And so begins our last day aboard National Geographic Endurance… but certainly not the least! Our wake-up call this morning included a special note about the wonderful array of albatrosses soaring around us as we made our way back toward the tip of South America. The day was filled with a variety of presentations by the naturalist team, from conservation-focused education to stories from the field of photography and documentary filmmaking. In between talks, we enjoyed a few exciting breaks as we passed by the legendary Cape Horn and were treated to even more legendary Swedish pancakes! To round out a fantastic day concluding an incredible trip, we gathered for the Captain’s Farewell Cocktail Party and the slideshow of our photos from the trip… but it didn’t end there! We couldn’t possibly be sent home without an epic asado dinner and a show by the amazing Endurance crew band, the Shackletunes!!! As declared by our fearless expedition leader, Jamie Coleman: Antarctica completed.
1/19/2025
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National Geographic Resolution
The Drake Passage
As we navigated north across the Drake Passage, conditions gradually improved and blue petrels and black-browed albatrosses graced our journey as visitors. John Pailthorpe delivered a captivating retelling of Shackleton's attempted crossing of the Antarctic continent, recounting the trials faced by those rugged men who cared little for comfort yet had a penchant for taking mortal risks. Following him, National Geographic Photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins shared some of the many future exploration options available to our guests through National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions. As we approached Tierra del Fuego, the seas calmed. Although the skies remained overcast, wildlife became increasingly abundant as we neared the entrance to the Beagle Channel. Captain Martin presented a fascinating overview of the construction of MV National Geographic Resolution and her impressive capabilities. As we entered the channel, we were greeted by hourglass and dusky dolphins while enjoying empanadas for teatime. Once we entered the Beagle, sailing was smooth all the way to Ushuaia.