Location: Cierva Cove, Palaver Point
We had a rough sailing night – I couldn’t get to sleep until after 3:00am. Fortunately my zodiac group was scheduled to be deployed last, so I could sleep in. Didn’t really work out that way.
While the sky was clear, the waves still had some chop – it took far more time than usual for the (mostly elderly) guests to board the zodiac. After the second zodiac our expedition lead called it all off. Afterwards he explained it would take too long to get everyone on and off the zodiacs and we’d never make our next spot on schedule. So the entire Silver Wind toured the area. First, I got to see how the ship stores the zodiacs. The Wind has three cranes in the aft (rear) of the ship. The zodiacs are stored on one of the lower decks and on top of the highest deck.
On the shore was the Argentinean summer-only-occupied research Base Primavera. Side note, this base recently detected the first confirmed case of avian flu on Antarctica. There’s a reason we tourists have so many “clean your stuff” steps when returning from a shore visit.
The landscape never stops being stunning. The below blue iceberg is not due to my horrible color editing skills. Well, not ONLY my lack of skills. Seems that happens when very compressed glacier interior ice is exposed after the outer part of the iceberg melts. Note how the cove is filled with drift ice, which our guides called “brash ice”. It was like sailing on a cocktail drink.
As we sailed to Palaver Point, I finally found a humpback whale that didn’t have a sense of humor. Two, in fact.
There was a big hike planned, with over 130 of the 224 guests signing up. This surprised the guides so much they re-scheduled much of the afternoon. But then the advance team canceled the hike because there were too many lazy-ass fur seals napping on the path. Those bums.
But we then zodiac-toured the Chinstrap Penguin rookery. The guides called the paths “penguin highways”.
Staying flexible leads to new finds. Expedition cruising is like that. If you want iron-clad itineraries this is not for you. However, I hope for a more calm evening.
Tidbit 1 – Tonight was the “Silversea thanks repeat cruise guests” cocktails. Only 64 of the 224 were repeat guests, with over 130 being first-time cruisers on Silversea. I will be hitting 225 days at the end of this cruise, but only came in at fourth-most. Third and second were within 14 days, but then first place carpet-bombed us with more than TWO YEARS of total cruising with Silversea.
Tidbit 2 – The Galapagos Silver Origin was more casual than the Silver Wind. Only casual dress code, no extra restaurants – designed for Galapagos exploring only. The Silver Wind has “jacket required” evenings about twice per week and has a total of four restaurants, one of which costs extra. I brought a jacket, but was never told about that difference.
Tidbit 3 – This is the last Antarctic cruise for the Silver Wind this season. After I get off in Puerto Williams the ship will take 125 days heading north, bouncing between South America, Africa and Europe before finishing in far northern Norway. There are at least a dozen guests staying on for the whole ride!