icebergs – Fondest Travel Memories

SA: Antarctica Experience Day 3

Monday, January 23, 2023

We ate in the Lido again to be ready for the Casino drawing. I had a noodle bowl with lamb. Chuck had some breaded haddock. We both went to the salad bar for salads. I like that HAL creates your salad for you instead of everyone handling the serving tongs and spoons. They have a lot of ingredients for your salad choices. My favorites – artichokes, dried cranberries, and blue cheese crumbles.

Tonight, the Casino did call Chuck’s name and he won $50.00 for playing the game. Glad we were there.

Tonight’s entertainment on the main stage was the BBC film: Blue Planet II. We have seen it a number of times so we skipped it tonight. We chose to go to the Rolling Stone Lounge. Shelby Sikes, the lead female singer, does a wonderful rendition of Tennessee Whiskey.

At 11:00 pm we called it a night. It was still very light outside.

This morning was overcast but it was not snowing. By the time we finished breakfast, we were in Wilhelmina Bay (named after Queen Wilhelmina) but many people call it Whale – mina Bay. We were not disappointed.

One whale got particularly close to the ship.

They were vocal today also.

We also had some icebergs pass by that were taller than the ship.

My Fitbit indicated I had walked over 4 miles just walking around on the Promenade deck today. I needed the exercise in order to be ready for our Pinnacle Grill meal tonight. Time to get ready.

SA: Antarctic Experience Day 2 (part 3)

Sunday, January 22, 2023

After a lunch of tomato bisque and a three-cheese grilled sandwich, I was ready to get back outside. Saw two unexpected sights right before we got to Cuverville Island and the Errera Channel – a pod of orcas and a motorized sailboat. The orcas were fast so only got a photo of the last one. I would not have wanted to sail these waters in such a small boat.

We were not the only ship in the area. There were several expedition ships and they had tenders and zodiacs taking people back and forth to the land.

Finally saw some birds flying –

And more icebergs –

As much as I would have liked to keep staying outside, it was time to get ready for the evening activities.

SA: Antarctic Experience Day 2 (part 2)

Sunday, January 22, 2023

We left Paradise Bay and made our way to Neko Harbor. It was still snowing heavily. The ship was having to cut through a lot of what the Captain called “pancake ice.” Wikipedia defines pancake ice as a form of sea ice that consists of round pieces of ice that will fuse together. The diameters can range from 12 inches (30 centimeters) to 9 feet (3 meters) with thicknesses up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) depending on the local conditions. It forms as a result of wave action on slush or ice rind.

Right before lunch, a big iceberg came floating by with a bunch of Gentoo penguins and some sort of sea bird riding on it. However, as it got closer to the ship, many of the penguins jumped off. A few brave souls and the bird never jumped and just sailed on by.

Swimming away –

More icebergs –

We’d already seen so much and it was just early afternoon. Our next stop would be to circle Cuverville Island. Time for a late lunch.

VOV: Prins Christian Sund

Friday, August 5, 2022

Got all dressed up. Went to Ocean Bar to listen to the piano player. Soon, it was time for dinner in the main dining room. Like the other Gala night, it was not a Gala menu. I ended up eating beer battered haddock with fries. Just didn’t seem right. And one of the pieces tasted weird so I didn’t eat it. I hoped I wouldn’t be sick. Disappointing.

The show tonight was Jukebox Rogues present “Frankie Valley Guys.” Chuck was not a fan and although I liked it well enough, not well enough to see it again.

Instead, we stayed for all three sets of the Ocean Bar band and had a good time.

When we got back to the room, we had a towel animal. I know they are silly, but I like them.

We did receive our Arctic Circle crossing certificate.

We also get to set the clocks back another hour.

Went to the Coffee Bar at 6:45. Guests were lined up and they had 4 people working behind the counter filling the orders as fast as they could. I wish people would save their complicated coffees for a time when the Bar is not so crowded.

Wasn’t sure how our scenic cruise back through Prins Christian Sund (Prince Christian Sound) was going to go as the fog was so thick, I couldn’t see the ocean. The ship’s foghorn was blasting every few minutes.

We decided to have breakfast in the dining room. Sat with a couple that we had shared a table with earlier in the cruise. Pleasant conversation.

At 8:45, we entered the Sund and miraculously the fog lifted, and it was gorgeous scenery again. Today, we were going from west to east Greenland so we would see views from the balcony that we did not see during the first transit. The Cruise Director gave the commentary during this passage. The Captain also opened the bow but I thought it was too windy, so we stayed on the balcony. It stopped the wind somewhat.

The scenery did not disappoint. We passed only one ship this time – a Viking cruise ship.