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Jaunted in Antarctica: Rite of Passage

March 12, 2008 at 10:15 AM | 0 Comments

Two of the Lost Girls are sharing their trips with us this week. Amanda just returned from Ecuador while Holly ventured to Antarctica.

Antarctica's remote location isn't the only challenge to setting foot on the continent: It's also protected by the 500-mile wide Drake Passage, home to the world's most turbulent waters. But ignorance was definitely bliss for all the Antarctica virgins on board as our group of about fifty passengers set sail from Ushuaia on the Akademik Shokalskiy.

It ain't a Carnival Cruise. The research vessel's ice-strengthened hull can navigate between floating bergs and fit into nooks and crannies that larger cruise ships can't. The vessel is more cozy than luxurious, with a bar/lounge, small library, dining room, lecture hall and enclosed bridge for spotting whales, albatross and penguins.

Before the seas got too choppy, a mandatory lifeboat drill preceded a champagne toast with the ship's captain that provided a little liquid courage for finding those sea legs. The expedition leader also announced a schedule for lectures covering everything from global warming research stations to the politics of Antarctica. With no access to television, Google or phones, the only options for passing the time at sea were hitting up meals, lectures and the bar.

Mother Nature was pretty calm the first night, until we crossed into the Drake Passage the following morning. High winds and waves reaching over 30 feet tossed the ship around like it was in a washing machine.

Simply making it to lectures became an exercise in balance and mealtime turned chaotic as diners practically fell out of their chairs and dishes slid back and forth along the tables.

And after a few shots of Russian vodka, it's hard to tell if it's seasickness or alcohol that's making your head spin. Most passengers lost their appetites and the ship's doctor dispensed seasickness pills like candy. But hey, the Drake is a rite of passage: If we didn't want a big adventure, we could have just gone to Sea World.

--Holly Corbett

Related Stories:
· Antarctica Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Jaunted Field Trips [Jaunted]

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Author Photo: pbb by pbb

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