Latest news with #DrakePassage
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Travel + Leisure
07-08-2025
- Travel + Leisure
I Spent 20 Days in Antarctica and Learned Epic Life Lessons—Here's How You Can, Too
I've traveled the globe as a luxury travel advisor, but after spending 20 days in Antarctica, crossing glaciers and sleeping under the midnight sun, I returned home with a host of profound realizations that are more valuable than any passport stamp. Here are five life lessons that I learned on the frozen continent—and how you can experience them for yourself. A trip to Antarctica is the ultimate invitation to slow down. I went fully offline once I arrived, and only took photos with a proper camera. I was determined to truly see the sights in front of me: the shocking blue of an iceberg, a humpback whale breaching, even the quiet delight of a hot shower after sleeping on ice. I would suggest doing the same on your trip. Unplug, keep a journal, and celebrate little luxuries, like sipping champagne from crystal glasses on your final Zodiac boat ride. Research shows that the act of mindfully enjoying an experience amplifies our happiness. Exploring ice caves with White Desert Antarctica. White Desert Antarctica Echo There's nothing like standing on the ice at a high-end camp, surrounded by thousands of miles of untouched wilderness. This vastness makes everyday stress feel trivial. Antarctica has been forming for over 35 million years, so your inbox can wait. Whether you fly in, cross the Drake Passage, or choose a hybrid route, just getting there shifts your perspective. Part of my itinerary included a trip to South Georgia Island, where I stepped off the Zodiac boat into a world that didn't feel like mine. Penguins porpoised from the sea, the wind howled, and I had the distinct sense that I was the novelty the animals had come to see. At that moment, I was fully immersed—no past or future, just deep presence. That state, known as flow , brings a quiet joy that lingers long after a trip ends. To experience it, don't skip South Georgia. It's imbued with an emotional richness that you can't replicate. King penguins on South Georgia Island's Gold Harbor.A year after I sustained a major injury, I found myself flying to Antarctica from Cape Town for a mountaineering expedition. I was nervous, but I learned to use crampons, rappel, and cross glaciers safely. That experience rebuilt my sense of self-efficacy—the belief that we can do hard things. Since then, I've summited Grand Teton, earned a master's in positive psychology, and even transformed my business to focus on using travel as a path to well-being. If you're looking to push your own limits, White Desert's Echo Camp offers comfort and challenge in equal measure. A ship traversing the Drake Passage in Antarctica, nature calls the shots and weather scrambles even the best plans. Living with uncertainty like this reminded me how little we control—and how that can ultimately feel liberating. This acceptance that you're not in control of everything is a powerful feeling to bring back to your day-to-day life, and career. If you're looking for a journey that can transform you as much as it thrills you, Antarctica delivers. Approach it with intention and you'll leave with lessons that linger long after you've returned home. Sarah Groen is a member of Travel + Leisure's A-List and specializes in trips to polar regions. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Groen at [email protected] .
Condé Nast Traveler
21-05-2025
- Condé Nast Traveler
Reaching Antarctica Has Never Been Easier—Thanks to This Epic Cruise
With its wind-swept glaciers, craggy snow-covered peaks, and curious penguins punctuating the pristine polar scape, Antarctica is as untouched as it is unforgettable. And it's a destination that, for many people, tops travel dreams. But reaching the most remote region on earth has historically been an adventurous journey through the Drake Passage, a scenic, albeit rough-watered route vessels have long had to cross when sailing from the southernmost tip of South America to Antarctica. But the long haul has become a simple jaunt thanks to Silversea Antarctica Fly Cruise, which whisks passengers to the edge of the world faster, smoother, and more luxuriously, by way of their combined and all-inclusive Antarctica Fly Cruise. Silversea charts a shortened course, bypassing the Drake Passage altogether and flying passengers to Antarctica directly by charter plane from Santiago to Punta Arenas, Chile. And starting in 2026, passengers will have the added option of flying from Santiago to Puerto Williams, Chile before making their way to Antarctica. This truncated trip is a quick under-two-hour hop, compared to the two-day trek it would typically take to cross the Passage by water. For travelers eager to make the most of their time and stay, it's the perfect option. And of course, for