Chile and Antarctica cruise

[henleybeach]

Well played @RooFlyer
Enjoyed reading your adventures at night with a glass of red in hand

 

[TheRealTMA]

Hey @RooFlyer , you missed a business opportunity!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ing-glacier-ice-coughtail-bars-uae-arctic-ice

 

[RooFlyer]

Never a good sign when the flight crew arrive just before boarding is about to commence.



It's the Centenary bird



I remarked above that liquids, and gels were not a thing at SCL security. But it seems for flights to Australia at least it is, and we had a full bag inspection just before boarding.



Qantas flight Santiago to Sydney was uneventful and quite a nice flight. 100% daylight. I recognised a number of menu items which have already been posted in the other thread here.



I was concentrating very hard on keeping my coughing under control, but not always successful. yes I was that guy for this flight.

The eminadas were dry and pretty ordinary but the steak was moist and very tender.





About three hours out we crossed over the eastern coast of the North island of New Zealand




and then landfall into Sydney, about five minutes behind schedule.

 

[Seat0B]

Thank you for your trip report. I enjoyed armchair cruising with you. Where are you going next?

 

[RooFlyer]

I have an around the world via air booked for April, but I think that’s going to go in the bin as it looks too much for me now. I've always done short stays and a lot of hops but can’t manage that now I realise.

After that, I’ve booked a cruise in the Caribbean on SilverSea for Christmas this year. and I’m going to book a cruise in the Arctic for the middle of 2025, but it’s unlikely to be on SilverSea as they don’t have the right itinerary.

 

[bPeteb]

Hope things start to improve for you RooF. 2023 was quite the annus horribilis for a few of us, for me, literally

 

[Pushka]

LAG were not a thing on any of our flights this time, even through LHR. Nor Dubai back to Singapore then Singapore back to Melb. So much easier.

I hear you about the travel thing. This time jetlag has whacked both of us. It's been a week and maybe only now are we over it only because last night we forced ourselves to change routines. We just get too tired yet we are both reasonably fit. Getting too old.....

Itinerary is way more important than cruise lines, assuming the one you pick meets some necessary requirements.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Welcome home and thanks for taking us along @RooFlyer really enjoyed your commentary and photos.
Hope you are feeling better and sans cough now.
Looking forward to your next TR.

 

[tgh]

Belated thanks for an entertaining and informative TR.
We thought the Arctic a bit bare after Antarctica , highlight was a polar bear at least a mile away...
Otoh Iceland and Norway were great value and ,( If we had one) , Norway would be high on our revisit list.

 

[RooFlyer]

As i see @boxo is on the thread, I should mention something about seasickness. This has been one of my greatest fears of taking the cruise. I have been seasick in the past, but that’s in coastal conditions with fairly close chop. I’ve never really experienced big ocean conditions.

As it turned out, I think it fair to say a couple of our sea days were moderately rough - maybe 3 to 4 meter waves and we did get a lot of pitch and roll a few nights. However, I think our crossing of the Drake passage overall would be classed as moderate with one fairly rough day, as above, and the second day being pretty calm.

Not willing to test whether my stomach would tolerate the conditions, I started seasickness tablets before we commenced on the ocean. Meclezine 25 mg once a day, staying the day before. I don’t think this is available in Australia, however @boxo was very kind in donating me their excess supply and @Bindibuys obtained for me another packet. My stomach thanks you both.

 

[boxo]

Over the last couple of months I've only quickly popped into AFF to see if this year's DO thread had been started and on occasion remembered your cruise plans but hadn't looked for a trip reports forum until today, so I apologize for the sudden barrage of Likes notifications.

I wondered whether the doctor okayed the use of my seasickness pills and didn't see any mention in your posts that they were necessary. I am glad they were put to use. I can bring more for you and Fiona because I over-bought for last year's Alaska cruise, but I'll have to double check the expiration dates. Should be years out though.

