Anyone Just Booked their Cruise (or are Planning to)?

[RooFlyer]

We missed South Georgia because of the weather but went to another of the Falkland Islands instead.

I suspect we will not land on South Georgia as well, because of Avian flu.

 

[drron]

Well I just looked at White desert one day tours to Antarctica. $US14500 or $A22000. In would definitely want @RooFlyer's 19 day cruise instead.

When we cruised to Antarctica we went from Dunedin to Commonwealth Bay where Mawson's Hut is situated. We were there in January 2011 for it's 99th birthday. No tourist has been back since though from 2018 they have been trying. They say they are hopeful to make it this season. less people have been in Mawson's hut than the summit of Mt. Everest.
Could only have done it on a cruise. One of the highlights of our lives.

 

[Lat34]

And this is my schedule; more the 'island experience' . Flights to/from Santiago included; open bar, vacant middle seats; Mandarin Oriental in Santiago pre and post cruise.

View attachment 354858

If I get to kick a rock anywhere there I'll be thrilled.

Plenty of rocks to kick in Antarctica …

 

[latawiec]

This is where we landed and I think that's normal for most of the Antarctic cruises
View attachment 354857

Very interesting itinerary, but with visited places on Antarctica Peninsula below polar circle (66° parallel). So you didn't experienced the 24 hrs sunshine being above the polar circle?

My first experience of 24 hrs daylights was in 1973 when I went up to Tromso in Norway.

 

[latawiec]

And this is my schedule; more the 'island experience' . Flights to/from Santiago included; open bar, vacant middle seats; Mandarin Oriental in Santiago pre and post cruise.

View attachment 354858

Skeptics can note that we cruise down the Antarctic peninsula over 4 days and can stop at many allowed places down that coast (and they do vary it, looking at 'trip reports' from those who have done this cruise before, to lessen human impact).



Well, in 'Antarctica' many of the stops will actually be on the ice shelf around islands and ice surrounding the 'mainland'. If I get to kick a rock anywhere there I'll be thrilled.

From the attached map I can see a very interesting itinerary.
However, the route and visited places are located on the Antarctica Peninsula, and below the polar circle (66° parallel).

So this time you also didn't experienced the 24 hrs daylight because you didn't reach the polar circle?

My first experience of 24 hrs daylights was in 1973 when I went up to Narvik and also Tromso in Norway. This year in late June we were cruising Norwegian fjords and up to Svalbard Island (Spitsbergen) which is at 78° parallel, well above the northern polar circle (66°). We experienced the polar summer with 24 hrs daylight and no night.

In 2019 we were taking a cruise to Greenland reaching about 71° parallel and town of Uummannaq. This cruise was very impressive because we see the Greenland's main icefields and also a lot of floating icebergs. Visited places and polar circle parallel are shown below.

 

[latawiec]

And this is my schedule; more the 'island experience' . Flights to/from Santiago included; open bar, vacant middle seats; Mandarin Oriental in Santiago pre and post cruise.

View attachment 354858

Skeptics can note that we cruise down the Antarctic peninsula over 4 days and can stop at many allowed places down that coast (and they do vary it, looking at 'trip reports' from those who have done this cruise before, to lessen human impact).



Well, in 'Antarctica' many of the stops will actually be on the ice shelf around islands and ice surrounding the 'mainland'. If I get to kick a rock anywhere there I'll be thrilled.

See Antarctic Peninsula on the attached map with shown parallels and also the Polar Circle.

Post automatically merged: Nov 27, 2023

See Antarctic Peninsula on the attached map with shown parallels and also the Polar Circle.

 

[latawiec]

Well I just looked at White desert one day tours to Antarctica. $US14500 or $A22000. In would definitely want @RooFlyer's 19 day cruise instead.

When we cruised to Antarctica we went from Dunedin to Commonwealth Bay where Mawson's Hut is situated. We were there in January 2011 for it's 99th birthday. No tourist has been back since though from 2018 they have been trying. They say they are hopeful to make it this season. less people have been in Mawson's hut than the summit of Mt. Everest.
Could only have done it on a cruise. One of the highlights of our lives.

Sure that visiting the Mawson's Hut (not it's a copy in Hobart) would be one of the highlights of our lives.

However, there are significant delays in the delivery of the new icebreaker, the Nuyina. There is also a lot of controversy with blocking the Nuyina from transiting under the Tasman Bridge and alternative refuelling port with a 660km detour.

I am also not sure if there will be left spare cabins for normal tourists, as there are a lot of climate activists and climate journalists waiting for an opportunity for such cruise on a very important mission of saving the World?

So the only chance to see the Antarctic white icy desert might be over it?

 

[RooFlyer]

Sounds like a cruise to Antarctica would be ideal

 

[drron]

Sure that visiting the Mawson's Hut (not it's a copy in Hobart) would be one of the highlights of our lives.

However, there are significant delays in the delivery of the new icebreaker, the Nuyina. There is also a lot of controversy with blocking the Nuyina from transiting under the Tasman Bridge and alternative refuelling port with a 660km detour.

I am also not sure if there will be left spare cabins for normal tourists, as there are a lot of climate activists and climate journalists waiting for an opportunity for such cruise on a very important mission of saving the World?

So the only chance to see the Antarctic white icy desert might be over it?

There are still Expedition ships that go from either NZ or Tasmania to the Ross Sea and are trying to get into Commonwealth Bay to see Mawson's hut. We went on the Orion which not too long afterwards was taken over by Linblad. It now is the National Geographic Orion. On our cruise was a Linblad Captain assessing whether they would buy it.
If you really want to see a lot of Antarctica ponant are doing it with their new ship.

