What does "Going to Antarctica" Mean?

I have been telling people that I am going to Antarctica for several months now and I get all kinds of reactions. The two most common are "Wow!" or Why?" I started to think about this and realized after further conversation that not everyone understands what "going to Antarctica" means in my particular case, so here is my explanation.

First off, I often have to clarify that this is the ice covered continent in the southern hemisphere not the ice covered ocean in the Northern hemisphere. They are both cold, and the North has Polar Bears (and Santa Claus' workshop - I guess it floats on multi-year pack ice) and the South has Penguins.

Beyond those basics I would like those reading this to get a better idea of what and where I am going. Antarctica is nearly twice as big as Australia and I will be on the trip for 15 days and traveling by ship, so I will see a very small part of it... very small. I am not going any further into the interior (towards the South Pole) than I can walk from our beach landings between breakfast and lunch. Antarctica is the windiest, driest, coldest continent and has the highest average altitude. Most of these attributes are characteristics of the interior. I will spend most of my time on the coast where it could still be windy and cold but low altitude and likely wet.

I also need to explain that only part of the trip will be Antarctica proper. I will be leaving from the port city of Ushuaia, Argentina on the island of Tierra Del Fuego on Le Boreal, a 466 foot luxury, expedition cruise ship heading north and east to the Falkland Islands for a short visit to see wildlife (mostly penguins and other seabirds) and the lifestyle of the local inhabitants who are mostly fishermen, farmers, ranchers and peat cutters.
From The Falklands we head south and further east to South Georgia Island. Along the way we cross an important line. Geographically speaking almost all of Antarctica is within the Antarctic Circle which is located 66*33'44" degrees south of the equator. Within this line there will be at least one day with no sunrise and at least one day of no sun set during a year. The closer to the pole, the more days of each. The line I am talking about is not the Antarctic Circle, it is the Antarctic Convergence. (see below)

The Antarctic Convergence is an ocean phenomenon where warmer waters from the temperate zone collide with the frigid waters surrounding Antarctica. This line is not fixed (it moves with the seasons) and it is not equidistant from the continent's shore. The significance of the line is that it dictates "Antarctic conditions". On the North side of the line the ocean temperature is about 42* F. On the South side it drops to 36* F. This difference creates ideal conditions for the growth and livelihood of krill which is the driving food source for many creatures of the Antarctic seas. South Georgia Island and its surrounding waters are found south of the Convergence. So even though South Georgia Island is not connected geologically to Antarctica, biologically, oceanographically and meteorologically it is Antarctic in character.

From South Georgia we turn back West and explore the Antarctic Peninsula and its associated islands (technically part of the Continent). If sea and ice conditions permit we will sail south of the Antarctic Circle.

The last part of the journey will be to cross the Drake Passage back to Ushuaia.