LIVE! HAL Oosterdam 1/7-1/29 South America & Antarctica—Let’s Cruise!

[TravelBluebird]

Here are somme photos of the fog…and there are little piece of ice in the water for the first time!

 

 

 

 

Edited January 12 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

So pretty!   We are getting our morning announcement!  30 minutes from the glacier and bow is open.

 

Edited January 12 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

WOW!

 

Our first glacier was magnificent. Ed said that we’ll take 2,000 photos of this glacier then erase them all when we get to Antarctica 😂

 

Here are a few of my 2,000 shots (well, maybe 1,000 😂).

 

The bow was 4 people deep so I gave up and went to the Promenade on 3 and then my cabin as the boat spun around.

 

Glacier Alley will be on the Port side so I’ll be out on 3 for that in 2 days.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 12 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Internet is much better this morning.

 

We went up to Lido to Buffet for some more coffee and small bite.  Packed.  Went to MDR for same. Huge line.  I ended up getting a quick bite from bread station (no line) and coffee and we are out in enclosed pool area—cooler than rest of ship, but fine with a thermal!

 

Lovely views and got a nice photo of another ship going by.

 

Windows are quite streaked and dirty, but given the weather in this part of the world, not a big deal.  If I can position my iPhone sensor on the clean part of the window, a photo is still possible.

 

 

 

Edited January 12 by TravelBluebird

[caneable]

Fabulous photos of the glacier and its reflections.

[TravelBluebird]

55 minutes ago, caneable said:

Fabulous photos of the glacier and its reflections.

The water was so calm—the reflections were beautiful.

[TravelBluebird]

Another great port talk, on Ushaia day after tomorrow.

I’ve been in my cabin enjoying the scenery in the channel.  

 

Off to an MDR lunch shortly.

 

 

[FLCruiser97]

Beautiful photos.

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On 1/5/2024 at 5:14 PM, TravelBluebird said:

 

Brain cells unfortunately were needed to check into our room at the Sheraton Santiago.  Even though we had called the front desk to let them know to hold our room for an t Jan 5 arrival (booked room Jan4 to 7) they couldn’t find our reservation!  I looked on my Bonvoy app to find that our room had been cancelled as a no show!  
 

They reinstated the reservation, and we got a lovely free room upgrade to a beautiful Superior room with GREAT views!  VERY comfortable bed, and we went right to sleep!

 

Thank you for a great review, did you stay at Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center? Or Four Points by Sheraton, Santiago?  We’re thinking of changing hotels, but unsure which Sheraton to book. 

[TravelBluebird]

1 minute ago, container said:

Thank you for a great review, did you stay at Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center? Or Four Points by Sheraton, Santiago?  We’re thinking of changing hotels, but unsure which Sheraton to book. 

 

We stayed at the Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center.

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5 minutes ago, TravelBluebird said:

 

We stayed at the Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center.

 

5 minutes ago, TravelBluebird said:

 

We stayed at the Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center.

Thank you 🙏 

[Ken the cruiser]

21 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

Some people saw dolphins; I did not.

 

Two birds today. Can anyone identify them? the bird with the white beak was very large:

 

 

Nice pictures!! The first one might be a white-chinned petrel and the second one close to the water might be a Brown Skua, both of which have been known to visit the Ushuaia area. My source is this link.

 

51 Common Birds That Live Around Ushuaia

 

[TravelBluebird]

54 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Nice pictures!! The first one might be a white-chinned petrel and the second one close to the water might be a Brown Skua, both of which have been known to visit the Ushuaia area. My source is this link.

 

51 Common Birds That Live Around Ushuaia

 

@Ken the cruiser Thank you for the ID info AND the very helpful link! 

[TravelBluebird]

Ship wreck in the rain at 4:45ish Then Salsa class-excellent—in Rolling Stone Lounge.  After that  $5 aperitif Fashionista Martini for $5 for Happy Hour.

 

At dinner!  Had a reservation tonight-you need to do them at LEAST a day in advance unless you want to eat very late or stand in the line.

 

Edited January 12 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Dinner tonight was again lovely, This chef is hitting it out of the park with both menus and flavor. Do all the Holland America ships have such good cuisine?

 

I’ll post photos tomorrow. I’m trying to upload my next video and it is so SLOW. I wanted to upload it the first two nights but could not due to NO internet, so I guess I’ll take slow.  

 

Tomorrow we go to Isla Magdalena to see the penguins! I’m VERY excited. It is extremely early; we meet our group at 7:15am (but, as mentioned above, I’m glad we are not the first group at 6:15 am!!)

[SUESEABE]

@TravelBluebird

 

Holland America is #1 Food in Mainstream cruise lines according to this article by US News & World Report (the article is recent). Hubby and I have been on a total of eight different cruise lines and we concur that Holland America is best food.

 

https://travel.usnews.com/features/cruise-lines-with-the-best-food

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

If you can't get to the bow rail because of the crowd head up to 9, walk down the side of the gym and go outside there, though not when it's windy!!! Fab view.

[caneable]

Thanks for that tip NorbertsNiece.

[TravelBluebird]

6 hours ago, NorbertsNiece said:

If you can't get to the bow rail because of the crowd head up to 9, walk down the side of the gym and go outside there, though not when it's windy!!! Fab view.

 

A great tip indeed! 💕

[TravelBluebird]

9 hours ago, SUESEABE said:

@TravelBluebird

 

Holland America is #1 Food in Mainstream cruise lines according to this article by US News & World Report (the article is recent). Hubby and I have been on a total of eight different cruise lines and we concur that Holland America is best food.

 

https://travel.usnews.com/features/cruise-lines-with-the-best-food

 

That is great news! My waist line is in definite danger this cruise!

Edited January 13 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

We woke up to a fabulous rainbow over Punta Arenas!

 

 

 

Edited January 13 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

We are in the ship for the penguin excursion.  VERY windy should be a rocky ride out!  Glad we brought our warmest coats!

 

 

 

 

Edited January 13 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Saw a whale!  Well the splash of a whale. On my camera so will s

 

I have 3 bars of cellular  out here in the Straight of Magellan.

 

go figure!

[NorbertsNiece]

Magdalena Island is the little speck of red in the Magellan Strait 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 13 by NorbertsNiece

[caneable]

NorbertsNiece, I’m assuming that that map shows the position of the tender dock at Punta Arenas. Last time we went there we were docked near the ship museum on the edge of town. That dock looks much nearer to the town centre I think, am I right?