Elite Traveler Spring 2023

DAY10-11 We began the journey back across the Drake Passage, spending languid days playing Scrabble in the bar and working our way through the delectable cocktail menu. During my trip, Oscar-winning French fi lm director Luc Jacquet and his crew were aboard to fi lm a new documentary, Magnetic Continent . The fi rst public viewing of the trailer was held along with raw footage shot by the fi lm crew during our trip.

DAY8-9 Heading north to the Larsen Inlet (named for Carl Anton Larsen, a Norwegian whaling captain, who reported the area in 1893), we took a Zodiac to the snow-covered land to discover a champagne bar that had been set up with magnums of Veuve Clicquot (chilled by the snow, of course). Later that day, there was an opportunity to step onto the continent of Antarctica proper — some guests braved a polar plunge into the icy waters; a warm drink was waiting upon reboarding the ship, or a visit to the whisky lounge was also an option to help warm the cockles. I made the less brave decision to head to the spa and have a seriously soothing massage and a session in the sauna (which has fl oor-to-ceiling windows so you can keep a lookout for penguins and seals), followed by a bracing trip to the ice room. The following day we stepped onto Paulet Island, home to such an astonishing number of Adélie penguins that it took my eyes a while to adjust. They are one of the few penguins (along with the emperor penguin) that are only found in Antarctica. The small penguins gather in large colonies to nest, which we were lucky enough to witness; the penguins create a nest in the ground surrounded by small stones and incubate the eggs by sitting on them. Other guests boarded kayaks and glided around the island, occasionally joined by a swimming Adélie alongside.

As I begin to try and put this profound experience into words, I’m reminded of captain Garcia noting that it is hard to articulate just how magical it is — the only way to truly understand is to see for yourself. by Samantha Coles From $23,220 per person. Contact usreservations@ponant.com, +1 888 400 1082, en.ponant.com