twangster Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Some of the holiday decorations around the ship: The deck crew were busy making a Christmas tree from one of the lines. A bit of a Clark Griswold moment with a tree too big for the space - they had to remove a ceiling tile to make it fit . She Sails Away, Lovetocruise2002, Ampurp85 and 6 others 4 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Around the ship a common theme for the artwork is photos from various early Antarctic expeditions. Admiral Byrd: Captain Scott. SpeedNoodles, WAAAYTOOO, Skigoofy and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Another beautiful sea day. Breakfast in La Terrazza. Panorama Lounge on deck 8 looking aft. Slight roll to the ship today, up to 5° according to a level app on my phone. Lovetocruise2002, asquared17, PPPJJ-GCVAB and 3 others 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Information posted for our consumption. Holiday greetings from the crew: The card/conference room: SpeedNoodles, Lovetocruise2002, WAAAYTOOO and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Captain's noon update: Currently 4°C with seas up to 4m. Seas are expected to increase to 5m overnight. Planned arrival at Cooper Bay 7am tomorrow morning. Ampurp85, Lovetocruise2002 and asquared17 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 If anyone is wondering what 4m seas look like it's really not that bad. Here is 2 minute video using my 360 camera from the balcony. This video was captured a few minutes ago so about as live as you can get. December 24, 2023 - 1:45pm South Georgia Island time. fireclan, WAAAYTOOO, SpeedNoodles and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Since that video upload went okay here is a zodiac ride from New Island back to the Silver Wind. I sped up the video to make it shorter but that makes it look a lot more bumpy than it was. I normally like to add music and such but YT has gotten so hard to work with music I've just uploaded it with natural sound. Traveler, Lovetocruise2002 and SpeedNoodles 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Icebergs ahoy! You can see one in the distance to starboard. It seemed to change shape in the time it took to get closer. This one to port was much larger and further away. SpeedNoodles, Skigoofy, joshgates and 6 others 5 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Our Starlink gateway city has been Santiago, Chile up to this point. This means from the internet’s perspective we appear to be in Santiago. If you require access to resources that are geo-restricted you may want to think about a VPN service. SpeedNoodles, Lovetocruise2002 and Ampurp85 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 A man walks into a bar… oh wait, Iceberg! Christmas tunes with Tomás. PPPJJ-GCVAB, MaryS, WAAAYTOOO and 3 others 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Christmas Eve menu for The Restaurant MaryS, PPPJJ-GCVAB, Lovetocruise2002 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 Got a little ahead of myself. Briefing for tomorrow at 16:00 today. The current plan is for a stop in Cooper Bay in the morning followed by an afternoon stop at Royal Bay. Lovetocruise2002, Ampurp85 and SpeedNoodles 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 There will be no landings as The South Georgia Islands have closed to landings due to the Avian Flu. The new goal is to still see wildlife maintaining IAATO guidelines for a safe distance from wildlife as one would on land from the zodiacs. Lovetocruise2002, asquared17, SpeedNoodles and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 Zodiac groups have been shuffled so my group is now early in the morning. That means an early bedtime tonight. Lovetocruise2002, Ampurp85, asquared17 and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 I'm not one to take dinner pictures in a nice restaurant because, well, I feel it is a bit tacky. Tonight will be an exception. Hmmm. A song book. A hint of things to come? The recommendations for tonight, but not the full menu. The "Whole-roasted Christmas Goose": It was very good. Actually pretty great. Wait, what is this... Time to open that song book. Actually I knew all the songs already. But wait! Whale spotted to starboard! To the windows! Lovetocruise2002, PPPJJ-GCVAB, SpeedNoodles and 4 others 2 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 Meanwhile, waiting back in the suite... She Sails Away, Lovetocruise2002, SpeedNoodles and 3 others 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asquared17 Posted December 25, 2023 Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 the wildlife this trip has been unmatched Ampurp85 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 Day Seven - Cooper Bay, South Georgia Islands Merry Christmas! Position report: Almost there... SpeedNoodles, MaryS, Lovetocruise2002 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 Balcony observations: Most of the ship roll is gone now that we are in the shelter of South Georgia. PPPJJ-GCVAB, WAAAYTOOO, Lovetocruise2002 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 At this point there are so many icebergs it's not worth taking any more pictures of them. They are everywhere. WAAAYTOOO, Lovetocruise2002, Curt From Canada and 5 others 2 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 Having said that, this one is particularly close and is quite striking when looking out my balcony window. Easily taller than the ship. PPPJJ-GCVAB, WAAAYTOOO, MaryS and 8 others 4 2 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 Day 7 Chronicle: 25 DEC - Cooper Bay and Will Point South Georgia.