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My daughter and I travelled on the Clipper Odyssey in early August. We knew we were going on an Expedition Cruise and had packed all the gear they suggested we take, thermals, wellingtons, wet weather gear etc, and we needed it all!!
We had been on the ship in 1995 and knew that it would be comfortable and fun.
We were up early each morning to have breakfast and get kitted up in all our gear ready for boarding the Zodiac's around 8am. Everything was very well organised and it did not take long to get the 80 or so passengers off the ship. We were taken really close to the various glaciers and saw some amazing "calving" even went on a sunset glacier cruise and got back as it was getting dark. Always felt very safe and we were impressed with how expert and knowledgeable our Zodiac drivers were. Whenever we got back onboard we were greeted with hot flannels and a hot drink on the pool deck. Very welcome on wet days!
Saw "bubble net" and "lunge" feeding hump back whales up close, truly amazing. We also had a day when we saw sealions very close and seals not so close as they are more nervous than the sealions. What about the bears!! One very close one day when we were on a land trip, three very close another day when we visited a salmon hatchery, and one out on a beach with our zodiacs a hundred yards off shore. So many Bald Eagles that we became very blase about them, and naturally lots of interesting birds, even some Storm Petrels that landed on the ship very wet. Peter our "bird man" kept them in a box overnight to dry out and they all survived and he released them the next day.
The small ports we visited were tourist free, except for us, and we were introduced to the local people and their customs and their history.
The cruise was excellent, the expedition staff were excellent, and the ship itself was excellent. I would recommend this cruise to anyone wanting fun and an experience like no other!
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