Their Atlantic Odyssey cruise is the ultimate in ice vacations, lasting nearly 40 days, with visits to the Antarctic peninsula, the South Shetland Islands, South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands.

CNN: Embrace ice: 8 cool getaways

The commanding officer said one of the most memorable parts of the deployment was the journey down to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, which he described as "some of the most unique and beautiful places on earth".

BBC: HMS Montrose returns after south Atlantic deployment

The reindeer meat will be taken to the Falkland Islands for sale, as South Georgia has no permanent population and is only visited by scientists and government officers.

BBC: South Georgia prepares to cull its invasive reindeer