Live from the Wind(s) of Antarctica. Dec. 19, 2023.

[Neilio]

Wishing you safe travels home. Thanks again for the incredible photos and documenting your trip. Really appreciate what you provided to this forum.

 

ATB

[wintersno]

Thank you very much for your report,photos and all the small details. I loved it to follow your voyage.

[twangster]

The Silver Wind has a complimentary laundrette on deck four forward.

 

It's a compact space with 3 sets of washers and dryers.  

 

 

There are complimentary laundry pods available containing powdered laundry soap compatible with the ship's bioengineering systems.

 

The trick is finding time when 200+ other guests are also vying for laundry resources.

[twangster]

Photo statistics:

 

14,235 pictures and/or video clips captured

 

781.21 GB on disk

 

1,960 images processed for posting.

 

Photos have been reduced to 1,200 maximum pixel width to make them easier to upload over ship internet.

[lincslady]

Many thanks for all the wonderful photos, twangster, of your unforgettable trip.  The 360 ones  make you feel you are on board, and are really special.   Have a safe and uneventful journey home.

[twangster]

Our position using the windy.com swell forecast.

 

[jjs217]

This has been a great thread.  We are suppose to leave here for Antarctica in 2 1/2 weeks, but with all these great pictures, I guess now I can just stay home.

[taxatty]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

I'm kind of disappointed.  I guess I'll have to come back to experience the real Drake Passage.

 

Trust me, you don't want to!

 

Of the many excellent threads on this board for Antarctica trips, IMHO, this has been the best and most informative one--thank you so much. Hopefully, South Georgia will be accessible when we go there on the Wind early next year.

Edited January 4 by taxatty

[goldiemom]

Thank you for letting us join you on your voyage!  Safe travels home.

[kxnhra]

Thanks for all the photos and commentary.  We are headed to Santiago now to meet the Wind.  Hope our trip is as great as yours.  Safe travels.

[Tothesunset]

7 hours ago, twangster said:

Snow Patrol was performing on deck 9. (a lame reference to a Scottish rock band)

 

Scottish and Northern Irish! 

[twangster]

1 hour ago, kxnhra said:

Thanks for all the photos and commentary.  We are headed to Santiago now to meet the Wind.  Hope our trip is as great as yours.  Safe travels.

I imagine every trip is different and unique.  Expedition cruising is all about what you make it.  
 

I am confident your experience will be equally great.  

[twangster]

Information posted for our consumption:

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

In the early evening the Captain hosted us in the main theater for some final words.

 

 

As well as a parade of the crew.

 

[twangster]

Just before bed our position:

 

[twangster]

Day Eighteen - Drake Passage and Puerto Williams

 

Position report:

 

 

 

Balcony observations:

 

 

 

 

The seas have settled considerably and most of the ship's motion is gone.

[twangster]

Day 18 Chronicle:

 

5 JAN - At Sea and Puerto Williams Chile.pdf

[Noggins]

Thank you - what an amazing account of a special journey. Many of us will have read many cruise blogs (even provided one or two..) but your consistency and focus on the task really was the best and much appreciated. And as others have said, the photography was just amazing.

One thing that puzzles me a little is how bird and animal life can be so celebrated alongside the consumption (by some, presumably) of foie gras. Do people still not know how it is produced?

[drron29]

As someone who has a knack of getting along with birds and having a connection to some wild birds and also being a consumer of foie gras I don’t see any problem and I have seen foie gras produced as well as seeing animals slaughtered in abbatoirs. 
I have also seen skuas kill young penguins. I have seen blue footed boobies kill young boobies that are not their own. Watched lions kill a zebra and many more such scenes.

Nature is brutal but beautiful at the same time.

 

[CJL2]

On 1/4/2024 at 9:59 AM, twangster said:

Snow Patrol was performing on deck 9. (a lame reference to a Scottish rock band)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An excellent band! 

[CJL2]

Tha ks for an amazing travelogue! Can't wait to board tomorrow!

[twangster]

Noon update:

 

We've come full circle or nearly so.

 

 

 

My boarding pass for the charter flight back to Santiago was dropped off this morning.  Window seat on the left side.

 

My luggage is packed and I made it under the 23 kg weight limit.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 5 by twangster

[twangster]

Somewhere off in the distance in this vicinity was Cape Horn.

 

 

Land ahead of us.

 

 

Looking back to the Drake Passage.

 

 

 

Chilean Dolphins.

 

 

 

 

We've reached the pilot station for Puerto Williams.  New ETA to Puerto Williams is now 3:30pm.

 

 

 

 

These fur seals seemed to be just goofing around with each other.

 

 

 

 

 

[Pumblechook]

On 1/4/2024 at 1:03 PM, twangster said:

Next cruise to have 245 guests.  This sailing had 229.  Maximum capacity was stated to be 277.  

I think max capacity would compromise the zodiac excursions' experience.  I had heard that they limit these cruises to 200pax, but obviously not.  Fewer pax make for more cabins available to crew 🙂

[twangster]

52 minutes ago, Pumblechook said:

I think max capacity would compromise the zodiac excursions' experience.  I had heard that they limit these cruises to 200pax, but obviously not.  Fewer pax make for more cabins available to crew 🙂

 

I had a brief discussion with the expedition team leader about capacity.  He indicated this cruise was well within the team's capacity to manage and even the 245 next cruise was not a concern for him.