Rare highplanesdrifters Posted August 17, 2022 Author #126 Share Posted August 17, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, jjs217 said: We are on the Venture over the Holidays in December down in Antarctica. I know ships don't generally make unnecessary announcements, but since this is an expedition cruise, do they make a ship wide announcement when there are animals spotted? I don't care if I'm even taking an afternoon siesta - I want to see wildlife. If I'm on the port side and 50 whales are spotted on the starboard side - I want to know about it. Okay - I made my point. Now, what is the policy? Thanks. Excellent question! And this answer should make everyone happy. There is switch next to the bed. If you don't want to hear announcements flick it off. If you want the animal or aurora wake up call, leave it on. So simple, so brilliant. The cruise before us got a 1am polar bear wake up. Apparently it was worth it. He put on quite a show. We were lucky, our first bear let us sleep in till 7a.m. Edited August 17, 2022 by highplanesdrifters 10 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lirio Posted August 17, 2022 #127 Share Posted August 17, 2022 On 8/12/2022 at 2:33 AM, highplanesdrifters said: Captian Alexander Golubev HD Stephan Drevlak CD Sarah Bomber Aa mentioned earlier, this is not an intense hiking trip. The first 2 days of excursions were nice, interesting, but not wowzas, and will cover them later. They were a nice warm up. It's not Antarctica. With clouds lifting we are getting some stunning scenery. The trip in the pack ice was well worth the cost of admission. Expedition Staff is outstanding. The line up is heavy hitters who all came to play. I think 26 in total. Will also do a post on them. I travelled with captain Goluev 2x: Antarctica with Silversea and in Seabourn Quest in 2019 France. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted August 18, 2022 Author #128 Share Posted August 18, 2022 (edited) The Submarine Ride It was quite the experience. We dove the wall of Rode O Island in Northeast Greenland National Park. The park is 375,000 square miles. The subs positioned near Rode O (red). We rode zodiacs to that location. One sub stays on the surface while the other dives for safety reasons. Wear dark clothes so there is no reflection. While In the zodiac shoes come off. Life jackets stayed on. Step from zodiac to sub and climb down the hatch. It's not as hard as it looks. Seats are a bit tight, but doable. Not the tropics, but still amazing to traverse a wall 101 meters down in the arctic. Rode O Island Sub in position Our excellent Sub pilot Issac Climbing aboard Going down 328 feet down Issac our Sub pilot Edited August 18, 2022 by highplanesdrifters 9 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjs217 Posted August 18, 2022 #129 Share Posted August 18, 2022 21 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said: Excellent question! And this answer should make everyone happy. There is switch next to the bed. If you don't want to hear announcements flick it off. If you want the animal or aurora wake up call, leave it on. So simple, so brilliant. The cruise before us got a 1am polar bear wake up. Apparently it was worth it. He put on quite a show. We were lucky, our first bear let us sleep in till 7a.m. Thank you so much - good to know! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted August 19, 2022 Author #130 Share Posted August 19, 2022 Bear Island, Scoresbysund Greenland Another day of power-packed fun. Kayaking, zodiac rides, deck parties and never ending Giant icebergs. Captain Golubev has a big new toy and he is putting it through some amazing paces. Lapping icebergs, spinning the ship for photo opps, backing up to the bergs for parties. The excitement is contagious. Even some of the expedition crew have been out on deck jumping up and down with glee. Ooohs and ahhhs abound. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted August 19, 2022 Author #131 Share Posted August 19, 2022 Zipping in the zodiac. There were musk ox. But the brown dots in my pictures really were not worth posting.😉 VID_31770930_083803_220.mp4 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted August 19, 2022 Author #132 Share Posted August 19, 2022 Looks like the Denmark Straight is going to give Seabourn Venture a workout😉 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted August 19, 2022 Author #133 Share Posted August 19, 2022 Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland The most isolated town in Greenland. Home to 350 people sitting at the entrance to Scoresbysund. Spinning Musk Ox yarn in the church. Not much here, but the grocery store was interesting. Shoving off with the help of some local children. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted August 19, 2022 Author #134 Share Posted August 19, 2022 20220819_103030.mp4 Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland Dog feeding and line for Colonnade.😀 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folkfan13 Posted August 19, 2022 #135 Share Posted August 19, 2022 I apologize if this has been covered, but I'm making a decision soon concerning an upcoming Antarctic Venture cruise and could use some quick information. We have $500 onboard credit, however this is an all inclusive cruise. We will not be doing a submarine or Kayak which are the only exc/ursions that cost. What sort of clothing does the Ventura have in their shop. Can we get extra wool socks, mid level freeze or other items required for cold weather at a fair price? Any other suggestions for use of the credit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare marazul Posted August 19, 2022 #136 Share Posted August 19, 2022 9 minutes ago, Folkfan13 said: Any other suggestions for use of the credit? Premium wines, spa ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rallydave Posted August 19, 2022 #137 Share Posted August 19, 2022 11 minutes ago, Folkfan13 said: We will not be doing a submarine or Kayak which are the only exc/ursions that cost. There are excursions that have a cost; not many but, if not showing they will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folkfan13 Posted August 19, 2022 #138 Share Posted August 19, 2022 Marazul, In speed reading through this thread, I did see a wine list with prices. So can I assume that wine/drinks are free but there is premium stuff that you have to pay for? We're usually happy with the included drinks on ships, so I assume will have to find something in the ship store. It would be great to know if we can get our various cold layers there and not fly them in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted August 19, 2022 #139 Share Posted August 19, 2022 On 8/18/2022 at 9:30 AM, highplanesdrifters said: Going down These pictures are awesome! A starfish of some species, a sea anemone (I think), and a marine Hydra (or, if not, some kind of Coelenterate). Thanks for being an excellent photographer and posting them! 6 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said: but the grocery store was interesting. Looks like a General Store from the past in parts of the United States. