If someone told me voting on an Instagram story poll would lead to me booking a trip to the South Pole and leaving with lifelong friends, I would have never believed you.
But wait – I’m getting ahead of myself here. Let’s rewind to the beginning.
Hi! My name is Larissa and I’m passionate about travelling. I’ve been to about 23 U.S. states, 23 countries, and 6 continents (I started writing this post in the airport on my way to my 6th).
I was born in Haiti but mostly raised in metro Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to visit London, England with my AP Language class; however, I believe my study abroad program to France, Germany, and Austria while I was in undergrad was truly when the travel bug bit me.
Now let’s fast forward back to the Instagram poll.
I went online one day and Kesi from @kesitoandfro posted a poll asking if I’d rather take a group trip to Africa or Antarctica.
I figured I could make my way to Africa, but then, I didn’t even know people could go on trips to Antarctica – so I voted Antarctica because it would be a relief knowing someone else was handling all the logistics.
All the hypothetical logistics. Or so I thought.
Kesi sent me a message asking if I was serious about taking a trip to Antarctica. Still thinking this was a hypothetical situation, I told her ‘Sure, why not?’.
The next thing I knew, I received information about the trip, including dates and cost. I wish I had taken a picture of my face because I still thought a trip to Antarctica was only for authorized researchers.
I was in shock.
And that was the beginning of my motto: “Book now, think later”. So I booked the trip without knowing a soul.
I should note I didn’t just blindly book a trip with someone I didn’t know. Yes, it’s true I hadn’t met Kesi in person before, but we had been following each other on Instagram for quite some time.
We previously connected over various posts and had multiple conversations; I want to say over the years. I built a connection with her, so I felt comfortable booking a trip with her.
Okay, now that’s been said – let’s get Antarctica!
I booked a flight from Atlanta, Georgia to Punta Arenas, Chile. I flew down a few days before boarding the ship – yes, we went on an Antarctica cruise, but more on that later – because I wanted to explore a bit.
I booked a four-day tour to Patagonia and the little taste I received of the area let me know I should book a proper trip back one day.
The night before we left for Antarctica, Intrepid hosted a mingle at one of the hotels where all the travelers stayed. The Follow the Fros Tour all met each other, and this is where I met Kesi for the first time.
It honestly felt like reconnecting with a long-lost friend! I met other travelers with our group and other travelers on the ship. We even had a few solo travelers get adopted into our group.
The next morning, we were bused to the dock, where we boarded our home for the next 10 days. When people think cruise, I feel like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Virgin Voyages come to mind.
This was not that type of cruise – it was an expedition cruise!
Because Antarctic weather is so temperamental and changes quickly, these cruises are geared more toward safety and education than fun, luxury, and amenities.
Sure – we had a pool (that I believe was only opened once), a hot tub, a sauna, and a gym. But the focus was seeing Antarctica and learning more about the continent.
What did those days on the ship look like? Let’s get into it!
The day we boarded the ship, the crew introduced themselves and described what we could expect during the trip. We learned the ship layout and received our group assignments for disembarking during expeditions.
The first two days onboard we crossed the Drake Passage.
The Drake Passage is known as one of the most dangerous passages of water in the world.
Because no landmasses to stop or slow the wind that passes through, it can be extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible to safely cross.
Thankfully, we experienced the ‘Drake Lake’ instead of the ‘Drake Shake’. Although we still experienced dishes sliding off tables and people walking with sea legs, we had relatively smooth sailing as we crossed.
Once arriving at land, our typical day consisted of breakfast –> expedition –> lunch –> expedition –> Antarctica debrief –> dinner –> evening fun.
I should note that there is no such thing as a “typical” day when in Antarctica because the weather is so temperamental and changes quickly. The staff’s top priority is our safety. Plans can change at the last minute as needed.
Each morning over the intercom, the lead staff member announced the plan for the day.
We headed to breakfast before waiting to hear our group called down to the mud room to don our layers for disembarking the ship. Once layered up, we made our way to the gangway to board a Zodiac, which is a small rubber boat.
Only 100 people at a time are allowed on land to reduce human impact on the continent. Half of the ship stayed on the Zodiacs to cruise through the smaller icebergs the cruise ship couldn’t navigate. The expedition guides pointed out various animals and different types of ice, sharing detailed information with us.
The other half of the ship made landfall, exploring the continent, observing the seals and penguins, and creating memories on the South Pole.
The expedition team marked clear paths to follow and emphasized the importance of keeping a safe distance from wildlife.
Seeing penguins up close and personal was incredible! We heard their calls, mimicked their waddle, and saw them mating – such a surreal experience.
After lunch, the groups would switch. Those that cruised on the Zodiacs in the morning, made landfall in the afternoon and vice versa.
At the end of excursions for the day, everyone gathered in the lounge for a debrief from the staff. We recapped our adventures, with many sharing exciting scenes from the day (one day a group saw an avalanche happen!) The staff gave the plan of action for the upcoming day.
Another big part of the adventure was the optional excursions such as kayaking, snowshoeing, photography class, and snow camping.
I signed up for snowshoeing and snow camping – I highly recommend both! Snowshoeing was harder than I expected, but it was so much fun to be immersed in the land.
The same can be said for snow camping.
Without a tent, we ventured onto land after dinner knowing we would be picked back up early in the morning. We all received sleeping bags and mats, and somehow managed to snuggle under the clear sky.
Well, the sky didn’t remain clear for long and before we knew it, snow started to lightly fall. Somehow, we managed to sleep for a bit, before waking up to catch the ship!
One excursion that was included for all guests was the polar plunge.
We changed into our swimsuits and the robes from our cabins. We then headed down to the gangway.
Jumping into freezing water isn’t for everyone, but I believe more than half of the guests strapped in and jumped off. It was an exhilarating experience!
The last couple of days consisted of passing through the Drake Passage again, and again thankfully we experienced the ‘Drake Lake’.
We spent the days playing Uno, dining on the delicious food from the staff, and honestly just enjoying the last of our time away from service.
If you’re considering booking a trip to Antarctica, I highly recommend it! Some tips to consider when booking:
- Booking last minute might mean a better deal.
- If you live in a warm climate area, consider checking out rental companies and/or Buy Nothing Facebook groups to find cold weather gear for the trip.
- Pack binoculars to see the various animals, including sea birds, penguins, seals, and whales!
- Extend your trip to see Patagonia in either Argentina or Chile.
- Don’t forget to pack shorts and t-shirts for days on the ship; it can get a little toasty.
Antarctica was never on my list of places to visit.
I honestly didn’t even know I could visit the continent. But when an opportunity presented itself, I wasn’t going to say no.
And I’m so happy I decided to book that adventure.
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