The day of adventure started shortly after midnight as National Geographic Orion crossed the Antarctic Circle. The ship’s horn was sounded and champagne was poured. A moment that would be remembered by all for a lifetime.
As the ice was still too heavy to continue any further south we returned to the relativity ice-free waters further to the north. We also had an invitation to visit the Ukraine Research Station Vernadsky. As we did so we were greeted by so many feeding humpback whales that we had to make the choice to leave them in order to reach the station on time. We did not want to be late as we were their first visitors since April—they were as excited to see us as we were to see them.
The ice around the station was heavy, but not too much for the Zodiacs to push though, adding all the more drama of visiting a research station after their long winter of isolation. When we got to station we found the Ukrainian team happy and healthy, and very excited to see new faces, their first since April. The pride in their station and of their accomplishment of wintering over was apparent in their faces as they gave tours of their station. National Geographic Orion reciprocated with a tour of the ship to all station members who were not needed on station. Borys Beznoshchenko, one of the station’s scientist, called the visit their Christmas gift—we felt the same.
Not long after the station visit it was time for recap, dinner, then a dramatic trip though the Lemaire Channel. We just made it through the channel and it was time for the scheduled singing of Christmas carols by the ship’s crew, and eggnog for all.
Like all the days on National Geographic Orion, this will be one to remember.
