On the Quest to see pingüinos

[VPS]

As I said before great photos - and I am talking about your ones. B.A. seemed a lot cleaner than I thought it would - but that of course be due to the bright skies and where your guide took you. Anyway, thanks for the effort of putting this together.

Thanks re the photos. I did spend hours culling mine.

BA I think was a city of contrasts - obviously very wealthy in parts but the slums we went past weren't that far from the centre of the city so they would be hard to avoid. As a older female who mainly travels alone, I'd be happy to go back to BA alone.

 

[Daver6]

This is something I'm going to need to add to me to do list. Although the behaviour of some of those passengers really sounds off putting. Thanks for a great TR!

What was the rationale that only their photographers could use drones?

Also, I feel a little awkward asking, so feel free to ignore this question or PM a response if you prefer....but can you give a rough indication of what this sort of cuirse cost (just the cruise component)?

 

[drron]

Great report VPS.Brought back a lot of memories.I note that in the pics you got there was a leucistic penguin-post212.Were you lucky enough to see it.We saw a leucistic Adelie at Mawson's hut.A real bonus as they are rare.
I also enjoyed walking BA.Mrsdrron was tired after all the walking at the Sacred Valley and Iguazu.So she rested and I walked.Never felt threatened though whilst we were there a couple got mugged just outside our hotel.Pretty severe beating and ended up in hospital.

 

[VPS]

This is something I'm going to need to add to me to do list. Although the behaviour of some of those passengers really sounds off putting. Thanks for a great TR!

What was the rationale that only their photographers could use drones?

Also, I feel a little awkward asking, so feel free to ignore this question or PM a response if you prefer....but can you give a rough indication of what this sort of cuirse cost (just the cruise component)?

Costs - Sh!tloads. I'll send you a PM

It may have seemed as though I was complaining about some people but I met some really lovely people - some from Adelaide that I will keep in touch with and some really nice Americans - some of whom were supposed to be coming here next month. It wasn't hard to avoid the dingbats if you wanted to.

 

[VPS]

This is something I'm going to need to add to me to do list. Although the behaviour of some of those passengers really sounds off putting. Thanks for a great TR!

What was the rationale that only their photographers could use drones?

Also, I feel a little awkward asking, so feel free to ignore this question or PM a response if you prefer....but can you give a rough indication of what this sort of cuirse cost (just the cruise component)?

Oh and drones - all recreational drones are banned in Antarctica so I'm not sure how they got around it - possibly research or there may be special dispensation for official photographers. Interesting the official photographers never took any photos of people that I'm aware of.

 

[VPS]

Great report VPS.Brought back a lot of memories.I note that in the pics you got there was a leucistic penguin-post212.Were you lucky enough to see it.We saw a leucistic Adelie at Mawson's hut.A real bonus as they are rare.
I also enjoyed walking BA.Mrsdrron was tired after all the walking at the Sacred Valley and Iguazu.So she rested and I walked.Never felt threatened though whilst we were there a couple got mugged just outside our hotel.Pretty severe beating and ended up in hospital.

Yes we did see it at Waterboat Point and they did talk about it. I'm not sure why it isn't in my photos but one of my fellow travellers had a very good (ie expensive) camera and couldn't download his photos so he put them all on my computer in case he lost his camera. Some of them are magnificent but I didn't want to use them in my TR but this is one his

 

[tgh]

The photographer on the cloud last year had a drone the same as mine.
There is probably some kind of professional licence for International use similar to the 'Oz licences.
I couldn't be bothered lugging one around even if it was permitted although it does permit some spectacular imagery.
I once travelled with a big bag of photography paraphernalia but these days the phone does most of the work.

 

[love_the_life]

The gentoos are funny with their red 'lipstick' but I think the chinstraps are my favourite for sheer character (though maybe a toss up with the Adelie?).

 

[VPS]

The photographer on the cloud last year had a drone the same as mine.
There is probably some kind of professional licence for International use similar to the 'Oz licences.
I couldn't be bothered lugging one around even if it was permitted although it does permit some spectacular imagery.
I once travelled with a big bag of photography paraphernalia but these days the phone does most of the work.

I used my phone a lot but also had my little Sony and comparing photos the camera was usually better but not always. The phone is so handy for the quick shots though. I don't like carrying a lot of stuff so wouldn't have coped with an big camera that I probably would have dropped anyway.

 

[VPS]

The gentoos are funny with their red 'lipstick' but I think the chinstraps are my favourite for sheer character (though maybe a toss up with the Adelie?).

It is a bit of toss up - the Adelie certainly had character with their running in a line and the Rockhoppers with their whiskers were cute too but those Chinstraps just looked a little odd and very cute. Gentoos were way too common

 

[drron]

I loved the adelies.I would lie down on the snow/ice and a few would always come up to me and look me over.
The cheekiest were the royal penguins on Macquarie island-tried to take my boots off or steal my walking pole.

 

[love_the_life]

I loved the adelies.I would lie down on the snow/ice and a few would always come up to me and look me over.
The cheekiest were the royal penguins on Macquarie island-tried to take my boots off or steal my walking pole.

The baby King penguins
were cute but the parents were a bit stand offish. Agree Adelie are full of character but suppose we saw a lot more chinstraps so had more chance to observe their antics.

 

[rginoz]

Thanks VPS for a very informative and interesting trip report. I can't see myself ever going on a cruise (even before the current Coronavirus cruising woes), and even less so to go to Antarctica. It's an interesting place, and the wildlife is certainly attractive, but it's not on my 'to do' list. A very enjoyable TR, and much appreciated. Regards.

 

[SuePa]

Thanks for your great trip report, VPS. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As you said, it allowed me to relive my trips, which were a very different style, so it was good to see the alternative.
I also spent a few days in BA after one of my trips and loved the city. I did get harrassed and followed by a man who wouldn't take no for an answer. It was during the day and on a crowded main street, so I didn't feel frightened, but it was annoying. I eventually went into a hotel foyer and sat there for a while, until he went away. All part of the experience!

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

So to answer your question which may not be as relevant as it was then.

I had always wanted to go to the Antarctic and had originally chosen a cruise that didn't stop on the ice but my travel agent convinced me to spend twice the amount of money and do one where you could get off. It did take a while to convince myself that this was a good idea but he didn't push me either way.

Originally I said no it was too much money and then about a week later he came back with a few thousand off so I made the decision. I could have gone on the Ponant cruise but that went from Ushuaia and didn't go on the Chilean Fjords which is what I wanted to do.

After all that has happened in the last couple of months I am incredibly grateful he pushed me into choosing this cruise and that I actually went on it because I'm not sure there will be many Antarctic cruises this year.

Thanks, your timing was fantastic. It definetly looks like an amazing trip.

 

[VPS]

And for those interested in the variety of mammals and birds seen

 

[RB]

Thanks for a great report and the fantastic photos from all sources. We still hope to get there one day!

 

[RooFlyer]

Reading this one again as I'm looking at similar in 2024

 

[VPS]

Reading this one again as I'm looking at similar in 2024

Feel free to contact me with any questions but would strongly recommend Seabourn

 

[SuePa]

Reading this one again as I'm looking at similar in 2024

Try to include South Georgia, if you can. Definitely worth it!