Your photos, minus the penguins and seal carcasses, reminded me of a 23-day cruise I took in Aug-Sep 2007 on the MS Deutschland from Hamburg, to Orkney, Faroe, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ireland, and back to Hamburg. Not as stunning and repetitive, but breathtaking. Thank you for the trip down Memory Lane and sorry there were so many SS Wind let downs. For such a special region in the world, and likely a 'once in a lifetime' for most, at whatever their price point is, a knowledgeable and engaging expedition staff should be a top priority.

 

[Bindibuys]

I still have a box (16 tabs) of them if needed in the future. Expires May 2026.

 

[love_the_life]

I usually pick up a box of Bonine on US ships here but as I don't get seasick (that's a dangerous statement), they are unopened - must check the expiry date.

 

[Pushka]

I usually pick up a box of Bonine on US ships here but as I don't get seasick (that's a dangerous statement), they are unopened - must check the expiry date.

Gosh, on that note I think I even have some.

 

[RooFlyer]

We landed at Sydney only about 10 mins behind schedule and both immigration and customs was a breeze (for once!). I declared rural/wilderness areas and Sth America on my card (I note Chile is not on the list of Sth American countries on the ticket machine declaration). I was diverted into secondary inspection, as expected and merely asked where I had been (Antarctica) and were my boots clean (yes) ... and waved on.

Bus to Holiday Inn Express in prep for my domestic flight home tomorrow. No pics, but it was adequate. Plat status recognised - its actually expired, but "under review", so I took the welcome points. Basic place, but did the trick.

VA SYD-HBA this morning. Lounge was a quiet as I've ever seen it at about 9:30am; still a bit busy, but not the normal zoo. Flight down in J was OK. Main thing of interest for me was the guy next to me. From the time he boarded, to the time I deplaned, he sat and was transfixed to his phone. Looked up once to decline lunch and ask for a glass of water (which he ignored), but utterly focussed on the phone, the whole 2 hours.

Lunch was a pumpkin and chorizo pasta. Really good.



So, that is that; home at last, did washing and watering; looking forward to bed.

 

[ellen10]

Thanks @RooFlyer for your wonderful trip report.
I really enjoyed travelling along with you and seeing all your wonderful photos!

Even after such a wonderful trip its always nice to be home.

 

[RooFlyer]

To summarise. I'll also ask @Port Power to do similar (no need to go into so much detail!!) , if they wish, as I think getting an experienced cruiser's thoughts Vs mine will be a good balance.

Itinerary: 10/10 Totally met my expectations and hopes. The Captain and Expedition Leader seems to have delivered great outcomes in response to changing weather (although we were blessed with great weather on many days). Bird flu limited a few things on Sth Georgia but we saw plenty of penguins and seals anyway!! Zodiac drive-bys gave much the same experience. I would not recommend missing the Falklands and doing Sth Georgia should eb a must. Those just going straight down to Antarctica and back are doing themselves a disservice, I think.

Vessel: Silver Wind. It worked for me in respect of layout and facilities. A little big for what would be ideal on an expedition ship - a limit of 200 would be good, given the ship size. Captain was fantastic in interaction with passengers and efforts to get us close to icebergs ( ). The retro fitted Wind and Cloud have an Achilles heel in that if their side doors (where the zodiac dock is create) is damaged by ice drifting by, its actually "abandon ship", as the vessel is no longer watertight. Ships with docks/marinas at the stern much better (like the Silver Endeavour and Ponant's Le Laperouse that I was on last year).

Classic verandah suite, deck 5. Worked for me. Lay-out is effective and I didn't have any issues. I wondered how a veranda would go on an Antarctic Cruise but I used it frequently and it added much to the experience. Deck 5 was handy to most frequently-used facilities. I think the concept of a 'butler' is a bit silly, but as a guy to bring things and arrange things, it worked well. He soon learned my fondness for an afternoon G&T and made sure there was citrus and ice in the fridge all the time. The room attendant worked hard and again, learned how I like things to be made up and arranged.

