Live From the Sapphire, 30-Day Antarctica/SA B2B, Jan 20 - Feb 19

[Ken the cruiser]

9 hours ago, vacation1996 said:

I have been reading your journey and now looking at Jan 2025. we usually book AFT at back/back but thinking of switching to a side one for this one ... still AFT but trying to see which deck  and balconies are best ...weather permitting of course  we will spend quite at lot of time out there so thinking more sheltered than open ...any suggestions where to pick or not to  would help us a lot  again thank you for taking us on your journey .

I just looked and since the cruise is less than a year away, the only aft cabins still available on the Jan 21 are these in the aft on deck 12. There are none of any I mentioned above on the Jan 4 cruise. 
 

[Ken the cruiser]

Today being a sea day, we’re pretty much in relax mode, going to a couple of lectures and taking a walk around the promenade.
 

  

Or that was the plan anyway. When we initially went out around 11 am to see how cold it was, there was some fog but around 60F with no wind. But then we did the check on our balcony.

 

 
However, when we got down to the promenade to go for a walk, the wind was blasting and the wind chill factor was down in the mid 40s! So, we changed our plan and walked around the inside hallways and up the stairwells until we got back up to our cabin! 

 

Edited February 10 by Ken the cruiser

[vacation1996]

2 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I just looked and since the cruise is less than a year away, the only aft cabins still available on the Jan 21 are these in the aft on deck 12. There are none of any I mentioned above on the Jan 4 cruise. 
 

Thank you for taking the time for such a detailed answer ... you have made our decision a lot easier of where and when  ... let the planning begin .. 

[Ken the cruiser]

After another tasty dinner, we headed back to the cabin to chill

  

 

until it was time to head the the theater to watch the production show, Let Me Entertain You, which once again was very enjoyable and upbeat! 

  

 
Afterwards we went and watched Majority Rukes in the Explorers Lounge.

 

 
When we got back to the cabin, it was time to check out the weather forecast for Port Stanley tomorrow, with hopefully the first shuttle heading over around 8:30 am and the last one coming back at 5 pm. From the way it looks it’s going to be windy and chilly! But at least the rain might stay away until after we’re back on the ship IF the Captain allows us to go ashore! 🤞

 

  

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Day 23 - Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

 

 

  

 

[Ken the cruiser]

This is the all day excursion we have booked for tomorrow if we are allowed to go ashore. Stay tuned! 

  

[azbirdmom]

That's quite windy.  What are the waves supposed to be like?  Sure hope you make it in.

[Ken the cruiser]

We have arrived at Port Stanley and the waves are mild and the winds are calm. As far as what happens the rest of the day, who cares. We’re here. Yay!! 😁

 

 

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

[azbirdmom]

So glad you made it.  Looking forward to hearing about your excursion.

[Ken the cruiser]

What a beautiful day it turned out to be going to Kelp Point!!

 

 
After about a 20 minute tender ride over, it wasn’t long before we were in one of the two 4 passenger 4-wheel drive vehicles that made up our tour for our 2+ hour drive to Kelp Point. Here are some of the views we saw along the way.

 

 

 

 

 
A few sheep

 

 

 
Then a few more sheep

 

 

 

 
Then a few more lambs

 

 
Then a bunch more sheep!

 

 
Then even more sheep! Needless to say, we got our sheep box checked off on this tour! 😂

 

 
Then came the final portion of our drive where the road to Kelp Point got a little bumpy!

 

 

 

Mr and Mrs Upland Geese

 

 
Next stop, Kelp Point!

  

 
As you can see, we definitely were able to get a lot closer than the other day on our Puerto Madryn tour, and they were definitely a lot more perky! 😁

 

 
This is what an adult’s annual molting process looks like up close.

 

 

 

 

 
A bunch of cute pups!

 

 

 
and more molting adults along with some more young pups! 😂

 

 

 

 

 

 
A pair of Falkland Island Steamer Ducks

 

 

 
Young juvenile elephant seals having a chat!

 

 
The end of the Elephant Seal photos! 

 

 
Now we’re off to see some Gentoo penguins!

 

Edited February 11 by Ken the cruiser

[Ken the cruiser]

It was about a 20-minute overland ride to the small Gentoo penguin rookery and beach area.

 

 
They use the small red berries to make jam.

 

 

 

A female Upland Goose in flight, which we rarely ever saw do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was time to head back to the ship.

 

 

 
More sheep! 😂

 

 

 

 

Stone Run created back in the Ice Age

 

 

 

[tml1230]

Ken, there are not adequate  words to describe your incredible photos! I feel like I was there with you!

Again thank you for one of the most entertaining and informative  reports I have ever read....

 

not for nuthin but.... you and LA Cruiser 88 should write a book together ! It would be a best seller !

Go figure from a LA guy and a Bama guy!

safe onward  journey .....

