Cruise Specialists Blog

Making Your Travel Easier

  • Cruise Lines
  • Cruise Destinations
  • Cruise News
  • River Cruises
  • Ship Reviews
Blog Home / Cruise Destinations / Antarctica Cruise Reviews

Penguins Greet Guests On Half Moon Island: Exploring Antarctica On Seabourn Quest

Ralph Grizzle

Chinstrap Penguin
Chairman of the Antarctica Welcoming Committee. © 2014 Ralph Grizzle

After crossing the Drake Passage yesterday, Seabourn Quest held a position for most of the day today off Half Moon Island. All guests who wished to do so were able to go ashore in Zodiacs, except for one wheelchair-bound passenger who will likely get to go ashore under calmer sea conditions later this week.

With more than 400 guests on board, landings were staggered among five groups, the first of which began disembarkation at around 8 a.m. and the last of which zipped ashore at around 15:00. Each group was able to spend about 90 minutes ashore to admire thousands of penguins (Chinstrap and Gentoo) — as well as a few seals “hauled out” on the snow (the term means that the seals were resting between periods of foraging — diving as deep as 1,200 feet — for food).

For guests waiting their turns to go ashore, there was no shortage of diversion. Scheduled activities ranged from “Popcorn Documentaries” to lectures presented by the expedition staff. Seabourn Quest’s large spa, fitness area, four restaurants and complimentary on-demand movies in staterooms added to the list of possible diversions. One couple ordered hot cocoa and wrapped themselves in blankets so that they could admire the snow-covered islands from the comfort of their balcony.

A Seabourn Quest Expedition Team member helps guests on the Zodiac as they prepare to leave Half Moon Island today. © 2014 Ralph Grizzle
A Seabourn Quest Expedition Team member helps guests on the Zodiac as they prepare to leave Half Moon Island today. © 2014 Ralph Grizzle
© 2014 Ralph Grizzle
A Chinstrap penguin taking the easy way. Some days it’s just better to get on your belly and slide. © 2014 Ralph Grizzle
© 2014 Ralph Grizzle
Penguin rookery at Half Moon Island. © 2014 Ralph Grizzle
© 2014 Ralph Grizzle
Which way do we go? Chinstrap penguins on Half Moon Island. © 2014 Ralph Grizzle
© 2014 Ralph Grizzle
Taking a break on Half Moon Island in Antarctica. © 2014 Ralph Grizzle
Into the wild. © 2014 Yuriy Rzhemovskiy for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Into the wild. © 2014 Yuriy Rzhemovskiy for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Hiking Half Moon Island. © 2014 Yuriy Rzhemovskiy for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Hiking Half Moon Island. © 2014 Yuriy Rzhemovskiy for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Seabourn Quest holds its position off Half Moon Island. © 2014 Yuriy Rzhemovskiy for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Seabourn Quest holds its position off Half Moon Island. © 2014 Yuriy Rzhemovskiy for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Seabourn Quest holds its position off Half Moon Island. © 2014 Yuriy Rzhemovskiy for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Seabourn Quest holds its position off Half Moon Island. © 2014 Yuriy Rzhemovskiy for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Seal on Half Moon Island. © 2014 Yuriy Rzhemovskiy for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Seal on Half Moon Island. © 2014 Yuriy Rzhemovskiy for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Seabourn Quest holds it position off Half Moon Island. © 2014 Chris Stanley for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Seabourn Quest holds it position off Half Moon Island. © 2014 Chris Stanley for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Hiking Half Moon Island. © 2014 Chris Stanley for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Hiking Half Moon Island. © 2014 Chris Stanley for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Photographing Half Moon Island. © 2014 Chris Stanley for Avid Travel Media Inc.
Photographing Half Moon Island. © 2014 Chris Stanley for Avid Travel Media Inc.

More from my site

  • The Four Best Places We’ve Ocean CruisedThe Four Best Places We’ve Ocean Cruised
  • 2017 Grand South America Voyage: Argentina and Uruguay2017 Grand South America Voyage: Argentina and Uruguay
  • Penguins To Make You Smile, Exploring Antarctica On Seabourn QuestPenguins To Make You Smile, Exploring Antarctica On Seabourn Quest
  • 2017 Grand South America Voyage: Antarctica Cruising2017 Grand South America Voyage: Antarctica Cruising

Antarctica Cruise Reviews, Seabourn Cruise Reviews

SEARCH ARTICLES

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maggie Blehert

Her ideal travel day: venturing to a new place, learning something interesting and sharing a smile.
View My Blog Posts

Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys.
View My Blog Posts

Ralph Grizzle

The Avid Cruiser. Well-traveled and insightful. Helping you make informed cruise decisions.
View My Blog Posts

Article Categories

  • Amusement Parks
  • Cruise Destinations
    • Africa Cruise Reviews
    • Alaska Cruise Reviews
    • Amazon Cruise Reviews
    • Antarctica Cruise Reviews
    • Arctic Cruise Reviews
    • Asia Cruise Reviews
    • Australia/New Zealand
    • Baltic Cruise Reviews
    • California
    • Canada/New England Cruise Reviews
    • Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Cuba Cruise Reviews
    • Europe Cruise Reviews
    • Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Grand Voyages
    • Hawaii Cruise Reviews
    • Iceland/Greenland
    • Mediterranean Cruise Reviews
    • Mexico Cruise Reviews
    • Panama Canal Cruise Reviews
    • Scandinavia and Northern Europe Cruise Reviews
    • South America Cruise Reviews
    • South Pacific Cruise Reviews
    • Transatlantic Cruise Reviews
    • World Cruise Reviews
  • Cruise FAQs
  • Cruise Lines
    • Abercrombie & Kent
    • AmaWaterways Cruise Reviews
    • American Cruise Line Reviews
    • American Queen Steamboat Company Reviews
    • Aqua Expeditions
    • Atlas Ocean Voyages Reviews
    • Avalon Cruise Reviews
    • Azamara Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Crystal Cruise Reviews
    • Crystal Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Crystal World Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard World Cruise Reviews
    • Disney Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America Line Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America World Cruise Reviews
    • Hurtigruten
    • Lindblad/National Geographic
    • Norwegian Cruise Reviews
    • Oceania
    • Oceania Cruise Reviews
    • Oceania World Cruise Reviews
    • Paul Gauguin Cruise Reviews
    • Ponant Cruise Reviews
    • Princess Cruise Reviews
    • Quark Expeditions Reviews
    • Regent Cruise Reviews
    • Regent Seven Seas Cruise
    • Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
    • Royal Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yacht Reviews
    • Scenic River Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea World Cruise Reviews
    • Star Clippers Cruise Reviews
    • Tauck Cruise and Tauck Land Tour Reviews
    • UnCruise Adventures
    • Uniworld Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Ocean Cruise Reviews
    • Virgin Voyages
    • Windstar Cruise Reviews
    • Zegrahm Expeditions
  • Cruise News
  • Cruise Ports
  • Cruise Specialists Benefits
  • Crystal Cruises
  • Group Travel
  • Hosted Cruises
  • Hotel and Land Travel
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Palace Resorts Reviews
    • Shore Excursions
    • Tour Review
    • Trains
  • Ralph Grizzle
  • River Cruises
  • Ship Reviews
  • Solo Cruising
  • Specialty Cruises
  • Theme Cruises
  • Tom Mullen
Visit Vacation.com Insider's profile on Pinterest.

FOLLOW US ON

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter