Bit of a blog - HAL Oosterdam - South America & Antarctica - Dec/Jan 2023/24

[NorbertsNiece]

WiFi has been sporadic but appears to be working fine now 🤷‍♀️.

 

Found a workaround on the TV

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Just back from an awe inspiring talk given by Dr Fiona Shanhun on 'Antarctic Science and why it matters'. Had a dreadful seat and will get to the theatre earlier next time!

 

It's not all ice! From the earliest explorers to today. Experiments undertaken on, above and below ground and ice. The sheer volume of information being gleaned is staggering and the means by which it's obtained is innovative and so inspiring.

 

I suggest popping her name into Google. She's really special.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited December 22, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[Sea42]

9 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Had a dreadful seat and will get to the theatre earlier next time!

I did notice in the daily planner it was listed as being live streamed in another lounge. It's a nice alternative if people find themselves arriving late.

Very nice to know that HAL is offering quality speakers. 

[NorbertsNiece]

Some pics from yesterday I forgot to share. There's a diy taco station by the Lido pool. I decided to try a hot dog in a GF burger bun. It was delicious  ..... maybe the best I've had at sea!

 

After lunch caught a few zzzzz on deck 10 then watched the passengers who were late returning to the ship saunter along the pier!

 

Saw quite a few dolphins at sailaway!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited December 22, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Daily menus are downloadable as .pdf

lido_lunch_7.pdf lido_dinner_7.pdf divein_menu_2021_noshake.pdf dr_lunch_-_day_7.pdf day_7.pdf mdr_breakfast_menu_winter_2023_en_-_v2.pdf james_suckling_wine_list_2023.01.01_v2_print_1_.pdf

[NorbertsNiece]

Loving hot mocha and GF biccies in the café

 

 

[0106]

 

I am so happy to hear that you had a wonderful lecturer this morning.  I hope she is still onboard for our cruise.  It is nice that The Rolling Stones lounge was available for the overflow crowd.  I wonder if you could also view from your cabin TV?  Or if it was recorded so you could view it at a later time?

 

Glad you enjoyed the Dive In and they had a suitable GF bun for you.  Nathan’s hot dogs are famous in the US.  Nathan's Famous all beef franks have no added nitrates, no artificial ingredients, fillers or by-products, and no corn syrup, and they're gluten free.  Every July 4th in Brooklyn, NY there is a famous hot dog eating contest.  The competitors stand on a raised platform behind a long table with drinks and Nathan's Famous hot dogs in buns. The contestant who consumes (and keeps down) the most hot dogs and buns  in ten minutes is declared the winner. The defending men's champion is Joey Chestnut, who ate 62 hot dogs in the 2023 contest. 

[NorbertsNiece]

Tomorrow 🤞we go ashore by tender at Port Stanley.

 

The Falkland Islands derive their name from Falkland Sound, the name given to the waterway between East and West Falkland by Captain John Strong, who spent several days in the Islands on his ship 'Welfare' in 1690. Falkland Sound was itself named after Viscount Falkland, one of the owners of 'Welfare'. Captain Strong was the first person to have been recorded as landing in the Islands, although the first reported sighting was by English navigator Captain John Davis in 1592.

 

The Falkland Islands have never had any native inhabitants and no indigenous people have ever been displaced, instead the Islands were entirely unoccupied until 1765, when they were first claimed by the British who established a garrison at Port Egmont. Over the years, the British, French and Spanish periodically had garrisons within the Islands until 1811 when all were withdrawn.On 6 October 1832, an Argentine military garrison arrived in an attempt to establish sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, disregarding the British claim of 67 years prior. Less than three months later, on 2 January 1833, the Royal Navy evicted the military base with no loss of life. The civilian population, who had sought permission from Britain to live there, were invited to stay. A year later, a small, permanent British administration was established and in 1845 Stanley become the capital.

