What are conditions in October?

[VJHooker]

My wife and I are booked on an icebreaker (the Kapitan Khlebnikov) with Quark Expeditions for a cruise to the Weddell Sea in late October 2006. I have read many things about the conditions in Antarctica, but most everything I find describes the conditions during the prime Antarctic summer travel months of November to March. I have never seen a tourist cruise advertised as leaving as early as October, and wondered if anyone had any thoughts. Specifically, I am most concerned about the weather ? will it be very much colder than the normal temps I see described for the normal travel periods, how much sunlight can we expect (much better for photography) or is it more likely to be overcast, and will there be more storms? On an icebreaker, should I have any concern about early season ice altering our itinerary, or do those guys go anywhere at any time?