Live From the Sapphire, 30-Day Antarctica/SA B2B, Jan 20 - Feb 19

[Ken the cruiser]

34 minutes ago, MustangGT said:

We are immensely enjoying your trip!  Thanks for taking us along!

Quick question - I usually bring along a large ceramic mug because I just can’t drink my hot tea from a plastic mug.  On the Sky last year, the buffet had switched to ceramic mugs and on the Island last year, I was able to snag one from the coffee bar in the buffet.

Are ceramic mugs available in the buffet?

 

Thanks so much!

Smooth sailing!

We just walked up to the buffet and here’s what was next to the water glasses. I’m guessing this is what you are referring to.

 

[MustangGT]

17 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We just walked up to the buffet and here’s what was next to the water glasses. I’m guessing this is what you are referring to.

 

Thanks for checking!  Looks like my packing will include a decent mug 🥴

[Arya3]

Ken,

Thanks for your wonderful “Live” Froms and amazing photos! Your 2023 Live from the Diamond Princess helped us a lot on our September 2023 Cruise on the Diamond. Now this current Live forum is a wealth of information for our upcoming Dec. 2024 Antarctica cruise! It will be a bit out of my comfort zone as I am nervous about the Drake Passage and rough seas. I am especially impressed by your kindness and willingness to help everyone here on the forum. Bravo to you for taking the time to share your time and experiences with us all. I will be sure to follow all your future “Lives”!

 

[zanzibargirl]

1 hour ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Just talked to Rohan in the clothes store across from the Wheelhouse Lounge and he said he would hold them for you. 

Amazing thanks so so much! I really appreciate it! Enjoy the rest of your cruise 🙂

[ocean sounds]

2 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Cool pictures! For those that are curious, do you remember the specific name of the excursion?

2-1/2 hours.  16 per group 4 - 4x4s 

PSY665:

Gentoo Penguins Expedition At Newans Station

[Ken the cruiser]

1 minute ago, ocean sounds said:

2-1/2 hours.  16 per group 4 - 4x4s 

PSY665:

Gentoo Penguins Expedition At Newans Station

Thanks! We had a feeling that was the one you were referring to, especially when you mentioned the one King penguin. That was a fun excursion that we also went on in the morning when we visited Port Stanley on our Antarctica leg.
 

They definitely had a bunch of time slots the other day for going on that one as well as the Bluff Cove one where they took you straight from the pier to the penguin site in a 16-passenger van for those that wanted to avoid the 4x4 ride completely. 😁

[Retired & love to cruise]

Hi,

Could anyone please tell me what options are available for cabins if the back Aft ones are not available? We are looking to book the 17-Day Antarctica cruise in December 2024 on the Sapphire.  I believe that the starboard side is the one that is the best for viewing the Antarctic area but what deck would be best?  I would be booking 2 cabins one for ourselves and the 2nd for our son. I see on the Princess deck plans that on deck 11 at the back of the ship there is a doorway but I'm not sure where that leads.  Is is a viewing area?  It also juts out a bit.  It is also on deck 10 but it doesn't go out over the line of the balconies. What that is about?  There are cabins available on deck 12 but mid-aft.  Any suggestions would be so helpful. Thanks for your help.

[Ken the cruiser]

While the anticipation builds as we approach Cape Horn with an estimated 7 pm arrival, we earlier found out from the Captain that due to the rough seas last night, we lost some time and will not be picking up a local pilot, which would have allowed us to get close to Cape Horn.

 

 

Instead the closest the ship is allowed to get is 3 miles out, so visibility will play an important role once we get there. So far the low cloud forecast is looking good.
 

 

and the winds and sea swell doesn’t look to bad either. 🤞

 

 

 
I even asked a Grey-headed Albatross that was flying by if it had any thoughts on the matter. But it was a little busy looking for something tasty to eat! 😂

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

26 minutes ago, Retired & love to cruise said:

Hi,

Could anyone please tell me what options are available for cabins if the back Aft ones are not available? We are looking to book the 17-Day Antarctica cruise in December 2024 on the Sapphire.  I believe that the starboard side is the one that is the best for viewing the Antarctic area but what deck would be best?  I would be booking 2 cabins one for ourselves and the 2nd for our son. I see on the Princess deck plans that on deck 11 at the back of the ship there is a doorway but I'm not sure where that leads.  Is is a viewing area?  It also juts out a bit.  It is also on deck 10 but it doesn't go out over the line of the balconies. What that is about?  There are cabins available on deck 12 but mid-aft.  Any suggestions would be so helpful. Thanks for your help.

