ArgentinaUshuaia54°48’12” S 68°18’22” W February 10 in Argentina ⋅ 🌧 43 °F
Kaupé = We are home … in the local indigenous language.
Having dinner at this family-owned and operated restaurant is one of our pre-Antarctica expedition traditions. The ambiance is warm. TheRead more
ArgentinaUshuaia54°48’23” S 68°18’35” W
February 10 in Argentina ⋅ 🌧 37 °F
Ortelius — the Oceanwide Expeditions vessel that will be taking us on our polar adventure — is snug in its berth at the pier in Ushuaia.
Embarkation day is nearly upon us. One more sleep on landRead more
ArgentinaUshuaia54°48’31” S 68°18’51” W
February 11 in Argentina ⋅ 🌬 39 °F
Rat-a-tat-tat! Throughout the night heavy rain pounded the picture window.
What we didn’t know until we pulled open the drapes when we woke up was if that rain had changed to snow at some point. ItRead more
ArgentinaUshuaia54°48’26” S 68°18’15” W
February 11 in Argentina ⋅ 🌬 41 °F
If the ice conditions allow it once we cross the Antarctic Circle, this is where we will be going!
Red is not a good color for us!
Two to TravelI’ll give you a hint … we’ve gotten further south in the Weddell Sea than any other pax ship has before. The ice is at least being good in that respect.
ArgentinaBahía Ushuaia54°48’58” S 68°15’36” W February 11 in Argentina ⋅ ☁️ 41 °F
Embarked Ortelius … ✅
Settled into our cabin … ✅
Got reacquainted with the ship … ✅
Completed the mandatory safety briefing and muster drill … ✅
Enjoyed the sailaway from the openRead more
Two to TravelYes, direct with Oceanwide … but thru their US office in Houston. Excellent service … this is our second unique itinerary with them. They are a strictly expedition focused company. No luxuries … just comfortable.
TravelerThanks.... Good to have another option to look at. We are currently very keen on NatGeo/Lindblad, but are open to other ideas.
Two to TravelIf you have never been to the Antarctic, I don’t know that I would recommend this itinerary or the Ross Sea one. They have a lot of days at sea because of the distances to be covered and they are risky, remote itineraries. The best itinerary for first time IMHO is one that takes in the Peninsula and South Georgia, and then branch out from there if you want to return for more. That itinerary is the standard tour. You also need to weigh your wants and needs with what the operator offers. If you want a straightforward no frills itinerary, Oceanwide, for example, is good. If you want a bit of luxury (drinks included with meals, heated floors in the bathroom, etc) then Quark is good. More luxury … well, then you get into the Silversea category. I’m not sure where NatGeo/Lindblad fall these days, but you can use what you know about them for comparison. You also want to keep your ship as small as possible … 100 or less is ideal. Happy planning!
South Atlantic Ocean54°45’37” S 61°7’24” W
February 13, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 45 °F
“One must never be in haste to end a day; there are too few of them in a lifetime.” ~~ Sir Francis Drake ~~ (from the Daily Program)
It was a rollin’ kind of night as we left the Beagle ChannelRead more
Two to TravelIt’s interesting to hear what we heard about on previous trips from a different perspective.
South Atlantic Ocean54°50’6” S 49°29’23” W
February 13, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 37 °F
“A journey is like a person, no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policies, and coercion are fruitless. We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip, a trip takes us.” ~~Read more
TravelerI love the idea of changing the clocks at noon! As we progress eastward on our around-the-world journey we are regularly losing hours, always in the evening. Doing it mid-day would be great.
Two to TravelI know some cruise lines do this on TransAtlantics … but I don’t think I’ve ever encountered it on Oceania.
South Atlantic Ocean54°35’38” S 45°7’15” W
February 14, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌬 36 °F
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” ~~ St Augustine ~~ (from the Daily Program)
Sighted our first icebergs of the voyage today! Many, many more to come.
TheRead more
South Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsShag Rocks53°32’52” S 42°1’12” W
February 14 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ 🌬 37 °F
Shag Rocks are exactly what the name says they are … rocks that some might call islets. Part of the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, they are 150 milesRead more
South Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsBarber Cove53°59’29” S 37°39’6” W
February 15 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F
“Sailors, with their built-in sense of order, service, and discipline, should really be running the world.” ~~ Nicholas Monsarrat (from the Daily Program)
When we visited South Georgia Island inRead more
Sonia Gelman
Delicious!
Two to TravelIt definitely was.
TravelerYum!