Cruising to Antarctica and South America with many photos

[scubacruiserx2]

6 minutes ago, puppycanducruise said:

Fabulous pictures.

Thanks for posting.

 

Well thank you , here's another batch

[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]

 

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 snowbow 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

 

[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 .

 

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

Just got caught up with all your latest pictures and videos -- all wonderful.

 

Double rainbow!!

[Walt fan]

Looking forward to your next cruise stop.  Hope the tour goes well.  Would love to see some penguins!

[scubacruiserx2]

40 minutes ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

Just got caught up with all your latest pictures and videos -- all wonderful.

 

Double rainbow!!

 

It was very cool to see the small flakes flying as we were moving . But they don't show as well on camera .

[scubacruiserx2]

39 minutes ago, Walt fan said:

Looking forward to your next cruise stop.  Hope the tour goes well.  Would love to see some penguins!

 

Hold on to your life vest and cookies , penguins coming up .

Edited February 18, 2019 by scubacruiserx2

[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]

 

Coming ashore 

 

 

The island is covered with penguins and people

 

 

 

But mostly penguins

 

 

 

And their chicks

 

[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 .

 

 

 

 

[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 .

 

 

 

[cat shepard]

I have been restraining from commenting too much lest you think I am a stalker. But those penguins are adorable.  And I think I twist my neck like that in Pilates class.

[scubacruiserx2]

1 hour ago, cat shepard said:

I have been restraining from commenting too much lest you think I am a stalker. But those penguins are adorable.  And I think I twist my neck like that in Pilates class.

 

We don't think that you are a stalker and we do love seeing the penguins especially the chicks . Wow that must be some exercise class !

[old mike]

That yellow boat reminds me of our visit to the island in the fall of 2017, it was nicknamed the "yellow submarine"as it appeared to spend most of the trip to the island burying it's bow under the waves.  Happy memories, and we'll be doing it again this fall on the Zaandam re-positioning cruise. 

[ski ww]

Finally got caught up again, loved your great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Allan

[puppycanducruise]

Oh, I love those penguins.

But tell me, did it stink? 

Your pictures are great, wish I was there.  Thanks.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Great report and excellent pictures.

 

The penguins are adorable -- the baby ones I want to cuddle.  Great video.

[scubacruiserx2]

10 hours ago, old mike said:

That yellow boat reminds me of our visit to the island in the fall of 2017, it was nicknamed the "yellow submarine"as it appeared to spend most of the trip to the island burying it's bow under the waves.  Happy memories, and we'll be doing it again this fall on the Zaandam re-positioning cruise. 

 

Did they play the Beatles song ? We do love our Fall cruises also .

Edited February 19, 2019 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

2 hours ago, ski ww said:

Finally got caught up again, loved your great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Allan

 

Thanks Allen for reading along and writing in .

[scubacruiserx2]

1 hour ago, puppycanducruise said:

Oh, I love those penguins.

But tell me, did it stink? 

Your pictures are great, wish I was there.  Thanks.

 

They did stink a little , but not as bad as we thought . Or maybe we just went nose-blind . We like photos to jog the memory and to share with others .

[scubacruiserx2]

1 hour ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

Great report and excellent pictures.

 

The penguins are adorable -- the baby ones I want to cuddle.  Great video.

 

Thank you , we appreciate that . Some of the chicks looked like little stuffed animals . We didn't see any King chicks but the Gentoo had some cute ones .

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 

 

We asked the bus driver if he could drop us off at the ship instead of going downtown and he dropped us at the port's gate . I saw a rabbit at the center of this photo .

 

 

Almost there

 

 

We didn't have lunch on this trip and so we decided to take the plunge at the Dive In Grill . We like the fries and the sauce .

 

 

Of our 3 closeup encounters with penguins we ranked this one # 3 . With a Port side balcony were really looking forward to Glacier Alley and Ushuaia in the morning .

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 

We were up early for our trip through Glacier Alley on Christmas Day

 

 

Breakfast was here and we were ready to go 

 

 

 

Unfortunately , the weather was not cooperating .

 

 

A video clip :

 

 

 

 

This is what one our favorite glaciers , the Romanche , looked like .

 

 

And this is what it looked like in 2013 .

 

 

Video clip 2013 :