In addition, our expedition ships are fully self-contained from an environmental viewpoint and Fathom Expeditions offsets the ship air emission through carbon sinks and reforestation. This ensures our “footprint” in these pristine Polar areas is minimized and completely transient, not permanent.
By participating in a Fathom Expeditions’ journeys, you will also be directly supporting the conservation of wildlife and wilderness areas in North America and the Polar Regions.
Adventure Cruises with Comfort
The beauty of a Fathom small ship expedition is that one need not "rough it" to enjoy the planet's isolated wilderness regions. We board and settle into out cabin for the next eleven days. Our ship is not a luxury ship nor is it overly fancy. She carries all the comforts for cruising with full cabin service, hearty warm meals after each busy day and full lounge and bar service from the observation lounge. The odd sing along has broken out in the evening post landings!Onboard, we will enjoy large outer decks, an open bridge policy, observation lounge, lecture hall, dining room, library and more. The view from the bow is simply one of the best in the world. The friendly and attentive hotel staff are there to assist on our journey. It is a perfect platform for exploring the cold, white world of Antarctica.
Every Fathom expedition brings just the right touch of civilization into the great Antarctic wilderness.
Nature
Antarctica and the Southern Ocean region represent the planet's largest intact wilderness ecosystem. Whales, seals, penguins and seabirds abound in breath-taking quantities here. South Georgia Island alone boasts over 800,000 King Penguins, 5 million Macaroni Penguins, 44 million Antarctic Prions, and thousands of other birds and seals.This vast Polar region, at the bottom of the world, is a sanctuary for wildlife - a place where Nature survives without the intrusion of cars, planes, or automobiles. Fathom Expeditions' itineraries are created to showcase the very best of these destinations. A visit here is rare and unforgettable.
Learning
Learning is an integral component of the Fathom experience. Our pre-trip materials prepare you with detailed information and resources relating to our trips, ships and destinations. These documents are complimented by access to polar field experts at every stage of the trip preparation process.Prior to boarding the ship, our exclusive land programs acquaint you with the local cultures, food, and traditions. Our guides interpret in a manner designed to maximize your learning experience.
On board the ship, our hand-picked team of naturalists, historians, and scientist present an exciting, informative series of presentations, designed to satisfy the most inquisitive mind and to prepare you for the experiences to come...
While doing landings on shore, our guides are always available to interpret, assist, and advise on the local wildlife, science, ice and exploration history. We take the opportunity, when possible, to visit scientific research bases where over-wintering Polar scientists welcome us into their working environment, producing a learning experience, both invigorating and informative.
Exploration
Antarctica fires the imagination and captures the heart. It does so using its mysterious personality and its unheralded exploration opportunities. Historically, great explorers - Charcot, Shackleton, and Scott - held a strong bond with the Antarctic and could not stay away. We, at Fathom Expeditions, understand this magnetic attraction.It derives strength from the unknown, from the unpredictable - the shifting pack ice, the wildlife, the weather and the surrounding seas. These elements draw us in and keep us guessing as to the next discovery or wondrous spectacle. There are few places on earth where one can explore for the first time and discover what has not yet been found - to travel in the map's empty places where names don't exist.
Each journey into the heart of the Antarctic is an exploration. Our expeditions frequently discover untouched islands and are witness to new experiences, things impossible to predict: breaching humpbacks, rotating 6-storey icebergs, and dancing Willi-Waw wind funnels. In Antarctica, the exploration is real and the discovery is ubiquitous.
