Silver Wind Arctic Expedition : June 14th - 26th

[Port Power]

Today is a sea day on our way to Svalbard.  Here is today’s Chronicles as an example of what goes on about the ship. Victoria’s talk on how animals have adapted was really interesting.

 

Note ping pong at 3:30pm.  The sea has been somewhat bouncy, so ping pong should be a hoot!

 

 

As the day is cool and damp (5C and misty), the Mexican buffet made its way down to deck 4 instead of the Grill.  The Restaurant menu was still available.

 

 

Tonight’s menu.  Our whole group is having dinner in La Terrazza, so I will try to take a photo of the menu there as an example.  There aremore than enough choices.

 

 

 

Finally, to those reading who are not on a ship, flowers are thriving on this one.  There is a large orchid display in the Panorama lounge as well as orchids on the tables.

 

White chrysanthemums are the flower of choice on every table in The Restaurant and Dolce Vita.

 

 

Edited June 20 by Port Power

[Port Power]

Flatey Island last Saturday.  As I was kayaking, a fellow cruiser has supplied the photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Port Power]

Other views of Stykkisholmur on Saturday 15th.

 

 

 

[Port Power]

Photos taken by those who did the Arctic Fox tour in Bolungarvik.

 

 

 

[Port Power]

Vigur Island, June 16th.  Extra views thanks to Jodie and Kim.

 

 

A nesting Eider duck. Good camouflage.

 

A King Eider drake, noticeable for the yellow area and its red beak. This was the only one that anyone saw.

 

More passengers fending off tern attacks. Sticks are held only, not moved about or used for swatting birds.  Our defence mechanism.

 

This is now most of the island looks. Excellent grass coverage due to the bird droppings, which was why it was prime grazing land until recently.  This is where the Arctic Terns nest on the ground, as well as some of the Eider ducks.  I am still amazed that these small birds fly all the way to Antarctica!

[Port Power]

Husavik, June 17th.  

 

 

 

 

The skeleton of a blue whale washed up on the beach in 2020. The skeleton has been left lying on its back.

 

The guide with walking tour group was in the church choir.  He not only took them up the tower for a fabulous view, he sang to them.

 

 

The following are from those who went on the whale watching tour.

 

 

 

The early risers who did the long day out up to the lake were very happy with their choice of shore excursion.

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

Thanks for posting photos from other shore excursions.  That's an idea I haven't seen before (and never thought of organizing on my own cruise reports)!

[Port Power]

4 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Thanks for posting photos from other shore excursions.  That's an idea I haven't seen before (and never thought of organizing on my own cruise reports)!

I guess being part of a group of 31 does help with photo sharing. 😀

[Port Power]

Dinner at La T was excellent, but I was not able to take photos.  The breaded veal hop was as big as the plate, and everyone said it was very tender.

 

Antipasto is no longer on the menu, but you can still ask for a charcuterie board or cheese board instead of the mixed one that is delivered to the table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One lady wanted nothing for dessert.

 

 

🤣 This is why Silversea is such a please use to travel with. Fabulous staff with a sense of humour!

 

Bakck in my suite with camomile tea.  Usually I just bring from Panorama myself, but I thought I’d play safe tonight and ordered room service.  A few glasses slid off tables during dinner.  The wine waiter hugged the fridge during swells and very carefully opened it afterwards to settle bottles back in their correct places.  We expect seas to be much calmer after midnight. The sky has cleared and the sun is pouring in now at 10:00 pm.

 

[mchell810]

Enjoying the photos very much.  Thanks for sharing your voyage with us.

[Port Power]

First views if Svalbard at 6:30 this morning.  A gorgeous day, but cold.  Now I know why the bath robes are so thick and heavy!

 

The land is closer than the photos suggest.  Those are fulmars flying about.

 

 

Departing from around 8:10am, this morning will be zodiac cruising for 90 minutes.  This afternoon we will be landing to walk around to a known walrus haul out.

 

[Port Power]

The morning’s zodiac cruising saw plenty of birds and some distant Svalbard reindeer.  The afternoon’s landing was at a well known walrus haul out, but the walrus declined our invitation.  It became simply a walk around the beach looking at driftwood and old whale bones.  There was reindeer scat, but the animals themselves were so far away that even binoculars only showed dots.  Never mind, that is the nature of expedition cruising.  Better luck tomorrow.

 

Oh….we did see a Skua attacking a kitty wake. It was quite an aerial dog fight!

 

 

 

I had dinner in The Restaurant with friends and chose the whole “Swedish menu”.  Delicious!

[Port Power]

Saturday, June 22nd. Julibukta, Svalbard.  Another glorious, sunny day.  Birds are flying past or resting on the water. Lots of Brunnich’s Guillemots.  Our group starts with a zodiac cruise including past the bird nesting cliffs, then a walk ashore.  The zodiacs are out investigating shortly before 8:00am.

