Our southbound crossing of the Drake Passage has been an easy one so far, with light winds and a long, low swell rolling in from the west. There’s been a bit of motion on the ship during the day, but for the most part, the weather gods have smiled on us and shown us their kindness rather than their fury. We spent the day preparing for our visit to the Antarctic Peninsula, learning about the seabirds that live over this wild ocean, decontaminating our gear to avoid introducing invasive species to the White Continent, and preparing for the photographic adventures ahead with a short talk and some hands-on sessions with the photo team.
3/12/2025
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea towards Ushuaia
It was a day for reflection. Our journey was coming to an end as we left the Falklands behind and National Geographic Endurance steamed towards South America and Ushuaia. The seas were kind to us, and despite low winds, we had black-browed albatross, among other birds, around us. In the morning, we listened to the naturalists onboard as they presented on different subjects in the ice lounge. Land-ho! Mid-morning we had land in sight, South America was appearing on the horizon. Upon entering the Beagle Channel, we saw possibly a hundred sei whales. While the seabirds were waiting for the wind on the surface, the whales were feeding a short distance from the ship. As our vessel waited for the pilot to arrive, we could still see whale blows in the distance. We enjoyed a teatime extravaganza with Chef Sara and her team. Cheese and wine brought most of the ship’s inhabitants to deck 8, and while sipping wine we watched sea lions, dolphins, and stunning views of Tierra del Fuego go by until it was time for Captain Aaron’s farewell toast. As much as we are reflecting on our expedition today, it has also been a day of celebration! It has been an incredible journey of many miles, great people, and wonderful experiences. Thank you all!
