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

[hpeabody]

2 hours ago, Retired & love to cruise said:

Hi Ken,

We decided on the Dec. 1st, RT Antarctic cruise from Buenos Aries. 

 

Hi, That is the cruise I am booked on.  I am very excited, but it is a long time to wait.  I hope your air is better priced than mine from LAX.  See you on board.  

Edited February 13 by hpeabody

[Retired & love to cruise]

2 hours ago, hpeabody said:

 

Hi, That is the cruise I am booked on.  I am very excited, but it is a long time to wait.  I hope your air is better priced than mine from LAX.  See you on board.  

Air has been all over the place for us.  Finally found some decent prices but not sure if we want to come in a day earlier.  Looking at AA for flights and leaving from TUS.  Thanksgiving week to deal with also. Haven't booked air yet.  Still watching prices.

[ocean sounds]

@Ken the cruiser, the glacier viewing was  amazing this evening.  I was lucky to be sitting near the promenade door as they came into view.   Absolutely stunning. 
 

 

Edited February 14 by ocean sounds
Typos

[Ken the cruiser]

We headed west along the Beagle Channel for about 3 hours enjoying the scenery.

  

 

 

 

 

 

We then made a slight turn to the right after passing this island and started down Glacier Alley! 😁

 

 
Holland Glacier

 

 

 

Every once in a while I looked back.

 

 

 

 

 

Then a Great Petrel flew by to see what there was to see.

 

 

 
Italy Glacier

 

 

 

 
Another look back.

 

 

Even saw some ice formations every once in a while off the port side! 
 

 

 

  
French Glacier

 

 
German Glacier

 

 
I briefly went up to Deck 15 to see what was ahead of us.

 

 
Then I headed back to the cabin to take a few more photos before we left Glacier Alley.

 

 
Espana Glacier

 

 

What a wonderful, unexpected experience! Now it’s time to continue our overnight journey to Punta Arenas! 😁

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Day 26 - Feb 14 - Punta Arenas, Chile

 

 

 

Edited February 14 by Ken the cruiser

[ocean sounds]

@Ken the cruiser, thank you for your wonderful details in your posts !
 

I love that you took the time to add the names of the glaciers to your photos.  I was in a loud area and couldn’t hear the commentary clearly . Thank you so much for the glacier names !

[Ken the cruiser]

46 minutes ago, ocean sounds said:

@Ken the cruiser, thank you for your wonderful details in your posts !
 

I love that you took the time to add the names of the glaciers to your photos.  I was in a loud area and couldn’t hear the commentary clearly . Thank you so much for the glacier names !

Thank you for posting your pictures of the German Glacier! That one passes by pretty quick, especially if you’re taking pictures from an aft-facing balcony positioned more towards the center rather than on the corner.
 

We can both thank my DW as she was staying inside most of the time keeping warm and listening to Rob Raincock on the WebCam. 😁

Edited February 14 by Ken the cruiser

[Ken the cruiser]

We have arrived at Punta Arenas, Chile! If there was one port day to bypass going on an excursion, I think today was that day. Luckily we went on an excursion to the Magdalena Island on our first leg to see the Gentoo Penguin and Kelp Gull rookeries. Hopefully the weather clears up for all of the other folks going ashore today. 🤞

  

 

 

Edited February 14 by Ken the cruiser

[Ken the cruiser]

For those interested here are some pictures starting at post 133 that we took on our excursion to Magdalena Island on our first leg.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2984033-live-from-the-sapphire-30-day-antarcticasa-b2b-jan-20-feb-19/page/6/

 

[stonepebble]

Still lurking here on our way to the airport! 

Hoping all the great weather and Drake Lakes aren't used up!

Can't wait....

Thank you for adding to our excitement!

Chris

[Ken the cruiser]

24 minutes ago, stonepebble said:

Still lurking here on our way to the airport! 

Hoping all the great weather and Drake Lakes aren't used up!

Can't wait....

Thank you for adding to our excitement!

Chris

Thanks for following along! Here’s hoping you have a safe, fun, uneventful, and on-time flight!! 😁

[Ken the cruiser]

As I mentioned earlier, we decided to stay onboard today. As you can see, the weather didn’t change much from when we arrived earlier this morning (see above photo) to when this photo was taken a little after 6 pm. Pretty much the only change has been that the Phoenix Reisen Amadea that was docked at the pier earlier has left.

 

 
But we had fun, mostly relaxing around the cabin. In the morning we did go check out the steam room and sauna in the Spa. Let me tell you, it’s definitely hot and humid in the steam room. I think we lasted about 10 minutes before heading over to “cool off” in the sauna which was around 110F! 😂

 

Then this afternoon, we went to a folkloric performance entitled The Essence of the Chilean Land in the Princess theater. 

