Antarctica Adventure - Day 1-3

10 Dec – We departed Ushuaia at the scheduled 1800 and headed east along the (Beagle Channel between Argentina and Chile). We had some great views, including a close passing of Port Williams, the furthest south city on the planet. By late that evening we exited the channel and began our crossing of the Drake Straight (a.k.a. the Drake Shake or the Drake Lake, depending on how rough the seas are). A previous cruise a couple weeks before us, had been hit by a 30 foot wave that crashed through a porthole and sucked a passenger out into the sea. On the morning of the 10th, our ship (the Plancias) returned from its previous cruise that was scheduled to visit the Falkland Islands, then South Georgia, and then on down to Antarctica. Unfortunately, after departing South Georgia, one of the passengers slipped and banged his head, and had to be taken back to the Falkland Island for medical attention, but passed away due to a brain hemorrhage. Both ships never made it to Antarctica.

11-12 Dec – Sunday morning was a bit rough, but fairly calm. A few of our party had a bit of seasickness but by the afternoon we were enjoying the Drake Lake effect with nearly flat seas. We continued on through Monday to Antarctica without incident, arriving off the coast by the late evening.Read more