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With the last tender in place we were ready to spend the day moving through the Fjords toward Ushuaia .

Meanwhile back in Punta Arenas , we had switched from going ashore to watching them recover the tenders in the wind . The first 3 on the leward side were recovered easily . The Captain turned the ship 90 degrees so the second batch of tenders were having trouble catching the hook and we feared for their safety . After another 90 degree turn the ship was now blocking the wind which allowed a safer operation which we observed from above . We moved up to the promenade deck

It looks like you are headed in ! Cheers Mic and Rosie . https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=9221281

We are hoping and praying and it looks good on Cruisemapper ! 🙏🙏 https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=9221281 The queue for the return tenders was over an hour and reached past the Church ! We were there more than 2 hours longer than the projected time by the ship !

Cruisemapper shows you in position to make it into the protected harbor . It's cold and a high wind chill today . I left my jacket in the 4x4 the last time and wished that I had taken it ! Best wishes that you have a great visit there , we did !

Friday , January 12th was a windy day in Punta Arenas . We had breakfast and was ready to go ashore to meet our guide for a private 3 hour tour . The tenders were in the water and the birds feeding with our thruster stirring up some fish . Inexplicably , the Captain made the call to cancel the port . It seems like the wind was coming up and the tenders we having trouble .

Cherry pink and Apple blossum white played at Gatsbys . This song is from my childhood and was played on a trumpet originally . You had to walk through it to get to Le Bistro . It was the meeting place for the LGBTQIA+ at dinner time and was announced daily in the Freestyle Daily . They had live music every night and we had to walk through it to use the washrooms when you eat at Le Bistro . It was amazing how quite it was in LeBistro as we could not hear the music . It is also below the Ginza and across from La Cucina Restaurants .

Us too my friends !

A look at the Accuweather forecast for the Falkland Islands for tomorrow and Monday . It appears that tomorrow is the better day with the wind alert for Monday . https://www.accuweather.com/en/fk/stanley/127824/daily-weather-forecast/127824

It appears that you are on course to the Falkland islands . We are hoping and praying that yo make it there and enjoy you planned trip . https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=9221281

They have a saying on NCL " Fish swim forward " . It's on the carpet but we somtimes feel like the red fish . Our progress toward our stop in Chile , Punta Arenas . We have been here 3 times and docked . But NCL has us tendering . We had hoped that the Oosterdam would make port and see some King Chicks that should be hatched by now . With a hearing problem the doctors have given us hearing aids . But wearing them makes people talking sound like the Star's Arcade , a casino for kids .

With our day at sea we had breakfast and our interdenominational Bible study which was a bust . NCL alloted a time , place and some refreshments but refused to post it in the Freestyle Daily , and would not let us post signs to promote it . Additionally unlike every other cruise or hotel that we have been in - there was no Gideons Bible . For lunch we tried O'Sheehan's for some Pub Grub . Buffalo wings Spinch and artichoke dip were both delcious . A Belgium draft for me and true to her Irish roots , a Guinness for my lassie . Fish and chips ( French fries ) and a Ruben were split . Sorru NCL my wife's Ruben is much better but all and all , very good and we heard an Angel sing one of my favorite songs !

We sure hope that you can make it ashore . We went to both the Victory Bar and Globe Bar for a pint and fish and chips . We preferred the Victory as the guide had suggested . Lunch photos coming up on the Star next .

En route to Stanley we saw a strange rainrod from the forward balcony . It was windy as there was no Norwegian flag flying from the flag staff One thing taat we missed at Volunteer Point the last time was a walk on the beach . We had an escort of Kings to the waves . This Sea Cabbage didn't make me hungry . A pair of Gentoos returning from fishing . Pretty waves but not good for surfing as they were closing out .

Thats a lot closer than our 3 hour trip each way . And the barbie lunch sounds better than a box lunch ! Did you see any dinosaurs like we did ? 🤪 When are you scheduled to visit Stanley , the superstar of penquin encounters ? There's a big difference in weather in days . Sunday is cool at 54 F with lots of wind , NNW @ 24 mph . Monday is warmer 67 F and SSW wind @ 15 mph . Our costs there was $ 200 P.P. paid at the sight with 4 people per 4 wheel drive vehicle . We were the first people there as we had suite priority tender boarding and they allowed J and M to piggyback with us . Strangely , the weather temps will be the same in Stanley as where we live in Florida except we expect rain for 3 days .

We hope so also .Our next scheduled cruise is on Sunday November 24 , 2024 . It's only a week on the HAL Nieuw Amsterdam going to Grand Turk , Key West , Florida and Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas . It's our favorite ship and the prices are good that time of year so you could add another cruise on either side . It is an American Thanksgiving so the price is a little higher as the kids are out of the school for a week and our children and grandsons will be going . Here's your photo from breakfast . Thanks again for all of your help and it was great sailing with you guys . Joe and Pat 😊🙂

Leaving Puerto Madryn and the Freestyle Daily for Montevideo and Puerto Madryn .

Dinner was at Cagneys after Puerto Madryn Beef Tartare with Wasabi Frenck Onion Soup Broiled seafood Platter Filet 7 layer chocolate cake

The tide was low as these penquins normally swim here We requested a photo stop of the ship near this statue of Tehuelche The view from the ship of the statue Backing away from the Pier The sunset

Thank you . We also noticed a lot more wind this trip which may have affected the waddlers and it is extremely hot today there also . In Torres del Paine , Chile after the cruise the wind gusts exceeded 100 Km / hour , or 62 mph . Almost hurricane force . Pat took a video at a mirador of a bus that looked like it was going to roll in the crosswind . We seem to be on the mend but a little slower for the older ones .

Other critters

We think that they migrate so they are probally following the food trail ( Like good cruisers ) . 😊

We were about 3 weeks earlier in middle December in 2018 . January 10 th this year . We noticed that the chicks were larger and plumper this year .

Another day at the beach . There were a lot more penquins on the beach at our last visit in 2018 Surfs up !

The bulbous bow looks like another day at the buffet .