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The Overlooked Treasures of Ascension Island
If you know anything about Ascension Island, which is unlikely, it probably has to do with the green turtle breeding population that exists there.
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Svalbard’s Texas Bar
Texas Bar is one of the historic areas we visit on certain Svalbard trips, and it always proves to be a cherished landing site among both our guides and guests. This might be surprising, however, given that its name can be a bit misleading.
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Seven Sublime Antarctic Bays
Antarctica is renowned for its glaciers, icebergs, and panoramic colonies of penguins. However, less known are the stunning crystal-clear bays that dot the Great White Continent, many of which are explored on our Antarctica cruise routes.
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Path of Polar Heroes: Hiking Shackleton’s Historic Route
“We had seen God in his splendors, heard the text that Nature renders.” ~Ernest Shackleton
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Of Treacherous Rocks & Audacious Fin Whales
Soon large blows filled our view; small groups of fin whales sped by heading north all the while feeding on concentrations of krill & small fish. Group after group was seen, with many simply feeding in the general area and not heading anywhere in particular. Soon it became evident that we were not simply seeing a few random groups of fins, but a very large concentration spread out over a large area of sea just north and around the islands north of the South Shetlands. Dozens upon dozens of fin whales were feeding, diving around the ship and on the horizon in massive numbers; we must have seen well over fifty fin whales in the general area of Elephant Island, something many of the guides had never seen before.
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Book Recommendations for Your Polar Cruise
Though books can't replace the experience of visiting the polar regions, they make excellent companions for your journey. We reached out to our social media followers, many of whom are past or future travelers, to gather their recommendations for polar-related books. The results were impressive, and we've compiled them below in no particular order.
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Arctic Icon: 10 Facts about the Polar Bear
Polar bears are to the Arctic what penguins are to Antarctica.
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A Diving Dream Fulfilled
Last January, Mark Hatter achieved a dream he’d been training for over two years. Booking his berth aboard the m/v Ortelius and making the long flight to Ushuaia, Argentina, he and two of his friends sailed down the famous Drake Passage, bound for Earth’s southernmost continent. But their Antarctica trip was not just about shoreline walks and photographing penguins.
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Polar Marine Visitors: the Whales of Antarctica and the Arctic
Whales are the world’s largest mammals, found in the Arctic and Antarctica. This article covers some of the major species you may see on voyages to these remarkable areas.
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North Norway, Northern Lights, and All the Pretty Whales
At first glance, visiting Northern Norway outside of a blazing-hot summer might seem daunting for the average traveler.
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12 photo tips to make better pictures on your Antarctica cruise
During your trip in the Arctic or Antarctic cruise you and your camera equipment will be exposed to a variety of challenging conditions. Be careful with your equipment and protect it from the salty spray when in Zodiacs, on a beach, or on deck. Salt water and electronics is not a good mix!
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South Georgia Whaling Stations
South Georgia is a paradise for animal enthusiasts. It stands out as one of the most wildlife-abundant destinations in our polar expeditions, whether in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere.
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Polar Amore: 14 Wildlife Pics to Warm up Your Valentine’s Day
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Greenland: East vs. West
East and West Greenland offer vastly different experiences due to their unique climates, wildlife, habitation, and geology.
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Polar Bears and Pack Ice: 22 Pics from North Spitsbergen
Last month, we explored one of the premier Arctic cruise destinations in our North Spitsbergen blog. That post not only detailed our itinerary in this breathtaking region but also highlighted some of the stunning locations where you might encounter polar bears, whales, walruses, seals, seabirds, and the mesmerizing ice formations of the far north.
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Earth vs. Mars: Polar Regions Compared
It’s well-known that Mars, like Earth, has its own polar regions, often referred to as the Martian ice caps. These regions, similar to Earth's, are situated at the north and south poles and experience much lower temperatures compared to the areas in-between.
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Eight Ultimate Antarctica Adventures
Antarctica has adventure in its bones. Long before most travelers even reach the continent, they have to cross the Drake Passage, an oft-tumultuous waterway considered by many a hallmark of high adventure in itself. Once you do reach the Antarctic shores, the variations of landscape and wildlife are as multiform as the activities you can pursue there. While not all of these activities can or should be shoehorned into a single article, this piece will give you a survey of the top eight. Like everything in the polar regions, these activities are subject to weather conditions – and your own threshold for adventure.
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12 Things to Do in Antarctica
Traveling to Antarctica is unlike traveling to any other place on Earth.
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15 Toothy Facts About the Atlantic Walrus
The walrus is one of the most recognizable animals on the planet, and for good reason. Try sneaking into a cinema with those tusks!
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Under the Greenland Ice Sheet
Anyone who ventures to the right part of the globe can encounter vast amounts of ice, but a Greenland cruise offers something truly unique: ice sculptures hidden beneath the northern ice sheet. Scientists once thought these sculptures were rocky hills buried in ice, similar to the Ghost Mountains in Antarctica. However, it turns out that Mother Nature has crafted one of the most exclusive art exhibits in the world. These sculptures are not visible from the surface, but some scientists have managed to get a sneak peek using radar equipment.