Rio Verde

Overnight the Eclipse threaded it's way through several channels in the beginning of the Chilean fjords. Through the Cocovado channel just after midnight, the narrow Morales channel just before dawn and out to open sea through the Ninualac channel with the morning sun behind us as we ate breakfast. We cruised along the coast toward the head outside the Gulf of Penas, which we reached by mid afternoon. We crossed the Gulf, staying on the seaward side rather than take the more sheltered inner channel passage. The cruise continued overnight just off the westernmost islands before entering more channels and fjords next morning.

Being at sea left us hanging out all day. The cruise publishes a daily, four-page newsletter that briefly highlights the next day's news and hour-by-hour events, as well as the operating hours of the bars, restaurants and shops. We use it to plan our days. Today's weather was low clouds and breezy, with the sun breaking through occsionally.

After breakfast, we walked the decks then relaxed in the top deck sky lounge. This glass-enclosed lounge is as far forward as you can be and it was crowded with other guests doing the same. We moved to the room so Gail could get warm. It's chilly outside (lower 50s) and the public areas are often drafty with people going in and out. In the room, I caught up blogging and tracked out cruise progress while Gail read and did her puzzles, occasionally stepping onto the 6x9 veranda to take pictures of some of the shore sliding by.

After lunch, Gail went to a glass blowing demonstration. The ship has a resident glass blowing workshop that offers demos and make-your-own classes.

It was a lazy day with not a lot to do. We skipped dinner to go to a movie, Bohemian Rhapsody (the story of Freddy Mercury and Queen), showing in the smaller theater. Just a couple days ago, the movie won Best Picture and Best Actor at the Golden Globe awards. It was very well done and worthy of note. We grabbed some pizza at the buffet as they closed. I'd been wanting to try one of the whiskey tastings and tonight seemed like the night to do it so we went to one of the swanky bars. The bartender set out three highland single malts and explained the aging process for each. He poured a half shot of each and I spent a good hour sipping and judging them. Good fun!

The interior corridors of the ship are decorated with art. Pictures and photos line the stateroom corridors and larger paintings and mixed media art hang from the stairwells and elevator bank foyers. In the more open areas, small and medium sculptures greet you. Each art work has a plaque giving the artist, media and a bit of explanation. The floors are carpeted and everything is brightly but indirectly lit.

The ship's crew is well-trained and efficient. They are ubiquitous. Everyone is acutely aware if the recent bacterial disease outbreaks on cruise ships so there are sanitizer stations all over and a crew member greets you at the entrance to the buffets and restaurants with a squirter to splash a dollop of sanitizer in you hands as you come in.

We continue to cruise overnight and all day tomorrow as we enter more fjords on our way to Punta Arenas.Read more