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted December 25, 2023 Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 13 hours ago, twangster said: Briefing for tomorrow at 16:00 today. Those temps!!! Yikes! One would think you were back in Canada lol 6 hours ago, twangster said: At this point there are so many icebergs it's not worth taking any more pictures of them. They are everywhere. I am likely in the minority here, but I find the iceberg shots more fascinating than the birds. Also, Merry Christmas my friend! twangster, MaryS, Ampurp85 and 3 others 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPPJJ-GCVAB Posted December 25, 2023 Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 The iceberg shots are amazing! Wonder how deep down they go?? Just makes me think about Titanic……crazy!! WAAAYTOOO, MaryS and Lovetocruise2002 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted December 25, 2023 Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 5 minutes ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said: Just makes me think about Titanic……crazy!! Right?! Glad I wasn't the only one who kept thinking that! lol PPPJJ-GCVAB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 As we got closer to Cooper Bay land was emerging through the mist. All around the ship marine life was seen. From seals, whales and penguins it was quite active. Penguins are fast! I was lucky with this shot. Of course more icebergs. Finally we were close enough that the mist faded and we could see the green land of South Georgia Island. asquared17, DDaley, Cactus527 and 7 others 6 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 After a rushed breakfast it was time to zodiac. I was in the second group called today as they mix up the order so the group #1 isn't always first. Ross glacier. Zodiacs always travel in pairs for safety so we had a short wait while the next zodiac was loaded with guests. Heading towards land it didn't take long to see our first greeter. Many young pups were everywhere. SpeedNoodles, DDaley, Lovetocruise2002 and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 A colony of Macaroni penguins. Similar looking to the Rockhopper penguins we saw in the Falklands but different. These little cuties are a big bigger. Penguins like to nest in the hills for safety so there was a penguin highway climbing the hillside. Too many to count. PPPJJ-GCVAB, Lovetocruise2002, SpeedNoodles and 8 others 4 3 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 Of course fur seals and elephant seals abound as well. All of these animals coexist peacefully. More pups! Our zodiac driver tells us they are now much larger since his last visit a few weeks ago. Seal condominium. Traveler, Lovetocruise2002, Cactus527 and 7 others 3 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 We head over to the main beach. Where we find a motherlode of King penguins. ... and some Elephant seals. Some Chinstrap penguins shuffled in. Ampurp85, MaryS, Lovetocruise2002 and 7 others 5 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 This is the first time kayaking has been a go. A Giant Petrel playing chicken with the kayakers. Lovetocruise2002, SpeedNoodles and Ampurp85 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted December 25, 2023 Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 1 hour ago, Lovetocruise2002 said: Right?! Glad I wasn't the only one who kept thinking that! lol Nope. I was thinkin' it too Lovetocruise2002 and Ampurp85 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 The experience lasted nearly 90 minutes. Giant Petrels seemed quite intrigued by us. This one was very curious and came right on over. Final photos. Time to head back to the mothership. MaryS, Ampurp85, ScottishRobbie and 4 others 3 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted December 25, 2023 Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 18 minutes ago, twangster said: OMG, how cute is this ?? asquared17, Cactus527, twangster and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted December 25, 2023 Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 I'm sure it must be more secure than it appears, but you seem to be perched so precariously on the side of those Zodiacs....it looks like one good wave and you would be in the drink ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 Back on board I grabbed the map to show the location of our first stop at South Georgia Island. Looks like the icebergs are ganging up on us forming a blockade. I've heard when in Rome one should do as the Romans. In South Georgia I decided to do like the penguins and eat outside. Lunch at The Grill. As I sat there Bing Crosby came over the speakers singing "White Christmas". Then it started to snow. Well played Bing. Well played. The last of the zodiacs were coming back. Once everyone was back on board and with snow increasing they have announced there will be a change in the afternoon plans. Details coming at 14:00. SpeedNoodles, Lovetocruise2002, Cactus527 and 4 others 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 Day 7 Update: Due to the high winds and adverse weather this afternoon's planned visit to Royal Bay has been cancelled. A series of Enrichment Lectures have been scheduled. SpeedNoodles and Lovetocruise2002 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 Some 360° camera photos from Cooper Bay. Cooper Bay 360 Photo #1 Cooper Bay 360 Photo #2 Shari and SpeedNoodles 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 I thought I saw a cruise ship in the distance. Nope. Just another iceberg. They are everywhere. Not going to bother taking pictures. SpeedNoodles and Lovetocruise2002 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt From Canada Posted December 25, 2023 Report Share Posted December 25, 2023 @twangster ... your pictures are always awesome and inspiring. It is official ... we will not be bringing our cameras on our Antarctica cruise in January. Instead, would you be so kind to: 1). Take lots of pictures of: Gerlache Strait Paradise Bay Schollaert Channel & Dalhan Bay Elephant Island Cape Horn 2). I like Icebergs and my soulmate loves wildlife. A good mix will add to the illusion that they are our pictures. 3). To cement the illusion ... Superimpose the likeness of my soulmate and I on the best of the pictures in each location. Use stock photos of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. We are not "exactly" twins, but our friends are not that observant. ... or just keep doing what you are doing, whatever is easiest. Curt from Canada DDaley, Cactus527, Yesiamthere and 5 others 3 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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