Antarctica - tendering priority

[rivah1]

We are hoping to do a private Volunteer Point tour in the Falklands; however, I am a bit concerned about the timing. I know that cruise line excursions have tendering priority, so can anyone tell me how difficult it is to get off the ship early if going on a private tour? Any suggestions?

[Tony & Trevor]

We had a tour booked at 10.30am but we wanted to get off the ship much earlier to have a good walk around Stanley.

 

We were off the ship in the first tender which was only half full. No problems whatsoever. We had well over 2 hours or more to explore ourselves with no crowds.

 

 

 

Kind regards,

 

 

Tony

[Chairsin]

It really depends on the port, the number of people on tours and timing of same. And lately on the little ships there has also been the matter of a tender malfunction. I have experienced times where as an independent we were able to get in the first tender and others where we gad to wait over an hour, There is no guarantee you will be allowed on the first tender. Better to plan your tour a bit later. You can always trying showing up in the departure lounge first and trying to sweet talk the Asst CD and Tour Directors but they are focused on getting their tours out on time. Do try to find out ahead how many people are scheduled for an early tour and go from there.

 

 

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[rivah1]

Thanks very much for that info. I would just love to go to Volunteer Point but don't want to risk bad luck with the tenders. I think I'll play it safe and go with one of the shorter tours.

[galeforce9]

You also have to consider that vehicles can get stuck several times on the way in and out of volunteer point, which is risky on an independent basis. I've been there on two occasions (on independent holidays) and our driver had issues because of all the rutting the big cruise convoys had left behind by repeatedly following the same tracks.

 

 

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[MrsWaldo]

We did an independent and we had a blast (Nyree at Estanza, Nyree is the biological officer)

 

We weren't on the first tender but they did allow anyone on the queue to get on. The SB tours waited until all passengers were off the ship until they departed and regrouped at point further along the track.

 

We actually had Nyree's mum driving our vehicle and they knew the tracks and used different ones to the big convoy. We not only got there about 30 mins ahead of the crowds but got back to Stanley before the main convoy despite leaving at the same time and having a minor issue that was dealt with superbly.

 

not sure when you are going but Nyree's tours are very popular so this may be too late

[Fletcher]

Seabourn does not have a ship that's suitable for the Falklands or Antarctica. The Quest is much too big which is why those tendering schedules are unnecessarily frustrating. If you go on a serious ship, an expedition cruise ship, it will have about 100 passengers and a dozen zodiacs so you all get ashore within 20 minutes and you don't need a jetty or a pier either.

Edited December 26, 2014 by Fletcher

[MrsWaldo]

Fletcher,

 

May I ask which of the Seabourn Antarctic voyages that landed in the Falklands that you found to have unnecessarily frustrating tendering? I think we waited a grand total of about 5 minutes (and that was purely because we had to load people on)

 

We found it worked like clockwork...

[SKP946]

Seabourn does not have a ship that's suitable for the Falklands or Antarctica. The Quest is much too big which is why those tendering schedules are unnecessarily frustrating. If you go on a serious ship, an expedition cruise ship, it will have about 100 passengers and a dozen zodiacs so you all get ashore within 20 minutes and you don't need a jetty or a pier either.

 

It quite obvious by your comment that you have never been on Quest, a very slick operation, we were all onshore (within our colour groups) easily within 20 minutes.

In Stanley you have to land at the pier (minefields on the beaches):mad:

Our Expedition Team members were commenting on what a comfortable ride it was coming back across the Drake Passage in up to Force 10. They said that in an Expedition ship we would have been strapped to our beds/bunks !:)

[Fletcher]

No, it's true, I've not been on the Seabourn Quest and I'd never choose it for a trip to places like the Falklands, South Georgia or Antarctica. On our type of ship you go to several of the Falkland islands and just roll up on a beach. Ditto South Georgia and you can come and go as you please. There are no schedules, or colour codings as I believe you have on a big ship like the Quest. And yes, SKP946 is right, the only advantage I can see in going on a ship the size of the Quest is that it rides the waves better than something like the Lindblad Orion or the Siversea Explorer. And maybe that's a major consideration down there! We once had 10 days at sea sailing between Tristan and the Falklands in a Force Niner and that wasn't pleasant.

Edited December 26, 2014 by Fletcher

[galeforce9]

No, it's true, I've not been on the Seabourn Quest and I'd never choose it for a trip to places like the Falklands, South Georgia or Antarctica. On our type of ship you go to several of the Falkland islands and just roll up on a beach. Ditto South Georgia and you can come and go as you please. There are no schedules, or colour codings as I believe you have on a big ship like the Quest. And yes, SKP946 is right, the only advantage I can see in going on a ship the size of the Quest is that it rides the waves better than something like the Lindblad Orion or the Siversea Explorer. And maybe that's a major consideration down there! We once had 10 days at sea sailing between Tristan and the Falklands in a Force Niner and that wasn't pleasant.

 

 

Well if we want to get really pedantic, I'd argue that the Falklands is best seen on a land based holiday, using FIGAS planes for island hopping. Of course, this is a cruise forum and a Seabourn one at that. I applaud Seabourn for opening up these lovely isles for more people to see the fantastic wildlife and experience the warm hospitality.

