The South American and Antarctic experience on the Zaandam

[scubacruiserx2]

42 minutes ago, EllieinNJ said:

Following

 

Welcome aboard .  

[mocruzer]

18 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

 

 

Amazing pictures!  Thank you again for sharing.  

[scubacruiserx2]

7 minutes ago, mocruzer said:

Amazing pictures!  Thank you again for sharing.  

 

You're welcome !

[scubacruiserx2]

At this point in the cruise we were chugging along slowly because it was shallow  and the weather could change rapidly from this

 

 

 

to this

 

 

 

 

 

Very shallow here

 

 

And up ahead  "Danger Will Robinson " !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

40 minutes ago, singinalot said:

Following


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Welcome on board . 

[scubacruiserx2]

There was a ship up ahead on the rocks. It is the Santa Leonor, the former USS Riverside. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Riverside_(APA-102)

 

 

 

 

 

It was guarded on the South by a lighthouse

 

 

And as we were having  Wienersnitchel for dinner

 

 

a rainbow appeared on our balcony .

 

 

The video clip :

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Next stop : Punta Arenas

 

On our first visit here we tried to see the Penguins at Magdalena Island . Our tour was cancelled after boarding the boat and switched to Otway  which no longer operates tours . Our last visit we went to Torres del Paine . This time we booked Magdalena Island again with Solo Expediciones .

 

https://www.soloexpediciones.com/penguins-magdalena-marta-island

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 26, 2019 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Good morning Punta Arenas 

 

 

The tugging has begun

 

 

And the rainbow followed us also so maybe this would be our lucky day .

 

 

Video :

 

 

 

We prefer smaller group tours and we hopped that SE would provide it for us . We booked a midday tour hoping that it would be less crowded . We you exit the ship you have to walk through the blue container for a fruit/bag inspection .

 

 

You use to walk down the pier to the Downtown area but we were now at a different pier about 3 miles from the SE office . The end of the pier begins the shipping area , but you can meet cabs there .

 

 

[caneable]

Great job scubacruiser!  Can you walk off the ship?  Is there a shuttle? We’re cruising South America in a months time and we were planning to just walk about in town so I’m hoping there’s a decent way of getting to town. Did you come across anyone who used a taxi?

 

[OhioDogLover]

Enjoying your review.  thank you for posting.

 

Ohiodoglover

[caneable]

Did every person going ashore have to go through that blue hut?

[scubacruiserx2]

When we got to the small SE office it was crowded and chaotic . We had reservations but they demanded payment in person - no prepay . This make long lines for payment .We were told to wait but a number of people outside headed for a bus . By the time we got there it was full . We were told to walk around the corner to a smaller bus which filled quickly leaving us the last two seats in the rear . We waited another 30 minutes for two young ladies who decided to go get some chips and drinks . The driver pulled down a couple of folding seats next to him and we were off . We headed back past the Zaandam until we reached the smaller boats . We had to stand in another line to get life vests and they had ran out of Large and Extra Large . We had to wear these over our winter jackets with the 2 straps between our legs . The effect was like wearing a straight jacket that choked you and gave you a wedgie . We got the last 2 seats which was a half on and a half in the aisle . We began our bouncing ride toward the island .

 

 

It became a little less crowded when some people stood up and went outside for some cooler and fresh air .

 

 

We moved forward were some chair hogs left their bags marking their turf . The ride was uneventful until about 5 minutes before our arrival . This ladies friend spilled her lunch at our feet .

 

 

Perhaps the smell attracted the penguins because they sure got close to them . Anyhow , we had arrived !

 

 

 

We felt like we were on a Easter egg hunt .

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

30 minutes ago, caneable said:

Great job scubacruiser!  Can you walk off the ship?  Is there a shuttle? We’re cruising South America in a months time and we were planning to just walk about in town so I’m hoping there’s a decent way of getting to town. Did you come across anyone who used a taxi?

 

 

Thank you and Yes you can walk off . No shuttle . We used the taxi at the end of the pier about $ 10 for up to 4 .

 

[scubacruiserx2]

29 minutes ago, OhioDogLover said:

Enjoying your review.  thank you for posting.

 

Ohiodoglover

 

 

Thank you and you're welcome .

[scubacruiserx2]

24 minutes ago, caneable said:

Did every person going ashore have to go through that blue hut?

 

Yes , all of the ports checked your bags when leaving and the ship checked them we returning . Which ship are you going on ?

[caneable]

22 minutes ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

Yes , all of the ports checked your bags when leaving and the ship checked them we returning . Which ship are you going on ?

 

We will be on the Norwegian Sun.

[scubacruiserx2]

Just now, caneable said:

 

We will be on the Norwegian Sun.

 

Great , we saw them in Montevideo . My DW reminded that only Chile did the bag check .

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Coming ashore 

 

 

The island is covered with penguins and people

 

 

 

But mostly penguins

 

 

 

And their chicks

 

[AryMay]

We also have a tour booked with Solo Expediciones on our upcoming Zaandam cruise. Were you able to pay for the tour with a credit card?

 

I was under the impression that there was a shuttle that runs from the ship into town. Will have to inquired about this.

[scubacruiserx2]

51 minutes ago, AryMay said:

We also have a tour booked with Solo Expediciones on our upcoming Zaandam cruise. Were you able to pay for the tour with a credit card?

 

I was under the impression that there was a shuttle that runs from the ship into town. Will have to inquired about this.

 

Yes, you can pay with a credit card. We had  Chilean Pesos and Punta Arenas was our last Chilean port so we used them. 

 Sorry, my bad, there is a shuttle to town at the end of the pier by the gate.  Taxi's are also there. 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

3 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

Thank you and Yes you can walk off . No shuttle . We used the taxi at the end of the pier about $ 10 for up to 4 .

 

 

I apologize caneable. There IS a shuttle from the pier to town. I am not sure where you are dropped-off in town.  This is why I like to take photos, my camera  has a better (more) memory than I do.

[scubacruiserx2]

 

 

 

 

These are Magellanic Penguins and they live under bushes or in a burrow .

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magellanic_penguin

 

Some people also call them J****** penguins after the braying sound they make 

 

 

 

Some penguins curiously twist their necks.

 

 

You can see it in this video clip  and hear some of the braying in the background .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 27, 2019 by scubacruiserx2

[caneable]

1 hour ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

I apologize caneable. There IS a shuttle from the pier to town. I am not sure where you are dropped-off in town.  This is why I like to take photos, my camera  has a better (more) memory than I do.

 

Apologies not necessary, thanks for taking the time to do a double check.  Besides, these days, memory is my camera!

[scubacruiserx2]

8 minutes ago, caneable said:

 

Apologies not necessary, thanks for taking the time to do a double check.  Besides, these days, memory is my camera!

 

I did have a journal , somewhere . 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 

 

In about an hour's time we were , in diving parlance , "herded back to the cattle boats"  for our next adventure - the trip to Marta Island .

 

 

The sea was a bit bumpy thus keeping us from getting too close to the island . Most of the people climbed on the top of the bouncing boat and sat down before falling down . My knees were feeling their age .

 

 

 

The telephoto pulled a decent close up of the big guys , but we hoped for a better viewing in Ushuaia .