Page 26 - Explore - Autumn/Winter 2019

have a confession to make: and our luggage had already been
Antarctica was not on my bucket delivered. After an initial welcome
I list. I used to joke I was solar- presentation and safety drill, the A LOVE
powered and allergic to snow but oh ship’s bars and restaurants were
how things have changed! quick to make sure we were settling
comfortably into the famous Le Soléal
After working for Wild Earth Travel hospitality. With fewer than 200
for nearly five years I felt like I knew passengers and 140 crew, we were AFFAIR
a fair bit about Antarctica. I did quickly made to feel at home on this
my homework, and learnt from the modern small-cruise ship.
best – Aaron Russ, the owner of
Wild Earth Travel, is an Expedition Crossing the Drake Passage south of ON ICE
Leader himself and has travelled to the very bottom of South America was
the white continent over 130 times. the first part of the adventure and as
The opportunity to visit Antarctica long as you are prepared it can be
on Ponant’s Le Soléal was thus a rather enjoyable. It’s either “shake”
no-brainer and I took the opportunity or “lake” on the two-day passage but
to experience it, and in style. I just with a bit of seasick medication (just
had no idea it would leave me with in case) we soon realised you can
a new love and appreciation for this run on a treadmill (holding on), do a
incredible place. stretch class, and even don heels and
a dress and enjoy cocktail hour with
With Air New Zealand’s direct service the Captain followed by a six-course
to Buenos Aires, getting to Antarctica degustation gala dinner. The live
is somewhat easier than it has been. music afterwards saw the dance floor
Ponant takes care of everything from packed, and we all had a giggle that
Buenos Aires: transfers, dinner, a this was taking place in the middle of
charter flight south and a leisurely the Drake Passage.
lunch on arrival in Ushuaia. It gives
you a taste of the service and style I never knew
that is to come.
Boarding Le Soléal was seamless and icebergs could be
yes, that man grinning and greeting so enchanting: the
passengers on the gangway was colours, textures,
the Captain, and after less than ten
minutes of simple admin we were shapes and scale
shown to our cabin where a bottle were ever-changing.
of chilled Champagne was waiting