drron29

Wrote the first sentence in that post.

Wednesday we awoke it was a beautiful sunny day,wind was still 40Kmh but very little swell. I went to Karolina's talk on her trip to the North Pole and Mrsdrron went to the Chef's presentation which she thought was very entertaining. By midday the temperature was 10C,50F so we thought it would be a good idea to eat on the back deck. However the wind was now- So Rojaan looked like this. As the day progressed the wind increased,the swell became very noticeable. Despite this at the Captain's farewell Captain Maggi wore even higher heels than at the initial reception. She didn't miss a step. Rapa shone,literally. Captain Maggi gave a recap of the voyage. Many felt it the best farewell Captain's speech on the Explorer. At the end we had our photo taken with her. Now just in case you didn't pick up that I was wearing a bow tie here is another shot of it. And even though at that time a jacket and tie were not even suggested for the Explorer I wore both. That's Karolina AKA The Chick with a gun. We first met her on our first SS cruise around svalbard. At one excursion I saw some interesting things away from the main group which took me close to where Karolina was standing so I went up to her for a chat. asked if I could call her karolina she just replied i am known as the chick with a gun. After this the team had dinner with Deputy Expedition Leader Tim Amm,another delightful fellow. A delightful end to our last sea day.Next Arviat.

Wednesday and the big day had arrived. Today was the day we hope to see walrus. The weather was a lot worse. Rain,strong winds and a high swell. First stop was Bencas Island. Unfortunately that was cancelled. So now my last hope was the place that led me to want to be on this voyage-Walrus Island. We arrive at Walrus Island and it is still raining,wind 60Kmh and seas very choppy. It didn't look good so I went out on deck and took a few long distance shots-there were indeed walrus. This is why I invested in a new camera. But then the wind drops,the skies clear and my prayers answered. We are off to the island by zodiac. Even from a little way out the scene was all I had dreamed of. . Closer in you can see these are mainly females and pups. The reddish ones have just become a little hot. Naturally a few more walrus shots. The trip to the Island was very wet but coming back we were going with the swell. Didn't worry me I was very happy. The swell though is still a problem. Loading/unloading of the zodiacs was very slow. Captain Maggi has once again done a great job. Dinner with the team,again very enjoyable. Then the liars club and a full moon. Slept soundly and contented.

Another perk for Silver suites and above is that premium wifi is included as against standard wifi in the lower suites. Now in the past SS wifi was awful but on our March Moon cruise which was the second voyage with Starlink I found the standard wifi perfectly adequate and was able to keep my photo intensive cruise report up to date easily. Of course that cruise was around the Mediterranean so I presume adequate satellite coverage there which is probably not so good in more remote places.

That has Rojaan down to a tee.😉 October's Muse report has just been cancelled.😔

As posted before on the Moon the Voices contract ends in mid August.

And thank you @mysty and @Port Power for the information. it piqued my interest as at one time I owned Elders shares - a long standing Australian company with a lot of rural interests. I surmised correctly that Sir Thomas Elder not only introduced camels to Australia but founded Elders Ltd. But I found that a year after it was started a Robert Barr Smith joined the Company and became a partner so the became known as Elder Smith and company. Now my Maternal Grand mother was born in Scotland and was a Barr. Researching found that Robert Barr Smith hailed from a village not far from my grandmothers village. Turns out that Robert's mother was the older sister of my grandmother's great grandmother. What a small world.

First lunch then a demonstration of throat singing. Interesting but I don't think I am a convert. The afternoon was a zodiac ride to the Mallikjuag Territorial Park across the bay from the town. This contains the ruins of the Thule era winterhouses of~AD1000. The Inuit called them the Little People. Certainly believe that from their homes. Before the Thule were the Devon and pre-Devonian cultures. So to the Thule houses The houses were on a little lake. From the bones there they ate well. Still nature is also on show. Lichen mosaics. The view to Cape Dorset. And the opposite bay. Walking on the tundra here was a very different experience-very spongy. The weather had taken a turn for the worse and the zodiac ride back was very bumpy. My thighs had not really recovered from the hike so I needed a long soak in the tub before recap and dinner. For dinner we were with Jack and Ann from Dallas and a fellow I ended up calling my Uncle Bruce and his wife Margo from Melbourne. The 6 of us became a regular team. Bruce became my adopted Uncle after we realised we knew a few people in common and his Cardiologist a couple of years younger than I grew up just 6 houses from me .It is a small world.

A man prays to God. "Lord, I would like to ask you a question." God says, "Go ahead." "Lord, is it true that to you a million years is but a second?" "Yes that is true." "Well then, what is a million dollars to you?" "A million dollars is but a penny." "Lord, may I have a penny?" "Sure," says God. "Just a second."