 

They enjoyed a peaceful existence until 1 April 1982, when an Argentine military force invaded. For 74 days they lived under foreign occupation, until liberation by British forces on 14 June 1982. Nearly 1,000 Falkland Islands, British and Argentine lives were lost as a result of the war.Since 1982, their lives have been transformed, they've become financially self-sufficient and almost entirely self-governing, determining their own future and way of life. The community has been formed through voluntary immigration and settlement over the course of nearly two hundred years. They are a diverse society, with people from over 60 nations having made the Islands their home. At their heart are those Falkland Islanders whose families have been in the Islands for nine generations.In 2009 a new Constitution was established which provides enhanced local democracy, internal self-government and enshrines the right of self-determination. Four years later in 2013, they held a referendum which was overseen by international observers, where 99.8% of the electorate voted to remain a British Overseas Territory.

 

https://falklands.gov.fk/our-history

 

We are taking a privately booked excursion to Volunteer Point to see the emperor penguins with Estancia Excursions with whom I toured previously. Cannot wait to go back!

[Ellencruise]

1 hour ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Tomorrow 🤞we go ashore by tender at Port Stanley.

 

The Falkland Islands derive their name from Falkland Sound, the name given to the waterway between East and West Falkland by Captain John Strong, who spent several days in the Islands on his ship 'Welfare' in 1690. Falkland Sound was itself named after Viscount Falkland, one of the owners of 'Welfare'. Captain Strong was the first person to have been recorded as landing in the Islands, although the first reported sighting was by English navigator Captain John Davis in 1592.

 

The Falkland Islands have never had any native inhabitants and no indigenous people have ever been displaced, instead the Islands were entirely unoccupied until 1765, when they were first claimed by the British who established a garrison at Port Egmont. Over the years, the British, French and Spanish periodically had garrisons within the Islands until 1811 when all were withdrawn.On 6 October 1832, an Argentine military garrison arrived in an attempt to establish sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, disregarding the British claim of 67 years prior. Less than three months later, on 2 January 1833, the Royal Navy evicted the military base with no loss of life. The civilian population, who had sought permission from Britain to live there, were invited to stay. A year later, a small, permanent British administration was established and in 1845 Stanley become the capital.

 

They enjoyed a peaceful existence until 1 April 1982, when an Argentine military force invaded. For 74 days they lived under foreign occupation, until liberation by British forces on 14 June 1982. Nearly 1,000 Falkland Islands, British and Argentine lives were lost as a result of the war.Since 1982, their lives have been transformed, they've become financially self-sufficient and almost entirely self-governing, determining their own future and way of life. The community has been formed through voluntary immigration and settlement over the course of nearly two hundred years. They are a diverse society, with people from over 60 nations having made the Islands their home. At their heart are those Falkland Islanders whose families have been in the Islands for nine generations.In 2009 a new Constitution was established which provides enhanced local democracy, internal self-government and enshrines the right of self-determination. Four years later in 2013, they held a referendum which was overseen by international observers, where 99.8% of the electorate voted to remain a British Overseas Territory.

 

https://falklands.gov.fk/our-history

 

We are taking a privately booked excursion to Volunteer Point to see the emperor penguins with Estancia Excursions with whom I toured previously. Cannot wait to go back!

I did that tour in March, have a wonderful time

[NorbertsNiece]

Am awake at silly o'clock.

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 8 The Falkland Islands 

 

Good morning and thanks for following 

 

Woke again at a more sensible hour. Beautiful day out. Chilly. Windy.

 

MS Hamburg 420 passengers operated by Plantours Kreuzfahrten has arrived before us.

 

We have tender ticket 6. 1 - 5 have been called already. No food , fresh fruit to be taken ashore 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[TravelBluebird]

14 hours ago, NorbertsNiece said:

We are taking a privately booked excursion to Volunteer Point to see the emperor penguins with Estancia Excursions with whom I toured previously. Cannot wait to go back!

 

So glad you were able to go to the Falkland Islands!

 

We are doing this same tour!  I cannot wait to hear all about it!  Also, was group 6 an early tender? Our tour guide was very adamant about us getting an early tender (even though we don’t have a ship excursion) and I’m already worried about that.

[pschweig]

On 12/22/2023 at 11:23 AM, NorbertsNiece said:

Loving hot mocha and GF biccies in the café

 

 

 

[pschweig]

Sorry - clicked wrong button. I was trying to ask a question about a specific post.