Ship restaurants and bars. The quality of the food was excellent. Enough menu variation so that repetition not an issue. I maintain my criticism of the performance of some of the wait staff. Just not experienced enough to be present on a SilverSea cruise. The maître d's were very good - soon learned my name and seating preferences. The quality of the included wines was good - a selection from around the world and there was only one or two that I wouldn't try a second time. I thought it annoying that they didn't have a list of these wines, given that you could ask for any at any meal, not just the white and red on offer that meal, but I understand that's a SS standard.

Expedition crew: Its a big team!! I've expressed some criticisms in the TR, and on reflection I stand by them, but I admit that I have quite a bit of science behind me (not just geology) and my expectations may have been a bit high; again, I'm not just talking about geology. They have a standard patter suitable for persons in the street and seemed to struggle to go beyond that. They were all good with their zodiacs and safety was never in doubt and I was never concerned about that. A major fail was not having a proper debrief after and about a day's activities. I saw the exped leader early on and mentioned that this would be a good thing to do, and he actually promised it, but it didn't eventuate.

Social activities, spa etc. I was usually too tired to engage in the evening social activities and the spa was never on my agenda. But what I did see of the socials was very good - the 'social director' seemed very good; perfect for the job. There were 8-10 of us 'solos' who mixed & matched in dining and other activities; worked well.

Pre and post. This cruise involved a pre and post hotel night, and a 4 hour charter flight to and from Puerto Williams. On 'changeover days' that have 200+ people checking out, and chartering down and the same number chartering back and checking in. A big logistical exercise. The charter flights were excellent - good aircraft, seating density was comfortable, v good leg room and the food and bev was good. Business class. The hotel, the Mandarin Oriental, which I think has a A$650+ rack-rate was disappointing in some regards. Room was good.

SilverSea. A SS cruise was a cost-stretch for me, and I regarded it as the equivalent of buying a First Class ticket. I suspect that my expectations were a bit high and should take account that the explosion in expedition cruising and demand for crew and staff. I'm not yet a SS die-hard (considering the price).

So, is that all a bit whiney ... should I just sit back and loved the cruise? Yes, maybe, but if SS put themselves out as being a luxury experience, it should be ticking all the boxes. I have a SS Caribbean cruise booked for next Christmas; 'classic' cruise on the Silver Muse. See how that goes . Then I want to go to the Arctic in mid 2025; I want to do Greenland and Svalbard; no coastal Iceland and mainland Norway only as necessary. SS don't have that itinerary, so I'm on the hunt for a cruise.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just remembered these, from the cruise AV USB/pack.










We also got a cruise video on USB filmed and compiled by he prof photographer on board. Excellent resource - I can show that rather than having to pick out X number of photos for a 'slide night'

 

[Daver6]

We landed at Sydney only about 10 mins behind schedule and both immigration and customs was a breeze (for once!). I declared rural/wilderness areas and Sth America on my card (I note Chile is not on the list of Sth American countries on the ticket machine declaration). I was diverted into secondary inspection, as expected and merely asked where I had been (Antarctica) and were my boots clean (yes) ... and waved on.

Bus to Holiday Inn Express in prep for my domestic flight home tomorrow. No pics, but it was adequate. Plat status recognised - its actually expired, but "under review", so I took the welcome points. Basic place, but did the trick.

VA SYD-HBA this morning. Lounge was a quiet as I've ever seen it at about 9:30am; still a bit busy, but not the normal zoo. Flight down in J was OK. Main thing of interest for me was the guy next to me. From the time he boarded, to the time I deplaned, he sat and was transfixed to his phone. Looked up once to decline lunch and ask for a glass of water (which he ignored), but utterly focussed on the phone, the whole 2 hours.

Lunch was a pumpkin and chorizo pasta. Really good.

View attachment 365447

So, that is that; home at last, did washing and watering; looking forward to bed.

Geez, that meal does look good.

As for the bloke next to you, I guess he REALLY didn't want to talk to you

 

[latawiec]

There were the usual King penguins and fur seals here, but what was striking was the number of seal carcases lying along a tidal strand line up the beach. Bird flu and there is little to eat them - skuas mainly.

And now is official.... the bird flu. See attached today's article of 12 Jan 2024.