Landings in Antarctica and South Georgia

[MightyQuinn]

We're considering a Quest voyage to Antarctica/South Georgia and I'd like to learn how Seabourn handles landings.  How many zodiacs does Quest carry?  With a 100 pax restriction per landing, how do they accommodate up to 450 pax?  Are there multiple landings at each site to allow maximum pax participation?  Can pax choose their landings and/or zodiac excursions or are they assigned?  I'd love to hear the landing experiences of those who have sailed Quest to Antarctica and South Georgia.
 

[2SailingNomads]

Disclaimer - My answer is based on our trip 2 years ago.

I'm not sure but I think it is about 8 zodiacs - we just returned from the Quest and did a Ventures zodiac tour that put 14 people per zodiac, but they only used 4 zodiacs as it was a paid excursion and not everyone signed up.  For Antarctica everyone is assigned to a color coded group, I think there were 4 as the ship does not carry the full load of pax given the expedition team, etc.  Each group goes ashore at a given time, usually you have about an hour on shore, but can come back earlier as the zodiacs are constantly going back and forth from the landing site to the ship.  The groups are spaced approximately every 75-90 minutes or so, give or take depending on weather, sea conditions, etc.  So for example the red group all go at the same time and come back within an hour or so.  15-30 minutes later the blue group goes out, etc.  Each day the order of the groups rotates so one day you are the first group, which can require a very early start to your day, the next day you might be the last group.  Depending on the weather and sea conditions some groups might not get to go if the conditions turn bad later in the day.  If you do an optional kayak tour during your color group you are allowed to go with any other color group that day.

 

 

[Thecat123]

When we went in Jan 2014 nobody told us to leave at a certain time when we were ashore talking to Happy Feet, everybody just seemed to go back to the ship when their time was up and they were ready. I think we only had 250 to 300  passengers on the Quest

Another thing which made us change to Seabourn over other cruise lines we have cruised was the way Seabourn handled everything including the free surprise memory stick which was left on our bed the last night of the cruise of about 15/20 minutes of photos taken on the cruise. Every other cruise line we have been on one has to buy the DVD. I believe nowadays Seabourn give you drone footage  of the cruise similar to the ones they use for promoting Antarctica

Edited December 7, 2019 by Thecat123

[Thecat123]

1 hour ago, Thecat123 said:

When we went in Jan 2014 nobody told us to leave at a certain time when we were ashore talking to Happy Feet, everybody just seemed to go back to the ship when they were ready. I think we only had 250 to 300  passengers on the Quest

Another thing which made us change to Seabourn over other cruise lines we have cruised was the way Seabourn handled everything including the free surprise memory stick which was left on our bed the last night of the cruise of about 15/20 minutes of photos taken on the cruise. Every other cruise line we have been on one has to buy the DVD. I believe nowadays Seabourn give you drone footage  of the cruise similar to the ones they use for promoting Antarctica

 

Should have added we didnt do the South Georgia leg

[2SailingNomads]

No one specifically told us to go back to the ship, rather you were told you had an hour or so on shore but there was no enforcement, unless you were in the last group of the day 😎

We too got a memory stick, and there was some great drone footage included.

[MightyQuinn]

Thank you both.  It sounds like Quest does a good job of landing pax using a group system on 8 zodiacs. 

Quick follow-up: once Quest anchors near a specific landing site, are all the zodiacs dedicated to getting pax to/from the site?  Or were there any zodiac excursions (non-landings) running concurrently?  If so, could pax choose whether to do a landing or a zodiac excursion or would the color coded system make the decision for them?

If anybody has been to South Georgia, I'm curious if Quest does multiple and continuous landings at Salisbury Plain so everybody gets the chance to walk among the King Penguins?
 

[2SailingNomads]

There were no separate zodiac tours running when there were landings.  Salisbury Plain was the same, you went ashore with your group.  

