The Wonders of
ANTARCTICA David McGonigal Antarctic veteran
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Antarctica is a very intense destination. For most of us, travelling into a part of the world that we know so little about means that being prepared is important. There’s the Drake Passage with all its mythology. “The roughest stretch of water in the world”, “the Drake Shake”, “the Drake Lake” you’ll have heard them all before you experience it. As a veteran of well over 100 voyages south – that’s close to two years on the Drake Passage – I can say it’s rarely as bad as you fear, and you can always take something to ease the two day journey south. Antarctic waters are themselves quite calm. Another tip is to ensure you travel on a vessel that
is designed to handle the conditions of the Drake Passage. Scenic Eclipse with its 50% larger stabilisers is designed specifically to ensure greater comfort and smoother passage through heavy seas. Since the days of Shackleton, the first iceberg sighting has been a very special moment. Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of gleaming white ice is a sight never to be forgotten. When there are penguins on the ice as if to welcome you, it’s even more special. Taking your first step onto the 7th continent is unforgettable. It may be on a rocky beach surrounded by penguins and possibly a few seals, however, its hard not
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to appreciate the true significance of that moment. Personal moments are just that – personal. Moments I recall with great clarity include cutting the Zodiac engine and listening to humpback whale blows all around us in the ice and watching insanely cute penguin chicks rushing around trying to catch snowflakes with their tongues. Of course, there are majestic bays lined by glaciers and Zodiac cruises through a maze of icebergs like a surreal sculpture garden. Of course, it will be different for everyone. It may be coming onto the ship’s bridge on the first sea day to find