From the first to the last second, the expedition was not only carried out very professionally, but also with a great deal of passion and a remarkable mixture of excellent planning and flexibility depending on the environmental conditions. You could tell from the entire team and crew — each highly competent in their respective fields — how committed they are to their job, but also to Antarctica as a unique and most beautiful corner of the planet. Safety and environmental protection were taken seriously, at the same time there was always a lot of fun and a lot to learn (and a lot to eat & drink) on board. All in all, a breathtaking experience.
If Antarctica has been on your ‘ to do list’ GO!,,
Amazing time had by all, my only negative would be that I did not book to go onto South Georgia and The Falklands due to the time factor. I now have to select photos for my album going to be a long process.
Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia 18 day trip with Quark Expeditions on the Ocean Diamond from Uschuaia to the Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula with landings by Zodiac in remote bays where we experienced close encounters with the wildlife, especially penguins and seals and whales swimming alongside the boats. The scenery was stunning especially sailing close to the icebergs. We were superbly looked after on the ship and the cabins and public areas were warm and welcoming and the staff couldn't have been more helpful. The food was excellent and plentiful and they catered well for my gluten free requirements as I am Coeliac. The expedition staff were knowledgeable as we had experts on penguins, ornithology, geology, whales, history, microbiology and photography. Praise goes to the captain as a mega storm was forecast as we were in the Falklands and we had to alter the itinerary to avoid it and though we hit some rough seas we missed the hurricane in the Falklands where the next 3 ships after us were stuck in the harbour there for 3 days. Ecology was a big concern and we had to have our clothing, rucksacks examined before each trip ashore to check there were no seeds and have them vacuumed, and boots and trousers were hosed down after each trip ashore then we walked through disinfectant.
