Rare NorbertsNiece Posted December 25, 2023 Author #251 Share Posted December 25, 2023 (edited) While I was at the talk this morning Geoff was up top. He captured a whale's spout. A very few flakes of snow had fallen. The last three from during lunch when we headed SE to A23A 1535 heavy snow now! Poor visibility Edited December 25, 2023 by NorbertsNiece 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted December 25, 2023 Author #252 Share Posted December 25, 2023 (edited) We're still approaching A23A. 20 mins or so says the captain. To get the full arctic experience he recommends heading to the bow..... spray, wind, freezing snow, ice etc. We dined in the Pinnacle Grill yesterday evening. Dressy night and happy to oblige. Not so everyone who also dined with us; double denim and trainers on one gent. Edited December 25, 2023 by NorbertsNiece 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogladyrider Posted December 25, 2023 #253 Share Posted December 25, 2023 @NorbertsNiece... STUNNING pics! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Eyes Posted December 25, 2023 #254 Share Posted December 25, 2023 Loving your report. Thanks for taking us along. MERRY CHRISTMAS! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0bsessed Posted December 26, 2023 #255 Share Posted December 26, 2023 Loving your report and pictures. We are getting so excited for our trip. When you have a chance, will you please let us know how many dressy nights. It will help us with our packing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted December 26, 2023 Author #256 Share Posted December 26, 2023 (edited) A23A...... did not venture out though many did! Sat on the floor at the front of deck 10 Crow’s Nest / Explorations to get these pics. It blew quite a blizzard by the time we left for a late dinner. Visibility was quite poor. Link to video here Edited December 26, 2023 by NorbertsNiece 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted December 26, 2023 Author #257 Share Posted December 26, 2023 20 minutes ago, 0bsessed said: Loving your report and pictures. We are getting so excited for our trip. When you have a chance, will you please let us know how many dressy nights. It will help us with our packing. We have 4 😃 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted December 26, 2023 Author #258 Share Posted December 26, 2023 On deck 10 there's a lego model of Oosterdam; they've set up an Antarctic Experience hub up there too where people can ask questions in written form and be answered in like fashion. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosswench Posted December 26, 2023 #259 Share Posted December 26, 2023 @NorbertsNiece Loving your adventure and looking forward to following along. We are booked on this cruise next December. Thank you so much for sharing with us! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted December 26, 2023 Author #260 Share Posted December 26, 2023 (edited) Day 11 Tuesday Day 2 Antarctic Experience Good morning and thanks for following. Am trying to get used to almost permanent daylight and failing. Sunrise today at Esperanza Base 0232 sunset 2303 The Antarctic Continent ahead. The commentary is lovely and clear!! Didn't realise it came through the TV !!! We are still way off the Antarctic Circle and won't be going there. This is a tiny fraction of the peninsular. The closest part of the cotinent to South America. Hope Bay / Esperanza Bay managed by Argentina with a base occupied permanently all year round. Edited December 26, 2023 by NorbertsNiece 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted December 26, 2023 Author #261 Share Posted December 26, 2023 (edited) Currently sat in theatre awaiting Captain's update. Amazing GF breakfast with view in the Main Dining Room . Edited December 26, 2023 by NorbertsNiece 4 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted December 26, 2023 Author #262 Share Posted December 26, 2023 (edited) Again, very many pics from yesterday's Antarctic expert. This on the multinational cooperation required in order to efficiently carry out research, building etc. When one camp was left without access to fresh water for 2 weeks due to a storm interrupting the flow to their desalination plant they were assisted by others. Why import two of huge machinery when you can share one with a neighbour. One country's flight in can carry another's equipment on a quid pro quo basis. Was a fascinating talk. And yes. They built a plunge pool!! 🥶 Edited December 26, 2023 by NorbertsNiece 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrid61 Posted December 26, 2023 #263 Share Posted December 26, 2023 20 hours ago, Sea42 said: @NorbertsNiece Merry Christmas! 🎄I am enjoying your posts so much while I wait for our sailing in 2025! Can you tell me about how long you were at Volunteer Point before the HAL excursion people arrived? Or did you think they were already there when you got there? Have you talked with anyone who went with HAL? I have signed up with HAL to use our excursion credit as it doesn't appear to be much difference in private versus HAL, that I can see, for Volunteer Point. From what I've read the total length of time of both are the same, as are the type of vehicles being used. But I am wondering if the time at Volunteer Point is significantly different. Any information on this that you can share would be appreciated! Thanks! If I would book the excursion with HAL, it would be USD 425 and private USD 200... So a big difference... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted December 26, 2023 Author #264 Share Posted December 26, 2023 5 minutes ago, Astrid61 said: If I would book the excursion with HAL, it would be USD 425 and private USD 200... So a big difference... Same excursion 😃 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted December 26, 2023 Author #265 Share Posted December 26, 2023 (edited) Slides from this morning's Captain's talk. Palmer Station is USA managed. They usually send a speaker on board but are still under covid restrictions so are unable to. Edited December 26, 2023 by NorbertsNiece 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted December 26, 2023 Author #266 Share Posted December 26, 2023 Geoff just sent me this..... penguins on an iceberg! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjcox9 Posted December 26, 2023 #267 Share Posted December 26, 2023 5 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said: Same excursion 😃 Sure is. Although we did it some years ago with Patrick Watts, we were running right along side the HAL excursion. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NorbertsNiece Posted December 26, 2023 Author #268 Share Posted December 26, 2023 6 minutes ago, tjcox9 said: Sure is. Although we did it some years ago with Patrick Watts, we were running right along side the HAL excursion. Patrick is now retired. One of his drivers has taken over the business 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjcox9 Posted December 26, 2023 #269 Share Posted December 26, 2023 6 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said: Patrick is now retired. One of his drivers has taken over the business Too bad but well deserved. His stories about the Falkland war were fascinating! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrid61 Posted December 26, 2023 #270 Share Posted December 26, 2023 3 minutes ago, tjcox9 said: Too bad but well deserved. His stories about the Falkland war were fascinating! When somebody want to contact them: www.adventurefalklands.com 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea42 Posted December 26, 2023 #271 Share Posted December 26, 2023 1 hour ago, Astrid61 said: If I would book the excursion with HAL, it would be USD 425 and private USD 200... So a big difference... I thought the private excursion was more than that. But we do have $300pp credit for a HAL excursion, which makes it less expensive than private either way. I haven't taken a ship excursion since our first cruise. Usually because of the large bus groups and the expense. The flexibility of private is another big bonus. But I just don't see that advantage for Volunteer Point when everyone is going to the same place, in the same type of vehicle. If the time spent at Volunteer Point were different, that might sway me though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TiogaCruiser Posted December 26, 2023 #272 Share Posted December 26, 2023 On 12/19/2023 at 8:43 AM, whogo said: Great blog, thanks for posting, NorbertsNiece. Neat display. Can anyone identify the fruits or vegetables? Green and red apples are all I can ID. Is the white garlic? I think they were white pumpkins or squash. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNSJ Posted December 26, 2023 #273 Share Posted December 26, 2023 Perhaps the most comprehensive Blog and Photo report I have seen. I am about to book the same trip for a future season. For this Buenos Aires to Santiago direct Antartica cruise, has being in a port or starboard cabin made any difference? Both are available now, so I need to pick a side of the ship. As this is more of a North south run than east west (like a Transpacific or Transatlantic), I wasn't sure if side mattered? Norberts Niece or others, please feel free to give me any tips and rationale. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 0106 Posted December 26, 2023 #274 Share Posted December 26, 2023 6 minutes ago, CNSJ said: For this Buenos Aires to Santiago direct Antartica cruise, has being in a port or starboard cabin made any difference? My PCC told me to book starboard so I would have a view of the land while sailing the South American ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrid61 Posted December 26, 2023 #275 Share Posted December 26, 2023 57 minutes ago, Sea42 said: I thought the private excursion was more than that. But we do have $300pp credit for a HAL excursion, which makes it less expensive than private either way. I haven't taken a ship excursion since our first cruise. Usually because of the large bus groups and the expense. The flexibility of private is another big bonus. But I just don't see that advantage for Volunteer Point when everyone is going to the same place, in the same type of vehicle. If the time spent at Volunteer Point were different, that might sway me though. We used the USD 300 for other excursion with HAL. This was my choice but ofcourse I can understand your considerations! The advantage for me was that the price difference was so big.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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