BTimmer's Almost Live Antarctica Redux - Oosterdam 1/7/24 to 1/29/24

[Hogladyrider]

12 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

Thanks to @hogladyrider and @Cruise Suzy for correcting the link.  It's tough to edit with the internet onboard having significant delays.

 

 

No worries, it is tough to edit on CC even on land!  I am an avid follower of your blog and I totally understand how those "finger" glide across and/or auto correct is no help either!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

15 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Now that we at sea, the internet speeds have picked up dramatically.  30 seconds for this post from opening to sending.

We are on the Zuiderdam arriving in Devils Island tomorrow - Our internet has been BLAZING all cruise - I can upload 1 GB videos!

 

[Btimmer]

2 minutes ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

We are on the Zuiderdam arriving in Devils Island tomorrow - Our internet has been BLAZING all cruise - I can upload 1 GB videos!

 

That's what we experienced on the Zaandam.  We still have virtually no internet in our cabin but it's fine in public areas. Here's my current speed test results:

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Just now, Btimmer said:

That's what we experienced on the Zaandam.  We still have virtually no internet in our cabin but it's fine in public areas. Here's my current speed test results:

Yikes - How can you say dial-up?  OK, not so bad, but that's not good anymore.  

[The-Inside-Cabin]

From the Zuiderdam - near Devils Island

[0106]

I hope all is well.  I always enjoy following your blog but I notice it hasn’t been updated since the 6th.  Still having Internet issues?  Can’t wait to hear about your day in Puerto Montt

[Btimmer]

15 minutes ago, 0106 said:

I hope all is well.  I always enjoy following your blog but I notice it hasn’t been updated since the 6th.  Still having Internet issues?  Can’t wait to hear about your day in Puerto Montt

All is well.  Because we departed 13 hours late, we skipped Puerto Montt and had two sea days. But we had a terrific day today in Puerto  Chacabuco

Old Man's Beard Falls

.  Great photos coming.

[ECCruise]

On 1/8/2024 at 11:43 PM, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Yikes - How can you say dial-up?  OK, not so bad, but that's not good anymore.  

5 MPS is fine for streaming and video at least in SD and probably in HD, actually.  We've done hundreds of hours of Netflix, Hulu, Prime, etc. on ships (obviously on StarLink) at speeds between 4 and 5 mps.  It is probably not enough for 4K, but that never was a big deal with us. 

[Btimmer]

50 minutes ago, ECCruise said:

5 MPS is fine for streaming and video at least in SD and probably in HD, actually.  We've done hundreds of hours of Netflix, Hulu, Prime, etc. on ships (obviously on StarLink) at speeds between 4 and 5 mps.  It is probably not enough for 4K, but that never was a big deal with us. 

My issue was we couldn't get any speed or speeds way less than 5 download in our stateroom even though the WiFi indicator said I was connected and the router is just outside our door.  They swapped out the router and the issue seems to have been resolved.  We had great internet connections on our last 73 day cruise on the Zaandam after the first few days.

[ECCruise]

49 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

My issue was we couldn't get any speed or speeds way less than 5 download in our stateroom even though the WiFi indicator said I was connected and the router is just outside our door.  They swapped out the router and the issue seems to have been resolved.  We had great internet connections on our last 73 day cruise on the Zaandam after the first few days.

Good that it seems to be restored.

[Btimmer]

The internet in the room was short lived and it's been reported again. I am now out in the central elevator lobby where I can get a reliable connection. Even there the upload speed is quite slow.  In any event I have updated my blog through Puerto Chacabuco with lots of narrative and pictures.

 

We're currently sailing the Chilean fjords on our way to Puerto Arenas. Here's an elevator view.

 

 

 

 

[Hogladyrider]

@Btimmer...while I am not on your cruise, I am also following @TravelBluebird who is on your cruise and she does not seem to have experienced any internet difficulties.

 

Hang in there and hope GS can get it resolved for you satisfactorily or provide you with a refund.

 

Heading over to catch up on your Blog.

 

So far the photos I have seen it looks SPECTACULAR!

