An Antarctic cruise may not provide ideal conditions for sunbathing on deck, but there is nothing quite like it for adventurous souls who yearn to see and experience the beauty and spectacle of Earth's most remote and unspoiled place. A cruise to the great "White Continent" also provides unique opportunities for face-to-face encounters with the wildlife that dwell in this icy realm, including gentoo and chinstrap penguins; crabeater, Weddell and leopard seals; humpback and killer whales; and kelp gulls and nesting Antarctic terns. The natural beauty the Antarctic region leaves visitors spellbound. Awe-inspiring vistas include snow-capped peaks, sheer cliffs, icebergs and ink-blue waters. The coldest and windiest of all seven continents, Antarctica has no native or permanent human residents - only scientists and specialists, who live there a few months at a time, and cruise passengers who enjoy the rare opportunity to visit.