“This trip, due to the power of nature, did not follow the itinerary, but what we had was a true antarctic experience, including being stuck in and then blocked by ice. It was filled with so many magical and memorable moments and experiences that I will never ever forget. Words cannot adequately describe this place to those who have not experienced it.”
“I had always wanted to go to Tierra Del Fuego from being 10 years old when I saw the name on a map so being able to go there as part of an Antarctic cruise / expedition was a huge plus. I spent the day before embarkation on a tour of Tierra DF and rode the Train at the End of the World, which was fun. The city of Ushuaia (the southernmost city in the world) is also a fun place with friendly people and plenty of very good restaurants. The 11 days of the expedition itself were spent on the MV Ushuaia, a small ship that takes 90 passengers. It's important to go on a small ship to maximize time ashore due to the restrictions of the Antarctic Treaty. The entire trip was wonderful with plenty of shore landings at various places, mostly on islands but also on the continent itself. There are also coastal tours in the Zodiac boats used for landings. It's an active vacation and the expedition staff treat everyone like adults. You can climb steep hillsides made of sharp rocks and ice, as well as get very close to wildlife (which you should stay 5 meters from in the case of penguins and more in the case of seals, etc). Scenery is stunning. Even though it's an expedition, the ship is comfortable. The crew are all friendly, you can visit the bridge, there are several decks offering excellent viewing in all directions, there are three excellent meals daily, there is a good bar and a comfortable lounge as well as lectures and talks on what to expect and to look out for. Overall, the weather favored us quite well. We did miss a couple of landings because of weather but we also had an additional landing early because we made such good speed on the outbound trip. Where possible, the expedition staff substituted Zodiac tours for landings when landings were impossible. One warning - the crossing of the Drake Passage to and from Antarctica can be extremely rough. It is where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet and the weather can be appalling. The Ushuaia rolls a lot! Staying upright is both difficult and strenuous in rough seas. Our trip back was rated a 9 out of 10 by one of the ship's officers and was quite an adventure in and of itself. Watching the dining room staff do their table waiting jobs in such conditions was like watching acrobats performing on a tightrope. Amazing skills. It's not cheap to go on this trip but to me it was worth every cent. What you will see will last a lifetime and I would recommend it to anyone. Chimu organization was impeccable.”
“perfect trip! Don't be put off if one fears Drake Passage. An ear patch is all you need. Then ...... I lose word to describe the beauty of Antarctica.”
“The Quark epedition onboard Ocean Diamond exceeded our expectations. The obstructed view cabin actually gave us a great view through twin windows. Hotel staff were wonderful really looking after us in a friendly and caring way. Excellent food, with amazing vsriety, drinks included. The expedition staff were fantastic giving us great zodiac cruises and landings and providing us with enlightening lectures on wildlife, history, geology ,research and living in Antarctic and more. Woody was our fearless leader who along with Captain Oleg gave us the real feel of an expedition as we tried to outrun storms to provide us with the best opportunities for landings. It was overwhelming to see and walk near so many penguins and their chicks along with seals, birds and whales who were in close proximity to our zodiac. JUST GO!”
