5 Life Lessons Youll Learn In Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
5 Life Lessons You'll Learn in Antarctica

5 Life Lessons You'll Learn in Antarctica

Embarking on a journey to the Antarctic might seem daunting. However, cruise lines strive to simplify the process as much as possible. They typically assist with travel insurance, guide you to the embarkation point, and advise on the appropriate clothing to bring.

For these reasons, booking an Antarctic adventure is well within your reach – even if you’ve never experienced an expedition-style trip before.

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Everyone has a “far away”

Antarctic cruises attract people from all over the globe. While some may live closer to Antarctica, arriving by cruise ship levels the playing field. No one will be more of an Antarctic native than you, even those who have been exploring the polar regions for years.

Additionally, there may be moments when you need assistance during an Antarctic cruise, but there will also be times when your unique life experiences can benefit others. Helping fellow passengers can remind you of your own strengths.

You learn what’s important to you

Being away from your usual surroundings and people helps you realize what you truly miss.

Typically, loved ones top the list of things you miss. If you’re fortunate, your job or a beloved hobby might come next. As you continue down the list, you may start to identify things that are merely sources of stress in your life.

You don’t need stuff

While possessions can be enjoyable, packing for an Antarctic trip highlights the difference between what is necessary and what is excessive. You may discover that the essentials are more than enough to keep you content when life itself is thrilling.

You can slow time – sort of

As we age, time seems to accelerate. Ask someone in their 50s about the past decade, and they’ll likely say it flew by. Ask a child about the past school day, and they’ll say it dragged on.

There’s scientific reasoning behind these perceptions: New experiences stand out in our memories, while routine ones tend to blur together. These new experiences often give us the feeling of having spent more time on them. Since an Antarctic cruise is an extraordinary experience for almost everyone, why not embark on one and live a longer, fuller life?

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10 Traits of Post-Ice-Age Greenland - Nexta Expeditions
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10 Traits of Post-Ice-Age Greenland

Grasses, sedges, and other species of heath were the first arrivals, and are still commonly found in Greenland. Scientists have been able to work out how plants colonised Greenland by examining ancient pollen samples found in deposits at the bottom of lakes: Dwarf birch came to western Greenland around 9,000 years ago, and around 4,500 years ago – roughly the same time humans were first boating onto Greenland shores – green alders were taking up residence there.
A Day on m/v Plancius - Nexta Expeditions
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A Day on m/v Plancius

Stepping aboard this long-running expedition vessel, it’s easy to forget that she’s been making voyages to the polar regions since “Afternoon Delight” by Starland Vocal Band was on the Billboard Hot 100.
Greenlandic Inuit Beliefs - Nexta Expeditions
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Greenlandic Inuit Beliefs

Greenland is the world’s largest island and with the northern tip around 740 kilometres from the North Pole it is the northernmost country on Earth. The island is around 2,670 kilometres long and is about 650 kilometres across at its widest point.
Hondius Photography and Video Workshops - Nexta Expeditions
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Hondius Photography and Video Workshops

There’s no shortage of great things to say about a Hondius expedition cruise, but among the best are the free video and photography workshops offered during some of this ship’s voyages. These informative, interactive, highly useful supplements allow you to not only capture your memories in the best way possible but also make your friends back home maddeningly jealous.
The Small but Social Commerson’s Dolphin - Nexta Expeditions
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The Small but Social Commerson’s Dolphin

Despite being one of the lesser-known Antarctic cetaceans, Commerson's dolphins are quite social and have been given various names over the years, including Piebald dolphins, skunk dolphins, and panda dolphins. These names have been in use since their discovery in 1767 by French naturalist Philibert Commerson.
17 Reasons to Cruise the Falklands - Nexta Expeditions
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17 Reasons to Cruise the Falklands

Maybe you’ve already marveled at the colossal penguin colonies of South Georgia, sailed among the plunging seals of the Antarctic Peninsula, and watched whales in the Weddell Sea lunge among titanic tabular icebergs.
Seizing the Season: Spitsbergen’s Late Spring, Early Summer - Nexta Expeditions
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Seizing the Season: Spitsbergen’s Late Spring, Early Summer