 

 

 

[Port Power]

All my commentary disappeared!

 

A lovely, sunny morning in Julibukta. During the zodiac cruise we saw nesting Fulmars, flying puffins and plenty of guillemots sitting on the water.  There were also eight Svalbard reindeer. They could easily be seen with the naked eye, but were indistinguishable from sheep at that distance. With my binoculars I could easily see the antlers. Three of them sat down in a snow patch to cool off.  Tom far away to photograph.

 

We then landed for a walk along the shoreline to see the moss campion (pink flowers).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 22 by Port Power

[Port Power]

This afternoon we are anchored at NY-London (New London), an abandoned mining settlement on Blomstrandoya that never took off. There is a shore excursion to walk around the abandoned buildings and equipment.

 

There is a communications station here, so passengers have been asked to turn off blue tooth to avoid interference.

Count the glaciers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

PP - 

Looks like you are having some spectacular weather.  Those Bluebird skies, congrats!

[Port Power]

6 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

PP - 

Looks like you are having some spectacular weather.  Those Bluebird skies, congrats!

We are so lucky!  Gorgeous day.  Folk were walking around the ship in short sleeves this afternoon.  10-12 degrees C, but the sun effect made us all feel so good. ☀️😎

 

I took a photo of the last groups ashore, but can barely see the red jackets. (I could with binoculars.)

 

 

Time to pack up and leave.

 

 

 

 

[Port Power]

Sunday, 23rd June, 2024

 

This morning the ship was anchored near Texas Bar, a name of unknown origin, nestled on the north side of Liefdefjorden.  A fur trappers’ hut was built in 1927, so passengers wandered around the site.  There was also a serious hike undertaken by about 30 guests.

 

In the afternoon the ship moved to Monacobreen, where we all went out in zodiacs for 90 minutes.  There are a few really large glaciers, and plenty of brash ice.

 

 

 

The first animal sighting was a bearded seal snoozing on an ice floe. We kept our distance and didn’t disturb him.

 

 

After a period of time watching ice and birds, we headed back to the ship.  Or so we thought.  There was a stop at the bar zodiac!  Hot chocolate with Baileys; Prosecco or whiskey.

 

 

 

From there we headed away to where Beluga whales had been sighted.  In fact there were four of them, one a calf.  Trust me, they really are Belugas!

 

 

We did then head back to the ship past some gorgeous small icebergs.

 

 

Edited June 23 by Port Power

[Port Power]

Dinner tonight was in La Dame.  Delicious as ever, but the menu still hasn’t changed.  Dover sole was perfect, as was the pistachio soufflé.

 

We had just sat down when the call came from our expedition leader that a Polar Bear had been sighted on an island just off the ship’s bow.  Down went the menus as we all charged out to grab jackets and binoculars.  Fortunately my suite is port side, and by then the bear was directly opposite my balcony.  After this sighting, it jumped into the sea and swam for the next island.  We did not wait to watch it haul out there.  If not at La Dame with three friends, I would have waited.  Shortly after, the ship moved on anyway.

 

Huge excitement throughout the ship at our first sighting of a polar bear.

 

 

Edited June 23 by Port Power

[mchell810]

Lovely photos!

[Port Power]

A couple of photos from a fellow guest yesterday morning at 14th July Bay and Glacier.  Previously without a name, it was named by Prince Albert 1 of Monaco when he visited.  I saw these through my binoculars, but Jodie’s camera was much better.

 

 

[jpalbny]

Thanks for all of the pictures of cold weather! Just catching up now; as you know I've been sweltering in the Kimberley, and now I'm home with weather that is just as hot, but even more humid! We enjoyed Svalbard very much and I look forward to the rest of your report.

[Port Power]

Tonight was the Captain’s farewell and thanks to the crew.  I had been invited to dine with the Entertainment hostess, along with a married couple and a mother and daughter pair.  We had a wonderful dinner in The Restaurant. I then went up to Panorama to joint my trivia team for the final event.  And we won!  This was followed by general partying, in which the bar staff enthusiastically joined. What a great night!  This is Silversea at its best.  

 

 

 

 

Final photo of the scenery at 11:00m.

 

Edited Monday at 09:38 PM by Port Power
Goodnight scenery

[Port Power]

Monday, 24th June, 2024

 

This morning we anchored at Smeerenburg.  We landed quite close to the ship to observe the huddle of walrus snoozing in the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

They were easily seen from the ship without binoculars, but better with a good camera relatively close.

[Port Power]

It was an incredibly warm and sunny day.  The kayaks were out in full during the afternoon.  Otherwise passengers enjoyed a zodiac cruise along the coastline and glacier.  

 

This was our first sighting of the Arctic Fox, which was stealing birds’ eggs.