[Btimmer]

39 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

@Btimmer...while I am not on your cruise, I am also following @TravelBluebird who is on your cruise and she does not seem to have experienced any internet difficulties.

 

Hang in there and hope GS can get it resolved for you satisfactorily or provide you with a refund.

 

Heading over to catch up on your Blog.

 

So far the photos I have seen it looks SPECTACULAR!

I finally had someone from Guest Services show up at the room to verify the issue.  He agreed there is a problem.

[Btimmer]

A real treat yesterday in Chacabuco was the sheer quantity of roses in bloom along with other flowers.  They seem to really thrive in this climate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

1 hour ago, Hogladyrider said:

@Btimmer...while I am not on your cruise, I am also following @TravelBluebird who is on your cruise and she does not seem to have experienced any internet difficulties.

 

Hang in there and hope GS can get it resolved for you satisfactorily or provide you with a refund.

 

Heading over to catch up on your Blog.

 

So far the photos I have seen it looks SPECTACULAR!

 

Actually, I have had trouble with the Internet the last two nights late, when I like to upload videos and catch up on Cruise Critic, I lost my connection and couldn’t get it back for anything. Was OK again in the morning both times..if it happens again, I will also report it.

 

and @Btimmer your flower photos are wonderful! 💕

[Btimmer]

Continuing the Almost live coverage, we're entering the channel for the el Brujo glacier.  It's 7:20 in the morning and a very overcast day.  The actual glacier is at the end of this little fjord.  The bow is already open, but I'll choose to keep warm for a bit longer.

 

 

 

 

[Btimmer]

Continuing the Almost live coverage, we're entering the channel for the el Brujo glacier.  It's 7:20 in the morning and a very overcast day.  The actual glacier is at the end of this little fjord.  The bow is already open, but I'll choose to keep warm for a bit longer.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 12 by Btimmer

[Btimmer]

Here's a few pictures from El Brujo glacier.  There's considerably more ice than when we were here in early November.  There's a hidden gem of a photography location: Deck 11 Retreat.  It's terrific for side and aft photos.

 

 

 

 

fjord entrance

 

ice closeup 

 

 

 

Incoming smaller vessel 

[Btimmer]

Waterfalls of the El Brujo area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[0106]

49 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

There's considerably more ice than when we were here in early November.  

Do you feel it is colder than November?  I have read your posts about how you pack.  Are you wishing you had brought warmer clothes?

 

Thank you for the wonderful pictures!

[Btimmer]

2 hours ago, 0106 said:

Do you feel it is colder than November?  I have read your posts about how you pack.  Are you wishing you had brought warmer clothes?

 

Thank you for the wonderful pictures!

You're welcome.  
 

Temperature wise I think it's a bit warmer and that's why there's more small chunks of ice in the water.  What I packed is perfect except I brought too many tshirts.

[Ken the cruiser]

Cool pictures! If it's OK, I'd like to follow along. Our first Antarctica cruise was back in 2018 on the Zaandam and we had a fantastic time! We're heading out again on a 30-day B2B out of San Antonio on Jan 20, but this time on the Sapphire Princess.

 

One thing we're doing different than last time that you reenforced earlier is that we are arriving a day early, as we definitely don't want to have to deal with the stress those unfortunate 219 "delayed" passengers had to go through with flying into the Santiago airport the day of the cruise. Hopefully the other 129 or so that may not have made it to the ship before it finally pushed off were able to make arrangements to meet the ship in Puerto Chacabuco?

 

In any event here's hoping you have a wonderful cruise and fantastic weather!! BTW watch out for the mosquitos once you get to BA. But you probably already know that.

 

MS OOSTERDAM Current Location

[Btimmer]

We just passed the wreck of the Leonardo.  Today it was raining so the picture quality isn't as good as last November 2.

 

 

 

 

[Btimmer]

For the first time in three passages through this set of fjords we encountered oncoming traffic.

 

[Btimmer]

We're back. . .  In Punta Arenas for the day.  We have some interesting sights to see that we missed on our previous visits.