Horseshoe Island & Blind Bay, Antarctica, 12/5/2022, National Geographic Endurance
Aboard the
National Geographic Endurance
Antarctica
Today we awoke on National Geographic Endurance to another beautiful day in Antarctica. Our morning operations consisted of a landing on Horseshoe Island, where some of our guests got to take an inside look at an old base. The other half of our guests enjoyed a scenic cruise around beautiful ice with numerous seals scattered about. In the afternoon, we repositioned north to Blind Bay in search of fast ice. We met with great success!
Nathan Kelley developed his love for nature as a kid at his family’s cabin in Northern Wisconsin. Family fishing trips, camping, hiking and a trip to his first National Park in the Everglades, all vigorously shaped his passion for the natural world. ...
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It’s a foggy start to the day here in the Drake Passage as we make our way south towards the white continent of Antarctica. Today we will be crossing the polar front where water temperatures will plummet, and we can officially say we have entered Antarctic waters. This morning, we got to meet our eclectic expedition team that will be guiding us through the coming days, with the perfect mix of personalities and expertise. Also, this morning we had our first presentation by Naturalist Jackie Weston in the Ice Lounge entitled, “Brain Candy for Bird-Curious Humans”, where we learned more about the seabirds of the Southern Ocean. This afternoon we had our mandatory Antarctic landings briefing followed by a biosecurity decontamination in basecamp, where we cleaned and prepared all our outer gear and bags for the expedition ahead. Late afternoon, National Geographic Certified Photographer Andrew Peacock was joined by guests in the Ice Lounge to present some tips and tricks for using our smartphones for expedition photography. And to finish of this Drake Lake of a sea day, we were treated to a welcome by our very own Captain Martin Graser during cocktail hour and toasted to the trip ahead.
As bleary eyes emerged into 2025, we were greeted by the stunning sights of Cape Horn, its peaks shrouded in low-hanging clouds but still visible as we cruised by, morning coffee in hand. Black-headed albatrosses, sooty shearwaters, and other Subantarctic species greeted us back to land, their graceful flight adding to the magic of the moment. The morning was filled with talks of disembarkation and a heartfelt history lesson from our National Geographic photographer about the people of the Americas. The atmosphere on board was festive as everyone shared the buzz of the new year. Nature seemed to join in the celebration, as Peale’s dolphins, penguins, and even killer whales made an appearance, bow-riding alongside the ship, their playful antics lifting spirits even higher. Our final evening was spent enjoying a guest slide show, toasting with the captain, and reflecting on the adventure with new friends. Chef had prepared a traditional Argentinian asado, grilling juicy cuts of meat on the back deck, and the delicious aroma filled the air—a classic tradition for Argentinians. As the day drew to a close, Ushuaia came into view around 8 p.m., an early arrival time thanks to the calm, tranquil waters of the Drake Passage we had been fortunate to experience.
Happy New Year from National Geographic Endurance ! Today was spent at sea, heading back to Ushuaia. We were treated with the “Drake Lake” on this passage and the sun was out – it was a most pleasant day on the sea. Throughout the day we saw many humpback whale spouts, some close, some far. We also had quite a few passes of a variety of dolphin species throughout the day. Most of our guests spent time today contemplating the previous year and the amazing things they had just witnessed in Antarctica. Our Global Explorers got an extra special treat today with a behind the scenes tour with Captain Oliver and Chief Engineer Norman. They were able to tour the marina deck where the Zodiacs are stored and lowered during operations. They also went into the engine room, a place very few guests are able to see! We rang in the new year with the infamous Shackeltunes – National Geographic Endurance’s crew band. What a perfect last day of the year. From all of us here onboard – Happy New Year!
