Jump to content

All 21 Antarctica Daily Heralds and Dining Guides + Provided Items Here (Feb. 2018)


FLgemini
 Share

Recommended Posts

This post is for all the adventure seekers out there who like to get their hands on as much information as possible. In this case, all things Seabourn Quest in Antarctica. Contemplating going? Already booked? Then here’s an additional resource to get a feel for what makes Seabourn’s Ultimate Antarctica and Patagonia itinerary so special.

 

There’s tons of information about the Seabourn Quest and sister Odyssey Class ships on the Internet with regard to standardized service, amenities, dining, suite features, entertainment, and activities. The focus here is to highlight all the things that make this particular voyage unique. I’ve scanned all the daily Heralds and dining guides and made sure to photograph all the included extras that are specific to this itinerary.

 

Info includes my observations and Seabourn provided info on:

  • Antarctica Kayak Adventure
  • Zodiac and group landing processes
  • Strategically planning suite location and which month to go
  • Provided parka, beanie and backpack
  • Visitor guidelines to Antarctica
  • How to manage expectations
  • Other materials provided only after you board

Just my way to give back after reading so much on Cruise Critic!

 

https://patrickinantarctica.com/2018/02/25/543/

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you Patrick for posting all this information, brilliant for those that haven't been on Quest to Antarctica and great reminiscences for those that have.

My comment on the backpack: I have used mine daily since returning over 1200 days ago, it is definitely NOT waterproof and hardly showerproof, everything put inside needs to go into plastic bags.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you so much for providing this excellent resource. You have given great insight into so many aspects of our upcoming cruise. :)

 

We are very much looking forward to our Antarctic adventure departing Lima in November.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
This post is for all the adventure seekers out there who like to get their hands on as much information as possible. In this case, all things Seabourn Quest in Antarctica. Contemplating going? Already booked? Then here’s an additional resource to get a feel for what makes Seabourn’s Ultimate Antarctica and Patagonia itinerary so special.

 

 

 

There’s tons of information about the Seabourn Quest and sister Odyssey Class ships on the Internet with regard to standardized service, amenities, dining, suite features, entertainment, and activities. The focus here is to highlight all the things that make this particular voyage unique. I’ve scanned all the daily Heralds and dining guides and made sure to photograph all the included extras that are specific to this itinerary.

 

 

 

Info includes my observations and Seabourn provided info on:

 


  •  
  • Antarctica Kayak Adventure
     
  • Zodiac and group landing processes
     
  • Strategically planning suite location and which month to go
     
  • Provided parka, beanie and backpack
     
  • Visitor guidelines to Antarctica
     
  • How to manage expectations
     
  • Other materials provided only after you board
     

Just my way to give back after reading so much on Cruise Critic!

 

 

 

https://patrickinantarctica.com/2018/02/25/543/

 

 

 

We are considering this cruise in December, what suite location do you recommend? Your blog is excellent!

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you everyone for the compliments so far. I'm glad there are others out there in cyberspace who find this info interesting!

 

To you AquariusCruiseGal, I concur with others who have already chimed in that Deck 5 is certainly convenient for zodiac and kayaking comings and goings, although that's only for a third of the time on the Antarctica/Patagonia voyage. The Quest and Odyssey Class ships are brilliantly designed, so, regardless of itinerary, you can't go wrong on stateroom location anywhere. Personal preference and comfort all come into play: low and midship if prone to motion sickness (you never know what you'll get sailing in that part of the world); quick access to dining, entertainment and amenities you think you'll visit most often (like the Penthouse Spa Suites on the aft of the ship); budget; etc. It's a very manageable ship no matter where your stateroom is. That's what makes it so appealing.

 

We stayed in a Penthouse Suite on Deck 10 just a few doors down from the Observation Bar and loved, loved, loved the location. Being a scenic voyage, the Observation Bar was always a hub of activity, morning, noon and night as it offered incredible forward views both in the room and out on deck. Beyond just being a "bar," it also served light bites throughout the day, including pastries with early morning coffee, finger sandwiches and sweets with afternoon tea, and cold and hot hors d' oeuvres during evening cocktail hour. Rarely, if ever, was noise (crowd or live piano music) an issue inside our suite. Deck 10 also has a short, intimate hallway with fewer suites, so we got to know our neighbors well. Yes, we felt motion being high and forward, but nothing we didn't feel elsewhere on the ship in my opinion. For a three-week adventure, we valued the extra room of the Penthouse Suite over a standard Verandah Suite.

