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Antarctica - Lucky Number 7
  • Dave Hippler
  • Dave Hippler

Antarctica - Lucky Number 7

A 23-day adventure by Dave Read more
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  • Trip start
    December 25, 2025
    Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel
    View from our hotelArriving at USHView from the hotelThere's a nice trail behind the hotelAhhhhGetting our gear at the travel agency office. Hats, ski pants, boots, coats,and gloves are included.Not our boat

    Ushuaia

    Dec 28–29, 2025 in Argentina ⋅ 🌫 41 °F

    After an almost 4 hour flight from Buenos Aires, we landed in Ushuaia (oosh WHY a) in Tierra del Fuego. We'll spend just one night here before we start our cruise. And afterwards we'll spend a few days exploring the area.

    The cruise package included one night at a resort outside of town. The travel agency we booked with sponsored a pizza party in town, so we got to meet several of our fellow adventurers. As it happened, all six people at our table were from the midwest. It sounds like we're with like-minded people. We were swapping stories about various travels right away. One guy had been to 193 countries and wanted to visit all of them twice before he died!

    We set off today and the itinerary is loose. We have a tentative route but it all depends upon the weather and the captain will change course to avoid any bad weather.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/3ipKrR7upv9Y89Jt8

    An interactive map of the whole trip is here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/N3boKhjooRi1E7o46    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Meeting the captain and crew
    Drake Lake. Whew.Daily conditions reportSafety briefingThe food is pretty goodExample of our daily agendas. Never a dull moment.Old school map tracker

    The Drake Passage

    Dec 29–31, 2025, Drake Passage ⋅ 🌬 36 °F

    The first part of the trip passed through the Beagle Channel, which is a narrow and calm channel that separates Chile and Argentina in the extreme southern tip of South America. It empties into the Drake Passage.

    The Drake Passage is known as one of the most turbulent ocean passages in the world. It stands between the South American continent and Antarctica. Its nickname is the Drake Shake. But on the rare occasion when it's calm, it's known as the Drake Lake. We were amazingly lucky to experience the Drake Lake.

    For two days, the sea was calm and we had a fair amount of sun. Everyone here was relieved because we have all heard of the horror story of violent passages. Or they've experienced it. We met many people who've been to Antarctica once or twice before. 7 meter waves are not uncommon.

    When the trip started we weren't sure what the order of events were. It really does depend on the weather and the Captain's got the final decision. This is a long cruise and we're hitting the Falklands and South Georgia in addition to Antarctica. Fortunately we're heading straight to Antarctica. It will take 2 days.

    The crew is top notch. We spent the two days getting familiar with the ship, having safety briefings, attending lectures on wildlife, and getting to know fellow passengers. It looks like it's going to be fun.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/2CAErkB37hnDdUF99

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://findpenguins.com/0x7ax2pvwii8d/footprin…    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Malchior IslandsFinally! IcebergsBringing in 2026 in the Southern OceanOur route so farWe went to lots of informative lectures during down time.One of many recap/ briefing meetings.I could get used to this.Gentoo PenguinsGentoo PenguinsThe SeaventureThe SeaventureNew friends Patrick and Kay on New Year's EveParty like it's 2026

    New Year's in Antarctica

    Dec 31–Jan 1, 2026 in Antarctica ⋅ ☁️ 34 °F

    At some point in the night we crossed the 60th parallel. That latitude is what defines Antarctica. An international treaty protects the whole area between 60°and 90° and it belongs to no one country.

    On New Year's Eve we did our first excursion on a Zodiac raft, the first of 18. It took us a long time to suit up with all the layers of clothes, muck boots, and life jackets. On every trip everyone got faster and faster at it. It did remind me of my days in the Illinois National Guard, what with all the hurry up and wait, but all the standing around while waiting to get on a zodiac was well worth it.

    Our first stop after passing through the Gerlache Strait was on the Melchior Islands. On the zodiac in the bay we all celebrated New Year's Eve with some sparkling wine in paper cups.

    Later in the night, not long before midnight, the ship received a distress call called a "pan pan." It's one level of distress call under MayDay. Apparently someone on a small sailboat burned themselves while boiling water and requested medical help. The fact that the sailors were Russian and our ship's captain was Ukrainian meant nothing at the moment.