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare marazul Posted August 19, 2022 #140 Share Posted August 19, 2022 (edited) 41 minutes ago, Folkfan13 said: Marazul, In speed reading through this thread, I did see a wine list with prices. So can I assume that wine/drinks are free but there is premium stuff that you have to pay for? We're usually happy with the included drinks on ships, so I assume will have to find something in the ship store. It would be great to know if we can get our various cold layers there and not fly them in. Wines and top shelf liquor are included. The choices are ample and we always find a few wines we like. There is a premium wine list that we look at for special occasions or leftover OBCs. Spa services like massages, pedicures, etc are extra so you can use your credits for that. Do look at all the excursions. Some excursions may be extras. Edited August 19, 2022 by marazul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLSD Posted August 19, 2022 #141 Share Posted August 19, 2022 1 hour ago, Folkfan13 said: Can we get extra wool socks, mid level freeze or other items required for cold weather at a fair price? Any other suggestions for use of the credit? Others can tell you more, but from what I have read, you will be provided a jacket which you can layer other clothing under and you can rent boots for going into wet areas. I think you are going to have to bring your own socks, waterproof pants, gloves, hats, etc. etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted August 19, 2022 Author #142 Share Posted August 19, 2022 4 hours ago, Folkfan13 said: I apologize if this has been covered, but I'm making a decision soon concerning an upcoming Antarctic Venture cruise and could use some quick information. We have $500 onboard credit, however this is an all inclusive cruise. We will not be doing a submarine or Kayak which are the only exc/ursions that cost. What sort of clothing does the Ventura have in their shop. Can we get extra wool socks, mid level freeze or other items required for cold weather at a fair price? Any other suggestions for use of the credit? You will find plenty of great thing to buy in the shop at both reasonable and higher prices. Lots of goodies especially in Antarctica. I'll try and take some pics tomorrow. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted August 19, 2022 Author #143 Share Posted August 19, 2022 20220819_213744.mp4 Two Martini Swells and she rides like a dream. 20220819_212458.mp4 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
15Day+ Posted August 20, 2022 #144 Share Posted August 20, 2022 For anyone wanting to track Venture, and other ships including Quest, Seabourn has resumed the use of their Voyage Tracker web page which includes this voyage… https://www.seabourn.com/en_US/experience/voyagetracker/index.html 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folkfan13 Posted August 20, 2022 #145 Share Posted August 20, 2022 One other quick question. Someone above listed the things we have to bring and it included hats. The Seabourn Expedition Packing list says that a Beanie is included with the parka. Did you guys get one. How is it. Do you recommend any other head or neck apparel for warmth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted August 20, 2022 Author #146 Share Posted August 20, 2022 Yes, a beanie is included and is a good one. I'm not a beanie person. I have ear muffs, and for the really cold and windy days a trooper hat. A neck gators is also a good idea. Again, rain pants are a MUST! The parka and jacket are quite warm. I also packed a puffer vest and sometimes wore just that and the parka with layered thermals. Vest also nice around the ship and under the kayak dry suit. Boots are quite warm. Think and thin thermal socks to work with fit. I like 'smart wool'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folkfan13 Posted August 20, 2022 #147 Share Posted August 20, 2022 Highplanesdrifter: Thanks just the info I was looking for. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted August 20, 2022 #148 Share Posted August 20, 2022 *Outstanding* reporting and pix, highplanesdrifters! I’m looking at the Venture for our third Antarctica in Dec ‘23 or Jan ‘24, and your trip is really whetting the appetite! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted August 20, 2022 Author #149 Share Posted August 20, 2022 3 hours ago, shark b8 said: *Outstanding* reporting and pix, highplanesdrifters! I’m looking at the Venture for our third Antarctica in Dec ‘23 or Jan ‘24, and your trip is really whetting the appetite! Thanks SharkB8. Big fan of your posts too! Although I need to catch up.😉 We are smitten with this ship and crew. Expedition staff like her. All the toys work well. Will sail on her when we return to Antarctica and look forward booking on Pursuit when she's ready. We are in 1-2 meter swells at the moment and it feels like we are in a hotel room. Crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseej Posted August 21, 2022 #150 Share Posted August 21, 2022 5 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said: look forward booking on Pursuit when she's ready @highplainsdrifter Do any of the staff onboard Venture, such as the Future Cruise Consultant, have any information about the Pursuit? Seabourn dropped it from the schedule for 2023 and into 2024, from reports I've seen posted here; in fact it doesn't show up on the Seabourn booking website as one of the ships in the fleet. Yet the page about Pursuit on the Seabourn site is unchanged, still announcing her anticipated debut in early 2023 with summer Greenland and Northwest Passage cruises which we know have been re-assigned to Venture. Is this another Covid-related delay in construction of the ship? Is there some bigger delay brought on by financial issues at Carnival? Does anyone know when Pursuit is now scheduled to debut? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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