LIVE from Jewel May 15, 2024 - 27 nights

[bobmacliberty]

2 hours ago, twangster said:

Except the cormorants ignore the eagles and the eagles ignore the cormorants.

 

The birds must have been fascinating to watch.  Any idea why the cormorants and eagles leave each other alone?

[twangster]

New party trick.  
 

Yell “Whale!” in a bar on the ship.  
 

 

[twangster]

10 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

Any idea why the cormorants and eagles leave each other alone?

I’m completely unqualified to answer your question.  
 

There was another eagle versus scenario in another region and for whatever reason it was similar. 

[sandjb]

27 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

The birds must have been fascinating to watch.  Any idea why the cormorants and eagles leave each other alone?

 

13 minutes ago, twangster said:

I’m completely unqualified to answer your question.  
 

There was another eagle versus scenario in another region and for whatever reason it was similar. 

 

My guess is relative size - the eagle has a wingspan of around 200 cm, the cormorant is around 150 cm, and the other birds in your photos (razorbills, puffins, etc.) are all closer to 50-75 cm. The eagles probably figure the full-grown cormorants are not worth the trouble (and they might not be able to carry one away without a lot of effort). I wouldn't be surprised if the eagle went after an unattended chick every now and then, though. 

Edited June 4 by sandjb

[twangster]

58 minutes ago, sandjb said:

 

 

My guess is relative size - the eagle has a wingspan of around 200 cm, the cormorant is around 150 cm, and the other birds in your photos (razorbills, puffins, etc.) are all closer to 50-75 cm. The eagles probably figure the full-grown cormorants are not worth the trouble (and they might not be able to carry one away without a lot of effort). I wouldn't be surprised if the eagle went after an unattended chick every now and then, though. 

I think the Cormorant act like statues, barely moving, so the Eagles lose interest in them.  
 

Seriously where ever I go Cormorants are always just standing there.   😂

[Jimbo]

5 hours ago, Hoopster95 said:

Lastly we stopped at a small fishing village to discuss Norway’s recent king crab industry. They are much larger in Alaska… if any of you have the opportunity in Ketchikan, book The excursion called “Bering Sea - The Aleutian Ballad”.

 

Here in the North, Cod is the #1 industry, and you have to fish a Quota of Cod before you’re allowed to trap for crab.

 

Also on the tour he offered is some cured reindeer meat as a snack… it was gamey.

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_4033.mov 14.26 MB · 1 download

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Been on the excursion  and Aleutian Ballard ship a couple of times. Bought their t-shirts both times.

You are correct they bring up the largest King Crabs there in Alaska in their crab cages that you will see anywhere.

At the end of their excursion when they sail by that island with all the Bald Eagles,it's just amazing how many eagles in that one place. Pretty sure there is no other place on earth with as many as there.

 

It's an awesome excursion and the way the ship has been transformed with stadium like seats,so everyone has a perfect view as to what is going on.

 

 

 

 

Edited June 4 by Jimbo

[twangster]

12 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Been on the excursion  and Aleutian Ballard ship a couple of times. Bought their t-shirts both times.

You are correct they bring up the largest King Crabs there in Alaska in their crab cages that you will see anywhere.

At the end of their excursion when they sail by that island with all the Bald Islands,it's just amazing how many eagles in that one place. Pretty sure there is no other place on earth with as many as there.

 

 

 

 

 

I met the owners in 2017 on a Celebrity ship.  They participated in the enrichment talks.  Fascinating talks and extremely interesting hearing the USCG regs to convert it to carry passengers and her perspective as a fisherman's wife.  I then did the excursion myself.  

 

There are no king crabs near Ketchikan.  They bring up crab pots on board with snow crabs.  

 

The king they have on board in the tanks aren't local from Ketchikan water.  

 

  

[laurieal]

Late to the party, but I’ve been really enjoying catching up with your thread. Your pictures are beautiful and I was particularly fond of all the birds posted today. What a dream excursion!
 

