1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Antarctica was simply magical. Hard to pick one out, there were so many. I guess the first penguin just a few feet away and totally unconcerned was really special. To sit and watch them go their way was wonderful. But in the end, I have to look back at the first night, the shortest night down there, December 21st. We were just off Verdansky station anchored on the smoothest sea I have ever seen with not a cloud in the sky. The sun set and the world was gold and at peace. And pffffff 30 minutes later the sun rose again.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Don't take your climbing/hiking boots to Antarctica unless you are doing something serious. The snow is soft and wellies/gumboots are fine even for moderate hill climbs. You need the latter for getting ashore anyway. If you smoke, take a good supply of cigarettes, the Sergei Vavilov for one does not stock any. You cannot get APS film in Ushuaia nor on the Sergei Vavilov. Take loads of film or memory cards anyway.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

There were no local people except for those on the research stations and they welcomed us. We were very conscious about not impacting on the environment but who can tell what a visiting icebreaker does down there? The penguins did not seem to take much notice of us. The seals and the whales couldn't give a damn.

4. Any other comments?

No words that I can write nor pictures that I can show will ever capture the magic, the feeling and the mood of Antarctica. You simply have to go there for that. It was beyond compare utterly beautiful in every way. In conclusion, I have to say that the staff were truly excellent and the food on the Sergei Vavilov was really excellent - imaginative, varied and well cooked. The wine selection was also great.