Bit of a blog - HAL Oosterdam - South America & Antarctica - Dec/Jan 2023/24

[NorbertsNiece]

The Fridtjof Nansen is a Hurtigruten expedition vessel named after the Norwegian explorer, scientist, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Fridtjof Nansen.

 

She's currently stopped lowering tenders. How exciting would that be!!

 

There's an Antarctic plunge outside in Seaview Pool with music and alcohol to purchase!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 28, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Port Lockroy is a bay forming a natural harbour on the north-western shore of Wiencke Island in the Palmer Archipelago to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula. The Antarctic base with the same name, situated on Goudier Island in this bay, includes the most southerly operational post office in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

[OlsSalt]

Reminder: port or starboard preference overall can depend on which way you are traveling - east to west, or west to east.  BsAS to Santiago, or vice versa. 

 

In the really scenic areas or slow inner bay cruising during the Zaandam 2020 cruise,  the captain did turn the ship around to give equal views to both sides. We had no regrets on the starboard side, but we were also going from west-Santiago to east BsAs. 

[RosieCanberra]

Oh I'm loving your posts @NorbertsNiece 

We sail in a month from BA, can't wait! Thanks so much. 

[NorbertsNiece]

OMG. What a day!

 

Palmer Station is a United States research station located on Anvers Island, the only US station located north of the Antarctic Circle. Initial construction of the station finished in 1968. The station, like the other U.S. Antarctic stations, is operated by the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) of the National Science Foundation. The base is about as distant from the equator as Fairbanks, Alaska.

 

http://www.palmerstation.com/index.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited December 28, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

So. 

 

Just when I thought we were leaving, the 'Avior' from Palmer Station came out to see us..... on the port side 😉 pics from the balcony!! Much shouting and waving!

 

Much more and webcams here : 

https://www.usap.gov/videoclipsandmaps/palwebcam.cfm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 28, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Seriously though. Port v Starboard...... get on board and walk around EVERYWHERE!! The sights vary from bow to aft, top deck to lower deck. Get out of the room!!! 

 

Just my opinion. Other opinions may vary.

[Ellencruise]

19 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Seriously though. Port v Starboard...... get on board and walk around EVERYWHERE!! The sights vary from bow to aft, top deck to lower deck. Get out of the room!!! 

 

Just my opinion. Other opinions may vary.

I agree, don’t stay in your room and or on balcony for pics. Go all over the ship!

[Torquer]

@NorbertsNieceWhat website or app are you using that shows the ship's track over many hours or days?  The ones we have used in the past only showed the current position of ships.

[perrysburg]

On 12/27/2023 at 1:28 PM, g-murd said:

I'm on Feb 20 cruise.  Unable to get any tour at Port Stanley.  Please comment about availability of taxis, buses etc, at port. Thanks.  I'm enjoying your posts.

@g-murd The Stanley Tourist office is helpful and fast to reply by email--they sent the contact on 2 taxi companies, I don't know about buses. They also have a map of Stanley with businesses noted on their website. 

[OlsSalt]

2 hours ago, perrysburg said:

@g-murd The Stanley Tourist office is helpful and fast to reply by email--they sent the contact on 2 taxi companies, I don't know about buses. They also have a map of Stanley with businesses noted on their website. 

 

Such good people living on the Falklands. We always like to leave a small donation at the lovely church,, since it clearly needs major brick restoration work done. They don't ask, but they do quietly have a display showing the critical need to get this work done.

 

Hope others drop some coins or bills into the basket to help them out.  And enjoy their home made cookies. 

[NorbertsNiece]

12 hours ago, Torquer said:

@NorbertsNieceWhat website or app are you using that shows the ship's track over many hours or days?  The ones we have used in the past only showed the current position of ships.

Hi. It's Marine Traffic. I paid to get extra features this trip. Was really worth it!

[g-murd]

11 hours ago, perrysburg said:

@g-murd The Stanley Tourist office is helpful and fast to reply by email--they sent the contact on 2 taxi companies, I don't know about buses. They also have a map of Stanley with businesses noted on their website. 

Thanks, Perrysburg, and all who replied, I secured a tour, just not what I wanted. Hopefully it will include some penquins!!

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 14 from the Bellingshausen Sea which takes its name from Admiral Thaddeus Bellingshausen, who explored in the area in 1821.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wanted to show Oosterdam's position but it's not registering in the app very recently so I'm the big blue arrow! Almost heading due north.