[Ken the cruiser]

Tonight after dinner, we headed to the cabin to watch sail away

 

 

before heading to a very entertaining show performed by the Luxury Dance Company from Buenos Aires called Tango and Malambo! The tango dancing was fun to watch, but the Malambo was awesome!

  

 
There was no game show tonight as the Super Bowl is being aired live in the Explorers Lounge, Club Fusion, and on the TV in our cabin. So back to the cabin we went! 😁

[Ken the cruiser]

Day 24 - Feb 12 - Sea Day cruising to Cape Horn

 

 

  

Edited February 12 by Ken the cruiser

[KLM3164]

We are cruising around the Caribbean for a couple weeks and thought of you when we saw these elusive Ocean Cay pigeons. Very rare!

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

12 minutes ago, KLM3164 said:

We are cruising around the Caribbean for a couple weeks and thought of you when we saw these elusive Ocean Cay pigeons. Very rare!

 

 

That’s quite the team effort there! I love it! Didn’t see any in either Antarctica or the Falkland Islands. I know, who knew! 😂

[Ken the cruiser]

Last night we were rocking and rolling through the wee hours of the morning, but that's to be expected the closer we get to the currents of the Drake Passage.

  

 

 

Hopefully by the time we get to Cape Horn this evening a little after 6 pm, the weather will have improved to allow us to take some good pictures. Right now the forecast is projecting partially sunny skies and not too breezy! 🤞

 

 

Edited February 12 by Ken the cruiser

[zanzibargirl]

On 2/2/2024 at 9:09 AM, Ken the cruiser said:

Is this the type of jacket you are referring to?

 

 

Ken would you be so kind to check on the availability of these jackets in the shop? Lots of sizes, choices etc? Trying to decide if I need to scramble to buy one here before we leave on Friday to join ship in a week! Thanks!

[ocean sounds]

@Ken the cruiser, love the pictures from your Stanley Excursion!  I opted for shorter Gentoo Penguins tour, as unsure about 4x4 roughness.   It was perfect for those wanting a less strenuous pace.  About 15-20 minute 4x4 only.  I hope you don’t mind if I share a few photos?  To let people know it was a good tour?  We saw hundreds of Gentoo and 1 King penguin. 
 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 12 by ocean sounds
Spacing photos

[Ken the cruiser]

1 hour ago, zanzibargirl said:

Ken would you be so kind to check on the availability of these jackets in the shop? Lots of sizes, choices etc? Trying to decide if I need to scramble to buy one here before we leave on Friday to join ship in a week! Thanks!

We just checked for the warm insulated jackets that can turn into an airplane pillow and the only sizes still available are large, extra large and extra extra large.  They are located at the store on deck 7 across from the Wheelhouse Bar.  If one of those sizes works for you, they will hold one for you in the back but only if we can give them your size and name.  I’m thinking that if you don’t want to give us your full name, you could give us your size, first name and cabin number and we will pass it to them to hold a jacket for you.

[Ken the cruiser]

55 minutes ago, ocean sounds said:

@Ken the cruiser, love the pictures from your Stanley Excursion!  I opted for shorter Gentoo Penguins tour, as unsure about 4x4 roughness.   It was perfect for those wanting a less strenuous pace.  About 15-20 minute 4x4 only.  I hope you don’t mind if I share a few photos?  To let people know it was a good tour?  We saw hundreds of Gentoo and 1 King penguin. 
 

 

 

 

 

Cool pictures! For those that are curious, do you remember the specific name of the excursion?

[zanzibargirl]

11 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We just checked for the warm insulated jackets that can turn into an airplane pillow and the only sizes still available are large, extra large and extra extra large.  They are located at the store on deck 7 across from the Wheelhouse Bar.  If one of those sizes works for you, they will hold one for you in the back but only if we can give them your size and name.  I’m thinking that if you don’t want to give us your full name, you could give us your size, first name and cabin number and we will pass it to them to hold a jacket for you.

Oh my gosh that would be amazing! Would they be able to hold a large and an extra large? Not sure which one would fit. I will go as soon as the shops open on sailing day - name is Genevieve LeBlanc 🙂 

[MustangGT]

We are immensely enjoying your trip!  Thanks for taking us along!

Quick question - I usually bring along a large ceramic mug because I just can’t drink my hot tea from a plastic mug.  On the Sky last year, the buffet had switched to ceramic mugs and on the Island last year, I was able to snag one from the coffee bar in the buffet.

Are ceramic mugs available in the buffet?

 

Thanks so much!

Smooth sailing!

[Ken the cruiser]

32 minutes ago, zanzibargirl said:

Oh my gosh that would be amazing! Would they be able to hold a large and an extra large? Not sure which one would fit. I will go as soon as the shops open on sailing day - name is Genevieve LeBlanc 🙂 

Just talked to Rohan in the clothes store across from the Wheelhouse Lounge and he said he would hold them for you.