CJL2

Tha ks for an amazing travelogue! Can't wait to board tomorrow!

An excellent band!

Unbelievable! Fingers crossed we get the same great luck next week that you've had on this trip!

That's what I had thought. Ponant Antarctica was EXTREMELY casual. Very strange that SS explicitly gave me wrong info on the phone. Anyway, I'm very happy to hear that, and all good since I'm not bringing anything remotely formal.

Actually, SS told me there are at least two on this cruise - Captain's dinner and one addiitonal.

I also spoke with SS about this, as we are traveling for a month and have no interest in bringing dinner jackets. SS said that dress codes are not enforced, even at La Dame and on formal nights. Just no jeans at the formal dinner. they said lots of people choose casual the whole trip, as it's an expedition cruise so it's a different crowd from normal upscale cruising. We are NOT bringing dinner jackets but will bring some pants that are not jeans.

I think we just got unlucky! We were on Le Boreal, but a charter out of Texas (we're from Canada) by Eclipse Tours (Paul Maley). The whole thing was a s**t show. The guest manager, who was great, said it was by far the worst voyage he's ever done. In his words "it was ridiculous". Thus the return, but on a different cruise line this time!

He did! Thanks 😁

Thanks very much for both these comments. I read that they have tested the dead seals and it was NOT bird flu, but they have not said what the cause of the mass deaths haven been. Hoping the bird flu is contained and excited at the possibility of getting to visit South Georgia on foot. As for the Ponant/SS comparison - my experience is a bit tainted because it was a Solar Eclipse charter to Antarctica, during COVID (Nov 2021) and the whole thing was a complete disaster - one landing in Antarctica due to horrible weather (7m waves), four days out bof our way to chase an eclipse that didn't happen (well it of course happened, but we were completely covered in cloud). I did like the Ponant ship, and found the food excellent (if a bit repetitive). The wines however were an awful embarrassment, especially for a French cruise line, and communications from the Captain and the senior members of the crew were absolutely atrocious (non-existent). This was especially distressing since we basically spent the entire 10 days at sea - the most expensive (and rough) boat ride in history. In fact, our Captain was basically AWOL the entire trip. The lectures were decent but not great, and I can't say much about the expedition team because we only got one landing! Not even any additional zodiac cruises! Finally, many passengers sent letters to Ponant senior management, and they basically ignored all our concerns and blamed everybody else. So, no matter what, this trip is sure to be better than the last one! I am looking forward to a different company and to all the excursions, and free kayaking (which Ponant would have charged for had the weather made kayaking possible). Also being a bit of an admitted wine snob (life's too short to drink crap wine, and it doesn't have to be expensive!) I'm thrilled to see the huge and very decent complimentary wine list from Silversea - a huge step up from Ponant. Ditto the food menus - they look varied and amazing! As for the comment about comparing like for like, I think it's what a lot of people want, and it's very helpfu for people to make their decision on future cruises based on what's important to them. It's not a matter of better or worse, but strengths and weaknesses. Thanks again for your input. T minus 8 days! Can't wait! CJ

That's a good sign! Fingers crossed.

Oh no! We are scheduled on the next sailing of the Silver Wind, leaving Puerto Williams on Jan. 6. We were in Antarctica in 2021 for a disastrous Solar Eclipse tour (one landing due to weather and no eclipse due to cloud cover), and booked Silversea to South Georgia and Antarctica this time, specifically to get the entire Southern Ocean experience - and now bird flu! Fingers crossed they're still allowed to go to South Georgia and get a couple of landings. I heard Ponant recently canceled South Georgia entirely. Please keep us posted on your cruise! On another note, how do you like the experience with Silversea? We went with Ponant last time and have mixed comments.