OneSixtyToOne

While departing Ushuaia we caught a glimpse of Octantis from the airplane.

We came back to our stateroom to find an “official” certificate.

Day 16 - This is the End, My Friend Today we’re all the way at the end of the Earth, at the bottom of South America, rounding Cape Horn. We woke up early to head to the bow to watch the 7:00 AM passage. Coffee and hot chocolate was available in The Shelter. We were able to pass extremely close to the cape, much closer that other cruise ships are allowed, because we had a Chilean pilot who has been with us all the way from Santiago. During lunch we entered the Beagle Channel where we passed a ship wreck. After lunch the announcement was made to place you expedition boot in the hallway for collection. So sad. Final briefing was at 4:00 PM. Learned about Ushuaia, the Beagle Channel, the native population. They gave the name to Tierra del Fuego because the European explorers would see their fires. The science team gave us recap of the studies conducted during the cruise. They wrapped up with a photo montage taken by the passengers. We dock in Ushuaia at around 8:00 PM. Don’t think we will go ashore. It’s Sunday night and most places are closed. We have an 8:40 AM disembarkation for Buenos Aires. Stay tuned.

Day 15 - Pool with a View The rain and snow stopped this morning and it’s a cold but calm day to explore the Garibaldi Fjord and Glacier. All the toys were deployed this morning. We had another weather balloon launch at 9:00 AM. Today we took a ride on the Special Ops Boat around the fjord and by the glacier. Lunch featured a special chocolate dessert buffet. After lunch we sat around the pool and enjoyed the spectacular view. Tonight was the Captain’s farewell reception in the Aula. Returned to our stateroom to encounter the saddest part of the voyage, disembarking instructions. They did leave a special treat to ease our pain. So sad to leave this marvelous ship, but tomorrow morning we round Cape Horn at 7:00 AM.

We have the post extension but I just asked guest services about your situation and the answer was “It depends.” If there are enough people, they do a bus excursion to see the highlights of Buenos Aries before going to the airport. As of yet, nothing has been confirmed for the Polaris.

Day 14 - Run Me Out In The Cold Rain & Snow It’s 37F with rain and snow, the perfect day to do a zodiac landing at Agostini Glacier. We did a beach landing on the rocky, snow covered shore. This will be the closest we get to what Antarctica landings must be like. The expedition team had placed trail markers ahead of time to guide us on our mile long trek to view the glacier. Along the way a member of the team talked about the plants and rock formations we encountered. It was an invigorating walk with spectacular views. On the way back the kayakers from the ship paddled by. Later in the day the wind gusts picked up. The zodiacs and SOB were like an amusement park ride. IMG_5718.mov Tonight’s daily briefing was on Garibaldi Glacier, which google has listed as closed. There was a presentation about Captain Cook and his search for a cure for scurvy. The natural science presentation was about glacier ice dynamics. It described how glaciers moved and what causes the different shaped fissures. We topped off the evening with our 4th trivia win of the cruise. Cheers.

Day 13 - Happy Feet The weather cleared this morning as we arrived in Punta Arenas. We docked across from two US flagged ships heading for Antarctica. We were advised to bundle up and when we exited the ship a blast of cold air told us why. The wind was brutal, with gusts of 30 MPH. We’re heading for Magdalena Island Penguin Reserve. After clearing the bag check at the port, we boarded the catamaran, which was docked next to the Octantis. It was a 90 minute trip across the Magellan Strait to the island of penguins. The wind on the exposed island was even worse than at the dock but the tour was worth it. Penguins are so cute. Magellanic Penguins are mostly solo birds so when you see a huddle of them on the shore, it means they are about to go out to sea. There are safety in numbers and makes it more difficult for a predator to capture one. The male penguins arrived in September when they prepare their underground nests. The females arrive soon after to lay one or two eggs. No chicks yet. The should hatch mid November. IMG_5570.mov After about an hour on the island we return to the dock. We decided it was too windy to explore the town so we went back to the ship to warm up. Tonight’s daily briefing was on tomorrow’s visit to Agonstini Fjord where we are scheduled to have a zodiac landing. Forecast is for rain an sleet. The science segment was about the extinct Great Auk, the Arctic flightless bird that was similar to a penguin. It was hunted to extinction for its feathers, meat, and oil. Tonight’s lecture was about Shackleton and his attempt to cross the Antarctic continent. There was a clothing demonstration showing what the expedition wore. Burberry was their outfitter and advertised the fact in the papers.