Tuesday and it was Cape Dorset an Inuit art centre. Initially the weather was pretty good and this time I was in the first zodiac - but only because they wanted a single and mrsdrron was still protecting her back. A quiet hamlet. Within a short while of landing the wind began to pick up. The flags on the visitor's centre were demonstrating this. The morning was taken up visiting Art Galleries. Several demonstrations during the morning. Though some of the art was quite natural. Of course you recognised that last photo- An Oosik of course! So some carvings. Some more of town. And some alternative art. To be a little provocative there were some signs that Cape Dorset was a drinking town with an Art problem. Several older men and a group of youngsters were well under the weather. Talking of the weather the wind had really come up and the zodiac ride back was a lot bumpier.

After the recap we come back to the cabin to be greeted by this. For the second time Rojaan has her birthday on the Explorer. Had a really good dinner with good food and great companions. A couple of amarulas in the bar and a great night out on the deck. Unfortunately a little cool.

Whilst having lunch it was announced that Captain Maggi had offered to take a cruise up the Southwest arm of the fjord. Greatly appreciated. She took the Explorer to the end of the fjord,turned the ship on itself and then cruised out. Definitely a very good Expedition Captain. So enjoy Quebec as rarely seen. Incoming! A couple of the Expedition staff were returning in a zodiac. The ship did not slow. The zodiac was attached to the ropes,the crew climbed out and the excellent crew retrieved the zodiac. And some more of beautiful Quebec. So the last photos from Douglas Harbour,Quebec. There is a motorised canoe with 2 guys fishing. They try to get close. When reviewing my photos I realise one of them is taking a picture with his Ipad. Even the dog is along for the ride. We didn't see any evidence of a settlement near by.

And you never know when we might need it,

Monday and we awake in Douglas harbour to a beautiful day. As this is the Explorer's first time here various expedition parties go out. Decide on a spot and offer a difficult walk and an easy walk. I decide on the easy walk. I have always had difficulty climbing hills and the knee has made things worse. 30 go on the difficult walk and 78 the easy walk. I wait until my zodiac group is called so naturally last into the zodiacs. Most are waiting for us. The zodiac ride both ways was pleasant with a very calm harbour. The easy walk was a climb over rocks,bogs and uneven ground with a couple of steeper sections. However even part way up the views were great. A lovely little stream. A few on the easy walk didn't make it to the lake. I was the last of those I did. I hid my discomfort with photos of plants etc a way of taking a break. See the beauty of photography. By getting down low and using a wide angle you can make the hill look much steeper! The lake was nice with great reflections. I looked up to the top of the hill where the hardy went up in a group.They came down though in 1's and 2's Now when I made it to the top one couple made some disparaging remarks. Little did they know that although hopeless at climbing I have no problems descending even the steepest or most uneven descents. I left the lake near last. Spied the couple a fair way down the hill,caught up easily,made sure I was running when I passed and commented how easy a descent it was. Now there were meant to be a lot of lemmings and caribou in the distance. I saw no live animals and even missed the dead lemmings so had to be content with this. Then an easy ride back to the Explorer.

Sunday and our schedule calls for a zodiac cruise along the cliffs of Akpatok Island which is meant to be our best chance of up close polar bear viewing. But overcast,raining,3-4 metre swell and 70Kmh winds. At 1045 the days activities are officially cancelled. So off we cruise to Douglas Harbour. Here is our view of Akpatok. Naturally the weather kept improving but all we could do was admire the sunset. and the moon. Some good lectures. Another night we decided to eat in our suite. Just had appetisers. Then off to sleep for a big day tomorrow.

So now to Saturday. Awoke 0730,had a quick breakfast and out on the zodiacs at 0830 for a cruise through the Lower Savage Islands. You are dropped at one end,the ship relocates and you are picked up on the other side of the Islands.The sea was calm but it was overcast with showers. A pleasant zodiac cruise. Some people had a good viewing of a polar bear.We got there in time just to see it disappear over a hill. But still enjoyable with the rock formations and seeing the range of the tides on the rock. I sure needed a nice hot cup of coffee on return. Then lunch and get ready for a 1430 cruise of Nanook harbour. Ready to go. We saw birds-here an auk and waterfalls and this No not dirty snow but a mother polar bear and her cub.This is at 50X zoom. In real life this was not the best polar bear sighting. But we did see snow. An interesting demonstration of the high water mark But plants can still grow here. So a nice cup of tea on return. Good recap.Great company at dinner and nearly last to leave. Up to the bar. Went outside to check if the lights were making another appearance but it was snowing so quickly back inside.

That was before I even owned a pair of sketchers. It was due to my peripheral neuropathy and foot drop. makes it harder to judge.