I had some issues on my last cruise with some pictures appearing as black rectangles on Cruise Critic. The thing that worked for me was changing the options in the upload window to upload size “Large” instead of “Full Size”. 
 

[HBE4]

On 6/3/2024 at 5:43 PM, twangster said:

Typically when a mountain can make its own clouds its a big one.  

 

 

 

 

Weird seeing the ship & pool area so empty when its still day light (night light?) outside.

[perfect match]

@twangster, when they told you that you would see birds on your excursion they certainly weren’t kidding! 
 

Beautiful photos from both @twangsterand @Hoopster95 again today.  Thank you to both of you for sharing. 

[twangster]

Day Seven - Sea Day

 

Progress report:

 

 

Sea conditions:  Pretty great.

 

 

The mountains of Norway in the distance.

 

[twangster]

Day 7 cruise compass:

 

JW May 30 day 7 cruisecompass.pdf

 

Highlight of the day:

 

Blue Nose Arctic Crossing Ceremony

You have travelled all the way to the Arctic Circle, today you can officially plunge into the pool and become a member of the Blue Nose Society. This ceremonial occasion will be taking place on the poolside, hosted by Daniel your Cruise Director and Bern your Activities manager.

1:30 pm, Pool Deck, Deck 11.

[twangster]

There has been security incident on board I feel compelled to address.   
 

I’ve had money taken from me and the security team refuses to assist.  
 

If you see this man, he is not at all lucky and he has my money!

 

[twangster]

On this glorious sea day I've had a chance to go through some additional photos from my phone from Honningsvag and while on the Bird Safari.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norwegian Stock fish drying on a rack.

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

Here is a video of the Bird Safari tour from our stop in Honningsvag. 

 

Mind you my focus was taking still photos so the video is just a collection of video clips taken in between my primary picture taking effort.

 

It does provide a glimpse of a small Norwegian fishing village and the concept of the Bird Safari tour.   

 

 

 

 

[Biker19]

15 hours ago, alexgtp said:

Any whale sightings?

About 7PM on the starboard side, but fairly far away - a bit better view from the VCL than Schooner.

[twangster]

 

Noon update from my balcony.  This has been the view all day from the port side.  

 

 

Dress code tonight is Norwegian Blue.  

[twangster]

Lunch with a view

 

 

The word "sale" on a sea day always generates a crowd.  Add "Wine" in front of that and it's busy up here!

 

 

[twangster]

Straight from my phone.  

 

 

 

[twangster]

We reach the Arctic Circle around 6:30pm tonight but the blue nose ceremony will be in 45 minutes at 1:30pm.  

 

 

[Hoopster95]

9 hours ago, Biker19 said:

“Holy Whale Watching Batman!

Look … it’s a Biker19 sighting!!’”

[twangster]

A couple of days ago the Wash & Fold laundry bag appeared.  This is now also the Crown and Anchor laundry perk bag.  
 

 

The CAS deal used to be a plastic bag that you could cram creatively.   That’s a lot harder to do with a paper bag, it tears easily.  
 

Hmmm.  Maybe bring plastic shopping bags to cram and insert into the paper bag?   I guess that defeats the reduce plastics on board movement.  
 

Thoughts? 

 

Edited June 5 by twangster

[Hoopster95]

Those photos above that twangster shared reminds me a lot of the entry into the Alaskan Inside Passage… a wall of mountains stretching for miles.

 

You can see below where we are in the Norwegian Sea and that stretch of mountains we were sailing alongside for some time is coming to an end. And you can where we’re heading for tomorrow in Ålesund, much farther south than the arctic circle once we cross later this evening. 
 

 

Edited June 5 by Hoopster95

[Hoopster95]

AAAAAAAAGH!!!!

twang… are you attending?

I need proof that I actually did this 🥶😉

 

 

Edited June 5 by Hoopster95

[twangster]

Almost time!