Skigoofy

Our escort was a final opportunity to say goodbye to the penguins of Antarctica.


 

 

 

Pondering those masted schooners and the early Antarctic explorers while enjoying modern luxuries under heaters while drinking a Chilean beer at The Grill.

The snow was letting up but I could see it covering the satellite antenna dome for the TV system contrasted to the tiny yet powerful modern Starlink antenna beside it.

Despite the snow and light rain the Starlink internet system continued to perform well.

Alas it was time for the Christmas tree to come down.


The ship may need this line at Puerto Williams 🤣.

As we sailed out of Wilhelmina Bay and entered the main channel a two masted schooner appeared through the haze.
As the Amazone moved closer it occured to me how relatively small this vessel seemed when pictured among the icebergs.  

At 39m the Amazone is 5m shorter than the three masted Endeavour yet it was easy to imagine the likes of Shackleton, Scott, Byrd and dozens of other early Antarctic explorers plying these same waters in similar sized vessels oh so long ago.

We came back from supper to find Santa had visited.🎅🎅  No idea if this is a ship wide gift but we usually get something on each holiday cruise.  It includes 2 beach towels, 2 hats, beach bag and zippered pouch  

Sailaway/Graduation Celebration 
The sun came out and it turned into one of our best sailaways.  We celebrated Reyd and Michael’s upcoming graduation.  ❤️  The in room appies were perfect and the best part, I didnt have to do any planning. Great way to start our cruise.  

Suite Decorations 🎉🎓
Berty decorated the suite with a variety of pictures of us. It took us a moment to ask him “how did you find these”. Well, he was resourceful and pulled them from Facebook. 🥰
 

ATS #9730 
We were in #8730 last year so the set up of the room is essentially the same. A slightly smaller eating area, different closet configuration in the master bedroom and access to the deck via 1 door instead of 2. The large deck is definitely a highlight of the room. 

The Via and 270

This area now opens to the MDR on Deck 4. Giovanni’s Kitchen to the right where Jamie’s is on previous QN class ships. 

Giovanni’s Wine Bar replaces Vintages on older QN class ships. 

270

After CK, we headed to the theatre to watch the Effectors. Hubby and I watched part 2 first on WN, and we both agreed that part 2 was slightly better. More “effects” in that one gave it the edge. Part 1 tonight on OY was good though. Both part 1 and 2 follow the same format. Video clips are on Instagram. 

When we came back to the room, we found several gifts on the table. Upon opening, it was the ship model and the Starbucks OY coffee mug. 😊
 

As we entered Wilhelmina Bay the snow started. 

The beautiful weather has left us and "normal" Antarctic weather has found us.

The bay is known for whales as it is very deep and our hope today was to see whale action.
At 6:50am as I was waiting for The Restaurant to open for breakfast I was on my balcony when I heard the unmistaken sound of a whale blow and it was close.  



The whale went through a couple of breathing cycles before doing a deep dive.





 

At the daily recap and briefing the topic was the wind and weather.

We were supposed to head back towards the South Shetland Islands but the swell forecast would all but eliminate the idea of loading zodiacs so the decision was made to stay here in the protection of the Antarctic Sound.  Instead of Half Moon Bay it will be Wilhelmina Bay.  

Wilhelmina Bay is just North of Orne Harbour and it encompasses a large area so we will find out more as we approach in the morning.

Gert had just come back from coordinating our stop on Cuverville Island and upon his return to the ship minutes before this briefing he had been summoned to the bridge. 
The Captain didn't want to begin our Drake Passage transit on the original schedule.  Instead we will pause waiting for the weather to improve.  He has tasked Gert with finding us an area to explore for the afternoon while we wait.  Since Gert had just learned of his new task he had yet to plan where we may go. 
This is the nature of expedition cruising and I didn't hear anyone complain we will remain longer in the Antarctica Peninsula for an extra stop.
Stay tuned.

Just as it was time to leave a penguin blocked our path.

At this intersection of the penguin and redcoat highways penguins have the right of way and we always yield to them so we had wait while it checked us out.

Penguins are always on the go so it didn't take long and we were able to load a zodiac for our cruise back to the ship weaving through the wind blown ice.


A short walk on land but it was very interesting to have some time to watch the penguin drama playing out on and around the nests.

We were on the ship just long enough to contemplate life and consider this next challenge.
The Polar Plunge.
They gathered victims, I mean participants by deck number.

Too late to back out now.




I survived!

Back in my suite I was able to watch some other participants enjoying the plunge.

Our morning starts with opening the curtains to see... whales.



I'm going to miss this breakfast view.

Daily briefing
Chiriguana Bay and Cuverville tomorrow.

and in between...  

After a few minutes it was time to descend the slip and slide but if penguins can do it...




Back to the ship!

I see redcoats!

 

 

 

 

Live from Antarctica aboard the Silver Wind.

The vessel slowed and it became apparent we have arrived.

Orne Harbour.






This should be the Southernmost point of travel on this voyage.

A few minutes before midnight we made our way outside to the pool deck.


The Captain led our countdown.

After bopping around the edge of the ice for a bit it was time to end our zodiac tour.


A very enjoyable tour.

Time for a zodiac tour!


Base Esperanza.


More Adélie penguins!  These guys are so cute!




A Weddell seal.



 

The wind was pushing the ice into the same area of the sound where we were and over the radio I could hear they abandoned the concept of a shore landing.  The ice was too thick at the shoreline and it was all the ship could do to keep the side gates operational for loading and unloading zodiacs.



The Adélie didn't mind the ice.

Like all good penguins the Adélie were on the move!




In the hills you could see thousands.

This morning was an introduction to the Adélie penguin. 

Penguins were using the ice sheets for a rest and safe haven from any leopard seals that may be about.

Nothing like a massive ship approaching to wake you from your slumber.

To the water!



Looking aft from where we came I could see how the bridge team had picked their way through the pieces of ice in the sound.

Our destination for today lies ahead.

To get there we negotiated our way around more icebergs.