    Our ship, the Seaventure, changed course and went way out of the way to help him and give medical care until another ship that was heading towards Ushuaia went out of their way to pick him up and take him back to a hospital. That put us way off schedule but the crew was amazing and shuffled some things around and we didn't miss any excursions.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/VqSbEFMRCQ2NNdrS6

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://findpenguins.com/0x7ax2pvwii8d/footprin…    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Off of Cuvervile Island
    I claim this Hip and FunkylandSo that's how they get on an iceberg.Lining up for a Zodiac expeditionOff into the wild blue ice yonderBrown StationParadise BayParadise BayImperial ShagChinstrap PenguinsWeddell SealA Leopard SealTime lapseIce, Ice, BabyAt Brown StationBrown StationParadise BayA daily itineraryMap of our route, including the out of the way pan pan call

    Cuverville Island and Paradise Bay

    Jan 1–2, Bransfield Strait ⋅ ☁️ 28 °F

    Finally! Our 7th continent.

    Cuvervile Island is home to the largest Gentoo penguin colony in the Antarctic peninsula. There were lots of icebergs and lots of penguins, including Chinstraps. Everyone was pretty ecstatic. Little did we know, we'd later see hundreds of thousands of penguins, including 6 of the 7 species in Antarctica. I now understand the name of this blog. We found penguins.

    After lunch we went to Paradise Bay and stopped at Brown station, an Argentine science station. It was unmanned. Our guide said " Yeah, the Argentines like to build these bases but don't have the money to staff them."

    Even though the Antarctic treaty has been in place since 1959, many nations still hold on to their original claims and there's a fair amount of these stations in the Antarctic peninsula. I think it's kind of a back-up plan in case things don't work out in the future.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/kZLigRgZ1tm5tQAh8

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://findpenguins.com/0x7ax2pvwii8d/footprin…    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    1
    With friends Wendy and BrianUnloading the kayaks at Charlotte BayCharlotte BayTandem Kayak? Lord help us.Prepping for the Polar Plunge after kayakingThe Polar PlungeHot drinks awaitPalaver Point on Two Hummock Island off the Antarctic peninsulaChinstrapsOur ship, the SeaventureDoin' the nastyPalaver Point

    Kayaking, Polar Plunge, Palaver Point

    Jan 2–3, Bransfield Strait ⋅ ⛅ 28 °F

    Our expedition company, Polar Latitudes, offered kayaking as an option. We chose to do it for one day at a place called Charlotte Bay. The water was calm and there were icebergs in the water. We spent a couple hours paddling around and saw a Humpback whale in the distance a few times.

    We enjoyed it but we would never have done the full immersive kayaking program. Those people went out about a dozen times and that meant the time you're in a kayak is time you are not on land walking around getting close to the wildlife. To each their own.

    Afterwards everyone had the opportunity to do a Polar Plunge off the side of the ship. We thought what the heck? I'd say about only a third of the passengers did it. While it was cold, they greeted us with towels and drink and there is a sauna onboard.

    The sun sets really late this far south, after 10:00 p.m. That gave us time to do an excursion to Palaver Point on Two Hummock Island after dinner. It was more penguins, more ice, and more beauty. We can't get enough.

    There was a Chinstrap Penguin colony at the point. We got to see them playing and move on the snow. Sometimes they'd push themselves on their stomach and sometimes they'd walk awkwardly across it.

    There is a threat of avian bird flu here so we have to stay 5 m away from wildlife and clean our gear before and after every excursion - a small price to pay for keeping the wildlife safe

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/pib13VEnTV51KE3Z8

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://findpenguins.com/0x7ax2pvwii8d/footprin…    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Gull chick on Half Moon IslandWe saw more wildlife than we expected.Half Moon IslandGentoo Penguin colony on Half Moon IslandGentoo Penguin colonyHalf Moon Island1Half Moon IslandChinstrapHalf Moon IslandWeddell sealWeddell sealWeddell sealGentoo PenguinsWeddel SealBoarding after an excursionBransfield StraitOn the zodiacBransfield Strait

    Half Moon Island and Bransfield Strait

    Jan 3–4, Bransfield Strait ⋅ ⛅ 34 °F

    Next stop: Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands. We just left the Antarctic mainland. Most cruises only visit the tip of the Antarctic peninsula that's closest to South America. We're happy that we got on land several times but the real wildlife is in the other Islands nearby.

