In college I joined the United States Coast Guard Reserves. While in basic training in Cape May, New Jersey in the summer of 1983, I learned about two Polar Class Icebreakers (the USCGC Polar Star and USCGC Polar Sea) and always thought that would have been a great tour. However, after college, I ended up joining the Air Force instead, and no, we do not have any Air Force bases in Antarctica. Since then, it has always been in the back of my mind.
In 2016, my wife and I went on a cruise to Alaska on Holland America’s Noordam. It was a great week and we loved our time visiting Vancouver before and after the cruise. The drive to Whistler was one of the many highlights. We look forward to the opportunity to explore the Canadian Northwest in more detail someday in the future.
Ever since that trip, I continued to get emails from VacationsToGo.com to see what other cruise specials might come along. In February, I saw a special on Celebrity Cruises to go on a 14-day trip to Antarctica on the Celebrity Eclipse. After discussions, we went ahead a booked it. So for the last 8 months, I have been able to dream about and plan our trip. And in 77 days, our trip will begin.
So far we have booked our excursions for Ushuaia, Argentina (the Canoe trip to the end of the World) and to see some penguins on the Falkland Islands. Need to still decide what to do in Puerto Madryn, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay. Have made hotel reservations at a cute little boutique hotel called Miravida Soho Hotel and are really looking forward to seeing Buenos Aires.
My goal is to post photos, videos and a running update of our cruise and travels. If anyone enjoys my photos and comments, all the better. Two and a half months to go, can’t wait.
Rob’s Antarctica Cruise 2020 