Had dinner with a delightful couple from Connecticut and we swapped some travel tips. We then steamed back up Frobisher bay enjoying the day's last light. For the third night in a row the lights put on a show but not as good tonight. The Explorers searchlights put on a better show as a container vessel was coming the other way.

Well @Daveywavey70 prepare to be unawed. I did do a report on another travel site so most was from that. Though this cruise had many highlights which remain vivid in my memory. particularly the Northern Lights,talking to the grandfather at the school, the chick with the gun,Red Deer in Alberta And the walrus. The interesting thing about the cruise I picked it because one of the destinations was Walrus Island. On our Svalbard cruise we failed to see a single walrus which the Expedition team said had never happened before. It was on my bucket list so the cruise from Iceland to Hudson Bay just had to be taken. It was the first time Silversea had gone to Hudson bay. I am not sure if they have gone again. But back to the story. Friday. Overcast and a little rain at first. Then fog which fortunately quickly lifted. After Breakfast we anchored off Iqaluit the Capital of Nunavit province. A compulsory stop for Canadian Immigration and other formalities-apparently the ship was advised that crew quarters were going to be inspected as well. After the face to face Immigration check it was back to bed. We had to wait until the formalities were done.So lunch and only then we headed off in the Zodiacs for a tour of Iqaluit. The weather was improving but still a strong wind so a very long choppy zodiac ride. On shore we met our luxury transport. We visited the small museum and community centre before going around the town. It wasn't that impressive. The harbour front was bustling. We then drove a little out of town to where the Hudson Bay Company set up at the start of last century. One of the houses is now privately owned.It demonstrates the normal housing situation here. The smaller pipe is for water,the larger for sewerage. Here is our group inspecting alternative transport. But I doubt it was going anywhere. But probably there were the odd good times. In 1942 the town moved to it's present site when the US established an air base there. Until recently this was the second longest paved strip in Canada. It has had the A380 land here and was an alternate strip for the Space Shuttle. It handles 2000n flights a month now. Amazing for a town of 8000 people. And on cue one of those flights went overhead. Then off to the Power station.This was an exciting tour.But we got a good look over town.The hospital is in the foreground. And some Inuit outside art. Next to the environmental park where people liked to fish. And back across the town. And all to soon the excitement ended and we were back in a zodiac.

We book with a TA. I noticed that our 2025 cruise on the Muse Singapore to Athens was in the recent combined cruise promotion and was significantly lower than the price we had booked. So I asked the TA to check with SS about whether this was covered by there Fare Quarantee program. She replied today and the final repayment has dropped by $A7000. Feeling good.

Now in Australia Kebabs are the favourite of students particularly Uni students but also inebriated gentlemen coming home late at night and feeling like something to eat. Although it was a long time ago we enjoyed Matsos Brewery for lunch/ https://matsos.com.au/ If you don't want to go for lunch go for a drink. their alcoholic ginger beers are really good. A wide selection of beers as well.

And I wore mine every time I left the Moon on our 54 day sojourn aboard.

Talking to the voices of Silversea on the Moon in May their contract ended mid August and they believed they will be the last Voices of Silversea. they did say the group on the Dawn were ending soon. They didn't know when the new entertainment was going to be launched but thought it might be when they finished. As far as they knew a contract has been signed with another company to produce the shows. I just wonder if it will be "brought in house" as RCL has it's own production company and school. One of our grandaughters went pre covid and was on her second contract when covid struck. On her first contract she was hired as a dancer but ended up lead singer after the lead singer actually did break a leg.

Yes Kaiseki om the Muse is IMHO much better than on the Moon and Dawn. Though on those 2 ships we do like going to lunch at Kaiseki.

Thursday and our second sea day steaming from Greenland to Canada. Awoke at 0600 and it was a beautiful fine day and a swell that was no more than an inch or two. Went to Breakfast and at 0800 the fog rolled in. Couldn't see a thing. Did go to the morning's Geology lecture. Whilst having lunch the fog lifted and a whale was seen but at a considerable distance. After lunch went to Historian Peter's lecture on the Franklin Expeditions. After all Franklin had been Governor of Van Dieman's Land so of interest to all of us who have worked in Tasmania. Peter makes history interesting. With the sunshine the sea birds returned. Northern Fulmars kept making runs right past our balcony. And then we saw Canada. That afternoon it was an open bridge so went for a look. Rewarded with a nice hug from Karolina. It was a long way up Frobisher Bay.The sun set and the moon made a short appearance rising then setting after a few minutes. Tonight was the Venetian Society cocktail party and dinner. At least 80% of the passengers were repeat Silver Explorer passengers. We had dinner with the Expedition Leader Robin West and his father and 2 women from the US. A good night was had by all. Went up to the bar but as we arrived the Northern Lights made another appearance. Not as strong as the previous night but reflected in the water.