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Life Onboard an Expedition Ship | What to Expect | The Expedition Cruise Podcast | Episode 5

Rona Wheeldon
Rona Wheeldon
🥉Knowledgeable
👁️ 186 views📅 3 months ago⏱️ 8:01
What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsFull Ship Review🥉Knowledgeable Creator
❤️ Best for CoupleOther · Winter · 13 nightsVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

That's when it hits you. Your day is shaped by nature, not by a timet.

There's something incredibly freeing about that.

That was when I understood why people say Antarctica changes you.

It's the way it makes you feel small in the best possible way.

Creator's Tips & Advice

Allow yourself extra time for the very first time you layer up, as it can take longer than you think.

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

How to dress for different activities like kayaking and Zodiac outingsFollow the expedition team's briefing on layers: thermal top and bottom, mid layer, padded jacket, socks, net gator, gloves, and a hat.

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat does a day on an expedition cruise really feel like?

Topics Covered

Service Crew4 Happy BaconExcursions4½ Happy BaconItinerary Route3½ Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Hidden Bay4½ Happy Bacon
Top: Kayaking
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology
YouTube Video Description

Life onboard an expedition ship is unlike any other style of travel, and in this episode, host Rona Wheeldon takes you through a full, real‑time day aboard Viking’s expedition ship Octantis, a day she experienced in Antarctica on 17th January 2025. From the moment you lift the stateroom blind and see what the weather is doing, to the rhythm of layering up, heading out on Zodiacs, sharing stories over lunch, listening to expert briefings and witnessing unforgettable scenery, this episode gives you an authentic, moment‑by‑moment sense of what expedition life actually feels like. You’ll learn: - What a typical morning looks like onboard from breakfast to gearing up for your first adventure - How kayaking, Zodiac cruises and wildlife encounters unfold in real time - Why flexibility is essential, and how the expedition team shapes each day around weather and conditions - What daily briefings cover and how they help you understand the landscape, wildlife and history - How quiet moments, dramatic scenery and unexpected surprises create the emotional heart of an expedition - The moment that changed how Rona thinks about expedition cruising and why Antarctica has such a profound impact on travellers - Why even simple routines, lunch, layering up, stepping outside, feel different when you’re surrounded by ice, silence and scale This episode offers a vivid, honest and immersive look at life onboard an expedition ship, perfect if you’re curious about what really happens between landings, lectures and those unforgettable moments out on the water. AD | PR Invite | #MyVikingStory THE EXPEDITION CRUISE PODCAST ○ What is an Expedition Cruise? | Episode 1 | https://youtu.be/v09ChhVpX0c ○ Who is Expedition Cruising For? | Episode 2 | https://youtu.be/bQaXChZyee8 ○ Where Can You Go on an Expedition Cruise? | Episode 3 | https://youtu.be/XbuYo5sUqZU ○ What Makes an Expedition Ship Different? | Episode 4 | https://youtu.be/KYGDiLXjkZs ○ Antarctica Wildlife Encounters | Episode 6 | https://youtu.be/L13zumkSA2Y IN-DEPTH EXPEDITION CRUISE VIDEOS ○ 13 Day Viking Antarctica Cruise (Full Experience) | https://youtu.be/EoqE0SZ3P_U ○ What to Wear on Excursions | Antarctic Explorer with Viking Expeditions | https://youtu.be/XKu0LMTgqos ○ Viking Antarctica Expedition Packing Guide for First Timers | https://youtu.be/RNkiXHKBHmA ○ Viking Octantis World Café Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | https://youtu.be/pWH43RSiZHY ○ What You Need to Know About Viking's Expedition Ships: Full Review | https://youtu.be/HvJ7WINsx6M FOLLOW MY ADVENTURES: ○ Website | https://ronawheeldon.com ○ Blog | https://www.ronawheeldon.com/blog ○ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/ronawheeldon/ ○ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/RonaWheeldonUK/ ○ Pinterest | https://uk.pinterest.com/ronawheeldonuk/ ○ X | https://x.com/RonaWheeldon ○ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@ronawheeldon ○ Substack Weekly Newsletter | https://ronawheeldon.substack.com EQUIPMENT USED: ○ Video Camera 1* | https://amzn.to/3xidi4M ○ Micro Card* | https://amzn.to/3VoynCt ○ Photography Camera 2* | https://amzn.to/458kPjj ○ SD Card* | https://amzn.to/3x4dAw4 ○ Tripod/Selfie Stick* | https://amzn.to/4ejjnhT ○ Black Lapel Microphone* | https://amzn.to/3TpG5JY DISCLAIMER: This video is not sponsored, but Viking did host my husband and I for this voyage. All opinions are honest and my own. Links containing affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, I will receive a small percentage of your purchase.