    We took another zodiac and saw Gentoo and Chinstrap penguin colonies and lots of Weddell seals. We are lucky that the sun was out. That's not always the case. Some days are pretty dreary

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/zSf1CJS6f1iJ9hrd9

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://findpenguins.com/0x7ax2pvwii8d/footprin…    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Ice fields in the Scotia SeaIce fields in the Scotia SeaIce fields in the Scotia SeaScotia SeaScotia SeaElephant IslandElephant IslandDessert every day. Oh boyThar she blows!A Fin Whale?Map of our trip so farA tribute to the Chilean captain that saved Shackleton's men stranded on Elephant IslandIceberg off of Elephant IslandElephant IslandElephant IslandWe heard an underwater fur seal calling for a mate at this iceberg. So rare....Lonely penguinsWho know a lecture on krill could be so interesting?Who know a lecture on the B15AB iceberg could be so interesting? At this point, it's 10 x 4 milesThe former UK commando, Paul, was the ship historianB15AB icebergListening for an underwater fur seal calling for a mate.Brrrrr

    Elephant Island and The Scotia Sea

    Jan 4–7, Scotia Sea ⋅ ☁️ 34 °F

    We had lots of time when sailing through the Bransfield Strait off of the South Shetlands. But never a dull moment from Polar Latitudes. They filled the time with interesting lectures on krill, Ernest Shackleton, and even the detailed history of an iceberg.

    I had no idea that large icebergs are named and tracked. Antarctica is split into quadrants: A, B, C, and D. When one calves off, the first letter of the name shows where it came from. The following numbers are the year it happened, and the last letters are given in order and if there are more than 26 in a year, they add a second column. The largest iceberg we saw was called B15AB which means it came from the SW corner of Antarctica in 2015. It was the 28th one that calved that year.

    So much for the background. Suffice it to say this guy was HUGE! Some are as big as Jamaica. They are miles and miles long and hundreds of meters high. We sailed past this guy and the expedition leader talked about it as if it was an old friend. And given the ocean currents and temperature, she wouldn't see it again.

    The lecture on the Antarctic explorer Shackleton by the ship historian was even more interesting. Long story, but a failed expedition in 1914 left them stranded on their ship, on ice, and islands for 2 years! And everyone survived. Great story.

    Elephant Island is where one group stayed behind for a year while Shackleton and a few others sailed on, looking for rescue. What a cold, lonely, desolate late place. But, they have penguins and seals!

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/piSadFD3YmmLmgf48

    And here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/FyjD6iouwjCuUUNC9

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://findpenguins.com/0x7ax2pvwii8d/footprin…    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler

    Gold Harbor and St. Andrew's Bay

    Jan 7–8 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ☁️ 37 °F

    This was the first of 4 days at South Georgia Island. It ended up being the highlight of the trip. As you can see, there was sooooo much wildlife.

    At Gold Harbor, there was a King Penguin colony where over 150,000 of them nesting. These are the guys with the gold neck and ears. The awkward brown ones are juveniles molting their brown feathers. Also in abundant supply were the cute Fur Seals and their playful pups.

    Near the beach were lots of Elephant Seals. These are the big boys and the males like to fight a lot while the females just scratch their heads.

    In the afternoon we went to St. Andrews Bay for more of the same. Those seal pups are just like dog puppies. But they nip at you. We used ski poles to keep them at bay. If you touch their highly sensitive whiskers, they kind freak out and back off.

    Elephant seals video
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/auqmhRJzkwuLBtx7A

    Gold Harbor photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/GN33eqHNYdcf6HDe7

    St. Andrews Bay photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/R8nY6DweT8JhEVxq6

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://findpenguins.com/0x7ax2pvwii8d/footprin…    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Call it MacaroniLonely iceberg at Hercules BaySouthern elephant seal wrestling with Bull KelpHercules BayHercules BayMacaroni Penguins versus Bull KelpHercules BayElephant SealMacaroni PenguinsMacaroni PenguinsMacaroni PenguinsMacaroni PenguinsMacaroni PenguinsMacaroni PenguinsJuvenile elephant seal

    Hercules Bay, South Georgia Island

    January 8 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F

    We moved up the coast to Hercules Bay, but had to stay in the Zodiac. This is home to a large Macaroni Penguin colony and a few Elephant Seals hung around. These penguins have distinctive fancy yellow feathers that look like eyebrows.