 

 

Can't show the whole continent from the app. We just visited a tiny bit of the peninsular on West Antarctica 

 

Here's the continent. We visited the very tip of Antarctic Peninsula 

Edited December 29, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

This is Graeme Ayres. Explorer extraordinaire, he lead the team of lecturers. He'll be disembarking early to go trekking in Patagonia before boarding Oosterdam with a new team of speakers in San Antonio. Do not miss his commentary. Really wish HAL would enable the talks to be recorded for playback in the cabin. They've only just put the 2nd Captain's Antarctic update up🤦‍♀️

 

 

[perrysburg]

I love following your blog!!

 

Questions:

1. Any special offers on laundry or anything to know about laundry?

2. Did you find a good use for magnetic hooks in your cabin?

3. Anything you wish you had packed but didn't?

4. How fancy is that camera which is taking the gorgeous photos?

 

Thanks in advance! 

[0106]

19 minutes ago, perrysburg said:

Any special offers on laundry or anything to know about laundry?

I have never seen a laundry special.  We do by the bag; it was $35 on our TA in October.  It is amazing what you can get in one bag: 2 long sleeve dress shirts, 2 short sleeve dress shirts,1 pair athletic shorts, 2 pair yoga pants, 4 pair jeans, 1 tshirt...12 pair socks and 12 undergarments folded in a basket.  HAL does an excellent job with laundry!

[TiogaCruiser]

45 minutes ago, perrysburg said:

 

 

Questions:

1. Any special offers on laundry or anything to know about laundry?

 

When we were in Antarctica on Veendam there were a few days (during the Antarctic portion) that laundry was not done due to water use restrictions.

Edited December 29, 2023 by TiogaCruiser

[NorbertsNiece]

2 hours ago, perrysburg said:

I love following your blog!!

 

Questions:

1. Any special offers on laundry or anything to know about laundry?

2. Did you find a good use for magnetic hooks in your cabin?

3. Anything you wish you had packed but didn't?

4. How fancy is that camera which is taking the gorgeous photos?

 

Thanks in advance! 

 

1. In the cupboard under the safe is a hanger on which is attached a small bag :

 

 

 

 

2. Magnets are terrific for hanging maps, itineraries, the daily, letters etc. We have hooks too for scarves etc

 

 

3. Geoff says the ice scraper he uses on the car for the balcony windows 

 

4. This is my camera phone.... Samsung Galaxy S22

 

Fabulous scenery helps. None of my pics have been filtered 🙂

 

 

Edited December 29, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[scubacruiserx2]

21 hours ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Hi. It's Marine Traffic. I paid to get extra features this trip. Was really worth it!

 

 Thank you for sharing your cruise , photos and observations with us . Our last trip to Antarctica and the Falklands was on the Zuiderdam during Christmas and NYE . You can see our photo review here .

 

 

 

 We are scheduled to go there again on January , this time on the NCL  Star From BA to BA and have started a thread there already  

 

 

 

 Lastly , but more to the topic of tracking apps. , have you tried Cruisemapper ? It tracks and shows the itineraries of many ships and has enabled us to track the Star going to Antarctica now and the Oosterdam leaving . You passed each other last night .  Enjoy Ushuaia , the Star was just there for 2 days and an overnight . If you haven't booked a tour there we would recommend the 4 hour harbor tour there . Thanks again and enjoy your cruise . 😊🙂

Edited December 30, 2023 by scubacruiserx2

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 15 at sea

Drake Passage and Cape Horn

 

Good morning and thanks for following!! You're still here!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Our ship isn't labelled..... have drawn a pale blue line to us, the blue arrow pointing north

 

Edited December 30, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Currently waiting for the 'Ask the Captain' session. Yesterday we were very privileged to have spent the best part of an hour with Cynthia, the Guest Services Manager. She fielded many questions and I'll share all the interesting info received.

 

Cynthia, if you're reading this, muchas gracias por tu tiempo, fue muy apreciado.

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

I've a lot of catching up to do. The day before yesterday we sailed away from mainland Antarctica. After dinner we went up to the Antarctica Hub to grab some images of charts and pics they had on display. This was a fortuitous opportunity as the display was gone yesterday..... and there were icebergs still outside!

 

The sun set ish..

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited December 30, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Current situation : the pilots have boarded 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 30, 2023 by NorbertsNiece