This article will explain why the Adventures by Disney Antarctica and Patagonia Expedition Cruise was the best possible trip for a family to take.
The voice of L'Austral's Captain Fabien woke us up bright and early on the morning of our first full day in Antarctica. It came over the speaker in our stateroom, which was located on the port side of the ship. He explained that if we were to look outside at this very moment, we would witness a breathtaking sea of icebergs floating in the warm sunlight. My sister and I leapt out of bed and stepped out onto the chilly balcony. We stood there in astonishment as we cruised past enormous slabs of ice that had been sculpted by the water and shone brilliantly in the sun. We heard a splash off in the distance, and when we looked, we saw the fins and tails of humpback whales feeding not more than a few hundred yards away.
After that, it was clear that all of the effort that had been put into getting to Antarctica — which included long-distance flights and a crossing of the Drake Passage that lasted two days — had been well worth it. My parents woke up next door to the wonders of a new day in Antarctica as well. They were also in Antarctica. My sister and I were so anxious to tell them about the whales that we spotted that morning that we told them about it as we were eating breakfast. Even though there was still a lot of Antarctica to explore, it was already shaping out to be one of the most enjoyable and memorable vacations our family had ever done.
When you hear the words "travel to Antarctica," the phrase "family vacation" may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Nevertheless, tour operators such as Adventures by Disney are working to change that perception. The organization provides guided group tours to sites on all seven continents. These journeys can be taken by bus, ship, or even private plane, and they are led by Disney Adventure Guides who exemplify the superior level of customer care that Disney is recognised for providing. During the austral summer season (December through March), Adventures by Disney inaugurated its very first-ever Antarctica expedition cruises, presenting travellers with an entirely new way to explore the "White Continent." These cruises were offered for the first time ever in the year 2017. It was the trip of a lifetime for my family when we went on the Adventures by Disney Antarctica and Patagonia Expedition Cruise in January of this year. My parents and sister also went on the trip with us.
Our vacation began when we boarded a flight to Buenos Aires, the stunning city of Argentina, where we spent a day taking in the sights before meeting up with the rest of our Adventures by Disney group to begin our trek south. (On its alone, Buenos Aires justifies a trip to South America. While we conducted a fast tour on our own, Adventures by Disney has a pre-expedition trip called the Buenos Aires Getaway that lasts for four days and allows guests to get to know this South American metropolis.
Adventures By Disney Is Planning A Luxury Expedition Cruise To Antarctica
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Following our departure from Buenos Aires, we boarded an Adventures by Disney charter plane that took us all the way to Ushuaia. The plane was the only one of its kind on the flight. As soon as we landed, we made our way to Tierra del Fuego National Park, where we boarded a train to the terminus of the world. After that, we boarded Ponant's L'Austral and made our way to our staterooms on the ship, which would serve as our home for the next 11 days.
The following morning started off with a five-hour catamaran tour in the Beagle Channel to search for all types of animals. We were fortunate enough to observe two of the six types of penguins that inhabit the area during our trip: a Magellanic penguin colony and a single king penguin. After that, we made our way back to the ship at Ushuaia for a few more hours of relaxation before our sail away party and the beginning of our adventure across the infamous Drake Passage. We spent weeks anticipating either the placid waters of a "Drake Lake" or the notoriously rough waters of a "Drake Shake," which are known for their high wave swells and can cause seasickness. Finally, we found ourselves sailing through a Drake Passage that was somewhere in the middle — not too rough, but also not super peaceful. We kept ourselves entertained during the voyage on board L'Austral by participating in a variety of Disney guide-led events, such as picture contests, naturalist presentations, Marvel movie screenings, and pyjama parties.
We were able to make quick time across the Drake Passage, so we arrived in Antarctica ahead of schedule. As a result, we were able to add a half day to our four-day itinerary for exploring the continent. First, we landed to Port Foster, which is located in the caldera of Deception Island, and were dressed up (wearing layers on top of the parka and boots that were provided for us) for our initial journey into Antarctic seas aboard an inflatable Zodiac boat. We disembarked the ship and took a little trip across the water to reach a breathtaking island with snowy terrain, black sand, and an active volcano. Before everyone boarded the ship for the night, our ship's naturalists and Adventure Guides led small groups of passengers on an excursion to a distant island, during which there were never more than 100 people ashore at the same time.
The pattern for each day in Antarctica was the same: we would wake up, pull back the blackout curtains in our rooms, and gaze out at the spectacular environment that surrounded us. After that, we would either grab a bite to eat at the laid-back restaurant's buffet or make reservations at the upscale restaurant's table-service establishment for a more leisurely meal. Following breakfast, we would join the group that had been provided to us for the day's expedition (guests are divided into four groups of 30 to 45, so there were never too many people off the ship at any given time). When it was time for another group to go on an excursion, we would stay on board and take advantage of the ship's facilities, such as the pool, the spa, and the main lounge. It was anticipated that all of the groups would return to the ship in time for lunch before the ship moved on to its next destination for the afternoon excursion.
