After boarding a lavish lunch was spread for the passengers. Mountains of king crab legs, paella, sea food stews, sashimi and an assorted variety of sushi prepared by the chef himself. A seafood lovers dream meal. The deserts table was loaded with exotic cakes and pastries. All of this accompanied with a large selection of paired wines and spirits to wash it down. Suddenly the word “ORCAS!” came over the PA system. In a shot the restaurant emptied. The ship was in the middle of several pods of Orcas (Killer Whales) The captain slowed the ship and steered to keep pace with the dozens of Orcas that surrounded the ship, at times swimming right under our bow. There could not of been a more fitting goodbye to Antarctica.

A pair of orcas escort us away from the South Shetland Islands and into the Drake Passage.

A panorama of Half Moon Island looking toward Livingston Island of the South Shetland Islands.