 

On the eastbound itinerary that I was on (San Antonio to Buenos Aires), port side faced the mountainous Chilean coast and beautiful Glacier Alley (four of them along the narrow passage) in Patagonia. On the westbound (Buenos Aires to San Antonio), that would then be starboard. In my opinion, suite location does not matter when in Antarctica. All of the views are amazing and the ship is constantly being repositioned because they are not allowed to drop anchor while in Antarctica. If think we even did a few 360s at one or two stops. Both port and starboard have the benefit of lots of natural sunlight because each side eventually has sunrise and sunset days in both north/south portions of the voyage.

Edited by FLgemini
Link to comment
Share on other sites

P.S.

 

There is no advantage to suite location between Antarctica and Buenos Aires (or vice versa). Not much to look at and more sea days. The scenic part of the itinerary is the 2/3 between San Antonio and Antarctica (or vice versa).

 

Many passengers also liked congregating in Seabourn Square on Deck 7 throughout the day. This is the coffee bar/cafe/library/passenger services desk/shops/outside aft viewing area. It was here and the Observation Bar where Seabourn Wildlife Guides were stationed, watching and offering commentary.

 

When it comes to stateroom selection on any ship, always follow the rule: choose a stateroom with other staterooms above, below, beside, and across from you. These provide buffers from noise in public venues or staff areas. Be aware of blank white spaces on deck plans. Those are usually housekeeping, engineering, and staff stairs and elevators. Avoid a connecting stateroom, unless you intend to use the connector.

 

On Seabourn Odyssey class ships (such as the Quest) it is best to avoid midship suites on Deck 7 just below the pool deck on Deck 8 as others have reported hearing occasional footsteps and chair dragging. I've stayed in a Penthouse Suite on Deck 9 right next to the forward elevators and never heard any mechanical or passenger noise in the suite from the elevator lobby.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What a great blog! Thank you for putting the time and effort in, we feel we must go to Antarctica now that we have seen the photos and read about the whole experience.

 

Have just booked on the Quest November 2019 Antarctic voyage!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for this wonderful blog and post. The time you took to do this is remarkable. Again, much appreciated. We sail on the Quest in July for our first Seabourn cruise so this has really given us an idea of things we will enjoy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So glad I found this information. It answered most of my questions. Thank you so much!

We are booked on the first Antarctic cruise of this season, Nov. 4 from Miami to Buenos Aires are are really looking forward to it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Patrick: Thank you for all of this. We are booked on the Quest for November/Dec, 2018, so this is very, very useful.

 

One question for you and others regarding gear: What about boots? Do we rent those?

 

Thanks in advance...Tom

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well it looks as though one rents the boots from Seabourn, and maybe by ordering them before we board.

 

So I should ask, is there any gear or clothing that we should bring from home for the Antarctic adventure?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes you are best off renting the boots from Seabourn as it would be one more big thing to have to carry in your luggage, and you do order them in advance of your voyage. Also they do a boot exchange in case what you ordered in advance does not fit.

 

I'd suggest bringing warm layers. Definitely 2 pair of gloves, one heavy and one light for taking pictures w/. And water proof pants for the landings, and warm pants for when you are outside the ship looking for wildlife.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes you are best off renting the boots from Seabourn as it would be one more big thing to have to carry in your luggage, and you do order them in advance of your voyage. Also they do a boot exchange in case what you ordered in advance does not fit.

 

I'd suggest bringing warm layers. Definitely 2 pair of gloves, one heavy and one light for taking pictures w/. And water proof pants for the landings, and warm pants for when you are outside the ship looking for wildlife.

 

Thanks Nomads! Helpful advice!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Nomads! Helpful advice!

 

Glad to help! And keep in mind that you will be departing and ending up in warm weather. Santiago was quite warm when we were there in December and BA was warm - but we had quite a bit of rain - in January. The part from Ushuaia to Santiago will mostly be warm weather although in the Fjords it was a bit chilly when out on the decks. We honestly did not find it to be very cold - but we are used to cold weather - only on one landing were we fully bundled up. Day time temps were usually between 32 - 38F when in Antarctica.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you plan to take advantage of any of the zodiac landings (the only way to get ashore in Antarctica), waterproof pull-on boots are a must. I agree, it is best to rent boots through Seabourn. They do this through a third-party vendor who will deliver them to the ship. Then at the end of the voyage, you just leave the rentals behind on the ship. There is an option to have rental boots delivered to your home (U.S. only), but skip that, or for that matter, taking your own if you already have a pair. Save weight and space in your luggage. You've spent thousands to get to Antarctica, what's another $80 per person for boot rentals? :-)

 

I'm happy to report that the rental boots are good quality and very utilitarian. My feet and socks were never wet from getting in and out of the zodiacs or from trekking in snow. Decent traction. As mentioned by 2SailingNomads, you'll have the opportunity to switch sizes onboard if the ones you ordered don't fit. Boots can only be pre-ordered prior to sailing as far as I know.

