Antarctica & Cape to Cape on Cloud 2-21-24

[kej1]

Food looks fantastic!  Another great restaurant in Santiago is Borago.  Also world class!  
enjoy your trip!  It sounds great.  Btw also some fabulous restaurants in Capetown!

[highplanesdrifters]

12 hours ago, kej1 said:

Food looks fantastic!  Another great restaurant in Santiago is Borago.  Also world class!  
enjoy your trip!  It sounds great.  Btw also some fabulous restaurants in Capetown!

Good to know, will try Borago next trip.  Looks interesting.  Their water is from Pategonia and they milk their own cows!  Oh my.   What's your fave in Capetown?

[highplanesdrifters]

Some cause happiness wherever they go, others whenever they go.  - Oscar Wilde

 

 

Departure day.  All seems quite organized and efficient so far. Out of rooms by 10am, noon departure. There is waiting room somewhere.  We are on the first bus. Stay turned.

 

There is an air of excitement and giddiness amongst the fellow hotel occupants. In our small sample size of encounters with them, all are first timers to Antarctica, no surprise.   The real surprise, many first-time cruisers, and many first time Silversea. 😳

 

Yesterday was another self indulgent day.   Weather has been fantastic.  A good leg stretch around the neighborhood and afternoon at the pool. Submitted for your approval, The W breakfast Buffet. Quite nice and much better than MO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

I don't know how that sideways pic got in there. Apologies. 

[kej1]

2 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Good to know, will try Borago next trip.  Looks interesting.  Their water is from Pategonia and they milk their own cows!  Oh my.   What's your fave in Capetown?

Lots of great restaurants in Capetown.  Fyn is a particular favorite ( Japanese fusion with South African), La Columbe ( near the vineyards in the constancia area), and Salsify.

if you like Indian there is Thali and Bombay Brasserie.  And many more great restaurants.  
I suggest emailing ahead for reservations.  
Have a great trip!  Capetown is one of my favorite cities and loved our trip to Antarctica.

[RyanJCanada]

2 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

I don't know how that sideways pic got in there. Apologies. 

This happened to me constantly with my other trip reports... I ended up rotating the picture on my laptop / phone, taking a screenshot, and uploading the screenshot instead. That seemed to remove the 'rotation' information associated with the photo.

[RyanJCanada]

3 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Some cause happiness wherever they go, others whenever they go.  - Oscar Wilde

 

 

Departure day.  All seems quite organized and efficient so far. Out of rooms by 10am, noon departure. There is waiting room somewhere.  We are on the first bus. Stay turned.

 

There is an air of excitement and giddiness amongst the fellow hotel occupants. In our small sample size of encounters with them, all are first timers to Antarctica, no surprise.   The real surprise, many first-time cruisers, and many first time Silversea. 😳

 

Yesterday was another self indulgent day.   Weather has been fantastic.  A good leg stretch around the neighborhood and afternoon at the pool. Submitted for your approval, The W breakfast Buffet. Quite nice and much better than MO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting that so many are first time cruisers, and first time to Silversea... do you have a sense yet of how many guests are doing the full Cape-to-Cape, as opposed to just the first segment to Antarctica?

[highplanesdrifters]

22 minutes ago, RyanJCanada said:

Interesting that so many are first time cruisers, and first time to Silversea... do you have a sense yet of how many guests are doing the full Cape-to-Cape, as opposed to just the first segment to Antarctica?

Hey RJ, getting the sense from our early sample size 40% continuing.  Will get numbers when on board.  I know a few CC regulars getting on for Cape to Cape leg and Apex Expeditions has a large group boarding then.   Get your Drake MOJO  going for us.😃

 

I'm doing all posting from my phone so we'll see if the pic problem sorts itself out.

 

Edited February 21 by highplanesdrifters

[RyanJCanada]

3 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Hey RJ, getting the sense from our early sample size 40% continuing.  Will get numbers when on board.  I know a few CC regulars getting on for Cape to Cape leg and Apex Expeditions has a large group boarding then.   Get your Drake MOJO  going for us.😃

 

That's great... a higher proportion than I would have expected.

 

Fingers crossed for the "Drake Lake", plus thoughts and prayers for the first-timers in your group. We did the British Isles cruise first for a reason... though I do salute their sense of adventure.

[southerngoose]

@highplanesdrifters Do you plan on doing the Master Class in Photography?   I'm curious what that is and whether it's worth it.   I'm also curious about which photography equipment would be included and if it's included for the entire cruise (ie, maybe I shouldn't bring my own camera?)

[highplanesdrifters]

19 hours ago, southerngoose said:

@highplanesdrifters Do you plan on doing the Master Class in Photography?   I'm curious what that is and whether it's worth it.   I'm also curious about which photography equipment would be included and if it's included for the entire cruise (ie, maybe I shouldn't bring my own camera?)

The photo studio is quite large.  Will see what I can find out for you.

[highplanesdrifters]

This, then, was the Drake Passage, the most dreaded bit of ocean on the globe—and rightly so. Here nature has been given a proving ground on which to demonstrate what she can do if left alone. The results are impressive.
Alfred Lansing, The Endurance

 

Well RJ, your MOJO worked.  I mean really worked.  It's not the Drake Lake, it's the Drake Pond.

