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Live from the Wind(s) of Antarctica. Dec. 19, 2023.

twangster

By twangster,
in Silversea

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Port Power "Live from...." Rare

Port Power

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12 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

 

 

Some landing sites in South Georgia have been closed due to Avian Flu, but still allowing zodiac only trips.  Do you have information that the same is true for some Antarctica landings?


The zodiac briefings are on Wednesday morning and I expect this matter will be discussed.  I spoke briefly to an expedition team member before muster.

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twangster "Live from...." Rare

twangster

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Luggage arrived as I was being led to my suite.  Perfect timing.  

 

Quick unpack and then to the MDR for dinner.  Quick dinner with the 10pm muster closely approaching.  

 

With our late arriving flight it was all a blur and there was little time to stop and take a break.  

 

Muster drill the old standard way, long and tedious after being so rushed up to this point.  I was scolded for not watching the safety video in my cabin before arriving to muster.  Oops.  Forgot (didn't know).

 

Wind121923-73.thumb.jpg.af0ce3fb98636c740cb0096e806452aa.jpg

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twangster "Live from...." Rare

twangster

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The Silver Wind has been retrofitted with wifi access points in each suite.  I found this one behind the TV.   

 

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We use these where I work and they are a very capable device.   Impressive.

 

More outlets bedside.  USB-A and USB-C on each side of the bed with an power port on one side.

 

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twangster "Live from...." Rare

twangster

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Zodiac groupings posted outside the theater along with some guidelines for the excursions.  

 

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The theater where our daily briefings will take place.  Several orientations will take place today as noted in the Chronicle. 

 

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Port Power "Live from...." Rare

Port Power

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On 12/19/2023 at 12:34 PM, highplanesdrifters said:

 

 

Some landing sites in South Georgia have been closed due to Avian Flu, but still allowing zodiac only trips.  Do you have information that the same is true for some Antarctica landings?


At the briefing it was, basically, play it by ear.  There will definitely be places on South Georgia where we cannot land, so will just view by zodiac.  No definite mention of Antarctica itself.  If the advance expedition party see signs of mass deaths, they will radio back and landings will be prohibited.  
 

One day at a time…..

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twangster "Live from...." Rare

twangster

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Some menus for today.  I won't post these very often but it will give you an idea of what is offered on board.

 

Wind Day 2 MDR Lunch Menu.pdf

 

Wind Day 2 MDR Dinner Menu.pdf

 

Wind Day 2 Grill Lunch Menu.pdf

 

Wind Day 2 Grill Dinner Menu.pdf.pdf

 

Wind Day 2 La Terrazza Menu.pdf

 

Wind Day 2 La Dame Menu.pdf

 

Wind Day 2 Room Service Breakfast Menu.pdf

 

Wind Day 2 Room Service Dinner Menu.pdf

 

 

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twangster "Live from...." Rare

twangster

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New information posted outside the theater.

 

Wind121923-98.thumb.jpg.e1798a9543e1da47771ec084e0a1eee1.jpg

 

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https://www.ecosystem-guides.com/Antarctic-ocean-and-seashore.html

 

Mandatory IAATO and Zodiac briefing in the theater this morning.  If you don't attend you are stuck on the ship until the end of the cruise.  

 

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Basically they played the same videos that were available on the plane coming to Puerto Williams.

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twangster "Live from...." Rare

twangster

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It's such a beautiful day...

 

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So I decided to have lunch at The Grill.

 

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It is kind of chilly outside so they found me a table under a heater.

 

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Petrels on patrol, Giant Southern Petrels.

 

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I noticed something else while I was up here.

 

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I spotted a Starlink internet antenna.

 

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I've not seen them mounted on a pole like this.  Perhaps snow mitigation?

 

Wind121923-113.thumb.jpg.5bcc04eded4200a62e7ce3faa30d8445.jpg

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Pumblechook

Pumblechook

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Greetings from another on this cruise.  The flight down from Santiago was stunning.  I was forward, on the left side, and as a geologist, the scenery was just from a textbook.

