Antarctic Cruise Day 38 / 40 - Cape Horn and Ushuaia - the last stop

Antarctic Cruise Day 38 / 40 - The Horn and a change in command

Trip day: 38 / 40

Port days: 18
Sea days: 19
Countries: 5
Continents: 4
Ports/Landings: 13

The Drake Passage did not disappoint yesterday.  We were still a-shakin' at 5:30AM today.  Eventually, it calmed down and we're into smooth sailing.  The captain announced that we'd be sailing past Cape Horn by 7AM today.  Ugh.  Still, how many times do you get to see this?  Well...in our case, twice this year.  But, I hauled myself out of bed and wandered up to the bow.  In typical Viking fashion, Tammy, the beverage manager, and her team were there, serving up hot chocolate in nice double-walled glasses so it stayed nice and warm.  

Later on at the Explorers' Bar with Tammy

There was a small crowd on the bow to see the passing from about three nautical miles.  With the slightly hazy air, it was tough to see much, but we did catch the lighthouse, the house, and the memorial albatross sculpture.

The closest thing to a sunrise I've seen

Near Cape Horn

The Horn is just to the right of this

There it is

Again, the Horn is just to the right

Some of the rock structures are pretty daunting

Cathedral Rock

You can just see one of the two lighthouses peeking over the hill

Here is the other, main lighthouse

A monument in the form of an albatross in flight honors the estimated 10,000 sailors that perished over the years attempting to round Cape Horn

After capturing a few photos, it was time to hop back in bed for a few minutes before showering and heading up to another wonderful breakfast.  Chef Lokesh once again prepared biscuits and sausage gravy for us and it was delicious.

Next on the agenda...packing.  We have all day, but we may as well get things done sooner rather than later.

Lucky for us, friends had a luggage scale.  Our bags are each just under 50 pounds, so we're good.  There is now a luggage scale in our Amazon cart to be ordered once we get home.

As we entered the Beagle Channel, they suggested watching for wildlife.  Here is some of what we saw.

We saw a couple groups of Magellanic penguins swimming by.

Chilean skuas were also hanging around.

Their takeoff was interesting as they slapped both feet against the water simultaneously to get above the surface - let's watch - Skua 1 - you're cleared for takeoff

Roger that - Skua 1 taking the active runway

Skua 1 on the go

Launch speed achieved, rotating

Liftoff

Skua 1 - landing gear retracted

Cormorant 1452 - watch for crossing traffic - Skua 1 at your 10 o'clock

Cormorant 1452 has the traffic and is clear of traffic

An imperial cormorant with the head crest showing - it noticed our ship and based on the white cloud in the water behind it - we literally scared the poop out of it

It then decided it was time to go and go now

Next up, a single dolphin swam by.  We never got a good look to see what kind it was.

It dove but was still visible under the water

The stars for the day were the black-browed albatross.  They were absolutely everywhere.

Unlike skuas, when an albatross takes off, it runs across the surface, one foot at a time.

Passing Puerto William

The Argentinean navy was out and about

Approaching Ushuaia

We docked in Ushuaia for the evening.  Our bags are packed and our main bag is already gone.  We'll pack up our carry-on in the morning with our last-minute things.

We talked with Margaret at dinner.  At 8PM tonight, she ceased being Margaret and became Captain Margaret - Viking's first-ever female cruise ship captain.  Captain Olivier is now just Olivier and will be heading home tomorrow for a well-deserved vacation.  I hope to get a picture with Captain Margaret for tomorrow's blog.

The travel plans for tomorrow (Thursday) are:

• Eat breakfast tomorrow on the ship
• Catch our coach to the airport at 7:55AM
• Fly a charter on JetSmart from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires tomorrow from 10:40AM to 2:06PM
• Layover in Buenos Aires airport until 9:15PM where we board our Delta red-eye to Atlanta
• Arrive in Atlanta at 6:35AM
• Get our bags, clear Customs, recheck our bags and make our Delta flight to Orlando all before 8:17AM - it will be cutting it close
• Arrive in Orlando at 9:50AM where our driver will be waiting to get us home before noon 

It will be a nearly 30-hour travel day for us but we're looking forward to being home.  Of course, that won't last as we're heading to our son & daughter-in-law's place in Houston for Thanksgiving.  But after that...we'll finally be home for 30 consecutive days for the first and only time in 2022.  It's been quite a travel year for us.