    The "Macaroni" has nothing to do with the penguins looking like pasta. The term originated in England in the 1760's for young, rich, dandy men who wore outrageous fashions after returning from their European tours. I guess lonely whalers thought these penguins looked pretty dandy.

    The song Yankee Doodle Dandy was written 10 years later by Redcoats making fun of naive rubes in the colonies who thought a feather in their cap was high fashion. I had to come all the way to Antarctica to learn this.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/teRn6nVw2fT9ZV1i6

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://findpenguins.com/0x7ax2pvwii8d/footprin…    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Grytviken, a former whaling stationFur Seal PupShackleton's graveAt Ernest Shackleton's grave, with Shackleton WhiskeyMourning Shackleton1King PenguinsFormer whaling boatThis held whale oilThe seldom used church. It became more of a meeting hall. 😆Love the list of old movies they hadAt the MuseumTools used in whalingAn interesting tour

    Grytviken, South Georgia Island

    Jan 8–9 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F

    Pronounced GRIT vit kin, Grytviken is a former whaling station settled by Norwegians. What a nasty industry. Before petroleum and plastics, whales provided heating oil, lamp oil, and lots of other products. It shut down in the 60's.

    There's a small community that lives there now and it has a nice museum. We got a tour of the rusting facilities from one of the museum employees. The site was cleaned up about 10 years ago.

    It's also where Ernest Shackleton is buried. He and his men survived that arduous trip from 1914 to 1916. But several years later he made a return trip from England for another expedition and died shortly after landing here. His wife wanted him to be buried here.

    There were lots of pesky seal pups hanging around. We were lucky to have a sunny day.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/SmWWSwQQvnqehcP5A

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://findpenguins.com/0x7ax2pvwii8d/footprin…    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Molting King Penguins
    Fortuna BayShip schedule for January 9Map of South Georgia1King Penguin ColonyHow do you count them?

    Fortuna Bay, South Georgia Island

    January 9 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ⛅ 30 °F

    Another day, another bay. Fortuna Bay has lots more King Penguins and Fur Seals. This was the only day that snowed surprisingly.

    Fortuna is a spot with over 100,000 penguins. That's a lot of poop, which filled our senses. The brown ones are molting juveniles.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/JTZYpSEharAtNYLL9

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://findpenguins.com/0x7ax2pvwii8d/footprin…    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    This was all covered in ice and snow for ShackletonStromness whaling stationStromnessThe daily agendaAn example menuView from dinnerThe dining room

    The Shackleton Hike/ Stromness

    Jan 9–10 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ☁️ 30 °F

    We were presented with the opportunity to hike in Shackleton's footsteps. The last part of his amazing journey was when he and two other men walked across South Georgia Island to the whaling station of Stromness.

    They were the first persons to walk across the island. It was 1916 and 2 years after his journey started. A large group of his men stayed on Elephant Island for over a year. About eight of them took one lifeboat and sailed to the wrong side of South Georgia Island. It was no small miracle that they landed on the island at all. Shackleton and two others walked across the ice and snow and somehow managed to find civilization. Everyone was eventually rescued after Shackleton heard the morning whistle to start work at the whaling station the next morning.

    It sounded fun so I decided to do it with about 40 others. After we started the hike, our ship sailed to the bay on the other side to meet us. There was no turning back! It only took about 3 hours but it was fun.

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/4j5pnfaMfkToNupG7

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://findpenguins.com/0x7ax2pvwii8d/footprin…    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    1As far as the eye can see
    That's a lot of penguinsKing PenguinsThe ship schedule for the daySouth GeorgiaFind the sealSouthern Giant PetrelThey're good little climbersRockhopper PenguinsRockhopper PenguinRockhopper PenguinsRockhopper Penguins120,000+ King Penguins

    Salisbury Plain, Bay of Isles

    January 10 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ☁️ 36 °F

    This was our last landing on South Georgia. And what a doozy. This is probably the largest penguin colony we've seen on the trip. Over 150,000 King penguins? Hard to say. I never expected to see so many, or be up so close. Because of the bird flu, we had to stay about 5 meters from the animals. But that's close enough. Those molting brown juveniles look so miserable, waiting to blossom.