 

The geology of where we are going is similarly amazing, on a global tectonics scale - I hope their geology explanations are up to scratch  🙂

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twangster "Live from...." Rare

twangster

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The last and final orientation step was a mandatory biosecurity check and putting my boots in the "mud room" on deck 3.  

 

They inspect any previously worn outerwear for possible contaminants.  Down on deck 3 is a mud room where our boots are stored in between tours off the ship.  This keeps mud out of the guest areas and the excursion team can make sure everything is sanitized and clean between ports of call. 

 

With this step done, next up is the 5pm daily briefing that will discuss tomorrow's activities.    

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twangster "Live from...." Rare

twangster

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First daily briefing at 5pm.  We were introduced to the department heads.

 

Wind121923-115.thumb.jpg.a52bc9d9bc359e56a9f4e4053bece987.jpg

 

As they say in expedition cruising, they replace the singers and dancers of an entertainment cast you would find on a classic cruise with expedition staff.  We have a good sized expedition team on board and we met them as well.

 

Wind121923-116.thumb.jpg.38952756a5dfd72a6b299ec41a6b0624.jpg

 

Then on to our briefing for our visit to New Island tomorrow.  Two shore visits tomorrow.

 

The first one will start with a 5-7 minute zodiac ride and a wet landing.  We are expecting some wind in the morning.  

 

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Something that is noteworthy is the requirement to wear bog boots or rubber boots.  This is due to the Avian Flu protocols.  If you are thinking about bringing your own boots, make sure they don't have laces and are rubber boots or the type they rent.  

 

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Second stop of the day will be a dry zodiac landing at a pier.  A tea house is a popular venue to visit at this stop.

 

Wind121923-119.thumb.jpg.2a17a220e6662f412149bbe7f3d90d50.jpg

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twangster "Live from...." Rare

twangster

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Wonderful dinner tonight with Filet Mignon as my main cooked exactly as I like it.

There is a pianist on board as well as a guitarist/vocalist.  

Name that Tune later tonight as well.

I see a sunset in the making, heading to my suite to grab my camera.

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LouChamp

LouChamp

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18 hours ago, twangster said:

Some menus for today.  I won't post these very often but it will give you an idea of what is offered on board.

 

Wind Day 2 MDR Lunch Menu.pdf 126.39 kB · 10 downloads

 

Wind Day 2 MDR Dinner Menu.pdf 160.12 kB · 9 downloads

 

Wind Day 2 Grill Lunch Menu.pdf 148.84 kB · 3 downloads

 

Wind Day 2 Grill Dinner Menu.pdf.pdf 153.07 kB · 7 downloads

 

Wind Day 2 La Terrazza Menu.pdf 182.03 kB · 7 downloads

 

Wind Day 2 La Dame Menu.pdf 148.55 kB · 11 downloads

 

Wind Day 2 Room Service Breakfast Menu.pdf 251.48 kB · 3 downloads

 

Wind Day 2 Room Service Dinner Menu.pdf 241.39 kB · 4 downloads

 

 

Aloha. Enjoying your reports. Have been blessed sail the region so for me the photos are wonderful memories and I thank you. That said, I can never get enough of food pictures and menus lol!

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twangster "Live from...." Rare

twangster

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Our first stop of the cruise this morning starts with our first zodiac ride.

 

Zodiac groups were called with around 10 minutes between groups.  Once my group number was called it was down to the mud room to put on my boots and leave my shoes behind.  

 

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The redcoats are coming!

 

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twangster "Live from...." Rare

twangster

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Once on land they collect our life jackets and we are directed towards a trail. 

 

We meet a guide who will escort us to the nesting site as a group.  It's pretty much exactly as they explained in the briefing yesterday.  

 

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Our first opportunity for some wildlife up close.  First up is an Upland Goose.

 

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And some chicks.

 

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I'm falling behind, too many photo ops.  Gotta catch up.

 

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