This is the best!
Having just read some recent reviews I am really surprised and sad about the experience Ben M had on the same cruise as me because for me, it was the most exhilarating experience from start to finish. I was waiting for a Zodiac when Ben was and although there were no seals or penguins near the landing tarp when I arrived, while we were waiting to go back to the Sea Spirit, a weaner Elephant Seal pup came across the beach towards us and decided to investigate the tarp. The excursion guides kept us as far away from the pup as they could and most of us stood in the water to give the pup its space. On another occasion when King Penguins came ashore close to the Zodiacs, the guides did the same, keeping us away from their trail and giving them as much space as possible. I had the most incredible cruise and came on here to say that I found that the Excursion staff, the Hotel staff and the ships crew worked together to give us as many landings and good excursions as possible, and they achieved this. The respect shown by the guides to Biosecurity and to the environment and animals, often under challenging conditions, was exceptional in my view. I am now on the ensuing cruise to Antarctica because my experience of the former one was so brilliant, and I'm happy to say that the standards are equally high and I am having the best time!