[Fletcher]

The plan is always to land every group at the same spot throughout the day.  I was on the South Georgia run two years ago - I think 2SailingNomads were also on board.  However, the weather is the major factor here and conditions can change rapidly.  The Quest moored just off Salisbury Plain and we could see the ten of thousands of penguins gathered there.  The first group went ashore, conditions changed and the first group struggled to get back.  The sea looked calm enough but the beach landing had a steep ledge,  a major undertow and was dangerous.  I think two expedition team members were thrown off their feet and went underwater.  All other landing groups were cancelled.  The ship switched position and the remaining three groups landed a mile or so down the coast among vast numbers of seals. It was lovely to see (and to get mildly molested by the seal pups) but it wasn't the immersive Salisbury Plain experience.  Be prepared for anything.  The Quest team go out of their way to give you the best possible experience in the prevailing conditions. 

 

BTW, there is another bay (St Andrew's I think) with even more penguins than Salisbury Plain but the Quest is too big to go there.  You need a genuine expedition ship for that.  

Edited December 7, 2019 by Fletcher

[MightyQuinn]

18 minutes ago, Fletcher said:

.... The Quest team go out of their way to give you the best possible experience in the prevailing conditions. 

 

BTW, there is another bay (St Andrew's I think) with even more penguins than Salisbury Plain but the Quest is too big to go there.  You need a genuine expedition ship for that.  

 

Fletcher, I'm so glad you responded!  Didn't you post about your Quest trip here on CC?  If so, can you provide the link?  I tried a search but came up empty.

We went to Antarctica and South Georgia in 1997 on a small expedition ship (World Discoverer) where we did landings twice a day.  The ship carried 125 pax so there was never an issue of timing the landings, except for weather!  The entire experience was truly immersive and nothing short of spectacular, albeit not as luxe as if we had been on Seabourn.  We're trying to decide whether to plan a return visit on Quest, knowing the limitations, or to take another true expedition ship.  Any more insight you can offer will be most appreciated.
 

[SLSD]

I am assuming you may also consider the new SB ship Venture and its itineraries.  It is going to have more zodiacs and a somewhat different approach to landings.  I posted about it last summer when we were on the Sojourn and the VP for expeditions was aboard and did a presentation.  If I was considering Antarctica, I might be willing to wait for the Venture.  

 

[tv24]

We were on the Quest in November and December, 2018.  The landings on Antarctica were totally dependent upon the weather and if the crew could set up a safe place to land and escort the passengers.  On the 2 days when we were able to land, the zodiacs all went to the same spot with timed departures from the ship.  Once on land we were able to wander along the path at our leisure with a short wait for a zodiac to take us back.  On one other day the zodiacs took us on cruises around the ice bergs and wild life.  At all times I felt totally safe and well taken care of.  An incredible experience.  We did not go to South Georgia.

[Fletcher]

5 hours ago, MightyQuinn said:

 

Fletcher, I'm so glad you responded!  Didn't you post about your Quest trip here on CC?  If so, can you provide the link?  I tried a search but came up empty.


 

Thanks MightyQuinn.   I did write a daily-ish blog with a lot of chat about the pros and cons of which ship works best.   The link is here -

 

 

[MightyQuinn]

12 hours ago, Fletcher said:

Thanks MightyQuinn.   I did write a daily-ish blog with a lot of chat about the pros and cons of which ship works best.   The link is here -

 

 

Fletcher thanks for the link.  I should have remembered "Holy Grail" was in the title! 

I read your summary with interest: "On balance, I think taking the Quest was a good choice but a hard choice to make over a more traditional expedition ship.  Given the great weather we had, maybe an expedition ship would have been better, a more immersive experience.  Given lousy weather, well, the Quest would be the better option.  Who knows?"  That's our conundrum.  If you were considering a repeat visit, would you take Quest again? 

BTW, it would be great to sail with you to enjoy the "benefit of (y)our irresistible charm and (y)our searing wit and wisdom"!