Our second day crossing the Drake Passage was still accompanied by slightly shaky seas, reflecting the energy of the Southern Ocean. The day was filled with a varied onboard program, including the important IAATO briefing, which outlined environmental guidelines and our responsibilities as visitors to Antarctica. We also spent time wildlife watching from the decks, observing seabirds gliding alongside the ship. In the early evening, excitement grew as we caught our first distant glimpses of the South Shetland Islands on the horizon, signalling that Antarctica was finally within reach.