    Here's some fun facts from the trip:

    64.5 degrees south is the farthest we went. That's the farthest I've been. Tromso, Norway is the farthest north at 69.6° North.

    The ship had 106 crew and 140 passengers, a great ratio.

    We went 3,577 nautical miles on the trip and made 18 excursions! Wow. Not one was cancelled, a very rare thing.

    Wildlife
    Too many birds to count but especially Petrels, Skua and Albatross species.

    Dusky Dolphin

    6 of 7 penguin species
    Gentoo penguins
    Chinstrap Penguins
    Adelie Penguins
    King Penguins
    Magellanic Penguins
    Rockhopper penguins

    4 whale species
    Humpback whale
    Fin Whale
    Right whale
    Sei whale

    6 seal species
    Leopard seal
    Weddel Seal
    Crabeater Seal
    Fur Seal
    Elephant Seal
    Sea Lion

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/U1aAQiZYooRTxJFC7

    And this is the highlight of the trip: a Southern Right Whale sighting on January 10th. It's so rare for one of them to hang out next to a Zodiac, I'm posting it in every footprint.

    https://findpenguins.com/0x7ax2pvwii8d/footprin…    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Eye to eye - Screencap from Nate's GoPro
    1It was just a fluke1Screencap from Nate's GoProScreencap from Nate's GoProScreencap from Nate's GoProScreencap from Nate's GoProScreencap from Nate's GoProFor the wildlife enthusiasts, here's a list of all the wildlife that was spotted on our cruisePDF

    Party with a Southern Right Whale

    Jan 10–11 in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ⋅ ⛅ 37 °F

    This was the highlight of the trip, something most people can only dream of. It was just another normal zodiac excursion: more penguins, more seals, more glaciers. At this point it was nothing too special because we were nearing the end of the trip.

    We were almost done with the excursion at Elsehul when one of the guides mentioned on the radio that there was a Southern Right Whale out at the entrance to the bay. The whale was so named because it was the "right whale" to catch.

    Our German guide Martin zoomed out and we waited. And the rest is magic. Those white things on its head are barnacles and collosities.

    It's not rare to see a Southern Right Whale. But it is rare for them to just hang out at a Zodiac and check us out for 10 minutes.

    As if all of that wasn't enough, we also saw lots of Macaroni Penguins and seals before the whale sighting.

    Here's my edited version from our zodiac.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/bEUSYd1LpkEqofEN8

    Here is a full GoPro video from Nate, a different guide. This one's amazing since you can see what the whale looks like underwater.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/4CkDNJU9vhdHSvQ87

    Here's an interactive map of the entire trip.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/YkSRjQs3rmC1yBF87

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/vvEfZCArscZxPQbi9    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Humpbacks?The mock debate over the Falklands WarThe bridgeFundraiser auction on boardThe bridgeCrew talent showA Kwik Trip! No, wait. That's the Stanley visitor center.Sights of StanleyStanley MuseumExhibit on the Falklands WarPreparing for tomorrow's excursionFor the wildlife enthusiasts, here's a list of all the wildlife that was spotted on our cruisePDF

    Sailing to Stanley

    Jan 11–13 in Falkland Islands ⋅ 🌬 54 °F

    It took two leisurely days to get to the Falklands. That left plenty of time for a charity auction and a crew talent show. Those were lots of fun. Two people donated $900 each to be able to name a whale. The Happy Whale Project identifies whales by their markings and then uses photos from tourists to track where they are.

    There were lots of whale sightings on this journey. Every now and then our leader Hannah would get on the horn and tell us there's a whale on the port or starboard side. And over the two days there were plenty of lectures from experts on the wildlife we would be seeing.

