Usually we have a fleet of zodiacs, rubber inflatable dinghies, to take us ashore. This allows us to go ashore in places that would normally be inaccessible. But Even those have their limits. When there is a lot of ice on the shores or a steep cliff or if we want to land on the pack ice zodiacs are not very useful. So on this trip, we had helicopters on the ship. Primarily to find Emperor Penguins and to land on the ice near the colony (see the previous post), but also for scenic flights on Antarctica or landings at more remote places. And of course, flying around Antarctica is very spectacular.