 

 

The transfer from The W to The Cloud was seamless.  Silversea had the entire season to perfect it, and they succeeded.  Hotel checkout at 10am. We went to breakfast.  Ball room available until busses left. They had it stocked with games, Champagne, and snacks. Our Bus left promptly at noon as advertised.  They did check our carry-ons which were planeside as we departed.  Busses ready for the short transfer to the ship.  In our rooms in no time.  Well done Silversea!

 

Games!

 

Snacks

 

A little early for me

 

 

Red Carpet Entry 🤣

 

 

Waiting area, where we didn't have to wait.😁

 

 

Our sweet ride, 3/2 configuration.  On the 3 side most had the middle seat empty.  Comfy seats with lots of leg room. No stop at Puerto Mont for fuel so a short 3hr 15m ride.

 

 

Yummy Patagonia Stew

 

 

Some native Patagonia berry mouse . I don't think I've ever eaten something this color.

 

 

Almost there

 

Our ride awaits

 

 

Just the anchor I need for my new boat.

 

 

Not exactly Instagramable.

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Our gear was waiting for us, including boots and poles.  Exchanges today if needed.  Not a fan of the water bottles, so if your picky,  bring your own.

 

Dinner

After some disappointment on Encore in November and reading all the general complaints on CC our expectations were tempered.  No need to temper!  Dinner was delicious and service was excellent.

 

Salmon

 

Curry cauliflower- just OK

 

Veal Scalopini

 

Sticky Toffee pudding

 

A nice Spanish white to whet our whistle.

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Calafete Mousse - enquiring minds wanted to know.

 

 

 

Berberis microphylla, common name box-leaved barberry[2] and Magellan barberry,[3] in Spanish calafate and michay and other names,[4] is an evergreen shrub, with simple, shiny box-like leaves. The calafate is native to southern Argentina and Chile and is a symbol of Patagonia.

[Brownie54]

We found the water bottles to be the best we’ve ever used!

It keeps the beverage cold for a very, very long time.

[southerngoose]

@highplanesdrifters  Is that backpack waterproof?   Curious why they didn't give you the "drybag" version.   I'm trying to strategize what I need to bring and I'm now thinking...skip the daypack and I'm wondering if I need to bring a dry bag.

[highplanesdrifters]

2 hours ago, Brownie54 said:

We found the water bottles to be the best we’ve ever used!

It keeps the beverage cold for a very, very long time.

Yes, great for thermal containment.  I prefer a water bottle where one doesn't need to remove the cap. Less cumbersome and spilling in a rocky zodiac.

 

1 hour ago, southerngoose said:

@highplanesdrifters  Is that backpack waterproof?   Curious why they didn't give you the "drybag" version.   I'm trying to strategize what I need to bring and I'm now thinking...skip the daypack and I'm wondering if I need to bring a dry bag.

 

We are told the backpack is water resistant.   Dry bag, I agree. I like the ones Seabourn has been using. 

[highplanesdrifters]

Some crazy numbers to ponder:

196 passengers 

120 staying for Cape to Cape

118 First Timers on Silversea

 

At the morning briefing the Expedition leader asked how many had never been on a Expedition.  It looked like the entire audience raised their hands.  The expedition leader said "OK, 120%".  Wow, the team has their work cut out for them.  He also said it is the calmest crossing of the season.  On a scale of 1-10, it's 1.2! 😃 I'm am so happy the newbies got the Drake Lake.  There appears to be many more young people, and good mix nationalities. 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 22 by highplanesdrifters

[wyocruiser]

Last fall, on The Endeavour, we were given a “dry bag” which was excellent for camera equipment. 

[highplanesdrifters]

Oh Joy, Rapture, only one day to cross the Drake.   We are scheduled a day early for Antarctica.  Fort Point landing in the a.m. and Barrientos Island landing and zodiac in the afternoon.

 

 

Still the Drake Lake.

 

 

We had a very busy day of unpacking, mandatory briefings, great lectures and bio security check.

 

Lucky to have Matt on the team! PNG crew, how awesome is he?

 

 

Boot tagging 

 

 

 

Storage Room

 

 

Cleaning station

 

 

Kayak supplies 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WesW]

We also enjoyed Matt on our the Cloud last year Cape to Cape to Male.  Please see his special Expedition skillset below:

[highplanesdrifters]

Just now, WesW said:

We also enjoyed Matt on our the Cloud last year Cape to Cape to Male.  Please see his special Expedition skillset below:

Lol, Matt smoking a spleif...mon.😃

[highplanesdrifters]

 

Who knew!  What an amazing spectacular bonus day.

 

Quickie landing near Fort Point. Swell and too many agressive fur seals prohibited the original spot so the took us around the corner.  A few penguins and fur seals. No complaints. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Barrientos Island, South Shetlands

 

The hits just keep on coming. As good as it gets.  Sunny, high 30's, no wind. Thousands of Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins. Chick's almost fully fledged. Ninety minute landing and then a Zodiac tour. Expedition team and Captain really delivered!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Chinstraps....sound on.