Calling all POPsters - There is a wonderful review of a cruise very similar to ours (on Explorer II) on CC at the following site, I hope:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=280451

Some of the images the poster describes (such as the time when a child on their cruise lay down and was promptly joined by a baby elephant seal which laid its flipper over her) are experiences of a lifetime.

All in all, it raises our enthusiasm level about this Antarctica cruise (which was already high) by another magnitude.

If the link I posted doesn't work (I'm not very adept at such connections), just go to CC, Ports of Call, South America - the thread is Review: Antarctica/Falklands/S Georgia - Dec 2005.

Thinking good thoughts of fragrant pigeon poop and elephant seals, Cheers, Fred

Oh my, can't wait to read the rest of this! What I have read is fascinating so far. Thank you Fred for bringing this to us!

I'll look forward to reading it. I came across this review by accident yesterday; it's a cruise writer (or ta? or both?) who reviewed her Hanseatic cruise in 2005. Link is

http://cruises.about.com/od/antarcticacruises/ss/antarctica_log.htm

Cheers, Anne

I went to Antarctica a couple of years ago, and it was the BEST cruise ever. (Marco Polo) If you want to see a sampling of my photos, you can see them on http://community.webshots.com/user/estherwagner

Esther

Esther, those are great photos!!

from a friends Marco Polo cruise...

IS THERE A PROBLEM WTIH SEEING THIS ON A CRUISE :)

As long as I'm cruising, any sight is wonderful!

The mental image of that little girl lying down with a baby elephant seal next to her with its flipper over her is just too precious! That was a big "awww" moment. :)

Masaki

Esther - thanks for sharing those photos. They are remarkable! Cheers, Anne

Betty - EXCEPT for the propellers going vertical!!! :D :ohmy: :D

Fred - thanks for the link...what fun to read!

Esther - Great pics! That iceberg at sunset is surreal!!!

I laughed when I saw the photo of the deckhands sweeping snow off the deck...I had a flashback to images of Captain Romeo playing shuffleboard in Tahiti...what a contrast!

sorry, double post.