of the windows at icebergs, was a winner!
One particular highlight from the 19 stop offs made along the journey was Stonington Island. The sheer isolation felt at being so far South (68 degrees!) was humbling. Trudging through knee-deep snow, we explored old US and British research bases, still perfectly preserved from when they were used in the 50s. We saw seals, glaciers, penguins and stunning sea birds. The calm waters and bright skies also gave an opportunity for the notorious 'Polar Plunge', of which the majority of cruise dwellers took part in! 
We felt the trip was slightly hampered by Covid, for example, the expedition team were not allowed to dine with the guests as they normally would and you had to stay in the same small groups for the trip, but by next Antarctic summer, these rules will hopefully start to ease. This was a minor drawback in what was otherwise a faultless experience.
Overall, this trip gave us memories that will last a lifetime and reconnected us with a sense of awe for our planet. For me, the Aurora experience was amazing. It was the perfect balance of adventure and comfort. All of the little details made it feel so special. I don't want to reveal what they were, as those little surprises really made the trip.