Didn't have much chance to send seamail while on Zodiac; I really missed free internet. Also, it will be a couple of weeks before our pix are ready for posting. Still, here is a short recap of my impressions; not of penguins, seals, whales, and icebergs (there have been plenty of posts on these) but rather on the experience.

Our group was FANTASTIC. We made up around 20% of the 126 pax onboard. It was great to meet, for the first time, Chris and Linda and Tim and Barbara and Brayden. The group was small enough and cruise long enough that we had plenty of time to enjoy our fellow cruisemates. We started by running into Ed and Mary first morning at Hilton in BA followed by a great dinner for 16 (thanks to Andrea and Andi for organizing). Then, each day, three meals a day, we were able to share the experience with great friends.

Besides the sightseeing, we had plenty of time to play hearts and pooch; but, the highlight of each day was cocktail hour. Ok, briefing and recap were probably more educational but cocktail hour came to be a great time to just meet and relax. The chef probably did not like us sending back his fancy h'ors deouvres each afternoon and asking for bowl after bowl of ruffles potato chips. :)

As for the ship; nothing really special. I don't know how they can call a 155 sq ft cabin a "suite." The room was comfortable and the staff (with just one or two exceptions) fantastic. Food was pretty good although they don't know how to cook leg of lamb. Laszlo was a great Maitre D even though he looked like one of the characters out of an old movie we have all seen. Reception was fantastic as were all the bar waiters. Still, the highlight of the staff, and the cruise, was the Expedition Staff. We could have been sailing on the SS Minnow and I am sure that Expedition Staff would have shown us a wonderful time.

Overall, best cruise ever. Not best ship or best cruiseline or best food or best anything else; just best cruise. Oh, I should say best trip; well maybe not, ROAR was kind of special.