I have to get ready for dinner right now, but this combination might have potential on the Dec 18 cruise. I’ll do more research later on regarding the hidden door, which is probably just used for storage.

 

[Ken the cruiser]

2 hours ago, Retired & love to cruise said:

I see on the Princess deck plans that on deck 11 at the back of the ship there is a doorway but I'm not sure where that leads.  Is is a viewing area?  It also juts out a bit.  It is also on deck 10 but it doesn't go out over the line of the balconies. What that is about?  There are cabins available on deck 12 but mid-aft.  Any suggestions would be so helpful. Thanks for your help.

We found out after dinner that “the mystery door” leads to an emergency exit stairwell that runs from deck 14 downward to probably deck 2 or 3.

 

 

 
Also, I did a short write up for another person on mini-suites with protected balcony starting at post 425, if you are considering them. However, at this late date I would imagine all of the covered balcony mini-suites on either side of the ship for an Antarctica cruise in December have been booked by now. Hope this helps.

[Retired & love to cruise]

2 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We found out after dinner that “the mystery door” leads to an emergency exit stairwell that runs from deck 14 downward to probably deck 2 or 3.

 

 

 
Also, I did a short write up for another person on mini-suites with protected balcony starting at post 425, if you are considering them. However, at this late date I would imagine all of the covered balcony mini-suites on either side of the ship for an Antarctica cruise in December have been booked by now. Hope this helps.

 

Thank you very much for this information!  I still checking out the best dates for us to go.  Our son is still working and will depend on his schedule of projects.  Appreciate all the help.  Thanks.

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Tonight after dinner, we headed back to the cabin to wait for our arrival at Cape Horn. We finally arrived around 7:30 pm, but it took another hour before we were able to take some good photos of the Cape from our aft balcony, with this being the best one around 3 miles away through the clouds.

 

 
Then we were off to catch the remainder of the comedy show in the Explorers Lounge where Keith Bender, an hilarious comedian was performing.

 

 
We thought about going to the evening production show afterwards, Born to Be Wild, but passed as we have to get up early tomorrow for our Ushuaia excursion.

 

Now we’re off to Ushuaia for an early morning arrival

 

  
which looks to also be a chilly one! I guess those warm days are definitely back in the our rearview mirror again! 😂

 

 

Edited February 13 by Ken the cruiser

[Ken the cruiser]

Day 25 - Feb 13 - Ushuaia, Argentina

 

 

  

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Here’s the details of the excursion we are going on tomorrow, which should be another fun one loaded with wildlife! 😁

 

[Retired & love to cruise]

3 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We found out after dinner that “the mystery door” leads to an emergency exit stairwell that runs from deck 14 downward to probably deck 2 or 3.

 

 

 
Also, I did a short write up for another person on mini-suites with protected balcony starting at post 425, if you are considering them. However, at this late date I would imagine all of the covered balcony mini-suites on either side of the ship for an Antarctica cruise in December have been booked by now. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks will look at the post. So appreciate your time for this.  Really helps us all to make a decision.

[Ken the cruiser]

We have arrived at Ushuaia, Argentina!

 

 

[LouChamp]

Aloha. It truly is a wonderful journey and voyage and Ushuaia is extremely beautiful and special. Enjoy!

[Ken the cruiser]

It turned out to be a beautiful day! A little chilly, but we took care of that by wearing the same clothes we wore cruising around the Antarctica Peninsula! 😁

 

As soon as we disembarked the Sapphire, we simply walked over to the catamaran that was going to take us to see a bunch of penguins, sea lions, and cormorants!

 

 

The seats were very comfortable and were ours for the duration on the tour.

 

 
But it wasn’t long before we headed outside up to the top deck where we were able to find a not so windy spot to hunker down in while admiring the various views as we headed out of Ushuaia Bay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Then our guide, a classy Kelp Gull, showed up

  

 
and we were off, heading east along the Beagle Channel! 

 

 

First stop, a small island loaded with sea lions and cormorants.

