Amazing Antarctica with Viking

My adult daughter, Regan, and I were among 365 adventurers aboard Viking’s Octantis to the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica, embarking Dec. 16, 2024, for 18 days.

We're on the 7th continent!

I’ve traveled with Viking on an ocean cruise and loved the luxurious pampering. But for an expedition, Viking wasn’t our first choice: it carries up to 400 passengers vs. 200 or fewer on other ships — and it’s still relatively new to the polar region. However, this itinerary included the Falklands and South Georgia. Both locations were top priorities for us due to the immensity of wildlife there — and fit within Regan’s schedule.

Gentoo penguins at Recess Cove, Antarctica

We had worried we wouldn’t get to kayak, wouldn’t see whales, wouldn’t get on land much, would have our trip curtailed by weather or other issues, would be pummeled by the Drake.

Instead, we had eight days of expedition activities and the weather, views and wildlife got better and better. We lost a day in the Falklands to get ahead of storms and rearranged plans in South Georgia due to high winds and avian flu impacts. Then we had great (though mostly overcast) weather in Antarctica, and wrapped up with an unusually calm “Drake Lake” coming back.

King penguins at Port Stanley, the Falklands

If you know Viking, you know the ship, staff and food were fabulous--even at the end of the world!

The expedition crew did a nice job juggling the logistics of schedule changes and excursions on its kayaks, Zodiacs, Special Operations Boats (SOBs) and two submarines.

We’re very active scouters, and saw oodles of seabirds, including albatrosses — four types of seals (fur, elephant, Weddell and crabeater) — six types of penguins (king, gentoos, macaroni, chinstrap, Adelie and Magellanic) and three types of whales (fin, humpback and orca, briefly). We couldn’t believe how many humpbacks we saw, and how close they were!

In all, we went ashore once in the Falklands, once in South Georgia and four times in Antarctica.

Salisbury Plain king penguins, South Georgia

We got to admire the world’s largest iceberg, A23A, for hours on Christmas. We also rammed the ship into sea/fast ice twice. We were the first to kayak in a glacial lake that had been frozen until now, threaded icebergs in kayaks to get closer to whales, learned about Viking’s commitment to research and conservation and, of course, walked on the continent at Recess Cove.

A23A, the largest iceberg in the world (about the size of Rhode Island)

I have been reliving our journey every day since our return, with appreciation, and longing. Antarctica captured my heart and I’m already planning to return.

Viking Octantis

The Antarctic expedition season runs October–March. The most common journeys are 9–12 day cruises from Argentina or Chile, which include four days in the dreaded Drake passage. (There are fly-the-Drake options!)

We highly recommend an itinerary that includes the Falklands and South Georgia with their unbelievable numbers of wildlife. This is offered less frequently, and will be a longer, more expensive voyage--but will go through the Drake only once!

There are many beautiful purpose-built ships to choose from, ranging in size from 13 to 500 passengers. (Boats with 501 or more guests are not allowed to land in Antarctica.)

So check your calendar, find the itinerary you want, then hone in on the cruise companies that meet your needs.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Antarctica page.