 

Link to boot rental here: https://seabourn.shiptoshoretraveler.com/rentals/rentals-antarctica

 

Side notes: you don't wear these boots to kayak if you purchase that excursion. They put you in full-body wet suits with built-in boots. Also, boots are kept in lockers in the zodiac staging area on Deck 5 aft. You don't keep them in your suite. Even if you do bring your own, they ask you to store them in lockers.

 

We also rented a single pair of trekking poles. Found them useful for the uneven terrain and where there was elevation. With two people, we split the pair up to have a pole each.

 

Seabourn has a suggested packing list for clothing in Antarctica. It pretty much follows what others recommend for any type of polar expedition. The list is buried on their website. Not the easiest information to navigate to. Here's a direct link: https://www.seabourn.com/pageByName/Resp.action?requestPage=expedition.antarctica.packing&showHeader=true&showFooter=true&legacy=true

 

I followed the list exactly and was glad to have all elements throughout the colder portions of the voyage. Others may feel its overkill while others will feel that they can never put on enough to stay warm. It's all about individual comfort level and familiarity with colder climates. The shop onboard sold hand and feet warmers and some layered clothing.

 

Basically, it's layering so you can add or subtract clothing to get warmer or cooler. I already had a few of these items and bought additional items to supplement prior to leaving. My travel mate bought the package where all of the recommended cold weather items were waiting for him in the suite on embarkation (you own everything and take home with you). Pricey, but convenient. All of those items were good quality and generally fit. There was no way to exchange anything once onboard.

 

I also suggest everyone heeds 2SailingNomads advice on warm weather clothing. I touch on that in my blog as well. This was in February:

 

Don’t forget to pack summer clothes in addition to all the cold weather layers you’ll need for Antarctica. It is summer after all in the southern hemisphere and shorts, linen pants, short-sleeved shirts, sundresses, and sandals were not out of place at the height of the day in San Antonio (Chile), Puerto Montt, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires. I found if it was sunny with no wind in these cities, it could be hot in direct sunlight, but pleasant in the shade. There were also a couple of days – including two sea days between the Falklands and Montevideo – where passengers were sunning out on deck in their bathing suits and enjoying the pool.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Nomads & Flg: thanks for all the tips which I will file away and use! And we know about the warm weather...This will be a long voyage for us, boarding in Miami and passing through the Canal and past Ecuador and Peru before we hit Chile. And then we are returning to Chile by air after we leave in BA. AND, this will be our long-awaited return to Seabourn after a 4 + years hiatus; just haven't found the right itinerary. Thanks again, we will be prepared, thanks to you, and looking forward to a true adventure!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
  • 4 months later...

Dear Patrick,

It is a pleasure to read your Journey to the White Continent.
I didn't find as much information is in your writings which I'm thankful for.

In two weeks me and my wife are going to the same cruise just in the opposite direction and I would like to ask few questions:
1. Do you have any material that you used for gathering information about the cruise.
2. Based on your experiance, can we book for kayaks on the spot or it is better to book upfront?
3. Your PDF's were also very helpful but unfortunatly, they are images which prevents me to copy the text for an online translation (I don't speak or read English), do you know if it is possible to find daily agenda which I can translate to Russian?
4. How was experiance with Thomas Keller's restaorant? Also, can it be visited more than once for the entire cruise or we can visit there more often?
5. Is there anywhere on the ship that me and my wife can dance ballroom style?
6. Is there anywhere I can play table tennis on the ship?

Thank you in advance and looking forward hearing from you,

Best regards,

Victor

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Victor.

 

Happy to answer your questions where I can. Hopefully there are other Cruise Critic members who can help fill in the blanks.

 

1.    I found the Internet to be my best and only resource in researching this voyage. So much information available from professional writers and reviewers, bloggers, and past passengers about Seabourn, the Quest, South American ports-of-call, and Antarctica itself. I wore my browser search function out! I also poured over everything having to do with this cruise on Cruise Critic. Again, the “search” function here can be your friend. YouTube and Seabourn websites are great outlets for those who like audiovisuals.  Seabourn has an excellent repository of online videos and information explaining the Antarctica experience. If you can, use Google Chrome browser which allows for some automatic translation from English to Russian I believe. Just go to settings and choose language.