Most Arctic expedition cruises can be categorized into two main types: those that operate during the autumn and winter, focusing on the northern lights, and those that sail during the high season (mid to late summer), concentrating on a broader range of experiences.
The Overlooked Treasures of Ascension Island - Nexta Expeditions
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The Overlooked Treasures of Ascension Island

If you know anything about Ascension Island, which is unlikely, it probably has to do with the green turtle breeding population that exists there.
Greenland: East vs. West - Nexta Expeditions
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Greenland: East vs. West

East and West Greenland offer vastly different experiences due to their unique climates, wildlife, habitation, and geology.
The Emperor Penguin of the Drake Passage - Nexta Expeditions
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The Emperor Penguin of the Drake Passage

There are certain moments in life when a series of events combine to create an experience that is both unexpected and unforgettable. These are the times when you are reminded how fortunate you are to be a part of something that few people will ever have the opportunity to experience. This trip to Antarctica was full of these moments for me.
South Georgia Whaling Stations - Nexta Expeditions
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South Georgia Whaling Stations

South Georgia is a paradise for animal enthusiasts. It stands out as one of the most wildlife-abundant destinations in our polar expeditions, whether in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere.
Orcas (aka Killer Whales) of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic - Nexta Expeditions
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Orcas (aka Killer Whales) of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic

Orcas are highly social and intelligent members of the dolphin family Delphinidae. They are sometimes referred to as killer whales, though this name has somewhat fallen out of fashion due to inaccurately characterizing orcas as ferocious predators.
Northeast Greenland National Park - Nexta Expeditions
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Northeast Greenland National Park

Northeast Greenland National Park is the world’s largest national park and the ninth largest protected area on Earth. It should come as little surprise, then, that it’s also bigger than most countries, covering an impressive 972,000 square km (375,300 square miles).
Weddell seals: The data collectors scientists of Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
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Weddell seals: The data collectors scientists of Antarctica

Weddell seals inhabit some of the coldest and darkest waters deep within the Ross Sea ice, making them the southernmost naturally occurring mammals on Earth. During the winter and summer months, their movements are largely governed by the presence of sea ice and the availability of suitable breathing and exit holes.
Arctic Mythology: Inuit, Saami, and the Ancient Greeks - Nexta Expeditions
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Arctic Mythology: Inuit, Saami, and the Ancient Greeks

The Arctic locations we visit aren’t merely made up of phenomenal landscapes, exotic wildlife, and more adventure than a Hardy Boys novel.
What the ice reveals about Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
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What the ice reveals about Antarctica

The continent you'll explore during your Antarctica cruise is far more than just an ice-covered land with penguins, whales, and seals. Beneath the thick ice lie hidden freshwater lakes teeming with thousands of microbes, hinting at a diverse array of life. In 2013, a team of researchers obtained the first uncontaminated water sample ever retrieved directly from an Antarctic lake.
Weddell Sea: the Original Antarctic Adventure - Nexta Expeditions
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Weddell Sea: the Original Antarctic Adventure

According to historian Thomas R. Henry, visiting the Weddell Sea requires a brave heart. In his 1950 book, "The White Continent," he described sudden “flash freezes” that occur in the region. It was one of these flash freezes that trapped Ernest Shackleton’s ship, Endurance, in January 1915, forcing his crew to endure over a year in the harsh environment before they could escape.
Path of Polar Heroes: Hiking Shackleton’s Historic Route - Nexta Expeditions
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Path of Polar Heroes: Hiking Shackleton’s Historic Route

“We had seen God in his splendors, heard the text that Nature renders.” ~Ernest Shackleton
Going Green: Ascension Island Sea Turtles - Nexta Expeditions
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Going Green: Ascension Island Sea Turtles

Gold beaches, green mountains - and greener turtles.
The Norse Settlement of Greenland - Nexta Expeditions
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The Norse Settlement of Greenland

Erik the Red is a significant and vibrant figure in the history of the Norse Vikings. His story is primarily documented in the Icelandic Sagas Huaksbók (14th Century) and Skalhóltsbók (15th Century). These accounts offer slightly different versions of events that occurred 3-400 years earlier. The original saga of Erik the Red is believed to have been written around 1200 A.D., with the Skalhóltsbók version considered closest to the original. Additionally, Flateyjarbók (13th Century), which includes the Saga of the Greenlanders, is a crucial source for understanding the settlement of Greenland and the discovery of Vinland – North America.