January 7th NCL Star cruise to Antarctica , Argentina and Chile with a 10 day stay photo travelogue

[scubacruiserx2]

 En route to Stanley we saw a strange rainrod from the forward balcony .

 

It was windy as there was no Norwegian flag flying from the flag staff

 

 

One thing taat we missed at Volunteer Point the last time was a walk on the beach . We had an escort of Kings to the waves .

 

 

 

This Sea Cabbage didn't make me hungry .

 

 

A pair of Gentoos returning from fishing . Pretty waves but not good for surfing as they were closing out .

[MicCanberra]

I will be surprised if we get ashore in Stanley tomorrow, the wind will likely rule us out for tendering but we hope I am wrong. If we do get to go we were going to Bertha's Beach as we had been to Volunteer Point previously.

[scubacruiserx2]

39 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

I will be surprised if we get ashore in Stanley tomorrow, the wind will likely rule us out for tendering but we hope I am wrong. If we do get to go we were going to Bertha's Beach as we had been to Volunteer Point previously.

 

 We sure hope that you can make it ashore . We went to both the Victory Bar and Globe Bar for a pint and fish and chips . We preferred the Victory as the guide had suggested . Lunch photos coming up on the Star next .

[scubacruiserx2]

 With our day at sea we had breakfast and our interdenominational Bible study which was a bust . NCL alloted a time , place and some refreshments but refused to post it in the Freestyle Daily , and would not let us post signs to promote it . Additionally unlike every other cruise or hotel that we have been in - there was no Gideons Bible .

 For lunch we tried O'Sheehan's for some Pub Grub . 

 

 

 

Buffalo wings Spinch and artichoke dip were both delcious .

 

 

 

 

A Belgium draft for me and true to her Irish roots , a Guinness for my lassie . Fish and chips ( French fries ) and a Ruben were split . Sorru NCL my wife's Ruben is much better but all and all , very good and we heard an Angel sing one of my favorite songs !

 

 

 

Edited February 3 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

  They have a saying on NCL " Fish swim forward " . It's on the carpet but we somtimes feel like the red fish .

 

 

 Our progress toward our stop in Chile , Punta Arenas . We have been here 3 times and docked . But NCL has us tendering . 

 

 

 

 

We had hoped that the Oosterdam would make port and see some King Chicks that should be hatched by now .

 

 

 

 

With a hearing problem the doctors have given us hearing aids . But wearing them makes people talking sound like the Star's Arcade , a casino for kids .

 

 

 

Edited February 3 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

7 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

I will be surprised if we get ashore in Stanley tomorrow, the wind will likely rule us out for tendering but we hope I am wrong. If we do get to go we were going to Bertha's Beach as we had been to Volunteer Point previously.

 

It appears that you are on course to the Falkland islands . We are hoping and praying that yo make it there and enjoy you planned trip .

 

https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=9221281

[scubacruiserx2]

A look at the Accuweather forecast for the Falkland Islands for tomorrow and Monday . It appears that tomorrow is the better day with the wind alert for Monday .

 

https://www.accuweather.com/en/fk/stanley/127824/daily-weather-forecast/127824

[MicCanberra]

We are hoping.

[scubacruiserx2]

11 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

We are hoping.

 

Us too my friends !

[scubacruiserx2]

Cherry pink and Apple blossum white played at Gatsbys . This song is from my childhood and was played on a trumpet originally . You had to walk through it to get to Le Bistro . It was the meeting place for the LGBTQIA+ at dinner time and was announced daily in the Freestyle Daily . They had live music every night and we had to walk through it to use the washrooms when you eat at Le Bistro . It was amazing how quite it was in LeBistro as we could not hear the music .

 

 

 

It is also below the Ginza and across from La Cucina Restaurants .

Edited February 4 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

 Friday  , January 12th was a windy day in Punta Arenas . We had breakfast and was ready to go ashore to meet our guide for a private 3 hour tour . The tenders were in the water and the birds feeding with our thruster stirring up some fish .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inexplicably , the Captain made the call to cancel the port . It seems like the wind was coming up and the tenders we having trouble .

 

 

Edited February 4 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

  We are hoping and praying and it looks good on Cruisemapper ! 🙏🙏

https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=9221281

The queue for the return tenders was over an hour and reached past the Church ! We were there more than 2 hours longer than the projected time by the ship !

 

 

Edited February 4 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

 It looks like you are headed in ! Cheers Mic and Rosie .