 

 

Edited February 14 by Ken the cruiser

[EDVM96]

1 hour ago, Ken the cruiser said:

As I mentioned earlier, we decided to stay onboard today

Do you know if the Torres del Paine National Park Princess ShorEx (10.5 hours PUQ-155) was available today? Did they go?

[Ken the cruiser]

1 hour ago, EDVM96 said:

Do you know if the Torres del Paine National Park Princess ShorEx (10.5 hours PUQ-155) was available today? Did they go?

I know it was advertised as being available on the App up until today, whereas on the last leg it was marked as Sold Out. However, I don’t know if anyone actually booked it. Sorry.

[Ken the cruiser]

Tonight after enjoying a Valentines Day dinner in the Reserve DR, we headed back to the cabin to wait until it was time to head to the theater to enjoy a very funny comedy magic show by Greg Moreland.

 

 

Then on over to tonight’s game show in the Explorers Lounge.

 

 
By the time we got back to the cabin, the ship had already pulled anchor and was heading towards the Chilean Fjords where we hopefully will be cruising by the Amalia Glacier sometime during the late afternoon tomorrow,

 

 
with the Norwegian Sun (the orange ship) leading the way. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we will be able to see the glacier in all its glory! 😁
 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Day 27 - Feb 15  - Sea Day cruising the Chilean fjords and by the Amalia Glacier

 

 

 

 

[phabric]

Did they have any special item of menu for Valentine Day dinner?

[Ken the cruiser]

1 minute ago, phabric said:

Did they have any special item of menu for Valentine Day dinner?

Just some colored heart-shaped rolls. The Reserve DR extra entree was Leg of Lamb, which my DW said was quite tasty! I had the Beef Tournedos and Shrimp, which was also quite good.

 

[EDVM96]

7 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I had the Beef Tournedos and Shrimp, which was also quite good.

 

I would have taken the same. 👍

Fettuccine Alfredo as a main dish? I never saw this before.

 

7 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

The Reserve DR extra entree was Leg of Lamb, which my DW said was quite tasty! I had the Beef Tournedos and Shrimp, which was also quite good.

I know the "Rack on Lamb" on formal nights, which has always been very good.

Good to know the "Leg of Lamb" was also good. What's the difference, btw? 😄

Edited February 15 by EDVM96

[EDVM96]

23 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

What a wonderful, unexpected experience! 

This passage of the Beagle Channel is called Avenue of the Glaciers. 👍
Wasn't it mentioned in the patter or from the captain?

 

 

[Carnevale]

14 hours ago, ocean sounds said:

@Ken the cruiser, thank you for your wonderful details in your posts !
 

I love that you took the time to add the names of the glaciers to your photos.  I was in a loud area and couldn’t hear the commentary clearly . Thank you so much for the glacier names !

Where did you hear the commentary?  We are on deck 10 and any captain’s announcements we hear by opening the stateroom door are very muffled.  We heard part of one yesterday but not all of it and didn’t hear any other announcements or see anything in the Patter about the glaciers.  As a result we had no idea we were going to sail past them and so we missed seeing them.  We are very disappointed as Ken your photos look amazing. We don’t want to miss more and do see information about the scenic cruising tomorrow so we won’t miss that.

[Ken the cruiser]

49 minutes ago, EDVM96 said:

I would have taken the same. 👍

Fettuccine Alfredo as a main dish? I never saw this before.

 

I know the "Rack on Lamb" on formal nights, which has always been very good.

Good to know the "Leg of Lamb" was also good. What's the difference, btw? 😄

I believe the Rack of Lamb has the rib bones sticking out while the Leg of Lamb is slices of meat. But I’m no food expert.

[EDVM96]

42 minutes ago, Carnevale said:

We heard part of one yesterday but not all of it and didn’t hear any other announcements or see anything in the Patter about the glaciers.  As a result we had no idea we were going to sail past them and so we missed seeing them.  We are very disappointed as Ken your photos look amazing.

Sorry to hear that. 

[EDVM96]

45 minutes ago, Carnevale said:

Where did you hear the commentary? 

Usually, you need to set your stateroom TV on the bridge cam channel, turn the volume way, way up, and then you will hear it.

Edited February 15 by EDVM96

[Ken the cruiser]

43 minutes ago, EDVM96 said:

This passage of the Beagle Channel is called Avenue of the Glaciers. 👍
Wasn't it mentioned in the patter or from the captain?

 

Nothing was mentioned in the Patter, and not sure if the Captain mentioned it, as it depends on where you are on the ship when he speaks over the intercom system. I asked our waiter if he knew when we were going to enter Glacier Alley, and one of the guests mentioned they heard between 7-8 pm.

 

As far as what it’s called, I just did a search of Beagle Channel Glacier Alley and got a bunch of hits. So, what can I say.