We woke to a calm and sunny morning as the ship made its way through the pancake ice and icebergs of the northwestern Weddell Sea. After a hearty breakfast, expedition leader Mike Jackson laid out options for the first part of the morning: Zodiac cruising among the spectacular ice formations or kayaking among the same. Rumors circulated through the ship that the late morning might offer opportunities for the much-anticipated polar plunge! After the morning’s activities and lunch, the ship got underway, crossing to the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula for the remainder of our visit to the White Continent. While cruising during the afternoon, guests took advantage of the down time to edit their photographs, catch up on email and world news, and, when offered, many took advantage of an opportunity to tour the ship’s two galleys.
2/17/2025
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National Geographic Resolution
At Sea
A day was spent at sea on National Geographic Resolution as the expedition to Patagonia and Antarctica approaches the end with our navigation across the Drake Passage to Ushuaia. It is a time for reflection for all those on board to refresh their memories and to view their photographs of the dramatic landscapes and the diverse wildlife we have witnessed while visiting these special places on our planet. We have been blessed with the weather over the last several weeks and, today, the Drake Passage is in a calm state in terms of swells, less than 2 meters. Several long-finned pilot whales were spotted from the bridge and, so too, five species of petrel and a light-mantled albatross. Fin whales, killer whales, and hourglass dolphins were also spotted. During the day, guests enjoyed a number of presentations, including “Tectonic Accidents-The geology of Antarctica” by Jackie Windh and “The Mighty Krill” by Anne Hedlund. Captain Martin Graser gave a presentation on the design and building of National Geographic Resolution , while our photographic team, led by Alex Joseph and Jennifer Davidson Meadows, compiled guests’ photographs for inclusion in the end of voyage slideshow that is planned for tomorrow evening.
