Hi, I'm Laura, a Senior Specialist Concierge for SixStarCruises. Working in travel means getting to learn about new and incredible destinations I’ve yet to explore - my bucket list gets bigger every day I come to work! I also love being able to help customers tick off places on their bucket lists; being a part of helping someone create memories that will last for a lifetime is such a great feeling. My favourite cruise line is Silversea because of the relaxed atmosphere and elegant dining on board. I also love the low guest-to-space ratio, which makes the ship feel incredibly spacious and the cruise much more enjoyable. My favourite cruise destination is without a doubt the Arctic, where I watched a polar bear walking along the ridge before swimming in front of us through the water - what an amazing experience!
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I travelled on a 12-night Arctic expedition on board Greg Mortimer - a trip that should be on anyone’s bucket list. The morning after embarkation in Svalbard, we had about an hour of free time, where I took the opportunity to walk on the top deck and enjoy the scenery. During the lecture we were given a Polar Bear Safety briefing, they advised us in detail on what we would do as a collective group if we were out on the Zodiacs/on land should we encounter one of these amazing creatures. Being advised that there was a pod of humpback whales on the port side of the ship on day eight brought an overwhelming excitement on board, as we all made our way up to the top deck. They were spectacular! The ship was able to virtually anchor right beside them so we could watch these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. We were all mesmerised by their beauty and felt incredibly lucky to have seen such a magnificent pod. We all enjoyed a Zodiac landing in Recherchefjord the next day, I opted for the long walk and thoroughly enjoyed it. We were able to see some of the flowers that we had been advised about the day before in the lecture. The terrain was very spongy underfoot but still quite rocky. We saw several varieties of birds such as king eiders, guillemots, purple sandpipers and kittiwakes. Being able to wake up with the ship stationary and surrounded by ice was so peaceful and tranquil. Everyone was on polar bear watch and eager to find this magnificent animal. We were all incredibly excited when we were informed that they were going to allow us to walk on the ocean. It was something I don’t think I’ll ever be able to explain as the feeling when you step on the ice sheet was overwhelming. The land where the polar bears roam was right under my feet, and being able to walk where they call home was an experience I will never forget. Much to our surprise, we then saw a pod of about 40-50 Beluga whales, it was unbelievable, the whales were too far to photograph to get a clear image of these beautiful animals, but the sight was magnificent. We then had our daily recap, and they gave us some further information about Beluga whales. After dinner we then went to enjoy our evening…but then we heard ‘Ding Ding Starboard Side!’ – there was a buzz in the air as we ran to any viewing platform we could find and grabbing the binoculars and cameras for our first glimpse of the one thing we had all been searching for… the polar bear! It was a mesmerising moment seeing how gracefully this beautiful animal walked along the shore one through the water and onto the sheet ice whilst it stalked the seals it had hoped to catch. We were all in awe of its beauty and watched this magnificent polar bear until the early hours of the morning.
Watching a polar bear walking along the ridge, before entering the water and swimming in front of us - what an amazing experience! Walking out onto a floating ice sheet where polar bears roam was another experience I will treasure for the rest of my life. The childlike excitement from the passengers as they’re making snow angels in the ice was just magical. Each day is different to the next, and every moment is more surreal and spectacular than you could ever imagine. We also enjoyed a Zodiac cruise around Yoldiabukta Bay. We had an unbelievable time, admiring the pointed mountain backdrops and tidewater glaciers. We were in awe of the amazing walrus we were able to see as they really are huge! It was incredible how close we were able to get to these amazing animals. We were also taken to a beautiful landing spot where we were able to see many of the Arctic birds – kittiwakes, Brünnich’s guillemot and northern fulmars. It was stunning! We were even lucky enough to see some puffins!
Whether it’s diving into the Arctic waters for the polar plunge or the moment you set eyes on a polar bear, every traveller takes away something truly special from an Arctic Expedition. My advice is to throw yourself into it and grab hold of every opportunity - it is a once in a lifetime experience, so savour every moment!
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