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Arctic vs. Antarctica: A Traveler’s Guide
Sunrises vs. sunsets, coffee vs. tea, Wonder Woman vs. Superman...
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Orcas (aka Killer Whales) of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic
Orcas are highly social and intelligent members of the dolphin family Delphinidae. They are sometimes referred to as killer whales, though this name has somewhat fallen out of fashion due to inaccurately characterizing orcas as ferocious predators.
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Life migrating through the Polar Front
Since James Cook’s second voyage to Antarctica from 1772-1775, which provided the first descriptions of Antarctic animals, scientists have progressively uncovered the biodiversity of the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions. Numerous expeditions and research projects have since been undertaken to understand the unique ecosystems of this continent.
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Light in the Land of the Midnight Sun
The midnight sun, also referred to as the polar day, is a fascinating natural event observed within the Arctic and Antarctic circles. During the polar summer, the sun remains above the horizon for 24 hours a day, resulting in continuous daylight without any sunrise or sunset. This phenomenon occurs due to the Earth's seasonal tilt towards the sun during the summer months in these regions.
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Seven Tips to Get the Most out of Your Expedition Cruise
Polar cruises are easy to enjoy, but there’s an art to getting the most out of them.
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Camping in Antarctica: a True Expedition Experience
We often think of camping as a summer activity, filled with warm nights, campfire dinners, and serene mountain lakes. However, there's a whole other world of camping to explore.
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A Day of Whale Watching in Antarctica
This morning we awoke early to enjoy the first light in Wilhelmina Bay, with the snow and cloud blanketing the surrounding mountains. As dawn broke, we could see the blows of humpback whales scattered throughout the bay. Some of the whales were closer to the ship and we spotted their small dorsal fins and occasionally their white patterned tails. It was a terrific start to our first full day in Antarctica.
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Discover the Scoresby Sund Fjord System in East Greenland
Are you considering a trip to Greenland? One destination you absolutely must visit is the world's largest fjord with stunning landscapes: Scoresby Sund.
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Five Reasons to Love St. Helena
Being one of the most remote islands on Earth gives St. Helena a unique allure. Named after a Roman empress and the mother of Constantine the Great, this island also holds the distinction of being Napoleon’s final place of exile, making it a fascinating topic of conversation.
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Highlights from the First Arctic Voyage of Hondius
Our new ship Hondius completed its first Arctic expedition cruise on June 14, 2019. This being a new ship, the maiden voyage was not without its hiccups. But despite these, passenger response to the expedition was overwhelmingly positive.
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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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The bowhead whale, whaling about the Arctic
The bowhead whale typically resides near pack ice, often in shallow waters. These whales are commonly found north of Europe, between Canada and Greenland, in the Hudson Bay area, the Okhotsk Sea, and the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. In these regions, they filter food through their large baleen plates. Bowheads are known to open their large mouths and graze along the surface, in the water column, or on the sea floor.
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The Giant Petrels of King George Island
Antarctica is undeniably one of the world’s premier birding destinations.
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Port Lockroy: History, Post Office, and Resident Penguins
Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the stunning coastlines, fjords, and other natural wonders of Antarctica, overlooking the man-made attractions nestled in between.
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The Seasons of Antarctica: When to Visit and Why
You’ve decided to book your dream trip – an adventurous Antarctica cruise that will give you a winning chance to see otherworldly environments, encounter exotic wildlife, and take part in activities that will spoil your inner explorer like nothing else.
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How Arctic Wildlife Differs from Antarctic
While the north and south poles share certain characteristics, they are also remarkably distinct. Both regions are cold and dry, yet each has its own unique terrain and climate. The Antarctic is particularly harsh and inhospitable, with only two native vascular plant species, whereas the Arctic tundra supports a wider range of fauna due to its relatively warmer temperatures and greater plant diversity. Here are some of the animals you can find in the Arctic compared to the Antarctic.
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A Day on m/v Plancius
Stepping aboard this long-running expedition vessel, it’s easy to forget that she’s been making voyages to the polar regions since “Afternoon Delight” by Starland Vocal Band was on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Baleen Whales – The Gentle Giants of the Ocean
They are the largest animals on Earth, yet they thrive on some of the tiniest creatures. These giants can reach lengths of 30 meters (90 feet), but it is the microscopic zooplankton, krill, and small fish that sustain them. These are the baleen whales. Unlike toothed whales, baleen whales lack teeth. Instead, they use plates of baleen in their mouths to trap and consume their tiny prey.
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Six Facts About the Crabeater Seals of Antarctica
Antarctic fur seals, leopard seals, Weddell seals, Ross seals, southern elephant seals... The many seal species of Antarctica all have names that are in some way explained by their appearance or primary region of distribution.
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Ice streams and lakes under the Greenland Ice Sheet
The Greenland ice sheet is a dynamic mass of dense, flowing, and deforming ice. Snow deposited on the central parts of the ice sheet is gradually compressed into ice that slowly moves towards the ice margin. At the ice margin, the ice is removed by melting or by breaking off into icebergs.