King George Island and Penguin Island, 2/10/2024, National Geographic Explorer
Aboard the
National Geographic Explorer
Antarctica
Today, we awoke at King George Island, where we delighted in views of Base Presidente Frei, the Chilean station, and Bellingshausen, the Russian station. Bellingshausen Station houses Trinity Church, one of eight churches in Antarctica and the permanently staffed, southernmost Eastern Orthodox church in the world. It was truly delightful to see such an amazing place.
In the afternoon, we explored Penguin Island, where we had the opportunity to get up close with some of the penguins of Antarctica, along with other legendary animals that inhabit this icy continent.
Javier 's passion for birds and nature began as a child exploring the Pyrenees mountains with his father. The mystery that surrounds the Lammergeier silhouette triggered his curiosity and interest towards wildlife. Javier studied biology in Spain and...
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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!
We completed a mild Drake Passage crossing today at the end of our incredible expedition to Antarctica, enjoying sightings of albatrosses, hourglass dolphins, sei whales, sea lions, penguins and seabirds on approach to South America. We enjoyed onboard presentations on a changing Antarctic Peninsula, historical perspectives on Antarctica, on assignment with our National Geographic photographer, and the results of an ice sculpture photography contest. Guests enjoyed the milder air temperatures and sightings from the decks as we approached civilization again after a week of incredible experiences among polar wildlife and icy scenery along the Antarctic Peninsula. “My heart is full,” was a memorable quote from one of our travelers after one such experience. We celebrated our voyage with the viewing of the guest slideshow, Captain Martin’s cocktail party, and a farewell dinner, as we boarded a local navigation pilot to lead National Geographic Resolution down the famous Beagle Channel into Ushuaia, Argentina, to end our remarkable expedition among penguins, whales and ice.
