Day seven started with a gorgeous morning at Cuverville Island, where we found plenty of gentoo penguins and Weddell seals. The island has a large gentoo colony, along with some old whaling relics.
Later we went kayaking around Orne Harbour, paddling through brash ice and getting much closer to it all than we could from the ship. The water was calm, with snow-covered mountains all around. Chinstrap penguins nest in the rocks along the ridge above the landing there.
In the evening there was a barbecue on the back deck, and it was also a good day to try out the ship’s newly opened pool.
Good to know
- Cuverville Island: it has a large gentoo penguin colony and some old whaling relics. Landings are sometimes stopped as a bird flu precaution. Antarctic Treaty site guide
- Orne Harbour: chinstrap penguins nest in the rocks along the ridge above the landing. Antarctic Treaty site guide
- Kayaking: on many expedition ships it’s an extra with limited places, so ask when you book.
We checked these details in October 2026. Times, prices and rules do change, so it’s worth a quick look at the official sites before you go.