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Antarctica’s first Marine Protected Area

In October of this year, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, which is comprised of 24 countries including the United States, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand, reached a consensus on a New Zealand/United States proposal to establish a large-scale Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Ross Sea region.

Deception Island deceptively active

In Antarctica, the South Shetland archipelago is home to Deception Island, a volcanic-rounded island that is 15 km in diameter with a shield volcano. The volcano is mainly basalt-andesite and was one of the first parts of Antarctica to be discovered, probably around 1820 by UK and USA sealers. It has the longest history of human occupation than any other site in Antarctica is the island served as a whaling station from the first 30 years of the 20th century, as the site of a British Antarctic station, then Chilean and Argentine stations.

Greenlandic Inuit Beliefs

Traditionally, Greenland Inuit believe that humans as well as animals have both soul and body, where the soul performs the breathing and is independent of the body. In this sense the Inuit believe that the soul continues to live after death.

Antarctic Icon: 44 Facts About the Emperor Penguin

Emperor penguins are truly the emperors of Antarctica as not only do they survive through the harsh Antarctic winters but they also are capable of breeding during the worst weather conditions on Earth.

10 Terrific Antarctic Bird Facts

Antarctica is a fantastic cruise destination for birdwatching, with around 45 distinct species you may be able to see.

12 Tips to Help Keep Birds Safe During an Antarctic Cruise

One of the most wonderful experiences you can have on an Antarctic cruise is investigating the multitudes of penguins in their natural habitat. Naturally, passengers are often concerned about the possibility of disturbing the penguins (and other Antarctic birds), causing an upheaval in their breeding and nesting patterns.

Guidelines for visitors to Antarctica

Activities in the Antarctic are governed by the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and associated agreements, referred to collectively as the Antarctic Treaty System.

Scott’s ponies becoming unstuck

‘’English-men where flabbergasted…they had never dreamt that dogs could run in that way before a sledge, and already they felt contempt for their dear ponies. Suddenly they were gripped by wild excitement, cheered, and waved their caps. Our drivers returned their greetings and cracked their whips’’.

Exploration of the Polar Regions

From the Vikings via the first whale and seal hunters to Scott and Amundsen, from the maritime explorers Franklin and Nordenskiöld to present-day polar tourism, a quick tour through history reveals some of the aspect which motivated people to extend their horizons. Existential need, sheer curiosity, imperial greed, polar science and a taste for adventure all converged in regions which pardon no mistakes.

Svalbard a Disneyland for geologists

Svalbard is located in the north-western corner of the Eurasian plate. For a long period Svalbard was part of a large continent that included North America, Greenland and Eurasia. At one time both Northeast Greenland and Svalbard were submerged under the depths of the ocean before surfacing again. It is because of this geological history that Svalbard is a geologist’s heaven.

A Photo-Tour of our Cruise Ship the m/v Plancius

Welcome aboard the Plancius! She was originally named the Hr. Ms. Tydeman and was built as an oceanographic research vessel for the royal Dutch Navy in 1976.

Six Seal Species You Might See On Your Greenland Cruise

Seals play a big role in the history of Greenland. They’ve been a source of food, clothing, and other supplies for centuries and without them it’s possible that there wouldn’t even be a Greenland as we know it at all.

Traditional Lifestyles of the Inuit

The Inuit are an indigenous Arctic people who speak the languages of the Eskaleutian family and who reside in four countries surrounding the North Pole: Greenland, Canada, the United States, and Russia.

Freshwater ecosystems in the Arctic

The Arctic, which may be of a surprise, is home to an abundant and diverse range of freshwater ecosystems including lakes, ponds, rivers and streams in addition to deltas and wetlands. Some of the rivers and associated deltas located in the Arctic are the world’s largest including the Lena, Ob and Yenisei.

Want a Sneak Preview of Your Antarctica Cruise?

You’ll have to put some effort into taking a bad picture of Antarctica. The landscapes offer starkly beautiful vistas in every direction.

The disastrous expedition in the Arctic west

In 1902, Otto Sverdrup, captain of the Fram on Nansen’s expedition, led his own expedition to the Arctic north of Canada. Over the period of the expedition, which started in 1898, Sverdrup and his 15-man crew chartered over 250,000 square kilometres of the Arctic using the Fram and sledges. During the expedition Ellesmere Island’s west coast was explored and new islands discovered.

The polar bear: king of the Arctic food chain

The polar bear is the world’s largest species of bear and the largest land predator. There is a large difference in size between male and female polar bears with the male weighing anything from 350 to 800 kilograms. Females in contrast weigh less than half.

5 Misconceptions You Might Have About Greenland

Greenland isn’t dark the entire year round. It isn’t always bitterly cold either...

The Mysteries of the Beluga Whale

Beluga whales (also known as white whales, sea canaries, and sometimes melonheads) are a rare but cherished sight during Arctic cruises, due in part to their striking appearance. Yet despite the infrequency of beluga sightings, a fair amount is known about these friendly-faced cetaceans.

Five Birds You Might See on Your Greenland Cruise

A Greenland expedition cruise gives birdwatchers the chance to add some beautiful avian entries to their photo collections. Host to over 230 different species of bird, Greenland is as full of spectacular landscapes as winged wildlife.

Flowers in Antarctica

The Polar Regions are one of the most inhospitable environments for plants and animals to live in. In Antarctica life faces difficulties from low temperatures, high winds, solar radiation and freezing of cells. Life is made even more difficult when the Antarctic continent is plunged into darkness for during winter and then full light during the summer.

All things ice in the Antarctic

The first recorded sighting on an iceberg in Antarctica was on 1 February 1700 when Edmond Halley was on an expedition to measure the Earth’s magnetic field. Today scientists have classified Antarctic ice as two types: Land and sea ice.