I waited for the waves to break before doing my thing once I carefully stepped down the gangway of the cruise liner. After striding in a flash, I was in my small boat. Within minutes, our small group of tourists bounces by floating chunks of strikingly blue ice and a napping seal. The boat lands on a rocky beach, and I swing my legs over the zodiac to step onto the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.

An astounding sight coupled with a stinging pungent smell welcomed me as I strode along blocks of ice along the beach. A hundred adelie penguins surrounded me, waddling happily. Up a craggy slope their numbers rose, right as far as I can behold. This is the first landing we have on this remotest among all the continents, and indeed, this two day cruise through infamously unrelenting oceans, from Ushuaia, Argentina, is worth every cent. More and more travelers across the globe see that this huge crystalline wilderness at world's bottom is worth all the trouble. Further information on Antarctica cruise adventure can be found there.

Just last year, 26,000 visitors poured in and the number rises each year. Lectures on global sneaky penguins seem to break swirling blue patterns. It may be the coldest continent in the world, but the weather can be surprisingly pleasant during the December days of the austral summer. Going way beyond 40s in the area of the peninsula, temperatures can reach beyond freezing. From November to March, the trip usually runs.

This ship, 100 meters long goes on an 11 day cruise with its tough exterior and is always almost full, capable of welcoming around a hundred passengers on board. The vessel is not so fancy, but it is very comfortable. Many would frequent their lush bar and lounge plugs a placid library and a huge auditorium. People go on Antarctic trips aboard small yachts. At the evening of Friday, we leave the port. The following day is when we get the chance to behold magnificent traveling birds from the southern seas such as the mesmerizing albatross in flight.

By infusing activities with lectures by different experts in marine biology, geology, bird science, history and the visual arts, the tour guides are certain that the passengers are not bored while on the cruise ship.During the tour, global warming lectures were not present even as this was often a topic of discussion. You can get resources on Antarctica cruise vacations by visiting this site.

Continental landings and nearby island action comprised most of the highlights of the trip. Experiences like listening to a calving iceberg's stentorian cracking boom or perhaps witnessing the destructive movement of an avalanche from afar can be unforgettable sights.From the vessel's decks, so much can be seen. As the span of darkness is quite short this time of year, travelers get their money's worth and much more.

As you climb up the deck to witness the huge array of wind crafted icebergs parade themselves, glorious in either blue or white shades, be sure to dress up to stay warm against cold, strong winds. We went through glorious white landscapes in high mountains glazed with glaciers that hang high. Few times, whales would be surfacing, showing their beauty. A long glorious sunset paints the sky with bright hues of red and orange.

One of the passengers was very sick and in need of evacuation and this shocked us as we got back on board the ship. Such entails going back to the South Shetland Islands for an airstrip and this can be achieved only after a long detour overnight. Because of evacuations like this, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars, many tour groups highly recommend that passengers get medical evacuation insurance.

As soon as the passenger was sent to Chile for his evacuation, we found our way to Ardley Island, where Gentoo chicks were being fed by their penguin parents. Delicately, a snack of krill is regurgitated by the mother penguin after putting the chick's head in its own mouth, thus a strand of slime between the two beaks.