Although virtually every second of the trip was extraordinary, the ship we sailed on heightened the experience. We had researched the typical expedition ships and they were not really what interested us. We didn’t want to live in bunkrooms or small, tiny cabins while eating in the cafeteria “mess” style. On the other end of the spectrum, we couldn’t justify the expense of some of the other, more “upscale” ships doing the route.
Although our ship, Compagnie du Ponant’s L’Austral, was truly as described (a luxury “yacht”), this was absolutely an expedition trip—as high intensity as any (as Jerome the Cruise Director said, “and just think—you paid for this!). 9 landings including 3 the first day on the Peninsula, 3 continental landings, including 1 within 1 hour of 100 years of Amundsen planting the flag for the first time at the South Pole.
Through it all, the beauty was the ability to return from an exhausting afternoon outside, hiking in knee deep snow, fighting winds and cold and sometimes rain or snow, to enjoy great French cuisine, an espresso maker in the cabin, a balcony cabin (extremely rare in Antarctic ships), cabaret entertainment with a Parisian dance troupe, a pop duet and a lounge singer—an entertainment staff of nearly a dozen. Plus, an incredibly attentive crew that knew not only your names but your preferences. Glasses of wine (or beer) with all meals. Truly innovative cuisine but the ability to “drop back” to a steak or a simple salmon dish should you wish. And the naturalists—10 very talented men and women who love their jobs and enhanced the entire experience from the very first briefing to the final recap.
It was the best of both worlds. The wild, unconquerable, unpredictable white continent juxtaposed with the luxurious, personalized service of an intimate French cruise ship. We couldn’t have asked for a better combination.
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