Trip Planning Cruises Antarctica Cruise: Visiting Elephant Island on Zodiacs Glaciers, Wildlife and the Shackleton Survival Story By Linda Garrison Linda Garrison Linda Paull Garrison is a travel writer who has taken over 150 cruises and spent over 1,100 days at sea. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 06/26/19 Elephant Island, Antarctica. Linda Garrison Antarctica is a wonderful cruise destination for adventurous travelers. Cruising aboard the Hanseatic expedition ship is a way to have the opportunity to visit such remote places as Elephant Island, one of the South Shetland Islands, and the place where Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and his Endurance crew of 28 sailors were icebound in 1914. On a Zodiac inflatable excursion to the island, the passengers saw the island up close and recalled the harrowing story of the rescue of the crew of the Endurance. 01 of 09 Launching the Zodiacs Linda Garrison In order to get closer to Elephant Island, inflatable Zodiacs were launched from the Hanseatic cruise ship. These speedy, easy-to-maneuver boats are ideal for exploring. As the Zodiacs were launched, the passengers recalled the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the crew who were icebound on the island in 1914—an amazing story of determination. Most travelers have heard or read about Elephant Island, where 22 of Shackleton's crew spent four long, dark Antarctic winter months awaiting rescue, and marveled at their perseverance. However, visiting Elephant Island in Antarctica on an inflatable Zodiac boat from a cruise ship will give you a perfect idea of just how amazing their story actually was. Continue to 2 of 9 below. 02 of 09 Approaching a Glacier on Elephant Island Elephant Island, Antarctica (c) Linda Garrison The Zodiacs approached a glacier at Elephant Island, Antarctica. After Shackleton and his crew abandoned the Endurance, their sinking ship, the first camped on icebergs before manning their lifeboats to travel to this very island. Continue to 3 of 9 below. 03 of 09 Heading for Shackleton's Crew Camp Linda Garrison The Zodiacs then headed in for the site of Shackelton's crew's camp on Elephant Island. Shackleton knew that the island could serve only as a temporary haven, so he and five volunteers attempted a perilous 800-mile journey, via one of the lifeboats, to South Georgia Island. They reached their destination 17 days later. Continue to 4 of 9 below. 04 of 09 Seeing Point Wild on Elephant Island Linda Garrison Point Wild was named for Frank Wild, the second-in-command of Shackleton's expedition who managed to survive on the tiny point for four months until Shackleton returned aboard the Chilean cutter Yelcho to rescue them in August 1916. A marker on the island is a bust commemorating Luis Pardo Villalón, captain of the Yelcho. Continue to 5 of 9 below. 05 of 09 Circling the Hanseatic Cruise Ship Linda Garrison The Zodiac circled for a view of the MS Hanseatic, a 175-passenger cruise ship with 88 cabins and suites. Continue to 6 of 9 below. 06 of 09 Visiting the Seals Linda Garrison A major aspect of any cruise to Antarctica is seeing the wildlife. Elephant Island was named by early explorers after sighting elephant seals on its shores. Since the Hanseatic passengers were on the maneuverable Zodiacs, they could get close to these seals. Continue to 7 of 9 below. 07 of 09 Viewing an Elephant Island Glacier Linda Garrison Small inflatable Zodiac boats allow cruise passengers to get very close to glaciers and other Antarctica sites on Elephant Island. Endurance Glacier is the main outlet glacier and was named after the Endurance. Continue to 8 of 9 below. 08 of 09 Getting Close to the Penguins Linda Garrison Everyone loves to see penguins, and this colony is on Elephant Island. There is a Chinstrap penguin colony on Point Wild, surrounding the statue erected that honors Luis Pardo Villalón, the Captain of the Yelcho, the Chilean ship that rescued Wild and his men. The name of this type of penguin comes from the line under its head, looking like a chinstrap. The diet of the penguin consists of fish, shrimp, krill, and squid. They swim up to 50 miles out to sea each day to feed. Continue to 9 of 9 below. 09 of 09 Taking a Farewell Look at Elephant Island Linda Garrison Cruise ships only stay anchored off Elephant Island for a few hours, but the men of the Endurance endured four months there. After exploring on a Zodiac, most guests are happy to escape to the warmth and luxury of their cruise ship. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email