'48 hour rollercoaster': 35-foot waves pummel Antarctica cruise, passenger video shows
'48 hour rollercoaster': 35-foot waves pummel Antarctica cruise, passenger video shows
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Massive Drake Passage waves pummel cruise ship
Video captured as passengers struggled to stand as a cruise ship encountered rough conditions while passing through the infamous Drake Passage.
Massive waves pummeled a cruise ship during an Antarctica voyage, video footage from a passenger shows.
Lesley Anne Murphy posted clips to Instagram on March 26 that appeared to show the ship rocking back and forth, a woman sliding across the floor as the vessel lurched, and a TV slamming into a wall. At certain points, walls of water are nearly all that is visible from the windows.
Guests saw the 35-foot waves while crossing the Drake Passage, a notoriously treacherous waterway between Antarctica and South America. 'Yes, we were safe, and it was insane … and at times, even fun?' Murphy wrote on Instagram. '1000% worth it for this trip of a lifetime!'
The travel journalist, who also appeared as a contestant on 'The Bachelor,' compared the experience to a '48-hour rollercoaster." Murphy was onboard Quark Expeditions' Ocean Explorer ship at the time.
"Quark Expeditions has over 30 years of experience navigating polar waters with a purpose-built, ice-class fleet and expert crew," a spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. "Safety remains our top priority, ensuring guests are well cared for in all conditions. The ship, crew, and passengers completed their polar voyage safely and without incident."
Murphy did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.
Most expedition cruises to Antarctica cross the Drake Passage, which takes around two days. Travelers could experience a 'Drake shake' like Murphy or a smooth 'Drake lake.' She said on Instagram the ship experienced two "Drake shakes" during her trip.
Story continues below.
USA TODAY captures once-in-a-lifetime expedition in Antarctica
Tourists can experience Antarctica aboard ships sailed by companies like Aurora Expeditions.
I sailed to Antarctica with Aurora Expeditions in 2023, and my own experience on the way down was somewhere in the middle, with waves roughly 13 feet high.
Some cruise operators offer flights over the Drake Passage. However, Kristin Winkaffe, a luxury travel designer and founder of Winkaffe Global Travel, told USA TODAY last year that those itineraries are both 'exponentially more expensive' and less reliable due to unpredictable weather in the area.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
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