Antarctic Cruise Day 37 / 40 - Drake Passage - Drake, rattle, and roll

Antarctic Cruise Day 37 / 40 - Drake Passage - Lake no more

Trip day: 37 / 40

Port days: 17
Sea days: 19
Countries: 5
Continents: 4
Ports/Landings: 13

As of 10AM, we're just about halfway through the Drake Passage.  

As you can see, more ships are starting their Antarctica season

Based on the movements overnight and this morning, I think we've moved about as much vertically as we have horizontally.  

There have been lots of ups and downs.  As I was typing this, Arlona's Yeti mug spontaneously tipped over even though she secured it up against a corner. It isn't the whitecaps - it is the swells.  They're running 20 feet or more, so we're doing a lot of up and down as well as side to side.

Up in the Explorers' Bar last night, Alex & crew were stretching plastic cling wrap from the bar counter across the tops of the bar glasses and then down on the inside of the bar.  This prevents all the glassware from crashing down to the ground.

Only one side of the World Café was open today, likely because many folks will opt for room service or just not eat this morning.  Me?  I’m loving it.  We went to The Aula and then to The Hide but were a little disappointed as even though we are moving a lot, there wasn’t much coming up and over like there was last night.  Still, we’re getting a ride today.  Like yesterday’s foul weather and wet Zodiac ride, this is helping give us the complete Antarctica experience.

Tomorrow will be packing day.  It’s hard to believe that this journey is coming to a close.  But, we’ll make the best of the two remaining days before the long, long, long travel day(s) home.  Let's look back for a moment.

This shows our basic locations in Antarctica and the South Shetland Islands

And this shows the crazy route we took in Antarctica, adjusting as needed

So let’s talk about the reality of an expedition voyage.  Let’s compare.

25-OCT

Plan: Fournier Bay - cruising

Reality: Fournier Bay - cruising

26-OCT

Plan: Danco Island - landing

Reality: Danco Island - landing

27-OCT

Plan: Georges Point - landing

Reality: Cuverville Island - landing

28-OCT

Plan: Portal Point - landing

Reality: Paradise Bay - cruising

29-OCT

Plan: Mikkelsen Harbour - landing

Reality: Melchior Islands - landing

30-OCT

Plan: Elephant Point - landing

Reality: Half Moon Island, South Shetland Islands - landing

31-OCT

Plan: Paulet Island - cruising

Reality: Yankee Harbour, Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands - landing

Out of seven planned days in Antarctica, only the first two came off as planned.  We moved as the weather dictated and adjusted from planned landings to scenic cruises when the ice wouldn’t allow landings.  I can’t state strongly how hard the captain and expedition team worked to find something worthwhile to do/see every single day.  

I stated this in an earlier blog entry but it needs to be repeated.  If you are not flexible and willing to roll with the changes, do not, under any circumstances, book an expedition voyage.  But, if you have a sense of adventure and are willing to take that adventure one day at a time, shift gears when needed, and adapt and adjust constantly, then expedition cruising can provide an amazing experience for you.

After lunch, we went down to The Hide on deck #1 forward to check out the waves. They didn't disappoint.

This is why the captain calls The Hide, "The Washing Machine"

We ran into the film crew that has been here since we sailed from Ushuaia, Argentina.

With Jean Newman Glock, Viking's Ambassador-at-Large and one of the faces of Viking TV

They are documenting this inaugural sailing of Polaris for a feature on Viking TV.  It will be interesting to watch it once it is released.

8:30PM update – we’re still shaking!  The following map shows our approximate position and we’re still fighting 30+MPH winds and nearly 6m swells.  Ahh, Drake Passage, you’re giving us the full shake!

It looks like we’ll be shaking all the way to Cape Horn.  Speaking of Cape Horn…we’re expected to sail around it tomorrow morning between 6:30AM and 7AM.  Generally, at that time, I’m face-down in a pillow.  If I feel ambitious, I’ll get up and get photos.  If not, I’ll reuse photos from our world cruise as we sailed around Cape Horn on February 9 this year.  And…you’ll never know! Bwahahahaha!

As we moved into our Explorers’ Bar office to finish up today’s musings, Arlona caught this momentary sunset before it disappeared behind the clouds.

Tomorrow morning, Cape Horn.  Tomorrow afternoon, packing.  Tomorrow evening, Ushuaia.