Antarctica - Ultramarine

Argentina | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Ultramarine

We spent four days exploring the Antarctica peninsula, but for nine days our home was on Quark's newest ship the Ultramarine. The two year old ship was small compared to most cruise ships, 150 of a maximum 200 were aboard, but that allowed for more exploration options. I had never been on a cruise before and didn't know what to expect. I was surprised by how large our room was. Despite being one of the cheaper options it was the size of a normal hotel room with a large window. The ship served three meals a day along with "afternoon tea" (no tiny sandwiches) and snacks. A fine dining experience was found in their main restaurant while a small buffet was served in a separate bistro. The ship had a theater for lectures and upper lounge for wildlife viewing and nighttime activities. Also included was a spa and workout room, neither of which I used.

Explorations were handled through the ship's two helicopters and fleet of 20 zodiac boats. Kayaks and paddle boards were also onboard for the daily activities. There were two ready rooms where passengers could get dressed up for the various outings. This included our heavy orange jackets, muck boots, life vests and dry suits. For snowshoeing we also had to wear harnesses. The guides had a very efficient system of grouping up the passengers so everyone could do multiple daily activities without crowding or getting backed up.

There were 30 guides who orchestrated all the activities. Many of the guides were specialist including a marine biologist, historian, ornithologist, geologist and mountain guides. Multiple times a day they would give lectures on various topics related to Antarctica. Outside they guided the zodiac tours and assisted with the on land exploration and helicopter tours. They did a great job making things run smoothly and keeping the passengers entertained and educated.

Overall the experience was incredible. Though costly I felt the trip was well worth it. Despite losing a day there were more than enough activities packed in the remaining four days on the continent. I'm not into the luxury cruise experience, but I enjoyed my time on the ship, other than the Drake Passage crossings where I got a little seasick.