whidbeyben
Beware that Antarctica is a fickle mistress who can change her disposition in an instant. It can go from beautiful glorious blue sky and calm to a grey stormy tempest in a hour’s time. Excursions are highly dependent on weather, sea and ice conditions so even if you manage to book excursions, there’s no guarantees that any will take place. The kayaking and submarine dives are most subject to cancellation. The expedition team does its best to try to reschedule but time runs short. Landings also get canceled. We didn’t get to set foot on the mainland because landings at Brown Station and Oren Harbor were canceled due to excessive sea ice, but did see lots of wildlife landing in the islands of the Palmer Archipelago and South Shetland islands which are part of the Antarctic continent. Those were spectacular and memorable landings. Weather forced us to leave Antarctica a day early to cross the Drake Passage ahead of a storm but we got home safely and in comfort.