 

i am also gf. What are biccies and did you find then in the Dutch Cafe? Are there other gf options in the Dutch Cafe?

[wdw1972]

4 hours ago, pschweig said:

Sorry - clicked wrong button. I was trying to ask a question about a specific post.

 

i am also gf. What are biccies and did you find then in the Dutch Cafe? Are there other gf options in the Dutch Cafe?

There's no Grand Dutch Cafe on Oosterdam.

 

Sue/WDW1972

[0106]

4 hours ago, pschweig said:

What are biccies

It is an English term for biscuits.  Americans call them cookies.  Picture looks like she got them at Explorations Central, a coffee bar in the Crows Nest.

[pschweig]

Thank you. Always nice to know where to find gf food onboard. 

[0106]

@NorbertsNiece I hope you are well and had a wonderful time in the Falkland Islands and saw many penguins.  I look forward to your pictures.

[AKJonesy]

On 12/22/2023 at 6:31 AM, Sea42 said:

I did notice in the daily planner it was listed as being live streamed in another lounge. It's a nice alternative if people find themselves arriving late.

Very nice to know that HAL is offering quality speakers. 

We were on Oosterdam right before this sailing.  The World Stage was packed for nearly all of the port talks.  I asked about having those re-broadcast on tv and they said they don't do anymore.  Not sure why, but this would solve the problem.  I was sitting on the steps or standing against the wall a few times.  

[NorbertsNiece]

On 12/23/2023 at 11:57 AM, TravelBluebird said:

 

So glad you were able to go to the Falkland Islands!

 

We are doing this same tour!  I cannot wait to hear all about it!  Also, was group 6 an early tender? Our tour guide was very adamant about us getting an early tender (even though we don’t have a ship excursion) and I’m already worried about that.

Geoff had gone around 7am to the Rolling Stone. He wasn't the first. When they eventually opened ticket distribution there was a massive surge forward so any queue was obliterated! We were ashore by 9am

 

20 hours ago, pschweig said:

Sorry - clicked wrong button. I was trying to ask a question about a specific post.

 

i am also gf. What are biccies and did you find then in the Dutch Cafe? Are there other gf options in the Dutch Cafe?

No other GF options in the Café. I had quite a chat with Executive Chef Thomas yesterday about GF bread. Will be following up!

 

1 hour ago, 0106 said:

@NorbertsNiece I hope you are well and had a wonderful time in the Falkland Islands and saw many penguins.  I look forward to your pictures.

I've been to a couple of talks this morning and was exhausted last night. Picture heavy posts to follow!!

[NorbertsNiece]

Continuing yesterday's posts. Thanks for your patience.

 

Accessing the tender was chaotic. Too many independent travellers for the space allocated. Little organisation. 

 

The ride from Stanley to Volunteer Point took over 2 hours. We were joined by a younger couple. Our driver, Simon, was a 5th generation Falkland Islander. He was 4 when the invasion occured and remembered his family being moved to a place of safety.

 

We drove on tarmac, gravel and then for the most part off road. The landscape is bleak, very rough terrain. Many ponds amongst the peat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 24, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[0106]

Oh no, chaotic tendering.  Hope they come up with a better plan by th end of January.  
 

I love that you have separated the pictures with a space.  So much easier to view.

[NorbertsNiece]

4 minutes ago, 0106 said:

Oh no, chaotic tendering.  Hope they come up with a better plan by th end of January.  
 

I love that you have separated the pictures with a space.  So much easier to view.

Means having to edit every post to separate the images. And within 15 minutes....

 

[NorbertsNiece]

We stopped at a farm en route. The vehicles travel in convoy off road for safety purposes so we waited briefly for others to join us

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 24, 2023 by NorbertsNiece

[0106]

7 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Means having to edit every post to separate the images.

I use an iPhone when cruising.  First I select “add files” and select all the photos I want to post.  Then I “insert” the 1st picture and hit return twice before I insert my next picture.  That adds the space without going back to edit.  Maybe that will work for you too.

 

I thank you for this blog and your wonderful photos.  I know it takes a lot of time.