We are sailing….

For the last three days we have been sailing off the coast of Alaska - no stops allowed apparently. However, most passengers I have spoken to are fine with this as it has given everyone a chance to settle in, get over travel etc. Tomorrow we reach Canadian waters and all that will change apparently - excursions to Inuit settlements, zodiac rides - what one expects on an expedition cruise. Yesterday we encountered pack ice for the first time. It has become more concentrated over today and every so often we can feel the ship shudder as it ‘breaks’ through ice. The first polar bear has been spotted today - I was at breakfast so by the time I got back to my room, geared up, rugged up and got back to deck ten, too late. The crew see this as a good sign as generally polar bears are sighted in the later half of the trip.
We have daily activities to attend if desired. Today I attended a lecture on ‘Who owns the Arctic?’ The answer is seemingly determined by maritime law and individual country’s interpretation of said laws. This question is becoming more complicated as the economic and political climate of the world changes as shipping freight through the North West passage is shorter and therefore cheaper than going through the Suez canal and other regular shipping routes. The scariest thing I have heard in a long time- a container port is being/about to be built about halfway along the North West Passage. The lecture this morning was focused around the research being conducted into the impact of shipping on whales and other marine life in the Arctic and now we hear this !!
I am gradually getting to know a number of people- from Australia, the UK, and the USA. There are quite a few solo travellers and there was a get together yesterday for us in the Explorers Lounge so that we could chat. It worked well although those Poms still like to find the negative (well not all but more than half). Deck ten is certainly the meeting point - large lounge area plus outdoor viewing areas. It’s about 4 degrees outside and some people are in the pool. It’s heated. Every afternoon and evening a young woman from New Zealand (Nicky) plays piano and sings in the lounge- she’s very pleasant to listen to.
I’ve also had a change of rooms. The step up into the bathroom was quite significant and it worried me. I was asking about any other rooms which might have a different configuration and it turns out that they had a wheelchair access room available- would I like to change. Yes - it was very surprising as to how fast I was able to pack my stuff and move.
The sun has finally decided to shine through, the sea is dead calm there is ice in the water and Nicky has started her afternoon set of songs - not a bad way to spend time. More lectures later - the mandatory AECO briefing is the key one if we want to go on excursions.Les mer