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

[twangster]

Of course fur seals and elephant seals abound as well.

 

 

All of these animals coexist peacefully.

 

 

More pups!  Our zodiac driver tells us they are now much larger since his last visit a few weeks ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seal condominium.

 

 

 

[twangster]

We head over to the main beach.

 

 

Where we find a motherlode of King penguins.

 

 

... and some Elephant seals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some Chinstrap penguins shuffled in.

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

This is the first time kayaking has been a go.

 

 

 

 

 

A Giant Petrel playing chicken with the kayakers.

 

[twangster]

The experience lasted nearly 90 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

Giant Petrels seemed quite intrigued by us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one was very curious and came right on over.

 

 

 

Final photos.

 

 

 

 

Time to head back to the mothership.

 

 

[twangster]

Back on board I grabbed the map to show the location of our first stop at South Georgia Island.

 

 

Looks like the icebergs are ganging up on us forming a blockade.

 

 

I've heard when in Rome one should do as the Romans.  In South Georgia I decided to do like the penguins and eat outside.  Lunch at The Grill.  

 

As I sat there Bing Crosby came over the speakers singing "White Christmas".  Then it started to snow.   Well played Bing.  Well played.

 

  

 

 

 

The last of the zodiacs were coming back.

 

 

 

 

 

Once everyone was back on board and with snow increasing they have announced there will be a change in the afternoon plans.  Details coming at 14:00.

 

[twangster]

Day 7 Update:

 

Due to the high winds and adverse weather this afternoon's planned visit to Royal Bay has been cancelled.  A series of Enrichment Lectures have been scheduled.  

[twangster]

54 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said:

 

Hmmmm, are you sure South Georgia is closed to ALL landings?  As of Dec. 20, many sites were still open. But it is a dynamic situation and things could have changed.  Cloud is in Gritviken today.  Might want to ask if they landed.  Friends landed in Fortuna about 2 weeks ago. But again, things might have changed.

 

Perhaps the lead of our expedition team is setting the expectation of plan for the worst, hope for the best.  I was simply passing along his remarks.  

 

Our zodiac driver eluded to a landing tomorrow.  I'm sure we are all hoping for the best.

[twangster]

Some 360° camera photos from Cooper Bay.

 

Cooper Bay 360 Photo #1

 

Cooper Bay 360 Photo #2

[twangster]

I thought I saw a cruise ship in the distance.  Nope.  Just another iceberg.  They are everywhere.

 

Not going to bother taking pictures.

[Port Power]

51 minutes ago, twangster said:

I thought I saw a cruise ship in the distance.  Nope.  Just another iceberg.  They are everywhere.

 

Not going to bother taking pictures.

Actually, Silver Cloud was very close to us, port side, around 13:00.  It then disappeared into the mist.

[Rspong]

Great photos and very appreciative of the narrative. What is your primary camera and how are you protecting it while on the Zodiac’s?

 

We are doing this same cruise but on the SS Endeavor in Jan. 2026. Would like to do it earlier but doing the SS WC starting Jan. 2025.

 

 

[twangster]

This has been our day cruising up the coast of South Georgia Island.  Destination unknown.

 

 

Bertrab Glacier maybe?

 

 

Some of the more interesting icebergs.
 

 

 

 

 

Northern part of the Ross Glacier I think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This went zooming past pretty close.

 

 

 

 

 

Our friend the Albatross bringing us good weather.

 

 

 

Antarctic Prion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weather has variable.  It's sunny then it's not.  Clear then misty.  Where did that Albatross go?

 

 

Edited December 25, 2023 by twangster

[TLCOhio]

2 hours ago, Rspong said:

Great photos and very appreciative of the narrative. What is your primary camera and how are you protecting it while on the Zodiac’s?

 

Yes!  YES!!!  Super appreciate ALL of these wonderful visuals and excursion details for your Antartica adventure.  Agree, would like to know more on the camera you are using, lens utilized for the "upclose" bird views, editing methods/software, etc., etc.  All excellent!!  Tell us more.  

 

Looking and hoping to do in early 2025 for either the Silver Cloud or Silver Wind for Antarctica.  Any staff comments/insights as to if there are any difference or advantages for doing the Cloud versus Wind?  Have done four previous sailings on the Silver Cloud before its conversion.  

 

Keep it coming!  Wonderful.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 249,792 views.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

 

[twangster]

Daily briefing for tomorrow.

 

Destination Fortuna Bay.

 

 

Wet landing ashore!  

 

 

In the afternoon we sail down the coast to Grytviken.

 

 

This will also be a wet landing but there are areas such as the whalers museum that is closed however the cemetery and some of the museum buildings beyond the whaler's area are open.  

 

Biosecurity inspection by the local authorities first..

 

Red area closed.  Blue area open.

 

 

After that...

 

[twangster]

We just arrived in Fortuna Bay where we will anchor for the night in the shelter of the bay.

 

 

 

[twangster]

Christmas dinner in The Restaurant included a special turkey dish as one of the mains.

 

I was invited to join two other guests to dine with the assistant excursion team leader.

 

 

 

 

Wonderful dinner experience with great conservation.

[twangster]

Day 8 - Fortuna Bay and Grytviken, South Georgia Islands

 

Our position has not changed from last night as we have been anchored in the bay as previously noted.

 

The mist has lifted yielding some glaciers that were previously obscured.

 

 

 

 

 

I have found reference to the Konig and Fortuna Glaciers.  I'm not sure which it is.

[twangster]

Day 8 Chronicle:

 

26 DEC - Fortuna and Grytviken South Georgia.pdf

[twangster]

The order of the groups has me last today resulting in a more leisurely morning.  Yesterday in the first grouping made for a rushed breakfast. 

 

Apparently there was some drama recovering the zodiac tours when that snow arrived yesterday. That storm also brought 40 knot winds and it was difficult to move guests from the zodiacs to the ship.  The ship had to reposition and another attempt was made.  Guests were stuck on the zodiacs briefly where they broke out the cold weather emergency kit and passed out hand warmers.  They also have a routine which includes exercise to keep the blood moving.  Eventually everyone was brought back on board safely.  I missed all this drama being in the first grouping yesterday.

 

It goes to show you should always prepare for the worst and fully dress out despite what the weather looks like outside the window. 

 

Time for some breakfast.

[twangster]

My departure was at 9:30am so I had some time to wander the ship and get ready.

 

I could see a penguin highway starting to get busy in the distance.

 

 

Looks like kayaking is a go.

 

 

The first group was called and off they went.

 

 

 

Weather was starting to move in.

 

 

Kayakers doing kayaky things.

 

 

 

[twangster]

Hours later the weather had changed and it was snowing pretty good.  Finally our group number was called.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We leave our life jackets with the excursion team and head up the path to meet a guide who will escort us to the penguin colony.

 

These little guys were watching us from a few feet away.

 

 

Like the penguins we join the Silversea highway and make off across the tundra.

 

 

Everywhere around us are penguins and fur seals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

A short time later we come to the King penguin colony.

 

 

 

Various stages of molting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Penguins as far as you can see.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

It was time to walk back to the landing site but a few more photos along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pups everywhere.

 

[twangster]

Back to the beach.

 

 

 

 

These guys can sometimes show some aggression but our guides deal with them.

 

 

Ready for some more cute pup pics?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is our smiling assistant excursion team leader to help us back on the zodiacs.

 

 

Despite the snow it was very beautiful.