    There was also time for two crew members to give a mock debate about the Falklands/ Malvinas War. Paul, the ship historian is a former UK commando. Santi, the kayak guide lead is the only Argentine crew member on board. They had a pretty fun banter and made some interesting points on both sides. Finally, we got to take a tour of the bridge and hear some interesting stories from the Ukrainian captain.

    We made a landing at Stanley in the Falkland islands on the 13th. This is the only day with rough weather. It was very windy. The city of Stanley was somewhat underwhelming. There was not a lot to do there except the insightful museum which gave details on the Falklands War along with their history.

    Photos and videos of the journey to the Falklands are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/8yHWSwA8Piso2De98

    Photos and videos of Stanley, Falkland Islands are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/7NZChwFBo8vpuQTf8

    An interactive map of the whole trip is here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/N3boKhjooRi1E7o46    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Penguin tracks
    Judging by these tracks, he went thataway.You can rent that cabinBlack-browed AlbatrossRockhoppersPenguin poopLong-tailed MeadowlarkFor the wildlife enthusiasts, here's a list of all the wildlife that was spotted on our cruise.PDF

    New Island, Falklands - Sailing Home

    Jan 14–16 in Falkland Islands ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    We made two stops on New Island in the western part of the Falklands. These were the last two of 18.

    At New Island North Harbor we saw lots of Striated Caracaras (birders were excited) and Rockhopper Penguins. They look a little bit like the Macaronis. There was also a Albatross rookery, so there were lots of pics with Mom and chicks.

    At New Island settlement, there were about eight houses and a small museum. It was sunny and warm that day so we were all sweating and took off our layers. We walked across the island to a sandy beach with more Southern Rockhoppers and a Cormorant rookery.

    More photos and videos of New Island North Harbor are here .
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/5d2MdoB1oz6r5MPs6

    More photos and videos of New Island Settlement are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/QBasPtFCZ3NctFHY6

    An interactive map of the whole trip is here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/N3boKhjooRi1E7o46    Read more

  • Dave HipplerAntarctica - Lucky Number 7Traveler
    Kay, Patrick, Deanne, and Dave
    King CrabAntique fire truckAn asado with lamb on the spitThe final wildlife listPDFDaily SchedulesPDF

    Ushaia, Part 2

    Jan 16–19 in Argentina ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    We've come full circle. That was the trip of a lifetime. I couldn't have asked for a better one. We spent 18 days and nights at sea. The staff repeatedly told us how lucky we were. Not only did we get the Drake Lake both ways, but we had excellent weather. Not one excursion was canceled. We saw literally hundreds of thousands of penguins. There were dozens of whales including that great experience with the Southern Right Whale, and more seals that you could imagine.

    We're hanging out for three nights in Ushaia. There's really no reason to. We booked this trip at the last minute. I thought we'd want 3 days to explore here but the mountains and glaciers here pale in comparison to what we just saw. So we're just relaxing and writing and editing. We also hung out with new friends Patrick and Kay.

    Deanne and I both agreed that we will never come back. How could it possibly be any better? And in a bizarre coincidence, some neighbors from McFarland, Wisconsin saw us in a coffee shop! Deanne's workout friends from the gym were just getting ready to leave on their excursion.

    Here's some fun facts from the trip:

    64.5 degrees south is the farthest we went. That's the farthest I've been. Tromso, Norway is the farthest north at 69.6° North.

    The ship had 106 crew and 140 passengers, a great ratio.

    We went 3,577 nautical miles on the trip and made 18 excursions! Wow. Not one was cancelled, a very rare thing.

    Wildlife
    Too many flying birds to count but especially Petrels, Skua and Albatross species.

    Dusky Dolphin

    6 of 7 penguin species
    Gentoo penguins
    Chinstrap Penguins
    Adelie Penguins
    King Penguins
    Magellanic Penguins
    Rockhopper penguins

    4 whale species
    Humpback whale
    Fin Whale
    Right whale
    Sei whale

    6 seal species
    Leopard seal
    Weddel Seal
    Crabeater Seal
    Fur Seal
    Elephant Seal
    Sea Lion

    More photos and videos are here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/wyNnPiHBWLrUsYwB8

    An interactive map of the whole trip is here.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/N3boKhjooRi1E7o46    Read more

    Trip end
    January 16, 2026
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