They say a picture is worth a thousand words, though for the Rockjumper Team, this image is what we call “priceless”. The story of the ecstatic reaction and huge relief when the Ocean Diamond sailed on the 10^th of November 2022 is one of a significant milestone in our company history.

was the opening line of our planning that began back in 2017. What could be better than a cruise filled with our many loyal guests who make up the Rockjumper Family in late 2019?
 
The global pandemic followed the failed cruise tragedy for more years than we can bear to count. Determination and sheer grit saw us with not 1, but 2 successful trips (and a combined 220 guests) to the ultimate destinations of Antarctica and South Georgia this month, and we couldn’t resist sharing this image of our incredible Founder, Adam Riley, caught birding in a hot tub with 3 Snowy Sheathbills! Seeing the look of absolute delight on his face, together with many, many pictures of guests enjoying their long-awaited Antarctica experience - made the huge task of planning, organizing, postponing, and re-working the cruises worth it.

Daniel Danckwerts, having snapped this priceless image of Adam, used words like primordial, elemental, majestic and indescribable to depict the white continent and its associated island groups. Though by no means a biodiverse region, these landmasses and their surrounding seas support the highest density of wildlife anywhere on Planet Earth. Roughly 80 species are possible on Rockjumper’s Antarctica Expedition but the abundance of wildlife more than makes up for the lack of species. St Andrew’s Bay on the northern coast of South Georgia, for example, supports more than 150,000 pairs of King Penguins – arguably the largest colony of these majestic birds anywhere on the planet – and that is not to include a countless number of other seabirds and seals that call the gravel beaches home. These sights are guaranteed on each of our cruises to Antarctica but one of the most surprising aspects of any trip is the approachability of the wildlife. Penguins regularly waddle to within a metre, inquisitive and immense seals approach closer than what sometimes feels comfortable, and pesky Snowy Sheathbills peck at one’s toes when enjoying the comfort of the jacuzzi!

Senior bookings consultant, Crystal, beautifully describes the reactions felt by our Tour Leaders and office team, “have you ever sat back and watched a film where a detective finally cracks a cold case that has been unresolved for years? Case Closed. He sits at his office desk, late at night, a small desk lamp flickering in the corner, he closes the file and puts his pen down. Sits back in his big black chair, folds his hands behind his head and smiles, a sigh of relief, contentment. Or a film showing the intense anticipation of a team at NASA watching their big screen to see if the hero of the day saves the world, and when they receive confirmation, they jump up, shouting and celebrating, high fiving and throwing papers and pens in the air”, and we’re sure that our Rockjumper Guests can relate!
 
So, how did we do it? Rockjumper has a super-human Management team, dedicated tour leaders and office gurus, and superb local agents… But above all of us, we have the best guests, who put their trust and understanding in us, remained patient and incredibly loyal during the many trials and tribulations to get here. For that, we are eternally grateful, for no matter how great our Rockjumper Team are, we could never have done this without YOU.

Join us on our next quest for Emperor & King Penguins, Light-mantled & Wandering Albatrosses, Kerguelen, Atlantic, Snow and Antarctic Petrels, Southern Elephant Seals and more…