those who want the full experience, there are longer options that sail through the Drake Passage. Easing Into the Adventure While Antarctica's crystal frontier, rich wildlife, and remote wilderness regions are a lure for the intrepid traveler, Silversea Antarctica Fly Cruise makes the experience comfortable and altogether lavish, starting with a stay at The Cormorant at 55 SouthSM. Images are intended as general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown. Located in Puerto Williams, Chile, exclusively for Silversea guests, the 150-room property, set to open in 2026, will be the southernmost hotel on earth. Named for both its location (it sits 55 degrees south of the equator) and the cormorant bird, which symbolizes a seafarer in ancient South American culture, The CormorantSM complements the experience at sea by steeping guests in its idyllic location and lodging them in the lap of luxury. Set on a bluff overlooking the Beagle Channel, the hotel brings the outside in thanks to its earthy décor, expansive windows, and open-plan design. Luxury by Land and Sea Whether you're embarking on a 6-, 9-, or 15-day journey, every Silversea ship delivers refined luxury at sea in an intimate vessel equipped to reach the unreachable. The experience begins from the moment you step outside your door to find the Silversea chauffeur service waiting to shepherd you and your luggage to the airport in style. It continues as you walk onto the ship's gangway and into the heated mudrooms, where your expedition outerwear is carefully removed, expertly cleaned, and sanitized before it's delivered to your suite by a butler who'll cater to your every whim during the length of your stay. With a higher space-to-guest ratio on board each vessel, private and public spaces feel generously roomy. All-suite accommodations offer sweeping ocean views and private verandas. And here, all-inclusive means 24-hour access to gourmet cuisine from multiple fine dining options or butler-served courses enjoyed in-suite. There are premium spirits available for toasting at every turn, a world-class spa in which to unwind, and sophisticated nightly entertainment. An Immersive Expedition Antarctica may be the most faraway realm on the planet, but Silversea Antarctica Fly Cruise brings it closer to home. The journey begins to unfold as soon as you're welcomed aboard the ship. A team of naturalists, biologists, and geologists helps the destination come to life through lectures and workshops, offering rich insight and context to the quest ahead. But what truly makes this a voyage of discovery is the expert-guided journey through the wonder of this destination unknown. Choose your own adventure by zodiac boat, kayak, or on foot, to cross frozen terrain far off the grid and brave uncharted waters for deeper discovery and up-close encounters with wildlife. Agile Zodiacs make it possible to navigate through narrow inlets, glide over sheets of ice, and float by towering icebergs in Pleneau Bay and historical whaling relics in Whalers Bay. If you're lucky, you might see a whale or two breach the surface along the way. Kayaking puts you even closer to nature and its nautical inhabitants. As you paddle through fjords, a leopard seal may swim alongside for the ride. Walk ashore in the footsteps of explorers who came before on a guided hike through majestic geological formations and icy expanses where colonies of gentoo penguins play and wandering albatross roam the earth. Whether you're plunging into polar waters or trekking across glacial plains, every moment is an opportunity to take exploration to the extreme. Set sail for the extraordinary by visiting
Fox News
04-04-2025
- Fox News
Luxury cruise ship caught in 40-foot waves while traveling through Drake Passage
Passengers on a cruise ship sailing through rough seas got more than they bargained for when waves up to 40 feet rocked passengers onboard. Video posted to Instagram shows massive waves hitting the Quark Expeditions' Ocean Explorer ship, which was traveling between Antartica and the tip of South Africa, known as the Drake Passage, according to the New York Post. "Imagine if you signed up for a 48 hour rollercoaster," one travel blogger wrote on Instagram. "Yes, we were safe and it was insane…and at times, even fun? 1000% worth it for this trip of a lifetime!" Lesley Anne Murphy, a travel blogger, said that crew on the ship had told passengers to stay in their cabins until the ship was no longer being rocked by the waves. Quark Expeditions said the Drake Passage has "fierce weather and extremely powerful waves," since it's an area where the Pacific, Atlantic, and Southern oceans flow. The company said its ships are "built to navigate such waters." "I am proud to say we survived not one but two Drake Shakes," Murphy wrote. "If you're lucky, you get the 'Drake Lake.' If you're like us, you get the 'Drake Shake' with 35-foot waves."