 

https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=9221281

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 Meanwhile back in Punta Arenas , we had switched from going ashore to watching them recover the tenders in the wind . The first 3 on the leward side were recovered easily . The Captain turned the ship 90 degrees so the second batch of tenders were having trouble catching the hook and we feared for their safety . 

 After another 90 degree turn the ship was now blocking the wind which allowed a safer operation which we observed from above .

 

 

 

 

We moved up to the promenade deck

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 With the last tender in place we were ready to spend the day moving through the Fjords toward Ushuaia .

 

 

 

[Huntingdon1701]

21 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

 For lunch we tried O'Sheehan's for some Pub Grub . 

 

 

 

These pictures have given me cravings! 42 days to go!

[scubacruiserx2]

56 minutes ago, Huntingdon1701 said:

 

These pictures have given me cravings! 42 days to go!

 

We did enjoy the food and entertainment there and the price was right - free ! 😉

It won't be long now ! Our favorite fish and chips ? The Laughing Halibut in London .

 

Edited February 4 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

 When the going gets tough - we go to lunch at Cagneys . First a look up at the Atrium .

 

 

Mushroom flatbread

 

 

Brie burger with Cheddar

 

 

Chocolate love boat ( pardon me Princess )

 

 

Banned from the deck due to inclement weather 

 

 

Wandering around

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting ready for Glacier Alley on the forward balcony . We were on the wrong side so we had to shoot across the bow before we reached the Glaciers 

 

Edited February 4 by scubacruiserx2

[Huntingdon1701]

1 hour ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

We did enjoy the food and entertainment there and the price was right - free ! 😉

It won't be long now ! Our favorite fish and chips ? The Laughing Halibut in London .

 

 

You're kidding?! I often pop in there from the office - although I have to eat in the park. It is very good, although I've a local one that I prefer slightly. Most of the food stalls in Strutton Ground are excellent though.

 

Were the glaciers on the mainland side? Or in the islands, as you go through glacier passage? I've got a starboard cabin so think I'll also be on the wrong side for a balcony view. 

Edited February 4 by Huntingdon1701

[scubacruiserx2]

1 minute ago, Huntingdon1701 said:

 

You're kidding?! I often pop in there from the office - although I have to eat in the park. It is very good, although I've a local one that I prefer slightly. Most of the food stalls in Strutton Ground are excellent though.

 

No , it's usually the first place that we go to in London , as we usually stay near Westminster in walking distance . Where are you cruising and what ship ?

[Huntingdon1701]

1 minute ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

 Where are you cruising and what ship ?

 

It's the Star, on the Santiago to Buenos Aires route, so a lot of the same ports you're featuring. 

[scubacruiserx2]

35 minutes ago, Huntingdon1701 said:

 

You're kidding?! I often pop in there from the office - although I have to eat in the park. It is very good, although I've a local one that I prefer slightly. Most of the food stalls in Strutton Ground are excellent though.

 

Were the glaciers on the mainland side? Or in the islands, as you go through glacier passage? I've got a starboard cabin so think I'll also be on the wrong side for a balcony view. 

 

 The glaciers were on the port side in Glacier Alley , which I'm editing just now . After we had completed Glacier Alley on the port side the Captain performed a Crazy Ivan maneuver , with a 180 degree turn and made a higher speed pass on the Starboard side just before dark . 

 With respect to Antarctica there was more land , thus more Glaciers , on the port side on the second day . On the first day in Paradise Bay we went in and turned around so we both saw everything . The weather was fantastic on day 1 , but not so good on day 2 . 

[scubacruiserx2]

44 minutes ago, Huntingdon1701 said:

 

It's the Star, on the Santiago to Buenos Aires route, so a lot of the same ports you're featuring. 

 

I don't see that cruise listed . That is the one we did last time on the HAL Zandam . It had 4 days in Antarctica . Perhaps as you are leaving from Santiago the route is different so your side may be different .

[scubacruiserx2]

 The lighting wasn't good and as you can see , shot across the bow  The first one was a Tidewater glacier .

 

 

Close up

 

 

Glacier with lots of water gushing .

 

 

 

 

Edited February 4 by scubacruiserx2

[MicCanberra]

9 hours ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 It looks like you are headed in ! Cheers Mic and Rosie .

 

https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=9221281

 

 

We got in, had a fantastic day but it was cold and very windy. Lots of penguins, some seals and sea lions.