 

 

 

 

Imperial Cormorant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Then it was time for our 90-minute cruise to go see the Magellanic Penguins! Here are some of the sights we saw along the way.

 

 

 

If you look closely in the center of the photo, you will see a small Orca swimming along looking for something tasty to eat.

 

 

This is Puerto Williams on the Chile side of the Beagle Channel. It’s actually the farthest “town” south, but its population is only about 2800. That’s why Ushuaia gets the nod for being the farthest southern “city” in South America with a population of over 82,000! 
 

 

 

 
Then off in the distance we saw the beach we were going to be “anchored” off of.

 

 

 

 

 
Of course, then sent out their greeting committee to welcome us! 😂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

A Dolphin Gull even came out to test the water, but that’s as far as it went.

 

 
And an Imperial Cormorant wanted to show us how to walk on water! 😂

 

 

There were also a few of these huge birds circling over the penguins for a few minutes before they headed off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a Magellanic chick near the water’s edge with others watching to see if it would take its first plunge. But, unfortunately, today was not the day.

 

 

 
Then it was time to take the 90-minute cruise back to Ushuaia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then after having a late lunch up at the buffet, we headed back to our cabin until it was time to head west along the Beagle Channel towards Puerto Arenas.

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

And we’re off with a few Giant Petrels wishing us a fond farewell! Next stop Punta Arenas, Chile!

  

 

 

 

 

[Retired & love to cruise]

Hi Ken,

We decided on the Dec. 1st, RT Antarctic cruise from Buenos Aries.  We are now finalizing our ship cabin locations (2 cabins needed) and want to verify that the starboard side is the best overall for the sights in the Antarctic portion. We take lots of photos and would appreciate any advise on the best side for photo taking of Antarctic. We are planning on a general balcony and not a suite on deck 12 or 11. Deck 10 has lots of options also but prefer higher up. We normally get mid-aft or aft balcony cabins.  Many thanks for your help and time.  I  love seeing your photos and all the information that you are able to provide.  The information really helps us plan our trip.

Lucinda

[Ken the cruiser]

23 minutes ago, Retired & love to cruise said:

Hi Ken,

We decided on the Dec. 1st, RT Antarctic cruise from Buenos Aries.  We are now finalizing our ship cabin locations (2 cabins needed) and want to verify that the starboard side is the best overall for the sights in the Antarctic portion. We take lots of photos and would appreciate any advise on the best side for photo taking of Antarctic. We are planning on a general balcony and not a suite on deck 12 or 11. Deck 10 has lots of options also but prefer higher up. We normally get mid-aft or aft balcony cabins.  Many thanks for your help and time.  I  love seeing your photos and all the information that you are able to provide.  The information really helps us plan our trip.

Lucinda

To be honest either side would be fine. But in thinking about the bays we went into on the second day, port side would be better than starboard as well as going by Deception Island. Also going south fown the channel prior to arriving at the Port Dockroy post office station, port side would be better.
 

However, going down that long channel the final day heading north, the starboard side would be better. Then there was Elephant Island where our initial route, the port side would be better. But because of the heavy winds, the captain made a course correction and the starboard side had the better view. 
 

So in hindsight port would be better than starboard most of the time, but not necessarily always. Hope this helps. 😁

[KLM3164]

Greetings from San Juan where we captured this photo of the rare and elusive Puerto Rican pigeon. Really enjoying all your wildlife photos.

[Retired & love to cruise]

32 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

To be honest either side would be fine. But in thinking about the bays we went into on the second day, port side would be better than starboard as well as going by Deception Island. Also going south fown the channel prior to arriving at the Port Dockroy post office station, port side would be better.
 

However, going down that long channel the final day heading north, the starboard side would be better. Then there was Elephant Island where our initial route, the port side would be better. But because of the heavy winds, the captain made a course correction and the starboard side had the better view. 
 

So in hindsight port would be better than starboard most of the time, but not necessarily always. Hope this helps. 😁

It does help!  Thanks for taking the time for this. So appreciated!

[Ken the cruiser]

50 minutes ago, KLM3164 said:

Greetings from San Juan where we captured this photo of the rare and elusive Puerto Rican pigeon. Really enjoying all your wildlife photos.

It looks quite happy enjoying the moment! 😁
 

Edited February 13 by Ken the cruiser