EXPLORING THE WHITE CONTINENT IN COMFORT

Exploring in comfort the White Continent

We sat down with Jeff and Anna who were the first Australian guests to sail with Viking Expeditions to Antarctica. They share their experience cruising on Viking Octantis and the wonders of visiting Antarctica for the first time.

Antarctica is a bucket list destination for so many, what was it like to witness the last frontier for the first time? Definitely a bucket list item for both of us. I guess we always anticipated it would be an amazing experience, however, you just don’t realise how truly amazing it really is until you see it with your own eyes. You could use words like magical, awesome, sensational, beautiful, incredible to attempt to describe it, but these words don’t go close to doing it justice.

How was your experience crossing the Drake Passage? We had the Drake ‘Shake’ for both crossings. Anna heeded the advice of the bus guide on the way from the airport and took her seasickness tablets early as we set sail. Unfortunately, I did not and so was a little unwell the following morning. It was a much better experience coming home with the aid of medication.

What was it like setting foot on the Antarctic peninsula? We found it quite humbling to be standing on the Antarctic continent surrounded by all of its beauty and serenity. Can you tell us about some of the wildlife experiences you enjoyed? From onboard the ship, we enjoyed sightings of humpback whales and a minke whale playing under the bow as well as numerous sightings of the various birds that nest in the area. On land, we got up close and personal with lots of Gentoo, Adelie and Chinstrap penguins, the Weddell, Antarctic Fur and Southern Elephant seals and the odd Leopard seal.

How many excursions did you do each day? Most days we did one excursion being the Zodiac landings, although we did do the Special Operations Boat on the first day as well. The weather conditions were not that favourable for the kayaks although some passengers did give them a go.

After a day of exploring how did you spend your evenings on the ship? Typically, the evenings were spent with an early drink in the Explorer Lounge with some of the guests chatting about the day, before heading off to dinner at one of the restaurants and then returning to the Explorer Lounge for a nightcap and entertainment. There were usually lectures in the Hide every evening with the Expedition guides de-briefing the day’s events/sightings and possibly what to expect the next day. Can you tell us about the dining options onboard? We would have to say ‘The Restaurant’ was our favourite venue and we were fortunate enough to be able to dine in both restaurants a couple of times. The food was exquisite. Breakfast was usually at the World Café which offered a wide selection of great breakfast options. We mainly had lunch at Mamsen’s for the delicious Norwegian specialties or on the odd occasion at the World Café. Dinner as I said was mainly at the world-class restaurants, but we also did dine at ‘The Grill’ and Sushi Bar. What was your stateroom like? Our stateroom was quite impressive, it was large, well-appointed and again beautiful. The balcony window is a fantastic piece of engineering that allowed you to experience Antarctica’s beauty as if you were on the deck without actually leaving your room. We also had a drying closet, another great idea as you could come back from

Horse riding on a deserted beach had been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl hacking out ponies on weekends in the UK. I never thought the day would come and I’d never imagined it would happen in Norway. Yet, here I was riding Silfri, a sweet-natured Icelandic horse whose name described his tufty silvery blonde mane, along a stunning white-sand beach. I was in Hov, on the tranquil island of Gimsøy in the Lofoten archipelago, your excursion, get changed in your room and hang up your expedition clothing to where less than 200 people live. dry ready for your next adventure. I also

Since falling from my horse have to comment on the bathroom, it was just over a decade ago and breaking spacious and easily accommodated the two ‘wing’ bones in my lumbar spine, I hadn’t ridden at all. It had resulted in six weeks of life altering bed rest and I became too both of us at the same time and I could easily use the shower without having to worry about hitting my elbows or head frightened to ride again for fear of as it was so large.

risking a similar injury or worse.

But when I read about Viking’s horse riding excursion on the Into the Midnight Sun cruise, I felt it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity too good too miss.

It was then that I realised how a cruise experience can offer you just the right level of adventure, exploration and relaxation for your needs. I wasn’t ready for official riding lessons at the local equestrian centre or a full-blown adventure holiday, but since discovering a passion for trail running earlier on in the year, my fitness and confidence had increased considerably, so it felt like the right moment to finally face my fear.

The ride would only take a couple of hours, I’d told myself, so even if I couldn’t overcome my anxiety I wouldn’t have to be in that situation for long. Afterwards I could relax on the new and luxurious Viking Jupiter.

The morning brought a panoramic tour of Lofoten, which included sightseeing to spellbinding Haukland Beach, one of the most picturesque beaches in Norway, and to Ballstad, a scenic and traditional fishing village.

Later that day, with the dramatic setting of Lofoten’s mountains behind and the beach to ourselves, I learned that one of my fellow riders hadn’t ridden a horse since she was in her twenties. She felt excited to be on horseback again and was so moved by the experience of riding in the beguiling seaside location.

We also rode trails that showed us more of this wild island, from the fairy tale-like Norwegian turf

SPRING 2020 | VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK 49

Clockwise, from top left:

Jeff & Anna; Nordic Balcony Stateroom; Seals on land; Antarctica landscape; On the viewing platform

What was your favourite place to relax on board the ship? The Explorers Lounge, it was close to our stateroom, offered entertainment with a magnificent 180o view over the bow of the ship. A great place to mingle with other guests and the bar staff were fantastic.

What were your thoughts on Viking's approach to health and safety? The daily saliva COVID testing and the COVID ‘robot’ were impressive. It was quite evident to see that safety was paramount, especially on the excursions. What were you most surprised about with your expedition experience? The daily lectures by the Viking scientific experts were fantastic. They were informative and insightful without being boring.

How are Viking doing expeditions differently? As for the ship itself, I can’t compare it to a traditional expedition vessel as I haven’t been on one, but the Viking Octantis does scream comfort and elegance from every angle and would not disappoint the ardent cruiser. It’s such a beautiful ship.

The Hangar is an amazing space, you board the Special Operations Boat from within the ship, it was just like getting on and off a theme park ride – so easy. As for the Zodiacs, this was straight forward as the boarding area was almost at sea level and the crew provided ample assistance. Although we chose not to participate in any fieldwork, we toured the ship laboratory and found it amazing. The various scientific work they undertake on every cruise to better understand the environmental changes occurring in the region is incredible. comprises a collection of images illuminating the magic of this master expressionist on board, with a daily, interactive event that showcases several pieces of his great art, curated by theme, each afternoon on a large screen in the This is a difficult one – was there a particular highlight of your voyage? Atrium. As a result, guests have the chance to gain a comprehensive overview of Munch’s work during Apart from the obvious ‘WOW’ factor their journey. Showcasing the of just being in Antarctica, can I say the whole voyage was a highlight. whole spectrum of Munch’s art, the collection includes self-portraits, famous works of art, as well as Do you have any tips for those landscapes, seascapes, flower motifs and travel-related works. considering a Viking Expedition As a companion piece, the cruise to Antarctica?complimentary Munch Moments Yep, do not delay and book it now. An amazing experience not to be booklet with curatorial information on the artist and his legacy is available on board each ship. missed made even better by Viking.

SPRING 2020 | VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK 35 13-day Antarctic Explorer voyage from $19,995pp in Nordic Balcony.

Clockwise, from left:

Friendly bar staff; Viking Zodiac; Explorer's Lounge; Viking Octantis