Every day at six o'clock, all of the visitors would gather in the theatre to listen to a presentation given by our naturalist team. They would inform us about the wildlife, nature, and landscapes that we had encountered that day and would also discuss what the following day had in store for us. After that, our Disney Adventure Guides would review the itinerary for the evening's entertainment as well as any logistics for the next day. Following the presentations, we chose one of the two restaurants for dinner, and then we spent the remainder of the evening participating in an activity that was prepared by the Adventure Guide (bingo, karaoke, and the "I Survived the Drake Passage" party were among the highlights). Alternately, when we wanted to unwind in the evening, we would spend time in one of the bars that were on board. The forward Observation Lounge, which was located on the sixth level, was our preferred location for enjoying a nightly cocktail while taking in views of Antarctica.
The opportunity to visit a continent that so few people ever get to see for themselves is without a doubt the highlight of any trip to Antarctica. This is also the primary motivation for anyone who would be willing to risk the Drake Passage. Our adventures included everything from exhilarating Zodiac rides through glaciers and icebergs to amazing close encounters with whales and penguins to educational tours of historic buildings that were left over from the early discovery of Antarctica.
On a day that was particularly beautiful with blue skies, we went to see penguin colonies, hiked up to overlooks with views of glaciers and snow-covered mountains, explored the historic Port Lockroy, and met the first all-female staff of the Antarctic post office. All of these activities took place on the same day. Before getting ready for dinner, we even had time to have a swim in the heated pool aboard the ship, which was surrounded on all sides by the untouched natural beauty of Antarctica.
We embarked on a Zodiac cruise adventure on yet another beautiful day, but the weather was chilly and snowy. Since we couldn't make a landing due to the weather, we decided to just have a cruise around the ship instead of trying to land this time. In all honesty, our expectations weren't very high. After setting out in our Zodiac to look for wildlife, we weren't out on the water for more than a few minutes before we spotted a pod of humpback whales swimming alongside our vessel and a few others. The whale's dorsal fin was visible above the surface of the water as it approached our boat, and it dove beneath the surface just as it appeared like he was about to collide with our vessel. In a few moments, a minke whale swam right in front of us, only a few feet away, and breached the water, exposing its head and fins. This was yet another near encounter. The naturalist who was leading our excursion stated that he had never been that close to a whale before.
Soon after, our guide received a call from the ship asking those who were out on the sea to determine the species of a lone penguin that had been spotted on an iceberg in the area. When we were finally able to get close enough to see it, we discovered that it was a famous emperor penguin, which is an extremely uncommon occurrence in this region of Antarctica. As we stood there admiring the lone penguin standing tall on the enormous blue iceberg, we heard a bang in the distance that sounded like thunder, and we watched as ice broke off from a glacier in the area. When the snow that had fallen during our brief but exhilarating journey enveloped us, we sat there in thrilled shock at the trifecta of Antarctic experiences that we had just undergone. Our naturalist guide, as if the moment couldn't get any better, proposed that my family construct a miniature snowman on the front of the Zodiac using the new snow that gathered in the boat, and we did it. As if the moment could get any better.
Antarctica is the kind of place that you should only visit once in your lifetime. Because most tourists will only go there once, you should make the most of their visit. This begins with selecting the operator that most closely aligns with your preferred travel style and interests. We were pleasantly delighted by Disney's Antarctica trip. This is not your average Disney cruise by any means. It isn't even on a Disney ship; instead, the firm collaborates with Ponant, a premium small-ship cruise service, to employ their high-tech exploration ships for these Adventures by Disney sailings. Although though you won't be able to spot Mickey on board (unless he's in the form of a freshly baked French pastry), you can rest assured that this experience will be Disney-like in all the best ways.
A pre-trip package will be delivered to our homes, marking the beginning of the Disney experience even before the vacation itself has begun. This package set the stage for the adventure by include fun accessories such as Disney hats, luggage straps, water-resistant backpacks (a need for Antarctic expeditions), and specially designed Disney pins for each day of the trip. Throughout the journey, there are thoughtful touches, such as a Champagne toast on our final Zodiac voyage and stamped postcards to send from an Antarctica post office; they certainly thought of everything.
Disney movies, Disney Cruise Line-style bingo, karaoke, and nocturnal dance parties are just some of the family-friendly activities that are included in the Adventures by Disney itinerary. This itinerary is designed to be enjoyable for guests of all ages. Our other passengers ranged from school-aged children (it is important to mention that Junior Adventurers must be at least 10 years old to participate in this trip), to young people, to senior citizens, and everyone in between. The Disney Adventure Guides made certain that everyone had a good time and that the experience was welcoming to all participants.
It could come as a surprise to people who are not aware with Disney's Adventures by Disney that the company offers trips to Antarctica, the continent with the most harsh and inaccessible locations on the planet. Because a trip to Antarctica is not like a traditional family vacation, I am really grateful that I was able to take one with my own family on an Adventures by Disney expedition. It is an experience that cannot be duplicated and will remain ingrained in our memories for many years to come. This place is a location that can change your life. We bonded over our shared experiences of feeling seasick in the Drake Passage, climbing freezing slopes while following penguins, basking in the glow of the midnight sun, and toasting our journey across the White Continent with champagne while floating next to a glacier. To tell you the truth, it's going to be difficult for the next trip that my family and I take to compete with this one.