Latin America, Africa & Polar Tailor-made Travel Specialists

Specialists in Central and South America Holidays, African Safaris, Antarctica & the Arctic Cruises. Adventure of a lifetime with Eclipse Travel.

eclipsetravel.com.au

Though unfortunately it doesn't visit Macquarie Island on the way down which is known as either Australia's South Geogia or Galapagos. The only place where Royal Penguins breed. I had a close encounter with Royal penguins when a small group tried to remove my wellies.


And from my angle.

 

[VPS]

Sounds like a cruise to Antarctica would be ideal

Have you ever considered it - sounds like it would be fun?

 

[tgh]

Kiwi Co Heritage Expeditions does the Ross sea with Macquarie Isl. twice each year ex Queenstown

 

[latawiec]

There are still Expedition ships that go from either NZ or Tasmania to the Ross Sea and are trying to get into Commonwealth Bay to see Mawson's hut. We went on the Orion which not too long afterwards was taken over by Linblad. It now is the National Geographic Orion. On our cruise was a Linblad Captain assessing whether they would buy it.
If you really want to see a lot of Antarctica ponant are doing it with their new ship.

Latin America, Africa & Polar Tailor-made Travel Specialists

Specialists in Central and South America Holidays, African Safaris, Antarctica & the Arctic Cruises. Adventure of a lifetime with Eclipse Travel.

eclipsetravel.com.au

View attachment 355109

Though unfortunately it doesn't visit Macquarie Island on the way down which is known as either Australia's South Geogia or Galapagos. The only place where Royal Penguins breed. I had a close encounter with Royal penguins when a small group tried to remove my wellies.
View attachment 355110

And from my angle.
View attachment 355111

Very impressive and tempting itinerary, but also quite at over AU$120k for two.

In 1980th it cost me nothing to enjoy swimming and snorkeling with the little penguins, dolphins and also sea lions at the Penguin Island just south of Perth, Western Australia. Now access to the Penguin Island (nature reserve) is restricted and commercialized.

However, it is possible to see the wild little penguins along the southern Australian coast (ie at Phillip Island) and also in NZ.
To see Antarctica is every tempting but I am not ready to pay over $120k for this yet...

 

[drron]

Very impressive and tempting itinerary, but also quite at over AU$120k for two.

In 1980th it cost me nothing to enjoy swimming and snorkeling with the little penguins, dolphins and also sea lions at the Penguin Island just south of Perth, Western Australia. Now access to the Penguin Island (nature reserve) is restricted and commercialized.

However, it is possible to see the wild little penguins along the southern Australian coast (ie at Phillip Island) and also in NZ.
To see Antarctica is every tempting but I am not ready to pay over $120k for this yet...

Tasmania is excellent for seeing little penguins. You can even see them basically in Burnie at the west end of the beach in front of town.

 

[Lynda2475]

I was able to kayak out to penguin island in WA a couple of years ago and swim with the little penguins and sea lions. I was with a local guide, but there were board walks on the island so as to not disturb nests and the sealions and some late departing penguins happily swam under the kayas and along side me once I donned a snorkel. So I think it is still possible.

 

[latawiec]

I was able to kayak out to penguin island in WA a couple of years ago and swim with the little penguins and sea lions. I was with a local guide, but there were board walks on the island so as to not disturb nests and the sealions and some late departing penguins happily swam under the kayas and along side me once I donned a snorkel. So I think it is still possible.

In 1980-th we walked to the Penguin Island through shallow water during low tide. We only need to carry some wood for barbecues erected on the island. There were accessable cave where we hide at noon.

Now all above is not possible. Yes, cayaking might be a way to get close to the nature, but need to be of all the local restrictions to prevent penalties.

There are more places around Perth for a nice interesting snorkeling but only with fish and eventually kormoran if you are lucky.

 

[jase05]

Havila cruise booked in March from Bergen northbound to Kirkenes.
Cruising normally isn’t our thing but this should give us access to some areas we haven’t been

 

[latawiec]

Havila cruise booked in March from Bergen northbound to Kirkenes.
Cruising normally isn’t our thing but this should give us access to some areas we haven’t been

It is very impressive cruise to the north top.
However, in March there still might be cold and windy. If a large eruption occurs on the Sun you may be lucky to see a northern Aurora. From May in Kirkenes or Hammerfest is starting 24 hrs daylight.

 

[latawiec]

Havila cruise booked in March from Bergen northbound to Kirkenes.
Cruising normally isn’t our thing but this should give us access to some areas we haven’t been

To find out if there will be a chance to see Auroras you need to monitor occurrence of the large CME on the Sun. Usually it takes about 3-4 days after occuring the CME in derection of the Earth to create Auroras.
Below are links.
https://spaceweather.com
https://www.spaceweatheralerts.com

And this is an information on yesterday's event:

STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM: Multiple CMEs hit Earth's magnetic field on Dec. 1st, sparking a strong geomagnetic storm.

 

[bPeteb]

Back to your original question about Icon Jack. Just too big for us.

We sailed on Quantum this year and it was too big. It was also inward looking as are most of RCL's newer ships. Would much rather sail on the smaller, glassier, Radiance class

You couldn't see outside of the ship unless you were out on deck, or in 270degrees. We've just been on Resilient Lady and you could see the sea from pretty much everywhere except the nightclub or theatre.

 

[latawiec]

Anyone planning to take a trip on the Icon of the Seas?

Back to Jack's question.

She has capacity up to 7600 passengers

No way, ...too big

To escape usually hot weather of February in Perth, we are taking a cruise from Sydney to NZ on the Queen Elizabeth.
She is a much smaller cruiser.