Stanley shore excursions cancelled due to wind??

[mezza]

I have just read in CC that shore excursions on Stanley in the Falklands are often cancelled because it is too windy to go ashore. This means that one has to consider booking excursions to see penguins elsewhere, just in case. Can anyone who may have experienced a cancellation at Stanley comment on this please

[Mary Ellen]

Yes, it is not unheard of for the stop in Stanly to be missed due to poor tendering conditions. It has also occurred where a ship has had to leave the harbor (with passengers still ashore) until conditions improve. One time the passengers had to stay overnight and the wonderful residents of the Falklands took them into their homes for the night, due to insufficient hotel/motel space to accommodate them all.

 

We missed the Falklands last year and received shipboard credit for our missed tours. When booking, I'd guessed that the odds were 50-50 that we see Stanley.

 

The sensible advise often given here is, if Stanly is your last port for 'penguin viewing', don't make it your only penguin shore ex. That is, go see the penguins in another port(s), just in case you don't make Stanley.

[mezza]

Hmmm, Thanks Mary Ellen - thats a bit of a concern to say the least. I can appreciate the need for flexibility when the wind comes up unexpectedly, but to see your ship disapearing into the blue while doing an independant walking or private tour is more than concerning!!! :eek:

rethink may be in order!

[Mary Ellen]

If the ship has to leave suddenly (in any port), there will be a loooong blast from the horn. That is your signal to get back NOW! It is very unusual for the ship to have to do so. MUCH more likely is that the port stop in Stanley will be missed. This is the reason we'd signed up for a ship's tour there. Port canceled, tour monies refunded to shipboard account. :D If you are just walking around the town, there shouldn't be problem getting back to the tenders if you hear the blast from the ship's horn.

[huskypup]

My HB has done 4 tours (Royal Air Force) in the Falklands and he says it can get very windy and it won't be unheard of for cruise ships to avoid Stanley completely - there is no where else on the island for them to dock.

 

The best places are the little islands to see the penguins - but these would probably have to be reached through a ships excursion or one through the Falkland Island Company (FIC) tour. He doesn't recommend trying to find them yourself - there are places in the Falklands that are still no go area's.