There was also a great educational program. We had regular lectures about the history, geography, geology, and fauna of Antarctica, along with mandatory IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) trainings on what to expect, how to behave on land and on the water, protecting the environment and native species, tips for not dying, along with gear fittings, fitness testing, and thorough gear and clothing decontamination to ensure we didn't bring any foreign material onto the continent. We certainly were never bored!