Celebrating in the Galápagos aboard Reina Silvia.  Photo © Weston Walker

Can’t face another holiday dinner with the in-laws?  Does the thought of another green bean casserole or your boorish cousin trigger the holiday blues?  Break with tradition, grab the kids, and go wild.  And your in-laws, well you could always invite them along.

Thanksgiving in Galápagos

Galápagos Fur Seal at Puerto Egas.  Photo © Alan Abonyi

It’s Thanksgiving morning and you are anchored off Santiago Island.  You’ve just spent the past few days cruising the western reaches of the Galapagos along the coastlines of Isabela and Fernandina Islands, seeing curious and entertaining creatures like Flightless Cormorants, Blue-footed boobies and mini-Godzilla-like marine Iguanas.  You’ll disembark at Puerto Egas for a shore excursion to the lava grottoes, a safe haven for the shy Galápagos Fur Seal amongst the crags and swimming inlets. Along the way you see marine iguanas, ubiquitous sea lions, and American Oystercatchers with their distinctive bright orange beaks foraging in the tidal flats.  Back on board, it’s a quick change into wetsuits and off to snorkel at Buccaneer Cove  where you may swim with sea lions and see fur seals, sea turtles, rays, sharks, tropical fish and amazing underwater geologic formations.

Galápagos Hawks at Espumilla Beach. Photo © Alan Abonyi

In the late afternoon you’re again ashore, this time to the red sands of Espumilla Beach,  a skitter with ghost crabs and sea turtle nesting tracks. Take the inland trail that weaves between red mangroves into the arid palo santo forest, home to finches, warblers and curious and bold Galápagos Hawks. Odds are good one will come see what you’re about.

Tonight, it’s the traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings—green bean casserole only by special request.  

Thanksgiving aboard Reina Silvia is part of our 10-day Darwin’s Isles tour Nov 17th to Nov 26th. 
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Christmas in Antarctica

Lead naturalist Richard Polatty in Antarctica. Photo © INCA

Does Santa Claus really make it this far south?  Come see if penguins, seals, albatross and other wildlife are on his list—they should be on yours.  Join INCA’s lead naturalist Richard Polatty on an exhilarating expedition to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica.  Bring the family. The abundance of natural wonders will make this holiday one of your most memorable.

King penguins by the thousands at South Georgia.  Photo © INCA

It’s Christmas Eve and you are enjoying a sumptuous meal aboard the luxury expedition ship Le Boréal.  You’ve just spent two fascinating days in the Falkland Islands and are now cruising the South Atlantic, singing holiday songs at the bar or escaping into the library.  Christmas morning finds you anchored off South Georgia, one of the world’s most rugged and remote destinations, home to some of the largest elephant seal colonies and king penguin rookeries. Walking through tens of thousands of king penguins spread across the Salisbury Plain against a dramatic backdrop of jagged peaks is one of the most memorable gifts you could ever receive.  Reflect about polar history and man’s endurance at the abandoned whaling station at Grytviken where you visit the final resting place of Sir Ernest Shackleton, famed polar explorer. 

You cruise over the Scotia Sea to the Antarctic continent and ring in the New Year at the bottom of the world! No ball drop can beat this. Spend your first days of 2017 visiting the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula reveling among Adelie penguins, whales, seals and sculptural wonders of ice. This trip is one for the record books!  

Our special luxury cruise Across the Southern Ocean is available Dec 17th to Jan 4th, perfectly timed for school holidays.  Special children’s rates available.
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