The screen switches between C and F. Could be this photo was shot at the exact moment the refresh was occurring and not all the values were updated yet. Just a glitch. It was F, as the upper right side indicates.

Day 12 - Surf’s Up Not much to report on. Today is a sea day as we travel the Strait of Magellan. It’s also the worst weather of the cruise. Outside decks are closed but there are some great views of waves from The Hide. Today’s science lecture was about seabirds. I learned that all seabirds have a nasal tube above their beak. To expel the salt they ingest from the water, there is a special gland in their head which discharges a salty mucus from this tube. On Deck A there was a ping pong tournament. Here you can see it from Deck 2. I realized that I’ve been mistakingly using the VO term port talk for the nightly talk. On expedition ships it’s referred to as a Daily Briefing and Recap. Since there are fewer ports, it’s much more geared toward science and nature, helping explain what you might have encountered during the day. Tonight’s briefing previewed Punta Aeneas as well as a presentation on the Beaufort Scale, used yo measure sea state and wind. We reach the 10-11 range today. The scale maximum is 12 so it was pretty rough. The presenter mentioned it was similar to some crossing in the Drake. The ship handled great. I’ve felt much more motion on a VO ship. The stabilization tech is doing its job. Great design. Tomorrow we visit penguins so tonight’s lectures was all about penguin adaptation to the cold. Their feet have evolve to heat the blood returned to the heart by having veins wrap around their arteries.

Weather cleared as we entered Punta Arenas.

Yes I am. Today they had a presentation on tips when shooting photos with your phone.

At tonight’s port talk they briefed us on the Beaufort Scale. We were at a 10-11 today. Bridge recorded an 80 mph gust. Ship handled beautifully. No one reported sea sickness. Here is a video of earlier today. IMG_5434.mov

Currently in the Straits of Magellan…

Day 11 - Gimme Shelter Our fantastic weather finally came to an abrupt end. With 30 mile per hour winds, we were unable to launch the toys at el Bruno Glacier. Instead we found a sheltered area away from the glacier that blocked the wind and allowed the launching of the zodiacs, SOB, kayaks, and sub. We suited up in our gear for our first zodiac ride of the cruise. We sailed into a small cove to observe the local flora and fauna. IMG_5371.mov On the way back we were greater by another zodiac that rafted alongside and handed out champagne for a toast. A very nice Viking touch. Tonight’s port talk was brief. Tomorrow is a sea day through the Magellan Straight snd we are expecting terrible weather. Rain is forecasted with wind gusts of 60 mph. The talk also included a presentation about the Mapuche people, who were one of the only regional tribes not conquered by the Incas. Tonight’s nature presentation was about the southern beech tree, which we learned was misidentified by Europeans and wasn’t really a birch. Its range dates back to when there was a supercontinent and is found in all the areas formally connected to Antarctica. We had another 3D movie night. This time is was about the US National Parks, narrated by Robert Redford. As I’ve said before, the 3D movies on the expedition ships are a must see.

Day 10 - “It is Balloon” - F Troop Today we made our way to the Pio XI Glacier. We woke to clear blue skies and almost no wind. What a gorgeous day. After nearing the glacier we assembled on Deck 6 at 8:45 for the 9:00 AM weather balloon launch. There was a spread of doughnuts, coffee, and hot chocolate then a countdown to the launch. As mentioned earlier in this thread, all weather balloon are launched at the same time worldwide: midnight and noon UTC. IMG_5154.mov We then slowly move closer and finally anchored ,spending the next few hours near the wall of the glacier. It was eerie to hear the groaning sounds of the ice straining, then cracking. We watched huge pieces of ice calving and crashing into the water. It was a very special experience. IMG_5194.mov We then made an unscheduled attempt to reach nearby Falcon Glacier but the amount of ice in the water made it too slow of a process, so we continued back on our original corse. It was during this part of the cruise that we spotted dolphins off the bow. I got lucky and was able to shoot video of what was later identified as the first Dusky Dolphin seen on the cruise. IMG_5277.mov Tonight’s port talk was about tomorrow’s stop at el Bruno Glacier where the plan is to again deploy all the toys. We have our first Zodiac ride scheduled. The nature presentation was about pinnipeds. The data of today’s balloon launch was also displayed and explained. For tonight’s dinner, the dessert bar was transformed into a cake buffet. Tonight’s trivia contest ended in a tie, which we won on a tiebreaker.

