The journey toward Snow Hill Island will put you in explorer mode as the captain and expedition leader keep you updated through weather briefings, meteorological and sea ice condition reports. The thickness of ice will determine how close Ultramarine can get to Snow Hill Island, then our twin-engine helicopters will take over. Like summiting a mountain from base camp, parties will set out from Ultramarine towards the emperor penguin colony. As experienced by the the guests who visited Snow Hill Island in November 2023 on not one but two voyages, the adventure begins with an extended helicopter transfer that will reveal a landscape of snow-capped peaks and apartment-building-sized tabular icebergs. The rookery itself is located on the sea ice off the south coast of Snow Hill Island and the landing will be as close to the penguins as possible, yet at a safe distance to avoid disturbing the birds. Upon landing, your party will walk across the ice to the fabled emperor penguin colony. The wind. The ice beneath your feet. Walking next to paths in the snow carved by penguins that came before. And then there are the incredible sounds of the penguins in the distance as you march toward one of the rarest wildlife opportunities on the planet: the colony of approximately 8,000 rarely-seen emperor penguins. The goal of the expedition is to get every guest to the remote colony at least once. The Expedition Team and special experts will be close by to answer your questions and ensure you take in everything there is to see. Guests on the November 2023 voyages were able to observe close up how the emperor penguins behave as a tight-knit community, how they care for their young, and how they body surf across the ice in a way that can only be described as quirky yet efficient. The helicopter expedition in search of the emperor colony might just be the adventure of a lifetime. And while at base on Ultramarine with your attentive Expedition Team, you'll be immersed each day in the polar experience of the Weddell Sea. Daily activities can include Zodiac cruising among the icebergs, paddle-on-top kayaking, or working with the Quark team to observe the weather forecasting and ship operations up close. A particularly enriching component of your voyage will be the bespoke educational programs tailored specifically for this expedition that offer both traditional (lecture format) and hands-on opportunities for learning about this fascinating region. Each day the polar experts, who include penguin scientists, biologists, and polar historians, will present on various aspects of emperor penguins and their behaviors, ice formations such as the tabular icebergs which you'll see from the deck of your ship, and the experiences of polar explorers who braved the Weddell Sea over a century ago. Or you might, on one of these days, decide to take the polar plunge, or test your balance on a stand-up paddleboard. Then again, maybe you'll enjoy a little pampering. If so, you can choose from Ultramarine's excellent onboard amenities, including the spa, sauna, and fitness room. The emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island is the goal of this expedition. However, if weather or ice conditions prevent us from visiting the colony or shorten the duration of our visit, we may explore some other sites. Your possible landings in Antarctica will take place on the eastern side of the Peninsula, which is an extension of the Transantarctic Mountains and is the most northern stretch of Antarctic land. ...
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