A luxury cruise encountered unexpectedly turbulent conditions as towering waves, reaching up to 40 feet, tossed the vessel about.
Footage shared on Instagram captured the intense wave action impacting the Quark Expeditions’ Ocean Explorer, which was navigating the Drake Passage between Antarctica and the southern tip of South America.
An Instagram user described the experience as “a 48-hour rollercoaster,” adding, “Yes, we were safe and it was insane…and at times, even fun? 1000% worth it for this trip of a lifetime!”
Travel blogger Lesley Anne Murphy reported that the ship’s crew advised passengers to remain in their cabins until the intense rocking subsided.
Quark Expeditions acknowledged the Drake Passage’s reputation for “fierce weather and extremely powerful waves,” attributing it to the convergence of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Southern Oceans.
The company asserted that its ships are “built to navigate such waters.”
“I am proud to say we survived not one but two Drake Shakes,” Murphy shared. “If you’re lucky, you get the ‘Drake Lake.’ If you’re like us, you get the ‘Drake Shake’ with 35-foot waves.”