At 71 years old, never intends to stop travelling
The joy of travelling after the age of 60 is that you not only get to visit and experience exciting new places, but you additionally have the opportunity to meet new people and make an abundance of new friends. It adds so much more to the palette of our lives than all that’s gone before.
Another aspect is that travel companies have recognised that many in our age group have significant financial clout and they are all competing for our business. So keep your eye’s open as there are bargains and savings to be had that really open up the world!
Antarctica presents a sensory overload. The pictures and films you see on TV do not do this magnificent place justice; it is just awe-inspiring. On our arrival, we woke up to find that snow had fallen on the ship, yet within minutes, it was swiftly followed by blue sky and bright sunlight that lit up the snow-covered mountains in all their magnificence. If you’re concerned about the cold weather in Antarctica, wait a few minutes, and your mindset will shift.
Penguins frolicked in and out of the calm sea as if impersonating dolphins, whilst seals stretched out lazily on ice floes soaking up the warm rays of the January sun. Even humpback whales snoozed on the water. Above all, you can place yourself amongst that elite group who have walked upon the white continent and watched in awe as the albatross wafted serenely above the stern of your ship in the Southern Ocean.
Essentials needed
You must take some form of waterproof over trousers with you, hats, gloves and thermal undergarments and remember a good pair of sunglasses or ski goggles. That said, your chosen operator will send you a list before you go. However, in many ways, the most crucial factor in visiting Antarctica is your knees.
You will need to take into consideration the sea ice and how much you want to really get into the wild. Most companies who visit here use zodiacs. Their only real drawback is that you sit on the sides and hang on to the rope, and we get pretty wet in choppy water.
If you wish to get really adventurous, then have a look at operators who use Polar Cirkle boats. They have steps on the bow to help you get in and out, whereas, with a zodiac, you’re going to have to swing your legs out and over to land. With their solid hull, the Polar Cirkle boats get into where the zodiacs can’t by cutting through ice fields. Having said that, I have talked to people on zodiacs who have told me they have had a wonderful experience.
Many of the landings can be on slippery, rocky beaches where you need to watch your footing. Do ask if your company provides waterproof boots with a thick tread underneath as part of the package; they can prove invaluable. The lands can be brutal, but the rewards on the islands can be immense.
What else to expect in this iced paradise
There are no organised Broadway shows or films as you would expect on the larger cruise lines. Still, the small ships visiting Antarctica do give excellent lectures on a variety of polar subjects, from penguins to the history of the region’s exploration.
The lectures are designed so that the following day you may visit the locations mentioned and view wildlife and, on some islands, the huts where the early explorers and scientists lived and worked. One of these is the British base at Port Lockroy, which is now run by The Antarctic Heritage Trust, which operates as a museum here. There’s an excellent souvenir shop and post office where we bought lots of goodies, from bags to ties and sweatshirts. All the profits go to preserving historic huts in Antarctica.
It’s never too late
Antarctica is full of surprises. One day we even found ourselves tobogganing down a steep slope at a Chilean research base, but no more so than at Deception Island, where, if you wish, you can swim in the Antarctic Ocean. The island is actually the crater of an active volcano that the sea has broken into, so the warmer water inside allows you to go for a very brief dip!
If you stay on land whilst you are walking on the two-foot-deep black volcanic ash to investigate the old whaling station, steam rises up and drifts in front of you, mixing with the gently falling snow. The trips to the islands and a walk upon the Antarctic mainland itself do you leave you spellbound.
Thousands of penguins in their rookeries, leopard seals patrolling the shore in search of meals from a careless bird and killer whales haunting the ice floes looking for either and thus completing the food chain are waiting for you. You will always remember your visit to Antarctica.
Steve Newman was a guest of Hurtigruten for his trip to Antarctica.
If you are passionate about hiking in the wild nature, check out our Naturalist Journeys page to discover other exciting destinations.
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Steve Newman
Steve Newman is a former primary school teacher who gave it all up to become a freelance travel writer and photographer. When he’s not exploring the world, reviewing hotels or interviewing fascinating people, he’s birdwatching in the hill and on the beaches of his beloved Northumberland.