With excitement, our guests witnessed the wonder of their first glimpse of Antarctica, the continent appearing on the horizon as we navigated through a field of majestic, startlingly white icebergs set against a dramatic backdrop of snow-laden skies.

We began the morning with a leisurely expedition boat cruise around the Yalour Islands, home to a mixed rookery of chattering gentoo penguins ready to dive into the water with their white swim cap markings adorning their heads and their striking red beaks. Beside these colourful birds we observed the stylish and ever elegant Adélie penguins, always dressed for dinner. A smattering of Weddell and elephant seals lounged along the shoreline, lazily awaiting our arrival.