Star Princess Antarctica: which side?

For viewing scenery and wildlife (especially birds), which side of the ship would be preferable for a balcony on the Star Princess? Thanks for your help.

Doesn't matter -- the best views are outside on deck where you have a wider field of vision and can move quickly from side to side or front to back. Here's an afternoon list by our expedition leader of sightings on one day of our Antarctica trip. (The list was expanded later.) You will miss a lot if you stay on your own balcony.

Thanks for your response, Shorex, and especially for sharing your list. I do plan to be on deck most of the time but just wanted to know for those times that I am in my cabin.

Was your trip an Antarctica landing or a sailby like that on the Star?

Any chance of seeing your final trip list?

It doesn't matter a whole lot. Murphy's Law applies and the interesting

sights will all be on the other side when you are on your balcony. Dress

warmly and go on deck to get the most of the surrounding sights and

activity. In some locations, the ship will probably be turned to allow those

on both sides to see what is happening. If it gets too cold, head for the Skywalkers

Lounge at the stern for a panoramic view. We did the trip in 2008. We also

spent a few sailaways in the aft hot-tub on deck 14 until it got too windy.

We have done two sail-bys in Antarctic waters and one expedition cruise with zodiac landings. This is my absolute favorite part of the world. Someday we want to approach Antarctica from the New Zealand side.

The sighting list photo is from the expedition cruise, however, you will be seeing the same varieties of wildlife. I didn't take a picture of the final posting of the day, but here is the list from Christmas Day, 2007:

Cruise Species List Sunday 25th December 2007

Mammals

Humpback Whale 3

Antarctic Fur Seal 1

Birds

Giant Petrel 50+ (including one almost white individual)

Black-browed Albatross 10+

Grey-headed Albatross 1

Southern Fulmar 200+

Cape Petrel 1,000 + (on entering Drake Passage)

Antarctic Petrel 6

Antarctic Prion 2

White-chinned Petrel 6+

Wilson’s Storm Petrel 50+

Gentoo Penguin 10+

Adelie Penguin 3

Chinstrap Penguin 400+

Snowy Sheathbill 5+

Antarctic Shag 10+

Brown “Sub Antarctic” Skua 8

South Polar Skua 2

Kelp Gull 10+

Antarctic Tern 20+

Note: A + sign after the counts indicates that we saw at least that number but more may have been present.

Our staff ornithologist, Jim Wilson, posted this list on his blog -- he was on the ship for the whole Antarctica season. Give his blog a read for a feel of what you will be seeing. The links on his blog will also help prepare you to maximize the experience.

Here is one of Jim's photo's of a Dolpin gull on the ship railing:

Thanks, folks. I appreciate the replies. You're pretty much telling me what I expected. I know I'll be moving around a lot. In Alaska on the NCL Star we had a suite right in the bow with a very large balcony that was great for pelagics. I know I'll miss it.

Shorex, thanks very much for the list and link. They'll help a lot.