 

2.    I would make the recommendation to book your kayak time in Antarctica prior to leaving for your cruise. This ensures your participation as this is very popular with passengers. Like any excursion, Seabourn probably sells slots on the ship up until departure if space is available. Not to overthink it, but you want to be strategic if you are planning on one kayak outing. I would suggest booking for the second or third day of the five days in Antarctica so you get kayaking in earlier while there. My understanding is that Seabourn only does kayak adventures in the Antarctica portion of the entire 21-day cruise. Kayaking is highly susceptible to cancellations due to unpredictable weather, so don’t risk time on the fourth or fifth day if you really have your heart set on kayaking. Also, kayaking is a paid excursion with EXTRA cost. Zodiac expeditions/landings are INCLUDED in your base cruise fare. They are two different experiences. Some can get this confused.

 

3.    I don’t know how to help you on finding Daily Heralds in Russian. Most communication onboard is in English. My only suggestion is to get in touch with Seabourn in advance to see if they can, or will, provide. Maybe someone reading this has experience with this.

 

4.    The Grill by Thomas Keller is not to be missed. Best food on the ship in my opinion. Freshly prepared, generous portions and a special room ambiance. There is no extra charge for this specialty dining, so definitely make plans to go. If I recall correctly, most passengers can pre-book reservations for two seatings on this 21-day cruise (I think some higher-end suite guests may have more opportunities than that). Once on the ship though, you are able to book as many reservations as you like within reason of course based on availability. There are volumes of posts here on Cruise Critic about The Grill and strategies for maximizing your time there.

 

5.    Dancing in the evening can take place in two locations: The Club on Deck 5 and the Grand Salon on Deck 6. The Club has a small-ish dance floor which is meant for dancing at any time, usually to live music by a trio. The Grand Salon has a much larger dance floor, but passengers are only invited up during certain programs when there is a live band.

 

6.    I don’t recall seeing any table tennis on the Quest where you would expect it (pool and activity areas on decks 5, 8 or 11). Maybe someone else out there can help with this?

 

Hope this has been helpful.

 

--Patrick
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you dear Patrick for the quick response!
Question on landing with zodiacs and kayak -
How high should boots be to feel comfortable?

And why waterproof pants?

And how many times have you used the kayak?
And was it possible to use the zodiac twice a day?

Victor

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, victorsend said:

Thank you dear Patrick for the quick response!
Question on landing with zodiacs and kayak -
How high should boots be to feel comfortable?

And why waterproof pants?

And how many times have you used the kayak?
And was it possible to use the zodiac twice a day?

Victor

 

Hi victosend, most of us are very concerned prior to going to Antarctica, but Seabourn do everything so well and everything runs so smoothly that after we wonder why we were so worried. 

That said it is best to hire the boots through Seabourn’s outfitters. I took my own snow boots, but was advised not to wear them ashore as “you’ll never get the smell of the Penguin Poo out of them” !

The hire  boots come to just below your knees and are very comfortable.

You wear waterproof (or water resistant) pants as you wear them over your boots, so if you step of the Zodiac into deep water the pants compress around your legs and the water doesn’t get into your boots.

Also sometimes if the water is choppy spray comes over the bow of the Zodiac .

Normally there is only one landing per color group per day, however we were never “hurried” back on board, and usually we spent one to two hours onshore.

We had a guy in his eighties in our color group who walked with the aid of 2 sticks, he made every one of our 5 landings

 

The photo is of my wife making her first landing

 

This Seabourn video may help ( it was made on our Antarctica cruise) 

 

451D53CF-13C3-44B0-B631-59678A07DE57.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello SKP946!
It is the Internet forums on the topic of Antarctic cruises that make a certain panic in future researchers!
Every year we go skiing from the Alps and ending with Aspen. The weather conditions are much more extreme than the expected February in Antarctica! And the temperatures are lower and the winds are stronger, especially during rapid descent from the mountain.
That is, as I understand it, the usual equipment for the Dolomites in Italy in March is quite enough for this cruise.
The only moment of entry and exit from the zodiac through really water! Therefore, thank you again for the photo, where it is clearly and everything is clear!
Boots that you recommend to hire on the ship only rubber or have additional internal insulation?
Sincerely, Victor.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...