 

 

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[SKP946]

No, it's true, I've not been on the Seabourn Quest and I'd never choose it for a trip to places like the Falklands, South Georgia or Antarctica. On our type of ship you go to several of the Falkland islands and just roll up on a beach. Ditto South Georgia and you can come and go as you please. There are no schedules, or colour codings as I believe you have on a big ship like the Quest. And yes, SKP946 is right, the only advantage I can see in going on a ship the size of the Quest is that it rides the waves better than something like the Lindblad Orion or the Siversea Explorer. And maybe that's a major consideration down there! We once had 10 days at sea sailing between Tristan and the Falklands in a Force Niner and that wasn't pleasant.

Fletcher, your comments read that you are not a passenger but a crew member on an expedition ship ?

"On our type of ship you go to several of the Falkland islands and just roll up on a beach. Ditto South Georgia and you can come and go as you please."

I understood that under the Antarctic Agreements that ships could not just go where they please, but were tied by very strict rules?

Also in the Falklands there are the numerous unmarked Argentinean minefields, especially on the beaches, which limit wandering considerably.

I am sure that a small (4,500 to 6,000 ton) Expedition Ship with only 100 pax is a great way to see these lovely places BUT at my age (late 60's) a degree of comfort is welcome and quite frankly, I don't want to make 2 or 3 landings a day, one a day was fine by me, I wasn't bored.

There is also the cost consideration, Seabourn costs much less than an Expedition ship for twice the cabin size plus 5 Star+ comfort, service, food, drinks and gratuities all included.

I spoke to pax on our recent Quest Antarctic cruise who had been on the smaller Expedition ships, they preferred Quest.

Then there is the safety consideration,Seabourn Quest is 3 years old, most of the Expedition Ships are much older.

Did you know that Silver Explorer lost her Bridge Console with all its controls when hit by a large wave off South Georgia last season ?:mad:

I was told she took 5 days to limp back to Ushuaia using engines only.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/18/nyregion/hotchkiss-students-on-antarctic-trip-encounter-whales-and-30-foot-wave.html?_r=0

I think that I will stick with Seabourn!:)

PS: I don't work for Seabourn, I am just a satisfied Seabourn pax !

[Roxburgh]

This is a discussion we had when Seabourn first announced the Antarctic cruises.

 

The 'expedition' experience is different to the Seabourn one and appeals to a different type of passenger. For myself, I was very happy to visit the Antarctic, to land five times, to see the penguins and other wildlife and still enjoy the Seabourn experience. If others prefer an 'expedition' then great. Go for it!

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the day I spent on the Falklands. I did the battlefield tour as I knew a number of people who had fought there (some of whom arrived on Canberra). I also enjoyed wandering around Stanley, popping in and out of the shops, chatting to the locals and visiting the pub. If I want to go back to the Falklands I would go on a land based visit and not a cruise/expedition ship.

 

SKP946: re Antarctic landings. I think that you are correct. Landings have to be booked.

 

re: minefields on the Falklands, I am reminded of this road sign. I would be very nervous about 'just rolling up on a beach':

 

[MrsWaldo]

No one ever answered my question…

 

what is the difference between a slow minefield and a fast one?

 

;)

 

Like Charles I would love to go back and do a land based stay on the Falklands. I felt there was so much more to it than just seeing a few thousand penguins. One of the joys of cruising though is getting a taste of smaller places that you may have a first been hesitant to visit.

[SKP946]

Like Charles I would love to go back and do a land based stay on the Falklands. I felt there was so much more to it than just seeing a few thousand penguins. One of the joys of cruising though is getting a taste of smaller places that you may have a first been hesitant to visit.

 

I agree Mrs Waldo

 

Quote "No one ever answered my question…what is the difference between a slow minefield and a fast one?"

I could answer this question for you, however, some of our OS readers might not appreciate our Aussie sense of humour !!:rolleyes::)

[Fletcher]

SKP946 - No, I'm just a passenger! It's true that expedition ships like the ones we go on are sometimes twice as expensive as a Seabourn-style trip on the principle of less is more. However, as much as I think Seabourn's priorities are fine dining, casinos and entertainment, the emphasis on expedition ships is purely destination driven. But don't think these ships are in any way backpacker/roughing it. They are extremely comfortable, with perhaps less flashy or pretentious food, and certainly no forms of entertainment. The entertainment is in the day's sightseeing and chatting to fellow passengers, most of whom are in their 60s and have no problems with getting on zodiacs etc.

[Thecat123]

Fletcher we are another couple who sailed on the 4th Jan sailing on the Quest and couldn't be happier with everything Seabourn did for us. Would love to go back and it would be on the Quest without a doubt

[gowilk]

SKP946 - No, I'm just a passenger! It's true that expedition ships like the ones we go on are sometimes twice as expensive as a Seabourn-style trip on the principle of less is more. However, as much as I think Seabourn's priorities are fine dining, casinos and entertainment, the emphasis on expedition ships is purely destination driven. But don't think these ships are in any way backpacker/roughing it. They are extremely comfortable, with perhaps less flashy or pretentious food, and certainly no forms of entertainment. The entertainment is in the day's sightseeing and chatting to fellow passengers, most of whom are in their 60s and have no problems with getting on zodiacs etc.

 

You've had your fun, now go back to your marketing for second-rate expedition ships and let those of us who enjoy style and the ability to choose how intense their experience will be enjoy ours. frankly it inspires me to see someone who is otherwise disabled actually land on Antartica even though they are wheelchair bound.

Most of the passengers are in their 60s or younger and have no problem navigating a zodiac.