We awoke to the soothing sway of a mild sea and a gentle drizzle on the decks. Advancing toward the Antarctic Peninsula, expedition staff members shared valuable insights, preparing us for the exploration of the white continent. We were able to apply our newfound knowledge when naturalist Jayden guided us to the deck for our first views of black-browed albatross and giant petrels, following his lecture on seabirds of the region.

Those venturing outside mid-afternoon could sense the once brisk air turning distinctly polar. Guests on the bridge with Captain Heidi viewed the nautical charts and witnessed the tangible reason behind this temperature shift — National Geographic Resolution had crossed the Antarctic Convergence, formally marking its entry into the Southern Ocean.