It’s hard to know where to begin this review — there are far too many elements that went into the experience. So perhaps the best place to start is simply to say that the trip was extraordinary in every way. And in no particular order, to then articulate what made it so special.

If it’s possible, set aside the fact that the environment, scenery & wildlife in Antarctica are all so entirely unique that it’s impossible not to be awed by its rare & stark beauty.

So turn to the ship. In our case, the Hebridean Sky. She’s lovely. Perfectly appointed. Large enough to feel roomy, small enough to feel intimate. We had a suite with a veranda. We never closed our curtains, and relished the constant gorgeous view we were able to enjoy.

Next, consider the staff. First of all, the ratio of staff to passengers was beyond luxurious. I believe we had under 70 passengers and about 75 on staff. Nothing was overlooked, delayed, forgotten. Ever member of the staff was dedicated to the safety & happiness of every passenger. And yet, it all lacked pretension. Our trip was simply filled with happy people, passengers & staff alike.

It would be impossible to single out any one staff member for one basic reason: each one was brimming with personality & expertise. I can count on one hand the number of trips we’ve ever taken where we could actually say this. Everyone we dealt with was professional; knowledgeable, & filled with good humor. For any of them that may be reading this, THANK YOU for making our trip unforgettable.

We didn’t interact much with the captain & bridge crew, but we know they negotiated the waters with skill. We always felt safe, even when the seas turned turbulent.

Every day, nimble planning allowed 2 zodiac excursions to fascinating landings. The zodiac rides were as fun as the destinations themselves.

The food on the ship wasn’t merely plentiful — it was also first rate. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, hot drinks upon arrival after an excursion, cocktails & appetizers at the early evening daily recap & update sessions.

And then, the fellow passengers. An international collection of highly social well traveled people that were friendly & fun to talk & be with.

We’d heard from others that any trip to Antarctica can be great. But the company you travel with can either elevate the experience — or not.

We honestly cant think of one negative to report. Everything about our trip with Antarctica 21 was superb.

What a joyful experience we had with Antarctica 21! We did the sail/fly 6 day trip leaving out of Ushuaia on the Hebridean Sky, and we agree it was the best trip we've ever done. It was not easy to get down to the end of the world for our taking off and landing, the flights are pretty crazy. It is a difficult trip to plan, but completely worth the effort.

We arrived the day before and stayed in the Albatross hotel in Ushuaia. This was a perfect location as it was directly across the street from the port where we got on the Hebridean Sky the following afternoon.

The Hebridean Sky is a wonderfully updated ship with the most personable crew imaginable. The hotel staff were so kind, kept everything aboard absolutely spotless, and the meals were out of this world. We had delicious chateaubriand, Beef Wellington, and plentiful, amazing options throughout. We really loved the hashbrowns and English beans for breakfast as well.

The Antarctica XXI crew were wonderful. The lectures were engaging, shoutout to Annette and her whale lecture. Zack was very kind and engaging, and did a great job driving our zodiak boat from the Hebridean Sky to the Antarctic landings. The doctor aboard, Dr. Bill was such a kind, HUMBLE doctor who cared genuinely about your well being, seasickness prevention, and sunscreen application! Any help you needed from him was cheerfully given, and included in the price of the cruise. He is a gem.

We were fortunate enough to circumnavigate Cape Horn on our sailing down, and that was quite the site to see. We saw whales and albatross swimming and flying alongside the boat on the way to the great white continent. The ship library was one of our favorite places to hang out and enjoy ourselves, reading a book and relaxing. The hot tea bar was great, and we loved the peppermint tea and vanilla cookies which were always available.

The three landings we did in Antarctica were all handled safely and professionally. We delighted in seeing seals, and both Gentoo and chinstrap penguins, and plenty of them at that! The staff always had suggestions for what to wear and how to wear our life vests safely.

I love how conscientious the Antarctica XXI staff were of the penguins and keeping Antarctica pristine. I will say though, if you have mobility issues, you need to be aware that we had to climb over large rocks, hills, etc to avoid walking on penguin paths and disturbing their environment. Boarding the zodiacs requires good balance and riding around can be quite bumpy. At the end of the trip there is a 30 minute hike uphill to board the airplane. Those with limited mobility may not be able to experience this trip to its absolute fullest, so go as quickly as you possibly can.

The flight out of Antarctica went off without a hitch, and it was 2 hours to Punta Arenas. Included in our trip was a stay at the Hotel Cabo de Hornos which was well situated in town, and was a lovely hotel.

This was the trip of a lifetime, and I would recommend it wholeheartedly to everyone.

I am still on Ocean Nova as it heads back towards Antarctica. We left Ushuaia on 11 November 2018, the first Antarctica21 departure of the season. It has been brilliant.

Pre-departure information from the company via its personalised web page is excellent. Tells you everything you need to know.

Getting to Ushuaia - arrive a few days early. All those flight cancellation stories you read about really do happen. Several of us nearly missed the cruise. Be careful.

Ushuaia - taxi from airport to the town is cheap. Tourist information office is one of the most helpful I’ve ever been in. Port is just facing the tourist information office so dead easy to find. Several souvenir shops, tour operators, places to eat etc in the town.

The Ocean Nova - home for ten days. Comfortable and spotlessly clean. Excellent food. Good lecture programme.

The Drake Passage - not to be underestimated. My doctor in the UK prescribed me Stemetil (prochlorperazine maleate). The ship’s doctor prescribed promethezine.

Internet - $US 79 for 10 days unlimited access on one device - a bargain.

The crew - some of the loveliest people you’ll ever find. Genuinely warm people who want you to have a great experience. I could not praise them enough.

Antarctica - just absolutely stunning, everything that I had hoped for.

I would not hesitate to recommend to you Antarctica21.