Ever wondered what it’s like to spend Christmas in Antarctica?
In this festive edition of Our Routes, our Marketing Manager, Laura Radford, shares her experience sailing to the Antarctic Peninsula aboard Le Boréal with PONANT. From wildlife encounters to long, light-filled evenings on the ice, it’s a journey that felt far removed from a traditional Christmas – in the best possible way.
Laura all smiles in the Antarctic sunshine
Which destinations did you visit?
The Antarctic Peninsula, with time in Buenos Aires beforehand, before travelling down to Ushuaia to begin the expedition cruise.
Laura captures a pair of gentoo penguins resting on the rocks
How did you get there?
I flew to Buenos Aires, via Rio, before continuing south to Ushuaia.
From there, I boarded Le Boréal and set out on the Antarctica cruise.
Laura’s photo of the Ponant ship Le Boreal
First time or repeat trip?
It was my first time visiting Antarctica.
It’s somewhere I’d thought about for a long time, but being there in person is very different to imagining it.
Favourite location?
Paradise Bay and Portal Point both stand out.
We were lucky with the weather, which made a difference – clear skies, bright snow, and a real sense of calm. That said, the whole Antarctic Peninsula feels constantly changing. Each landing brings something slightly different.
A Christmas Day toast in Paradise Bay
Most memorable moment?
One evening, quite late – though it was still light – the captain announced that orcas had been spotted at the front of the ship.
Everyone headed out onto the deck straight away, whatever they were wearing at the time (for us it was Christmas pjs!). Seeing them in those conditions, in the wild, felt quite special.
Another moment that stayed with me was at Neko Harbour, where humpback whales were active for hours around the ship. You could watch them from the deck, from a Zodiac, or even from your cabin.
Whale tail fluke captured by Laura
Best excursion/experience?
It’s difficult to separate them.
Each landing and Zodiac cruise offered something different – from learning more about glaciers and ice formations to spending time around penguin colonies and exploring volcanic landscapes.
It’s the variety that makes the experience.
Ice in the backdrop of the mountains of Neko Harbour
What do you most recommend packing or prepping for?
Layering works well, but you may find you need less than expected once you’re there.
One thing I’d definitely recommend is good eye protection – the brightness from the snow can be surprisingly strong, even on overcast days. A snood or buff is also useful, particularly during Zodiac rides where the wind is more noticeable
Laura and her partner in the warm jackets provided by Ponant
Favourite food and drink on trip?
The food onboard PONANT is remarkable.
There was a wide choice throughout the voyage, and it felt well thought through rather than excessive. As a vegetarian, I always had plenty of options, which made a difference over the course of the trip.
Favourite photo or video you took?
A photo of an Adélie penguin we spotted on an ice floe.
We’d seen plenty of gentoo and chinstrap penguins, but this was the only Adélie of the trip. It stayed there for a while before slipping into the water, and I managed to capture it from the Zodiac – which isn’t always easy.
Laura’s great shot of the perching Adélie penguin
Sum up your trip in three words
Life-changing. Mesmerising. Otherworldly!
Thinking about experiencing Antarctica for yourself?
Speak to one of our cruise consultants and start shaping a journey that’s right for you.