Last night’s port talk included a presentation about the Mapuche people.

Our weather luck ran out. Wind and snow this morning. We have to move to a small protective bay to launch the toys, too windy at el Bruno glacier.

Day 9 - Fjords Today is a scenic sailing day in the fjords. The crew was on deck to help with wildlife sightings. We saw a penguin swimming but it was too fast to get a picture. There was also a pod of three orcas, but I failed to get any pictures. The afternoon lecture was on bioluminescence. Interestingly, there is bioluminescent in salt water and on land, but none in fresh water. Scientists have not yet determined why this is. The nightly port talk was about tomorrow’s visit to Pio XI Glacier. The Patagonian ice field holds the 3rd largest reservoir of fresh water on the planet. If it all melted the oceans would rise 1/2 inch. The presentation slide at the bottom is on its side, so north is on the left. Here you can see the extent of the ice field. Tomorrow we visit the glaciers. We also were notified there will be a weather balloon launch at 9:00 AM on Deck 6. i also noticed they changed the bird display in Explorers Central.

Day 8 - Toys in the Water Today we sailed to Puerto Chacabuco under clear and sunny skies. The weather is exceptionally clear, something the locals have told us on every tour so far. It will be in the low 60s, a perfect day for a short hike and then our first opportunity to try out the toys! We took a short 30 minute bus ride to a private nature reserve in the Patagonian hills. Here we viewed the “Old Man Of the Forest,” an old growth tree that survived a major forest fires two decades ago. Then onto a picturesque waterfall. We then hiked back to the visitors hall where dinner is on the fire for another tour group that opted for a longer all after hike. Yesterday our guide explained that barbecue in this part of the world means a whole animal and here was the proof. Back at the ship all the toys were fully deployed. We took an invigorating ride on the SOB. Boy, was that a blast! Incredible experience. We also saw a condor, the first one sighted on this cruise. IMG_5073.mov IMG_5076.mov Upon return there was the Explorers Society toast on the Finse Terrace. We were also on the last SOB of the day so I was able to view the SOB loading into the rear loading ramp. BTW they no longer board the SOB inside the ship. Because of the weight of the passengers, it was taking too long. Instead you board from the side hanger doors. This time savings allows two additional outings a day. Tonight’s port talk dealt with weather and tomorrow’s scenic cruising schedule. The expedition team will be on deck to help identify wildlife sightings. The science segment dealt with aquaculture and mussel farms. One thing I failed to mention is that there are no do not disturb signs onboard. It’s all electronic. Your doorbell lights up different colors to indicate DND and make up the room. It also indicates if the room is occupied. Very nice feature.

In Exploration Central, they have a whiteboard that tracks all the wildlife seen by passengers and crew. Today I sighted and photographed the first Dusky Dolphin of the cruise. IMG_5277.mov

I’m a couple of days behind with my postings but I had to share the view from our room as we anchored next to Pio XI Glacier. I even capture video of the glacier calving which I’ll post later. Unusually clear weather, Fog was forecasted, but it burned off early.

This is a leg of the longitudinal world cruise. We disembarks at Ushuaia, Argentina. It then cruises Antartica for the austral summer.

Grill and Sushi Bar are part of the WC. No one is dressed up. Very casual. Make sure you bring cold weather gear. It very cold on deck and the wind chill is brutal. Wool cap and a neck gator to cover your face is essential. Woke up to 39 degrees with ice in the water. We saw a penguin yesterday. Visiting Pio XI glacier today.

Currently on the Octantis. For what it’s worth, here is tonight’s “Polar Dinner Menu.” BTW I canceled our reservation for tonight.

Lol It’s been shadowing use since Santiago.